A list of RFA players who could become trade bait in today’s NHL rumor mill.
Possible RFA trade bait
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox examined the status of the top 36 NHL restricted free agents to determine those whose stock has risen or fallen and those whose rights could be dangled as trade bait. He noted contract talks between the Ottawa Senators and winger Mike Hoffman are currently non-existent, but he’d like to stay in Ottawa on a long-term deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman’s streaky production raised concern with former Senators GM Bryan Murray. If recently promoted GM Pierre Dorion shares his predecessor’s concern, and with team owner Eugene Melnyk pushing for change, Hoffman could become a trade candidate this summer.
Could the Avs shop Tyson Barrie this summer?
While Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie popped up in trade rumors this season, they need to hang onto quality blueliners like him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avs GM Joe Sakic would be insane to trade Barrie. Yes, he’ll be expensive to re-sign, but as Fox points out, the Avs need all the quality defensemen they can get.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn went from having his name appear in trade rumors to posting up the best numbers of his career.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Schenn will earn himself a new contract with the Flyers. He’s been a more engaged player this season, and certainly more physical.
The cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks could move on from winger Andrew Shaw if his asking price proves too high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With almost $67 million invested in 17 players next season, the Blackhawks can afford to re-sign Shaw, but it won’t leave much to re-sign or replace other players.
The Anaheim Ducks would like to re-sign defenseman Sami Vatanen. Given their blueline depth and GM Bob Murray’s search for more scoring, Vatanen could be moved this summer. His name surfaced in the rumor mill after Murray tried unsuccessfully to re-sign him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have over $53 million tied up in 15 players, so they have the room to re-sign Vatanen. However, they also have a recent history of maintaining a lower salary-cap ceiling. With promising young defensemen like Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour waiting in the wings, I wouldn’t be surprised if they re-sign Hampus Lindholm (who’s coming off an entry-level contract) and trade Vatanen, who has arbitration rights this summer.
Speaking of the Ducks, goalie Frederik Andersen could also be used as a trade chip. He was apparently scouted late in the season by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: John Gibson appears to have the starter’s position locked up with the Ducks. I’m expecting Andersen will be dealt this summer. No surprise the Leafs were scouting him.
New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider’s play this season picked up after his name appeared in trade rumors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kreider didn’t help his case for a lucrative long-term deal this season, but I don’t believe the Rangers will move him.
With Calgary Flames young stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan due new contracts, Fox wonders if Joe Colborne could become the odd man out.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames want to re-sign Colborne, but of course it’ll depend upon how much it costs to re-sign Gaudreau and Monahan, who are in line for significant raises.
The Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Jacob Trouba are reportedly nowhere close to a deal. He could become a valuable trade chip if the Jets wish to go that route.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba’s agent denied a report claiming his client was seeking an eight-year, $56 million deal. Coming off an entry-level deal and a less-than-stellar performance this season, Trouba has little leverage other than to hope he gets an offer sheet or stage a holdout next season. I think the Jets intend to keep him. He’ll likely have to accept a two-year bridge contract.
Minnesota Wild defenseman and fan favorite Matt Dumba was linked to Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin in midseason trade speculation.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild need to bolster their offense and could indeed deal from their defense to get it. Dumba might have the most value, but if the Wild are going that route they’ll have to be careful. This could be a move that comes back to haunt them. My guess is they’ll try to move Jonas Brodin rather than Dumba.
Not sure I would sign Schenn. I think the risk is way too high he gets a new deal and production drops (see Vorachek). 3 years tops on a deal. Flyers risk getting too many guys on LT contracts that stop producing. Needs to be an out for those kinds of situations, like the NFL has. NHL contracts have to stop being one sided guarantees.
Nfl type contracts in the NHL are never going to happen. The nhlpa will never bend nor should they. They risk an awful lot on a daily basis. I think if it ever actually happened, you’d see the same trend you see in the nfl, players losing interest or walking away very young.
All athletes risk a lot. I take risk in my profession, and get paid for it, but if I stop performing, I don’t get paid. Too many teams are saddled with guaranteed contracts for underachieving players, something has to give. Shorter deals, some kind of bonus structured up front etc… There is an answer for that problem that works for all. I have been watching Schenn since the Flyers acquired him and my gut says he peters out if he gets paid. I am not convinced the rebuild is over in Philly…
Badcowboydan,
That’s where u and most people dumb this conversation down. NOBODY on the face of this planet is coming to watch me or u do our jobs! NOBODY!!!!! My past…..a field engineer, I have done make ready engineering/ wind loading! I’ve stuck high voltage lines in order to have catv for people. There are never any crowds gathered to see me sticking 13 hundred volts. Nobody to see when I get electrocuted and end up a pile of ash!….. Stop! You are not( nor am I) on the same level!
You’re missing the point. Not looking for a long-winded job description of when you were a cable guy… Eventually the market will pay value. Right now it’s overpaying some, and that will be fixed.
