Possible Eastern Conference trade candidates, updates on the Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Canucks plus the latest on Mike Green, Andrej Sekera and more.
Could Maple Leafs backup James Reimer be on the move by the March trade deadline?
SI.COM: Allan Muir notes the NHL trade market will soon be fueled by Eastern Conference also-rans. He doesn’t believe the Buffalo Sabres will trade defenseman Tyler Myers but anticipates Jhonas Enroth, Michal Neuvirth, Drew Stafford, Torrey Mitchell and Chris Stewart (pending UFAs all) could be shopped by the March trade deadline…Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal’s made it clear he doesn’t want to waive his no-trade clause. Cam Ward’s improved performance this season could put him in play. The Hurricanes are negotiating with pending UFAs Andrej Sekera and Jiri Tlusty…Devils UFAs Jaromir Jagr, Marek Zidlicky, Martin Havlat, Steve Bernier, Michael Ryder, Bryce Salvador and Peter Harrold could hit the block by the trade deadline…The emergence of winger Josh Anderson could make Columbus Blue Jackets wingers Matt Calvert and/or Cam Atkinson available. Mark Letestu and Artem Anisimov are other possible trade options…Potential Philadelphia Flyers trade candidates include Luke Schenn, Andrew MacDonald, Nicklas Grossmann and Braydon Coburn, as well as winger Matt Read…The Ottawa Senators hope to move Colin Greening…Possible Toronto Maple Leafs trade candidates include depth players James Reimer, Stephane Robidas, Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik. Bolder options could include Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner and even Phil Kessel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While some notable names could be moved at the trade deadline, expect most of the players dealt to be pending UFAs or those with a year or two left on their contracts. Those with lengthy and expensive deals tend not to be dealt until the off-season, even with GMs now allowed to absorb part of a player’s salary to facilitate a trade…. Cam Ward has another year on his contract at a cap hit of $6.3 million plus a full no-trade clause. Still tough to move him… I doubt the Flyers will find much interest for MacDonald because of his contract. Short of a buyout, they’re stuck with it.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports the Washington Capitals must decide what to do with Mike Green, their number-five defenseman who’s earning $6.25 million this season and is a UFA this summer. He speculates the Capitals could try to move Green for a second-round pick at the trade deadline, or keep him for the playoffs and lose him for nothing to free agency in July…”Countless teams” are watching to see if the Carolina Hurricanes can re-sign defenseman Andrej Sekera…The Tampa Bay Lightning could trade winger Brett Connolly for a defenseman…The Capitals seek a right winger for their top line of Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Matheson suggests New Jersey Devils winger Michael Ryder, who might only cost a second- or third-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears the Capitals could stick with Green for the rest of the season. I doubt they’ll have interest in Ryder.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have received trade inquiries about their pending UFAs like Cody Franson and even some for their bigger names like Phil Kessel, though teams expressing interest in those players have cap issues now and would prefer to discuss such moves in the offseason. Dreger doesn’t expect the Leafs to make a trade in the days ahead but perhaps something could materialize next week. The Leafs are seeking returns of players in their early-20s. There’s ongoing negotiations with Nazem Kadri, who’s seeking between $4-$5 million per season, but there’s no discussion of term and no formal offer…Dreger claims the Montreal Canadiens would love to add another top-six forward or perhaps another defenseman…The Vancouver Canucks seek a top-six forward but not a rental player.
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Dreger also speculates the New York Rangers could have interest in Leafs center Mike Santorelli if the Leafs are unable to re-sign him…Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has been linked in trade talks with the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers…The Bruins, Blues, Canucks and Leafs could have interest in Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette…Canucks GM Jim Benning is open to trading either Jacob Markstrom or Eddie Lack.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I’ve said before, the Leafs are most likely to shop those pending UFAs they can’t or won’t re-sign. I doubt they’ll move Kadri, who’s a restricted free agent this summer. Understandable that the Habs would be kicking the tires on possible Oilers trade candidates, but I’m not sure what deals they could make with the Predators, unless it’s to swap a forward for a defenseman. Lars Eller for Ryan Ellis? Discuss!
