The next 7 days will solidify some things, teams hanging on to wild card hope will fade and become sellers (Canadiens) and other teams will thrive and become buyers CBJ, PHI
There will be injuries (McDavid, Bouwemeister) that could make some teams in contention become buyers or other injuries (Weber) that enforce other teams should be sellers.
Right now the Athletic has articles of both the top players (from Custance) likely to be traded and top prospects (from Pronman) likely to be traded.
The players include Kreider (#1), Kovalchuck (where did his resurrection come from?), Hoffman, Georgiev, etc.
and prospects include Puljujarvi, Lias Andersson, Honka, Bracco (etc.)
I thought this year the deadline might be active, but the list of names seems really bereft of marquee players, so who knows.
I don't know what to expect.
Seems like a sellers market though even if NHL teams are hesitant to trade for rentals.
Criteria for eligibility:
Under 23 years old. We now know that by the time a player turns 23, he is largely done the steep upward progression we see in prospects and will begin to plateau.
Not currently in the NHL, with rare exceptions for players who I believe could still bounce between levels and aren’t yet considered full-time NHLers by their teams. Though this is the only arbitrary section of the criteria, preference for exemption was given to teenaged players, rather than 22-year-olds.
Either signed to an NHL contract or selected in the entry draft, without the expiration of either of those rights.
goalies were 24, not 23.
The top 10:
The Ranking
1. Los Angeles Kings
2. Montreal Canadiens
3. Carolina Hurricanes
4. New York Rangers
5. Colorado Avalanche
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Philadelphia Flyers
9. Detroit Red Wings
10. Vegas Golden Knights
He likes Lundqvist a lot. In fact 5 of the Rangers top 6 prospects are D (Lundkvist, Miller, Jones, Keane and Robertson) with Kravstov at #2.
So many D in fact maybe the Rangers should trade some.
And that 5/6 doesn't even count Rykov or Hajek.
I still can't believe the Kings draft last year. Turcotte, Bjornfoot, and Kaliyev top 3 picks. Their system is loaded.
Habs have a good system too even, like the Rangers, graduating quite a few young players.
All of this is available to read at the Athletic
#5 on Custance's list of players likely to be moved.
No reason provided.
No reason provided.
He's been hurt lately and missed some time. I said months ago the Devs could get a 1st rounder for him and I stick by it. There just aren't many Dmen available that a contender can plug right into their top 4 no problem.
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not on ice for morning skate (per Amanda Stein twitter).
No reason provided.
He's been hurt lately and missed some time. I said months ago the Devs could get a 1st rounder for him and I stick by it. There just aren't many Dmen available that a contender can plug right into their top 4 no problem.
It is possible. He is having a very productive season and he has a very reasonable cap hit. I think a 2nd and a 3rd is more likely but I wouldn't be surprised if they landed a late 1st.
No reason provided.
I was just posting for the Devil fans without an Athletic subscription. Unfortunately this is all we have left to look forward to.
they should. but they'd have no D.
Lundqvist has been having a heckuva season, as has the Fin forward Panjuniemi.
My second choice would be Minnesota's Matt Dumba. Young and solid defenceman. Will pair up nice once Hamilton comes back.
For some reason there are a lot of Canes fans talking about trading Mzarek and someone else to Chicago for Lehner. Apparently it was mentioned once on nhltraderumors.me.
I think that would be a stupid move since Lehner is a UFA and will be asking for a tonne of money next year. Unless they feel that Alex Nedeljkovic is going to be the guy next season and they let Lehner walk. Which would be very unlike the Canes.
Lundqvist has been having a heckuva season, as has the Fin forward Panjuniemi.
Keep 'em both and let Hank go.
Lundqvist has been having a heckuva season, as has the Fin forward Panjuniemi.
Personally, I'd rather see them trade Skjei and sign Tony. I know signing both Tony and Kreider is going to be difficult, but if they can somehow make it work, Henrik/Smith/Staal come off the books after next season, which frees up a ton of money. Skjei could be an attractive option for some teams, as he is not just a rental, he has potential, and may benefit from a change of scenery. Rangers would likely have to retain some salary, but a team might take a flier on Skjei, even though he hasn't really lived up to the expectations that were set 3 years ago when he was paired with Smith making the Rangers' best D pair that season.
