We at the moment are precisely 10 weeks away from the NHL’s March 7 commerce deadline.
That leaves sufficient runway for the wants of patrons and sellers to shift earlier than the largest selections are made — or for patrons and sellers to modify locations. However in a season the place there’s already been loads of commerce motion, it’s not too quickly to attempt to discover some suits between groups and gamers accessible on our newest NHL commerce large board.
With that in thoughts, right here’s half two of trade-board matchmaker.
GO DEEPER
NHL commerce matchmaker: LeBrun and Johnston predict the place prime targets go by the deadline, half 1
Group: San Jose Sharks
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 32
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $5 million
LeBrun: Vegas Golden Knights
The 32-year-old Granlund leads the Sharks in scoring and is on tempo for a profession excessive in factors. He’s meant loads to San Jose off the ice, too, so far as his management and affect across the children. He additionally likes it there. All of which is to say, it’s not a slam dunk he will get dealt earlier than the deadline simply because he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. The expectation is that Granlund’s brokers, Todd Diamond and Mark Gandler, can have a dialogue within the new yr with Sharks common supervisor Mike Grier. However the group might want to stability any potential extension with the form of affords it’ll get on the commerce market, and there will definitely be some. Granlund’s versatility of with the ability to play all three ahead positions with consolation will attraction to contenders. He can also increase his commerce worth relying on his efficiency underneath the highlight enjoying for Finland within the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Trying into my matchmaker crystal ball, let’s make him a Vegas Golden Knight. The Sharks and Knights obtained collectively on a commerce deadline deal a yr in the past involving Tomas Hertl. Conserving in thoughts Granlund’s versatility and the unlucky actuality of at all times worrying about Mark Stone’s well being, I like the concept for Vegas of including this type of depth.
Johnston: Minnesota Wild
Plenty of water has handed underneath the bridge since Granlund was a first-round choose by the Wild who spent seven seasons enjoying for the group. Nonetheless, wouldn’t or not it’s a pleasant homecoming story? Minnesota might actually use a ahead who can toggle between middle and wing whereas chipping in with some offense. Granlund ticks all of these packing containers and will include an added stage of consolation given his familiarity with the group. The cap facet will have to be labored out since San Jose doesn’t have any retention spots nonetheless open and Minnesota has some added challenges whereas working in long-term injured reserve, however these aren’t large enough hurdles to maintain this from occurring.
Group: Philadelphia Flyers
Place: D
Shoots: R
Age: 30
Contract time period: 2027 UFA
AAV: $5.1 million
LeBrun: Winnipeg Jets
It wasn’t too way back that Ristolainen’s contract scared groups, but it surely’s humorous what occurs with a 20-minute-a-night, top-four defenseman finds his sport extra constantly, as he has this season. All of a sudden, with the wage cap going up, a $5.1 million cap hit for the following two and a half years isn’t so unhealthy in any respect. That’s why league sources say the Flyers have certainly obtained calls this season asking if they might be keen to maneuver Ristolainen. The reply from the Flyers is sure — if there’s a sure value met. They might need a good prospect or younger participant in return or a mix of a prospect and a choose. And whereas buying and selling for a participant with time period on his contract isn’t your typical deadline deal since most contenders choose leases, I can see it interesting to a couple groups. For instance, the Jets. I’d prefer to see the Jets add the form of measurement on the proper aspect of their protection that Ristolainen would deliver. And after giving up a first-round choose final season for rental Sean Monahan solely to see him depart July 1, and holding in thoughts how troublesome it’s for the Jets to draw free brokers to Winnipeg, I like the concept of buying a participant underneath contract. So there you have got it, I’ve obtained the Cup-contending Jets taking over Ristolainen.
May Rasmus Ristolainen find yourself within the Central Division? (Emilee Chinn / Getty Photos)
Johnston: Dallas Stars
The Stars made a giant splash by buying Chris Tanev forward of final yr’s deadline however have been unable to retain him in free company over the summer time. They haven’t but stuffed that gap on the proper aspect of their blue line. The time period remaining on Ristolainen’s contract suits in with the Stars’ win-now window, and the enhancements in his sport ought to maintain attraction given how few defensive stoppers are anticipated to be accessible within the market. Depth is important for any group gearing up for a protracted spring, and Dallas is all in on attempting to win the Stanley Cup.