Preds have a full compliment of centres , by my count 9 natural centres , 5 are playing the wing. So given that I would be surprised Eller is the right fit, I think they are searching for a winger. Parenteau may have already worn out his welcome in Mtl. I would suspect the guy Bergevin covets is Craig Smith , a converted center who has proved he can play the wing. But it would take more than PA to land him. I watched the Preds Habs the other night and have to say Jokinen playing wing on a checking line and being a defence first player was an eye opener. Laviolette has a good thing going in Nashville, their biggest prize was getting Fisher back. He is playing his usual solid 2way game.
I think as far as the Leafs go there wont be a big deal this season. The Richards for Phaneuf deal would make sense hockey wise for both teams but in a salary cap era the dollars just don’t work for LA. It won’t happen. The one deal that does make sense for Toronto is a one with Colorado. Both teams are struggling. Colorado has a surplus of top 6 quality forwards in their system (in particular down the middle). The Leafs have Phaneuf who honestly would play better in Colorado where the media pressure is less and he’s not the Captain of a team.
What I’m saying here is a Phaneuf + prospect or 3rd/4th round pick for ROR works well for both teams under the condition that ROR resigns. Phaneuf is still a good hockey player and I think that’s forgotten. However, he would be best in a 3-4 dman slot and not a 1-2. That would allow him to play on edge and gamble more with his chances. Is he 7m good. No. If he made 5.5m a year, then his contract would be fair. I think this is a deal that could very well work for both teams. Thoughts?
I am confused jow it makes any sense for the Leafs…they dont need another 30 something 5 mill player…if the Leafs dont mind carrying another 5 mill in for all intensive purposes dead salary just to get rid of Phanuef hold 3 mill of his salary and move him for picks or young prospects… Phaneuf locked in to a 4 mill per year contract would have pretty decent value around the league and would get a better piece than Richards in a deal. Just stop paying guys who have won thing on other teams. It didnt work with Bolland or Gleason its not going to work with Richards, a thirdline player on a 9th place team is not coming to a 10th place team and changing the culture all that much, bitch about the shape and Kessels off season training….Richards is the exact same way lol
Phaneuf at 4mill you would get 20 teams inquiring about him, and yes he would have a ton more trade value. How bad would losing 3mill in cap space for 6 years be?
Imo a better option than taking on Richards comtract.
I agree that Phaneuf would be a good fit on many teams in a 3/4 setting. The problem is, how many 3/4 D do you see costing a cap hit of $7 mil for the next 7 seasons? There is NO way Colorado buys into that.
It would be 6 seasons and they have the ability to hold salary…so again I ask if you think he could be of value as a 3/4 why would you not just hold some salary, which would be significantly lower than Richards full salary and move him for a better return? If you dealt him for picks by the time a good young player developed you are looking atleast 3 seasons down the road before he even gets past his elc then another 2 or 3 in a bridge type comtract….dealing Phaneuf is a rebuild strategy not many teams rebuild with guys who are 30 year old 3rd liners.
ROR would be a huge asset to the leafs. The Leafs get a guy who is a 2 way center and could be a true #1 in the league. ROR is young, capable and able to play in all scenarios. The salaries would be very close and the leafs could retain the difference if need be.
If O’Reilly is as good as you say, why would Colorado deal him? And if you point to past contract squabbles and they don’t want to pay him what he thinks he’s worth, why would they take on a 6-year $7 mil per cap hit? Even if the Leafs agree to eat a chunk of the hit to 2020-21, I just don’t see Colorado being on any list of teams he’d agree to waive his NM/NT clauses to report to. Sorry.
Why would the Rangers want Santorelli? He is another small Center that does not win faceoffs. Rangers need a 3rd or 4th line Center than wins over 50% of draws and has some size.
I am sure the Canes would give you McClemment…lol
NYR should go looking to the Canucks for some of AV’s old pals. Burrows, Hansen, Higgins and Brad Richardson could all help. No, NYR wouldn’t want them all but one or two of them for the bottom 6 would help. NYR could send back draft picks(s) or prospect(s) and not change the NHL roster by much.