The point shortened for you…… People don’t pay money to come watch you do your job. It’s a safe bet to say there are no badcowboydan jerseys , cups, jackets, figures etc. flooding the shelves at Christmas time.
Again, when the average Joe starts comparing their job to that of a pro athlete…… It’s dumbing down the conversation.
I would say B. Schenn, 25 in August, is core piece in Philadelphia. He plays in the top 6 moving from LW on the #1 line to C on the #2 as injuries warrant & he’s a main stay on the #1 PP unit. He won’t be going any where. I just hope Philadelphia can keep the cap hit & term manageable. Between 5 & 6 mil for 6 years. Less money would be better but with his UFA status; 2 years away, so close that will be hard. If Philadelphia wants to buy up UFA years that costs money. Just the way the market works in today’s NHL.
Agree with Striker-Schenn is a core piece. Proved he can play wing or can go back to centre. They have Couturier locked up at a reasonable 6 years-$26 M. If they can get Schenn @ 6 years @ $5-5.5M they would have the 5/6 of the top 2 lines locked up long term. With the young D coming up-Flyers should be in good shape in the cap world after Umberger buyout and Streit contract expires.
Are Trouba and his agent nuts??? 8 years and $56 million??? With the year he had and just 2 years in the league???? They are living in a dream-world if they think anything is going to cough up that anywhere near that much in an offer sheet.
Indeed George, the Morgan Rielly deal of 6 x $5 provides the point of comparison where Trouba discussions begin – has he even earned that?
An offer sheet would make no sense because the Jets have the space to match.
The Jets will have to be bridge him and then move him before his next deal. This will happen frequently to them (and EDM) as their young stars mature and want to leave
Dan39 I disagree with e offer sheet, the jets are a budget team and depending on the offer sheet, they might just walk; however if they feel there is a threat of the offer sheet, they likely deal him before it got to that. Like the Bruins did with Hamilton.
i agree caper I think your gonna see what boston did with Hamilton happen more if the risk of an offer sheet is high. I think a contract would be around riellys trouba needs to work on being more consistent and reilly needs to work on his defense
No NHL team is going to allow themselves to be poached via an offer sheet, including Winnipeg unless the player is a borderline talent. See Penner moving from Anh to Edm. The last player poached. People said Nas would never match Weber’s contract offer due to their limited finances & that was before the NHL clamped down on such onerous contract structures.
Philadelphia couldn’t have structured that contract any worse for Nashville but Nashville matched regardless. That deal was 14 years at 110 mil. Nashville has already paid 56 million of that contract in the 1st 4 years of it’s term, completed this season.
Unless Trouba is offered more than the 7.3 threshold Winnipeg is matching as the draft pick compensation doesn’t justify losing him. No team is offering him more than that in this cap world.
Trouba has zero leverage. No team is offering him for more than 5 million per on an offer sheet. He’s worth a 2 year bridge deal at about 4 to 4.5 tops. He can take it or enjoying watching until he capitulates, gives up & signs for what Winnipeg offers. Unless his contract demands are fair.
Winnipeg can’t afford to just throw money around when you can sell out & still only get 15,042 into the building & have limited corporate monies available but they won’t allow themselves to be poached unless the draft pick compensation justifies doing so & no way Trouba’s breaking that threshold.
Striker, that’s why if it comes to that he’ll be traded first. The bruins have 2 examples, Hamilton who they should have left sign an offer sheet then matched and the other being Kessel. Burke said trade him to us or we make him an offer sheet. There is some who belive Trouba wants out of Winnipeg. Sound familiar?
George, his agent denied that report.
Another one of those “rumors” dreamed up by the TSN panel?
Hoffman would be smart to play poker. His contract situation times out perfectly. He declines his qualifying, elects arbitration, takes his 1 year award & becomes a UFA on July 1st 2017 the summer of the expansion draft. A ton of teams will have significant cap space following expansion, especially if 2 teams are awarded.
He auctions himself off to the highest bidder, gets a boat load of cash on a 7 year deal & bids Ottawa adieu. You want to complain about a player not being respected our utilized properly at least Hoffman earned the opportunities he should have been given, unlike that little premadona in TB. If deployed properly he would easily be a 35 to 40 goal scorer. An incredibly rare commodity in today’s NHL.
The problem with Hoffman is he starts off the season hot, then at the end of it he disappears. And he’s done this two straight seasons. Would be kinda risky for the Sens to give him a big money, long term deal
Go look at his deployment on ESPN when his scoring dry’s up. I believe tarsenko went 16 games this season with out scoring a goal.
I think I was pretty clear I want Hoffman to shaft Ottawa & show them the same love they have shown him.
Clearly, you believe in kissing ass. There had to be a valid reason he sat on the pines at times. I don’t care if he scored 30 goals – if he’s irresponsible defensively and refuses to change his game, to hell with him. What do YOU know that the coaching staff in Ottawa did not – or Murray? I’m growing a little weary of your pious pronouncements suggesting you somehow have greater “inside” knowledge than us mere mortals.