Group: Chicago Blackhawks
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 33
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $6 million
LeBrun: Utah HC
The Blackhawks truly haven’t dedicated but to buying and selling Corridor, though given the place they’re within the standings, one would think about that’s probably the most logical plan of action for the veteran pending unrestricted free agent. It hasn’t been one of the best of seasons for the 33-year-old winger, however one thing tells me {that a} transfer to a Cup contender would possibly ignite somewhat flash from the previous Hart Trophy winner. He’s at all times been one of many smartest gamers within the league. The hockey IQ hasn’t dulled even when the skating has slowed down somewhat. If the Hawks are keen to eat a few of Corridor’s $6 million cap hit, there’s no query in my thoughts there will probably be a marketplace for him. Corridor has a modified no-trade clause, so his agent, Darren Ferris, might have a job in serving to the Hawks discover a suitor. So hear me out right here: Utah HC as a purchaser! That is solely lifelike in a world through which Utah stays within the race within the second half. They might use somewhat extra offense. Corridor has some brand-name cache that will be enjoyable to deliver into the NHL’s latest market, and Utah has loads of cap room, plus a powerful want to remain within the playoff chase.
Johnston: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are one of many few prime groups who might make room for Corridor of their prime six, which is probably going the place a participant along with his talent set must play so as to be handiest. The continued uncertainty round Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has gone greater than two and a half years with out enjoying whereas recovering from a cartilage transplant in his proper knee, makes the necessity for one more left winger extra pronounced. Corridor could not skate on the similar stage as earlier in his profession, however he’s nonetheless sooner than common and will maintain his personal alongside Nathan MacKinnon in top-line responsibility if wanted. At minimal, he would give the Avalanche extra lineup flexibility than they take pleasure in now. The acquisition value additionally shouldn’t be too important for a veteran participant unlikely to be a part of the long-term answer for the rebuilding Blackhawks.
Will Borgen
Group: New York Rangers
Place: D
Shoots: R
Age: 28
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $2.7 million
LeBrun: Florida Panthers
The Rangers simply acquired Borgen, however he’s a pending unrestricted free agent and until New York can someway cease the bleeding and switch round its season, the Blueshirts will probably be sellers and open to flipping him. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Borgen would match properly in South Florida. I feel in some ways, pending unrestricted free agent David Savard is a extra apparent match for the Panthers given his previous relationship in Columbus with Panthers common supervisor Invoice Zito, and it wouldn’t shock me if Florida tried for Savard if it’s searching for a rental, right-shot D with some physicality who received’t break the financial institution. However Borgen could be the extra under-the-radar transfer if certainly the Rangers resolve to make him accessible.
Will Borgen, proper, has solely performed three video games for the Rangers, however he could possibly be on the transfer once more. (Wendell Cruz / Imagn Photos)
Johnston: Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have struggled since dropping Filip Hronek to a major lower-body damage earlier this month, and so they’re not anticipating him to play once more earlier than February. That’s uncovered a gaping want on the proper aspect of the blue line that administration has aggressively been attempting to deal with. Enter Borgen, who excels within the less-celebrated components of the sport like penalty killing, which Vancouver can definitely use. The stay-at-home defender is an effective skater who ought to be capable of step right into a second pairing on a group and brings the form of measurement groups view as an added plus come playoff time. Borgen can have loads of suitors forward of the deadline, however there is probably not anybody extra motivated to pursue him than Vancouver.
Group: Seattle Kraken
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 32
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $3.5 million
LeBrun: New Jersey Devils
All indicators level to the pending unrestricted free agent winger getting dealt forward of the deadline if the Kraken aren’t within the playoff chase, which appears fairly possible as of now. My understanding is there are a number of contenders ready to see if/when Tanev is in the marketplace as a result of they need a crack at him. He brings the form of grindy sport most playoff groups are searching for. He’s a wonderful penalty killer who leads Seattle in shorthanded ice time. He received’t again down from anybody. I just like the Devils as a match. They’re searching for a bottom-six enhance, and I can image Tanev discovering a pleasant spot in that Cup-contending lineup that has no scarcity of offensive expertise however might use somewhat extra sandpaper.
Johnston: Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas went into the NHL’s vacation break with the league’s finest factors share, and there’s a powerful expectation it’ll be trying to beef up earlier than the deadline but once more. In reality, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Golden Knights pursue two forwards – one with extra offensive skill, and a bottom-sixer to spherical out different parts of the group. Tanev falls into the latter class and will find yourself being the strongest participant with that talent set accessible. A high-end skater who performs the sport laborious, it’s not troublesome to think about him becoming in with a group accustomed to utilizing all 4 strains to win.
(Photograph of Mikael Granlund and Brandon Tanev: Eric Hartline / USA Right now and Alika Jenner / Getty Photos)