Canucks want to get younger and aren’t contenders. NYR are contenders that need a bit of extra jump. Honestly, if NYR could land Burrows and Brad Richardson, they would really be helping themselves out.
All of the Flyers Schenn, Coburn, and Grossman will have value at the deadline. Only have 1 year left on contracts. Coburn can be a solid #3 on most contenders. Which should bring back a solid prospect (could use young wingers) and a draft pick.
If im Buffalo I be very careful in what I do before the trade dead line. They r trending the right way, last place don’t want to bring back any assets that may cost you Mcdavid or Eichel.
Question for Caps fans…
Is Green even valuable enough to want to keep for the playoffs? Like you guys could get your 2nd or 1st (desperate team, weirder things have happened) for him and then go on to ship that to a team like Toronto and try and land Franson or Gardiner?
I got a sneaky suspicion that Franson gets resigned…I didnt think that before and he still might not, but an awful lot of rumblings that he really wants to stay and might not take as much to stay as he would get on the open market…tough to say but I am leaning to not surprised if a deal gets done before the deadline. I honestly think chances are better that Phaneuf gets moved (in the offseason) before Franson at the deadline…and ya it will probably involve salary being held, but your idea of prospects and picks going with him isnt goi g to happen.
I don’t think franson resigns without being paid as much as phaneuf his stats are better and nonis screwing him around for 2 1 yr deals didn’t help the situation
I am not so sure it will be about the dollars as much as the term and you could be right about that…he may not want to budge on anything under 7 years.
Franson will leave if he doesn’t get paid like Phaneuf is getting paid? Not one team in the NHL would pay $7+ mill a year for Franson. Well maybe Toronto?
Franson is one of the only guys in the dressing room that has continues to surprise me with his development and maturity. I believe in the “snubgate” scandal when he skated out to center ice to salute the fans it was his way of intentionally trying to go against the plan. I don’t think he “missed the memo”. He has spoken out against some of the immaturity in the dressing room as well. A few weeks ago he was quoted as saying (I’m paraphrasing cause I can’t remember his exact words) that some members in this room need to grow up. So if I’m management, and I’m looking at this, what I see is leadership qualities. If his play continues to improve, and he were to sign a slight discount, and Phanuef is traded in the off season, he may very well be wearing the C next season. Since he has grown up a Leaf fan, and has very close family that are all Leaf fans, can you imagine how much he’d be willing to give for that chance?
medic…good points about franson but I still say it will be tough to get him signed before he hits the ufa market where he will cash in and what has happened this yr with the leafs I think there might be a few guys who would welcome a new team
@jello..The fact that you almost/kinda agree with me made me just spit coffee out my nose…lol
lol ya I had a hard time putting medic good points together in one sentence!lol but I agree he seems like the only leaf maybe polak that cares
Why would anyone in their right minds want to sign in Toronto? The team is a mess now, and will only get worse in the short term as it gets blown up.
And since they have screwed their cap up so badly, they can’t even overpay anyone to entice them to come to the Loafs.
No way Schticky. The Leafs if by some miracle they do get rid of Phaneuf a good prospect or at least a 2nd round pick will be going the other way. Along with that the Leafs will have to hold a bunch of salary or take a big garbage contract in return. No team out there that is desperate enough to have a Phaneuf on their team with that unbelievably long and loaded contract. Not even the Oilers. Obviously there would be some interest in him but the deal will be reached by the way I stated.
Clarkson is with Toronto for the remainder of his career.
Lupul would be a good pick up. But you guys probably just get a conditional pick for him. Condition being he plays a lot more than he sits.
Kessel I’d love to have on Buffalo. This contract is the one contract that I think you guys can move without any hesitation. The rest the Leafs will have a hard time dealing.
Hey Jes, not a Caps fan, but I’ll give my “hockey fan” opinion anyway!
I think Green is worth keeping for the playoff run. Stinks to probably lose him for nothing, but 1) losing him isn’t a guarantee if he becomes a UFA; and 2) a draft pick doesn’t help the Caps on a playoff run. It might be a short run, but each additional home playoff date = big $$$. Can Green help them win a couple more games? I’d say it’s certainly worth the risk. A 2nd-round pick has decent value, but it’s not a slam dunk to equate to a good player.
