Trade Deadline at 3pm EST: Who could move?
We are only ONE day away from the NHL Trade Deadline and like years prior, we here at DailyFaceoff will have full, up to the minute coverage of all the trade festivities this week.
The deadline is Wednesday, March 5th at 3 p.m EST. Looking back, last year’s trade deadline had a number of deals that have really impacted this season.Two days before the deadline, Jay Bouwmeester was sent to St. Louis, where he has now become a staple on their blueline alongside Alex Pietrangelo, and recently returned from Sochi with a gold medal around his neck. On deadline day, Ben Bishop was sent to Tampa Bay for Cory Conacher. Bishop has become the backbone of the Lightning and appears to be the front runner for the Vezina Trophy. Steve Mason has enjoyed somewhat of a resurrection in Philadelphia after being acquired from Columbus. Jason Pominville, now with Minnesota, continues to be a consistent performer after being shipped out of Buffalo for multiple prospects and picks. Finally, the biggest name that was moved last season was Marian Gaborik, who’s season has been ravaged by a knee and collarbone injuries, but is set to play just his 19th game of the season on Thursday.
In total there were 22 trades in the week leading up to the trade deadline, we will see if NHL GM’s will top that number this season. Lets take a look at the big names who could be on the move this season:
Forwards
Thomas Vanek – LW/RW – New York Islanders *(TRADED)* Montreal Canadiens
The Islanders traded Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick to the Canadiens for Sebastien Collberg and a conditional 2014 second-round pick.
When the Islanders acquired Vanek in October, they were taking on the risk that Vanek might not re-sign with them. That risk has materialized as Vanek turned down contract offers from the Isles and now become a must-trade for GM Garth Snow. He sent Matt Moulson, a 2014 1st round pick (Isles can defer to 2015 if it’s a Top 10 pick) and a 2015 second round pick for Vanek, so you have to expect he will be looking for a similar return. He is more likely to get a plethora of prospects and a first round pick, but won’t receive an NHL proven player like the one he gave up in Moulson. Vanek is an accomplished scorer. He has 21 goals and 32 assists (53 points) in 60 games this season, 44 (17G / 27A) coming in 47 games with the Islanders. He is a legitimate game-breaker who has the ability to break a game open on any shift. There will be plenty of playoff teams lining up for Vanek this week.
Matt Moulson – LW – Buffalo Sabres *(TRADED)* Minnesota Wild
The Sabres traded Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick to the Wild for Torey Mitchell and 2014 and 2016 second-round picks.
On the other end of that Vanek trade is the Sabres who are sitting with Moulson, who is in the final year of his contract with a cap-hit of $3.13 million US. The Sabres are far from being a contender right now, so they will be looking to offload their pending UFAs for draft picks. If they can get a first round pick for Moulson, they will be sitting with three first round picks (If Isles don’t defer to 2015) in the 2014 NHL draft. Moulson has 17 goals and 19 assists (36 points) in 54 games this season. He has scored at least 30 goals in his last three 82-game seasons, the type of production any Stanley Cup contender would not mind adding at the right price. All that being said, Moulson has voiced that he wouldn’t mind staying if Buffalo if he is not traded by March 5th.
Ryan Callahan – RW – New York Rangers *(TRADED)* Tampa Bay Lightning
The Rangers have traded Callahan, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2014 second-round pick.
(If the Rangers make the Conference Finals, their 2014 first-round pick becomes a first / If Callahan re-signs in Tampa Bay the Lightning have to give the Rangers a 2015 second-round pick and get a 2015 seventh rounder.)
Callahan’s name started surfacing on the trade market recently. At first, most people just thought it was rumours, but contract negotiations between both parties is not going well and they are running out of time. Callahan has reportedly dropped the number of years that he wants from seven to six, but they remain distant as to how much he is worth. The Rangers’ captain is a heart and soul player who might be the best addition for a team looking to make a Stanley Cup run. He might not have the pure offensive ability of some of the other available forwards, but this is the type of player you need on your team come playoff time.
Mike Cammalleri – C/LW – Calgary Flames
There should be a number of teams lining up to acquire Cammalleri before Wednesday. He is an experienced scorer who will add some pop into a team’s top-6/9. The one glaring concern with Cammalleri is his inability to stay healthy. No one wants to give up future assets for a player who is going to come to their team and get injured. He has missed a total of 17 games with concussion and hand injuries. Teams like the Penguins, who will be looking to replace Pascal Dupuis, and the Kings, who will be looking for more scoring will be interested in the 31-year-old. He has 13 goals and eight assists (21 points) in 43 games and is in the final year of a five-year deal that carries an annual cap-hit of $6 million.
Jaromir Jagr – RW – New Jersey Devils
Jagr is a living legend. He recorded his 700th career goal on Saturday and leads the Devils in goals (19), assists (33) and points (52) through 62 games. Jagr has told the media that he would like to stay with the Devils, but has not spoke to Lou Lamoriello about it. Jagr signed a one-year, $2 million contract in the summer and would be an inexpensive add for a team looking to add a veteran presence and excellent scorer to their top-6.
Ales Hemsky – RW – Edmonton Oilers *(TRADED)* Ottawa Senators
The Senators traded a 2014 fifth-round pick and a 2015 third-round pick to the Oilers for Ales Hemsky.
Hemsky has been in trade rumours for years, but this is probably the year that it will happen. The 30-year-old winger has seven goals and 17 assists (24 points) in 54 games, but has yet to record a point in six games since returning from an ankle injury. Hemsky is in the last year of a two-year, $10 million US deal that carries a cap-hit of $5 million. Like Cammalleri, he is a talented player, but has had a difficult time staying healthy. Hemsky has missed 125 games of the last five seasons, but has scored on a pace of 51 points per 82 games.