At this point it would seem almost guaranteed they at least add a vet like Nate Thompson or Trevor Lewis, but I hope they aim a little higher. I could very well see Lou going back to 1 of his old guys like Zajac or even Henrique if they can find a way to do it without clogging up too much future payroll since Barzal/Pulock are about to get paid.
he has no role on the Habs but to steal min from a younger player.
Percy, NYR cannot
Absolutely.
Agreed
Tony D is one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL right now. If we trade him, he should be the headliner in a package that should net us a young star.
East has the top four teams and 7 of the top ten. Far better conference. The playoffs are going to be fun.
Very much missed, a bit worrisome that he just disappeared from here
Seriously? The guy has 42 points in 55 games. The only defensemen who have more points than him this year are Roman Josi, John Carlson, Victor Hedman, Alex Pietrangelo and Quinn Hughes. He's only 24 and hasn't even hit his prime yet.
They need to either re-sign him to a long-term deal or trade him as a headliner for a huge get (like a Yandle-type of trade)
That said , to me, a defenseman's first responsibility and core attribute is being able to defend effectively. Not Chara level, just decent. DeAngelo isn't a decent defender. He's a bad one.
At this point it would seem almost guaranteed they at least add a vet like Nate Thompson or Trevor Lewis, but I hope they aim a little higher. I could very well see Lou going back to 1 of his old guys like Zajac or even Henrique if they can find a way to do it without clogging up too much future payroll since Barzal/Pulock are about to get paid.
I think I heard a little bit ago Zajac didn't want to waive his NTC to come to the NYI.
They definitely need to make a move for a F, ideally a C. They sent Wilde back so now they have room to bring on 2 contracts. I don't expect much, if anything but there's hope.. .
But I wouldn't be opposed to trying to cash in on his value now given he's shooting at a very high percentage, he's an RFA after the season, Fox looks great and Nils is in the pipeline.
The roster is shy tough, physical presences, pretty much across the board, unless you want to count the pesky, valuable in his way Lemieux. The next most physical guy we have is Lindgren, still very green. (By the way, did anyone notice when Lindgren was objecting to Laine's shove in front of the net, and Lindgren gave two shoves back, Laine barely budged, looked at Lindgren as if he were a gnat. It was funny, but not).
Trading Trouba would leave a huge hole.
Sounds fair.
I agree with this. That point production from a D doesn't just grow on trees. If they had bought low on a multi-year contract this past offseason and he was locked up for a few years at a good rate I don't think I'd be thinking trade. It's just that he'll be looking at a major raise in arbitration after the year considering where he's going to rank points wise for defensemen. Some tough decisions to make and we'd be dealing from a position of strength
The roster is shy tough, physical presences, pretty much across the board, unless you want to count the pesky, valuable in his way Lemieux. The next most physical guy we have is Lindgren, still very green. (By the way, did anyone notice when Lindgren was objecting to Laine's shove in front of the net, and Lindgren gave two shoves back, Laine barely budged, looked at Lindgren as if he were a gnat. It was funny, but not).
Trading Trouba would leave a huge hole.
I think it's evident that Trouba has not lived up to the expectations coming in, especially when you consider how good Pionk has been in Winnipeg. That said, I also think it would be a mistake to get rid of him. He's in his first year in NYC, paired with Skjei who has, in my opinion, regressed since his 2016-17 season where he was one of the top D on the team. I am all for going forward with Trouba, Fox, Lindgren, and Tony, hoping that any 2 of Lundkvist, Miller, Rykov and Hajek can round out the top 6. That said, unless the Rangers can find a way to trade Skjei, he's under contract until 2024, either forcing Tony or Trouba out, or blocking one of those guys from cracking the lineup.
I've always thought it shouldn't be too much to ask a talented guy to play on his opposite side but we seem extremely opposed to that.
I've always thought it shouldn't be too much to ask a talented guy to play on his opposite side but we seem extremely opposed to that.
players can play opposite side on D, and even once in a blue moon a player might prefer it, but analytics supports balanced D pairs (handedness).