Trading and flipping the pick is definitely intriguing, though it doesn’t make sense to do it for another UFA like Franson. Better the devil you know! But if they could swap Green for a pick, then trade that pick for another dman with less salary and longer term? I think it’s something the Caps should certainly look at.
My hunch: Based on these points, they keep him, and try to re-sign him in the off-season.
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The above is all based on the possibility that the Caps are in playoff position as of the deadline. If not, I think they’ll ship him out for any pick they can get (provided they can’t sign him for quite a bit less $$$)
As a Caps fan, Green is valuable enough to keep for the playoffs, when he is healthy he can be a great generator of offense. It was recently reported he wants to stay in DC and maybe his next contract can reflect his position on the depth chart. If he does move on as a UFA I wouldn’t be upset at the lack of return, just unhappy that he’s not on the team.
I’m not very familiar with Franson or Gardiner, but to me it seems like Toronto would be taking the greater injury risk, salary demand, and age. If Green filled a particular hole on their roster for the next few seasons and gets them a reasonable shot at playoff success, then it would make sense. For where Toronto is at right now it doesn’t.
For the Caps, this doesn’t improve the team and may make it slightly worse. I think it would be a safe, boring, might save a half million in cap space on a future contract kind of deal. There is less risk, but not nearly as much potential as there is with Green.
Sorry Jes! I misread about flipping the return for Green for Franson or Gardiner. I doubt the Caps could get a first for Green given his UFA status and injury history, and if they could, it would be worth more than Franson or Gardiner.
Some of those Devils are perfect rentals for other team, second liners/roster players who help special teams (which is what rentals should be). Havlat and Zidlicky are both good on the power play, and Jagr is a big bodied presence who still uses his size to protect the puck and Ryder is a good depth winger to have on a playoff run. I doubt Harrold will get moved, and there’s no chance Salvador is getting moved since he’s dealing with back issues right now.
We just want some 2nds and 3rds… be generous.
lol honestly withthe retirememt village setting going on there, I think there should be some kind of draft pick fund raiser for the Devils.
The Sabres should not do anything for fear of messing up thier shot at futility? ????
That mindset is a cancer. Look at Edmonton, Toronto, and the NYI. Once you let that thought of losing is OK enter the culture of your team it becomes a major undertaking to get it out.
The NYI have been on a 20 year rebuild, the Leafs, it could be argued have been fighting it for 48 years, and in thier current rebuild for 7.
Being a long time Flames fan i am relieved they are taking the approach of trying to win every night and developing thier talent properly.
Praying for losses is for losers.
Only took the Islander the better part of 2 decades of tanking, the Oilers a decade the Panthers Sabres and Coyoyes almost aslong as well as the Thrasher/Jet franchise….tanking or finnishing in the bottom of the league is not getting anyone further ahead than drafting properly in the first place…
Ed you say the Sabres need so much yet they have depth and quality wise among the best crop of prospects in the league. Do they need some maturation and development … sure.
Being Ok with losing poisons the youth. Sometimes to the point their potential goes away. Athletes are raised to win and when you don’t send that message it destroys potential.
Detroit should be the model everyone follows. Draft smart and create the best development system possible.
Detroit does not miss the playoffs, never has picks of its own in the top 10 yet has a ton of prospects.
But what do they know.
To those that think tanking is the only way.
NAME — DRAFT PICK
Claude Giroux 22
Ryan Getzlaf 19
Tyler Johnson UD
Vladimir Tarasenko 16
Henrik Zetterberg 210
Nikita Kucherov 58
Joe Pavelski 205
Nick Foligno 28
Alexander Steen 24
Filip Forster 11
Jaime Benn 129
Mark Giordano UD
Jim Hudler 58
There are 13 players in the top 30 scoring drafted after the 10th pick. That means if you pick sooner than that you have a bit better than 50% when drafting before 10.
Hard to believe Kopitar was 11th and mind boggling Datsyuk was an incredible 171st.