I agree with you George on Hoffman. striker why the change now on how Hoffman is coached and he should stick it to the sens but drouin went thru the exact same thing in tampa yet it is his fault not the coaching staff?
Ottawa needed what Hoffman had to offer, they were starving for a LW that could score, hell they were starving for anyone that could score, as Michalek was useless last season & this year & this season MacArthur was injured & there was little scoring depth on the Senators after the top 2 lines the season before last. Hoffman was a huge factor in Ottawa having the offense they did this season & his play wasn’t costing them games. Just the opposite in fact.
Hoffman isn’t a total liability. Yes he gets favorable deployments in the offensive zone & he leans to offense. So he should. You can teach people to check you can’t teach what Hoffman has. Surely Ottawa can find a C or RW capable of limiting Hoffman’s defensive faults but his plus minus is better than Ryan’s, Turris & others this season & last year was quite impressive.
My issue with Cameron is that as soon as Hoffman made the slightest mistake he was punished. Everyone else could do so repeatedly with little to no consequence.
Hoffman paid his dues. He has scored at every level he’s ever played at & spent 4 years playing in Bighamton. Drouin hasn’t paid anything & TB has numerous players that were ahead of Drouin that had paid their dues & would do as requested. You can’t even compare the 2.
The fact you 2 just refuse to get it isn’t my fault don’t get made at me & throw personal remarks. Try to be friendly. George are you this much of an assh–e in real life to? Ha-ha!
I didn’t throw any personal insults! lol but I don’t think you get it and that’s not our fault! lol Hoffman doesn’t want to learn defense if you cant see that you don’t watch a lot of sens game! he is terrible in his own end when he does cross the blueline to his own end
bigbear, the more I see Hoffman the more he reminds me of Kessel in his approach to his game. And I’ll never forget that comment in 2014 by Phil The Thrill “I think Randy lets me get away with stuff that other guys might not get away with. Obviously I play different than someone else on the team. I think me and Randy have a pretty good relationship.” Clearly, that attitude did not follow into the new Leafs regime. Can you just picture Kessel trying that with Babcock?
Stop the whiny about Droning, he is playing well.
I lean towards being an “a-hole” when exposed to blowhards who insist on telling me how to build a clock when all I asked for was the time.
I’d be happy with either Dumba or Brodin. 1 has a great future as a top flight offensive Dman that may have a 2 way game? Dumba. The other has the ability to play a shut down role as a safety net on a 1st or 2nd pairing & in his 1st 2 years in the NHL when deployed in more favorable offensive situations showed he might have some offensive abilities if given the chance. Scored 8 goals in his 1st full season as a sophomore. Brodin.
Hey guys just want your opinions on a trade, and how the leafs line up will look. This is strictly hypothetical, by that its conditional on the leafs getting the 1oa pick, and signing Stamkos. Of course the leafs take Matthews. The trade
Leafs get: Trouba
Winnipeg gets: Pitts 1st rd pick, Washington second rd pick, and nj 3rd rd pick.(essentially an offer sheet). Leafs resign Trouba to a similar contract as Reilly.
Leaf line up in 2 years (chances are Hunwick is gone but what the heck)
JVR-Stamkos-Marner
Kadri-Matthews-Nylander
Komorov-Bozak-kapenan/soshnikov
Liepsic/vesey-holland-soshnikov /kapenan
Trouba-Reilly
Gardiner-zaitsev
Hunwick-? Anyone from the marlies
It’s nice have dreams.
That’s the start of a wet dream
Actually that would be no where near an offer sheet, Pittsburgh finished much higher than TO, Washington was tops in the league thus pick #60 vice 31 and NJ was fighting for a playoff pos while TO desired last place, Wpg would be nuts to make that deal
I meant it was like an offer sheet in the sense of draft picks dealt, not the order of the picks. I understand if you think the value isn’t e there, but $$ wise his signing makes more sense in toronto then Winnipeg. Face it Winnipeg need to over pay to get or keep players. Is not a preferential living spot. Winnipeg is going to end up paying 5.5-6 m a year. Toronto could probably sign him for 4.5-5.5
Btw check out the payments for offer sheets. The only change is their not the picks from the team making an offer sheet. But it’s the same amount of picks for each round
have you seen some of the contracts the leafs have handed out lately?? I think they might have to overpay just a little too to get or keep players
You really think the leafs need to over pay? I thought Kadri and Reilly made that look like an after thought
those 2 weren’t terrible but before that kessle phaneuf Clarkson etc! and really before that what big name free agent has signed in Toronto? hasn’t been many
I like the Kadri deal. Imo the Reilly deal was premature. Keep your cost controlled players cost controlled as long as possible. If Reilly works out, it’s a genius deal. But I’d still rather keep him cost controlled and deal with him as a ufa When that time comes.