I don't think it's much of an issue in situations like PP or even in the offensive zone, but going back for pucks, wrap arounds, breakouts, and some other plays are just awkward to do on your opposite side. You are forced to play on your backhand more which isn't as accurate for most players.
today there is a lack of RHD league wide, more kids fathers are buying in to the theory a RH person is a LH hockey shot.
Percy, NYR cannot
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let Hank go
He has to want to go, waive the NMC and some team has to want him.
True. Had lost sight of that. He has to be willing -- money maybe. And you're also right that someone has to want him and it isn't clear anyone does. I still want to keep those two others, though, at just about whatever the cost is.
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when penciling in the future defense group though. I'd probably be more inclined to shop Skeji above them all, but after years of struggling to find RHD, we're now pretty well stocked on that side while LHD like Skeji and Lindgren are a bit more rare among the top guys in the organization. On the right side along there's Trouba, Fox, TDA, with Nils and Keane in the pipeline. Someone has to go if they're not asking them to switch sides.
I've always thought it shouldn't be too much to ask a talented guy to play on his opposite side but we seem extremely opposed to that.
players can play opposite side on D, and even once in a blue moon a player might prefer it, but analytics supports balanced D pairs (handedness).
I don't think it's much of an issue in situations like PP or even in the offensive zone, but going back for pucks, wrap arounds, breakouts, and some other plays are just awkward to do on your opposite side. You are forced to play on your backhand more which isn't as accurate for most players.
today there is a lack of RHD league wide, more kids fathers are buying in to the theory a RH person is a LH hockey shot.
Yeah I'm right handed in everything but I play hockey left handed. There's definitely fewer right handed players. I get why it's difficult for D, especially at NHL speeds. But if you can just get one top guy who's capable of playing either side if necessary it opens up so many possibilities
Trotz says you lose a 3rd of the ice by playing off side.
One thing I never got comfortable with in the offensive zone was when the puck gets wrapped around the boards to me at the point and I'm on my off side. There is no smooth reaction to that. Either you're on your backhand and move it back down the boards, go skate to stick, or quickly pivot backhand to forehand perilously close to the blue line.
Whatever benefits there are I think I side with the coaches/GM's who strive for balance.
But in a pinch (a couple games here or there, a few shifts here or there) I wouldn't hesitate to put a D on their off-hand I just think it's a consideration in roster building.
At this point it would seem almost guaranteed they at least add a vet like Nate Thompson or Trevor Lewis, but I hope they aim a little higher. I could very well see Lou going back to 1 of his old guys like Zajac or even Henrique if they can find a way to do it without clogging up too much future payroll since Barzal/Pulock are about to get paid.
A few weeks ago Zajac blocked a trade to an unnamed team in the playoff hunt. It was later revealed that the team was most likely the Islanders. I was very disappointed and surprised when he took advantage of his NMC.
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NEWS: New Jersey has placed D Sami Vatanen (bruised right leg from blocking a shot) on injured reserve, retroactive to 2/1/2020.
The club has recalled Nick Merkley from Binghamton (AHL). He has been assigned #39.
Murder me pls
There is absolutely no way in hell they're going to trade him to the Islanders unless it's an overpay, and I don't know why the Islanders would do that.
Boston would be the most palatable from that list. They traded Nash there, after all.
pj - someone above mentioned Chara: sure you must have seen the altercation along the boards and hard stick to Gallagher's throat. wtf if he gets away with that?
metnut, agree, they better extract extra pound of flesh from any of those
pj - someone above mentioned Chara: sure you must have seen the altercation along the boards and hard stick to Gallagher's throat. wtf if he gets away with that?
metnut, agree, they better extract extra pound of flesh from any of those
Not just got away with it, but Gallagher got a penalty on the play. For getting his throat in the way of Chara's stick I guess.
Habs for so many years had a well earned reputation of "getting the calls" the pendulum has definitely swung the other way. They are rarely on the right side of awful officiating. Maybe history righting itself.
Chara was fined 5k for that play, the most allowable by the CBA. He has earned almost 100M in his career just from hockey contracts. That 5k is like a $10 fine for you and I.