Fantastic point Russ, draft properly do your homework draft ad develop properly leads to more success than top picks and sitting at the bottom of the standings for years.
This is skewed a bit, there are only 10 players taken in the top 10 (DUH) and 190 or so taken after that, so to say that 13 out of the top 30 scorers come from 90% of players drafted versus 17 out of the top 30 in scoring come from 10% of players drafted is a loaded argument with misleading facts.
You look at the actual number of top 10 picks become everyday NHLers versus how many after the top 10 do then you get a clearer picture on why its important for weaker teams to draft higher.
Detroit is the exceptional to the rule, Pitts,Chicago even LA all had high draft picks that turned their franchise around. Teams like Philly TOR and even MON to some extent that have tried to use trades,free agency and so on to become successful seem to spin their wheels for years on end. These teams also always end up in the blow it up start again convo.
Teams like Edmonton, Florida and so on have been poorly managed and never had the right mix of vets to school the youth.
Just my two cents
dino…..bang on the odds are huge of not drafting a solid nhler sure it happens but not nearly as often as a top 10 draft plays in the nhl
No one is arguing top 10 picks are not good picks…the point is you dont have to pick top 10 picks to have a good or a sucessful team. Lots of great players are not top ten picks..I would think such a big Patches fan would recognize this pick #22.
yes it does happen but the % is a lot lower to find a player that will put up solid nhl years outside of the top 10 it happens because you have 200 to get lucky on compared to 10
Correy Perry 28
ROR 33
Weber 49
Parise 17
PK Subban 43
Erik Karlsson 15
…I could go on I am not sure it closer to equal than you may think if anything I think ot could be argued. just my opinion tho.
Pdino what top 10s would those ne outside Doughty?
Kopitar 11
Muzzin 141
Quick 72
Richards 24
Brown 13
Williams 28
Tiffolli 47
Carter 11
Id say even tho Doughty is great chances are they are just about as good without him…probably not as good but not sure he is the difference between them winning 2 cups the last few years and being a team that needs top 10 picks. Dont get me wromg alot 8f good top 10 picks bit do they necessarily make a team more 9f a contender than teams that have smaller numbers of top 10 picks…not really
Pretty sure you could look at it the other way, teams with lots of top 10 picks probably have bad teams due to the numbers of top 10 picks… kinda prove the point, Leafs top 10 picks Schenn Kessel Jvr Kadri Nylander, since 2008 the Oilers have had 8 no plaayoffs, Islanders since 2007 no playofffs 7 top 10s, since 2007 7 for the panthers 1 playoff BlueJacket 7 simce 2007, jets/thrashers 6 top 10s since 08 Arizona 4 si ce 2008…top 10picks doesnt necessarily mean you aregoing to turn it around or a better team. Thays nearly 60 top 10s over about 8 years and maybe 3 0r 4 playoff apearances…. Ill take better management and good scouting every day of the week over rolling the dice with top 10 picks….
Sorry for the type os nearly 50 early top picks over the past 7 or 8 years for the most part still a ways away from turning things around… yes the Islanders and Jets look better now but % wise thats not great odds of improving signifigantly snd thats just a few examples….
Bad teams are made up of alot of top 10 picks good teams have less of them where you pick doesnt necessarily make a difference if you have bad management. As far as teams having players like Toews Crosby Stamkos and Tavares there are very few guys like that and if you look at the % of top 10 picks that turned a bad franchise in to a good one you would find the % of players that have come from outside the top 10 is close to equal, again nearly 50 out of 70 top 10 picks over the past 7 years still play on teams that have little to no playoff success…thats not saying much of the “5 year plans” of fire sale and tanking for pick plan, when over half the picks dont really impact the teams performance. Too small a chance at getting guys like those to make it worth intentionally going that way to get them. If it happens you play the hand your dealt but to suggest that you are going to draft in the top 10 to build youre team is just excusing yourself for being a loser. Terrible way to do things.
I doubt that any team is seriously trying to lose. Are the Oilers benching Hall every game, the Leaf’s benching Kessel, etc.? Why would the players sabatoge their own performances and ulimately pay cheques just to get a better 18-year old kid next year?
