2021 Daily Faceoff Top 10: #4 — 15 trade targets as market heats up in December
We don’t have to look back very far to see the fourth most read article this season.
It again belonged to Frank Seravalli, who at the start of December took an early look at how the trade market is starting to take shape.
Fifteen players joined the list, but today we’re gonna look at Frank’s top five.
1. Joonas Korpisalo
Goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.8 million AAV
Scoop: It’s the Elvis Merzlikins Show in Columbus, now and for the foreseeable future. Merzlikins has carried the Blue Jackets – and next year begins a fresh five-year, $27 million deal. Plus, the Blue Jackets have Daniil Tarasov eventually waiting in the wings. Korpisalo has not put in a formal trade request, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen is aware that Korpisalo would be open to an opportunity to play elsewhere. Teams have engaged with Columbus on Korpisalo as recently as the last couple weeks. He’s struggled these last two seasons – but made a believer of many with his play in the ‘bubble’ in 2019-20.
2. Jake DeBrusk
Left Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 25
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.675 million AAV ($4.41 mil. minimum qualifying offer)
Scoop: DeBrusk’s trade request has been well publicized, grabbing headlines and generating interest. As many as 12 teams have reportedly inquired about DeBrusk – and though he’s been needed in the lineup, Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been active in attempting to facilitate a deal and diffuse the situation. There have been questions about DeBrusk’s attention to detail and effort level (publicly via coach Bruce Cassidy). The difficulty is other teams have seen that, too, leaving Sweeney in a position of weakness, trying to trade a talented young scorer while his value is seemingly at an all-time low.
The team most likely to trade for Jake DeBrusk is________? pic.twitter.com/beBXaeC3hx
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) November 30, 20213. Vladimir Tarasenko
Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
Age: 29
Contract: 1 more season at $7.5 million AAV
Scoop: Tarasenko has played the role of the good soldier in St. Louis – and he’s still hoping that the Blues will in turn honor his desire to be moved. His trade request from the summer has not been rescinded. In the meantime, what Tarasenko has done is remove any lingering questions about his health. The Yaroslavl Sniper has 19 points in 22 games this season and is on pace for 26 goals, despite his shooting percentage (8.3) being down one-third from his career average (12.4).
4. Justin Holl
Right Defense, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 29
Contract: 1 more season at $2 million AAV
Scoop: Goaltender Petr Mrazek is inching closer to a return to the Maple Leafs’ lineup, having recently returned to practice with the team. That means the Leafs will need to clear some cap space in order to activate Mrazek off LTIR. Kyle Clifford is one easy transaction. But the Leafs will need to shed more than that. There are other ways, including waiving Wayne Simmonds or trading Nick Ritchie. Since Timothy Liljegren has played himself into an everyday role, the Leafs have had interest in both Holl and Travis Dermott, but Holl is older and earns more – in a role that’s not commensurate with his pay.
5. Vitali Kravtsov
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 21
Contract: Pending RFA, $925,000 AAV
Scoop: The No. 9 overall pick from the 2018 NHL Draft has been on loan with KHL Chelyabinsk after refusing an assignment to the AHL in October. Kravtsov has five goals and one assist for six points in eight games since returning to Russia. New agent Dan Milstein has permission to find a new home for Kravtsov, but it hasn’t been easy. We’re told Ottawa and Montreal were among the teams interested. Now that Jeff Gorton, the man who drafted Kravtsov, is in control in Montreal – could a reunion be in order? The Canadiens have three third-round picks, or perhaps an NHL roster player who might help New York’s middle six with Sammy Blais out.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.