David Legwand – C – Nashville Predators *(TRADED)* Detroit Red Wings
The Predators traded David Legwand to the Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok and a conditional third-round pick.
Legwand has spent his entire career with the Predators. He was selected second overall in 1998 and has played 955 regular season games with them since then. He has been a consistent scorer for Nashville, but has never developed into a great scorer like he was in the OHL before he was drafted. Legwand has appeared in all 61 games this season and has only missed three games in the last three season. He has 10 goals and 30 assists (40 points) in 61 games. In the Predators last three playoff appearances, Legwand has netted 11 goals with 11 assists (22 points) in 28 games.
Ryan Kesler – C – Vancouver Canucks
Kesler is signed through the 2015-16 season with a cap-hit of $5 million US. In the last few seasons, the Canucks have gone from Stanley Cup contenders to a disaster and it appears it is time to shake things up. Kesler has made it known that he would like to be traded and there are tons of teams that will be calling about him this week. The offer that is going to pry Kesler from Vancouver will be monsterous, likely an NHL-ready player, two picks and a prospect. The Penguins terrible bottom-6 could push them to make a move at Kesler, but they will be among many teams inquiring about the 29-year-old two-way stud.
Chris Stewart – RW – Buffalo Sabres
Stewart was just traded to the Sabres in the Ryan Miller deal, but it appears as if Buffalo is just a temporary landing spot for Stewart. He could play on Monday, but that may be the only game we get to see him in a Sabres uniform. The Senators have been interested in Stewart for awhile now, they will likely make a strong case to acquire him before Wednesday’s deadline. The Sabres are in fire-sale mode as they continue to stockpile picks at a rapid pace, so expect Stewart, among other to be packing their bags and shipping out of Buffalo in the next few days.
Defensemen
Andrew MacDonald – D – New York Islanders *(TRADED)* Philadelphia Flyers
The Islanders have traded Andrew MacDonald to the Flyers for a 2014 3rd round-pick, a 2015 2nd round-pick and AHLer Matt Mangene.
MacDonald is probably the most sought-after defensemen at the deadline. He is in the last year of a deal that only carries a $550,000 cap-hit, making him a very inexpensive deadline addition. While the cap figure may be inexpensive, the asking price for what the Isles want in return is believed to be substantial. MacDonald leads the NHL in blocked shots with 198, which is 28 more than the next highest (Josh Gorges 170). At 25:05 he is eighth in the NHL in TOI per game and sees time on both the Islanders power-play and shorthanded units. He is a feasible add for teams who are pushing for the playoffs, but are also pressed up against the cap.
Christian Ehrhoff – D – Buffalo Sabres
Ehrhoff is signed through the 2020-21 season, he will be 39-years-old by then, but is only owed $14 million over the next six seasons and carries a $4 million US cap-hit. Ehrhoff is a strong puck-moving defensemen, but results in Buffalo have not been what was expected when he signed with them in 2011. On a better team, with a slightly reduced role, Ehrhoff’s offensive ability should come to the forefront. He has 29 points (6G / 23A) which ranks third on the team. The Red Wings are known to have interest in Ehrhoff, but likely won’t be willing to spend what the Sabres are asking for. However, at this point the Sabres may be content to offload as many players as they can to get as many draft picks as they can.
Marek Zidlicky – D – New Jersey Devils
Zidlicky is set to become a UFA at the end of the season and could be on the move before Wednesday. The 37-year-old D-man has nine goals and 22 assists (31 points) in 61 games. While he may have lost a step over the years, but he can still play big minutes (21:37 AVG TOI) and help on the power-play. His six PP goals have him tied for third amongst defensemen in that category.
Henrik Tallinder – D – Buffalo Sabres
Tallinder will not bring much offence to the table, but will make for a good add for teams who are looking to stabilize their blueline. The Swedish Olympian is a glaring minus-15 this season, but a lot of that has to be attributed to the overall struggles of the Sabres. He is in the final year of a four-year deal, he comes with a $3.375 million US cap-hit.
Goalies
Jaroslav Halak – G – Buffalo Sabres *(TRADED)* Washington Capitals
The Sabres traded Jaroslav and a 2015 third-round pick to the Capitals for Michal Neuvirth and Rostislav Klesla.
After being dealt to Buffalo in the Ryan Miller trade, it looks like he won’t even last a week with the Sabres. It seems almost certain that Halak will be shipped out of town for the second time in a week. Halak will not start Monday as the Sabres continue to shop him. He is 24-9-4 with a 2.23 GAA and .917 SV% this season, which are pretty much in line with his 2.38 / .917 career numbers. He is 10-11 with a 2.42 GAA and .923 SV% in 21 career playoff starts.
Cam Ward / Anton Khudobin /Justin Peters – G – Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have three capable NHL goaltenders and they are looking to move on of them before Wednesday. The Hurricanes have been in contract talks with Khudobin, who has been great this year, but it may be tough to get a deal done before Wednesday.The Hurricanes signed Khudobin to a two-year $4.5 million US deal Tuesday. Peters is in the final year of his contract, while Ward is signed through 2015-16 at $6.3 million per season. In his first season in Carolina, Khudobin has been the best of the three going 13-8-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .927 while Ward is 6-9-5 with a 3.23 GAA and .891 SV% during his injury ravaged season. Peters has gone 7-9-4 with a 2.50 GAA and .919 SV%, but has not started a game since January 19.
Ilya Bryzgalov – G – Edmonton Oilers *(TRADED)* Minnesota Wild
The Oilers have traded Ilya Bryzgalov to the Wild in exchange for a 2014 fourth-round pick.
It appears that Bryzgalov’s short stay in Edmonton is just about over. He has been average so far this season. He is 5-8-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV%, but his asking price is likely a lot lower than other netminders on the market.