Yes the Flames are having some success this year so of course they must be developing their players correctly. What about last year or the year before? Were they trying to lose then? Are Monahan and Bennett not better prospects then Janikowski and Baertschi? Then perhaps the Flames tanked to get better prospects. Every team gets lucky and unlucky in the draft regardless of how good they suppossedly are at developing players.
One could argue that trading a useful player for a draft pick is intentionally making your team worse but I think the motivation in every case is to make the team better in the future which in my mind makes sense. If not, then it would make sense for the Flames to trade Bennett for Lacavalier.
Every team has been bad at one point or another including Detroit – how do you think they ever got Yzerman? The Oilers, Islanders and Leafs have won multiple cups. I think it is wrong to think that these competitive individuals running and playing for teams are not interested in winning. At the same time, I’d rather they do what is necessary to build a Stanley Cup contender than a perennial 8th-9th place finisher ie Penguins, Blackhawks.
Mawman the point was made that Buffalo in particular should do absolutely nothing to get better because lord forbid they lose the #1 or #2 pick because the ONLY WAY TO BUILD A CONTENDER was by tanking.
I countered that line of thought. In regards to Stevie Y that was 30 years ago. Since the early 90’s the Wings have competed every season. While there have been hills and valleys they still have found ways to get back to the cup without dismantling everything.
There are instances where teams have tanked.. Pit was accused of it twice.. Once for Mario and one for Sidney. Rules were put in place and/or altered because of these events.
Disagree or agree with my assessment of Calgary and I don’t care. The Flames have been known for their work ethic league wide since Hartley took over the coaching duties. IMO he along with managements support, and the development in the AHL have these kids developing faster and better than many expected. Not going to count my eggs before they hatch though. There is a ton of hard work to be done but things look a lot rosier in Calgary than in TO or EDM.
The Isles last cup was in 81… the Leafs in 1867, and then the most recent the Oilers in 91… Dare I say it has been a while.
Comments are made that teams are or should tank. I was just expressing that I don’t think they are trying to lose each night and that rebuilding by trading veterans for picks/prospects is done with the intention of winning. No approach works every time including the path the Flames are on.
I respect your opinion but I don’t agree that things are a lot rosier in Calgary than Edmonton if the real goal is to win a cup. Flames will need to draft well to replace Giordanno, Hudler, Wideman and Hiller all of which will be retired before the youngsters are ready to push for a cup. Drafting in the second half of the first round will make the likelihood of successful drafting much less certain – ie Monahan/Bennett vs Janikowski/Bennett.
Sorry – should have read “Janikowsi/Baertschi”.
As for the Eller for Ellis trade idea, I think I could dig it. Probably just biased as an Oilers fan and undervaluing defense, but it seems that with the Habs current d-men and Beaulieu and Tinordi establishing themselves that they should be fine. At the same time, Eller is playing on the 3rd line these days so maybe they could trade him and play someone more suited to that role. Plus it gives Montreal defensive depth in case some of those guys don’t turn out or need a few extra years to mature.
And if you want an offensive defenseman with a similar number of points can I interest you in Justin Schultz? Can’t imagine we want Eller after he poked fun at our non-existent system.
if the habs move eller it will be for more of a defensive dman than ellis
The 3rd line is pretty much exactly what Eller is suited for. Yes, he can be a possession beast, but he is not a pure offensive player.
The Habs do need help on the backend: Emelin has been a mess all season long, Gonchar will wear down since Therrible is overusing him, and Gilbert has been at best ok.
But Justin Schultz…uh, how about no?
lamson some teams poor at center could use him as a number 2 but good number 3 Shultz would not fit well in mtl they need shutdown dmen agreed
With the way the Canadian dollar is sliding,don’t be surprised if the cap goes down.That puts a whole lot of teams in trouble.Unless a team has a boatload of cap space,most trades will have to be dollar for dollar.From what I understand the Leafs and Franson are miles apart.When you consider what others are getting,he has a right to ask for 5 mill per.