List of this coming season’s potential trade candidates, plus an updated list of remaining free-agent bargains.
Trade candidates for 2015-16.
Eric Staal & Cam Ward could become trade candidates this season.
NHL.COM: Responding to a reader’s question, Dan Rosen lists several NHL players he considers potential trade candidates. They include Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien, Carolina’s Eric Staal and Cam Ward, Colorado’s Erik Johnson, Edmonton’s Teddy Purcell, Florida’s Jaromir Jagr and Brian Campbell, Toronto’s Shawn Matthias and James Reimer, and Vancouver’s Dan Hamhuis.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of the players on Rosen’s list are unrestricted free agents next July. In all cases, of course, it’ll depend upon where their respective teams are in the standings near the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
I see the Jets retaining Byfuglien as long as they remain in playoff contention this season, even at the risk of losing him to free agency in July. I believe the Avs will re-sign Johnson, their top defenseman, even if it means overpaying to do so. If the Panthers are playoff contenders, Jagr and Campbell stay put for the rest of the season. Ditto for Hamhuis and the Canucks.
I’m not expecting much improvement from Carolina or Toronto this season, so Staal, Ward, Matthias and Reimer could be available in the trade market later this season. Purcell could become the odd man out on the Oilers forward lines.
List of bargain free agents.
OTTAWA SUN: Michael Traikos lists Jiri Tlusty, Cody Franson, Sean Bergenheim, Curtis Glencross, Marek Zidlicky, Scottie Upshall and Brad Boyes as the best bargain free agents available. He suggests Tlusty could return to the Hurricanes, notes reports of Boston and Buffalo having interest in Franson, wondered if Bergenheim might make a good depth addition for the Oilers and Upshall getting a training camp invite from St. Louis.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see where these players end up. Some could follow Upshall’s lead and accept a PTO in hopes of earning a one-year deal for the upcoming season. A few could face continuing their playing careers in Europe or retirement.
All eyes will obviously be on Franson, who was expected to be among this summer’s big-ticket UFAs. He was reportedly seeking a long-term deal worth (depending upon your source) between $4.5 – $6 million annually. At this point, it appears he’ll have to settle for a one- or two-year deal worth considerably less in annual salary, perhaps even less than the $3.3 million he earned last season. At least the Sabres pitched him a two-year deal.
if the Bruins can ever get someone to take Kelly for a draft pick that would free up 3 mil and give them about 7 mil in cap space in which they can fit a needed Franson in on their D
B’s would be wise to take nothing for Kelly if cap space is the biggest concern. The few teams with space will hold Boston and other strapped teams against the wall if such a move is going to help them.
Franson not worth it he not the kind of D man the Bruins need. He’s slow and doesn’t move the puck well. As for Kelly let him stay a a 4th line center. trade at the deadline or let him walk next year. I would like to see them get Glencross for a year. He would make a good 3 liner on the wing.
At a $3 mil cap hit? At this time of the year? Good luck with that. Maybe at the trade deadline if teams suddenly find themselves short a 4th line C due to injury or something.
Get rid of him he’s NOT worth that much !!!!!
Eric Staal could be the big wildcard for the coming season. Everyone needs a big center; Stall could help alotta teams right now and in the future.
Maybe he’s the playoff rental other teams seek. But anyone that’s looking to resign him should beware if the Staal camp is looking for 1st line money. Staal will probably be putting up 2nd line numbers going forward.
I agree about Staal. He is over due for a change of scenary
I think Rosen could have added the names of Chris Neil and Alex Chiasson of the Sens to that list (one’s a UFA the other an RFA). I would have also said Chris Phillips (UFA) but it looks like his career could be effectively over with that latest back problem.
Bruins would be better off signing Zdlicky and either Glencross or Boyes to give them some added depth. Both together would cost less than Franson.
If the Pens young d ends up struggling or Letang or Maatta end up getting any kind of long term injury I think Hamhuis is definitely a good option for them. They already know Benning is one of the weaker GMs out there after the Sutter trade and if the Canucks are way out of a playoff spot by then like they should be I can really see it happening.