SERAVALLI: Trade Targets – Reilly Smith, Pavel Buchnevich join the board
If you think this fascinating summer is off to a bit of a slow start, think of NHL front offices like ducks on a pond right now: All appears calm above water, but they’re paddling furiously underneath the surface.
We’ve had just one trade to this point, when the Nashville Predators shipped scorer Viktor Arvidsson to Los Angeles on July 1. That number will surely perk up, even if many transactions will wait until after the Seattle Kraken select their team in the Expansion Draft on July 21.
Here are 25 names in play with Daily Faceoff’s latest edition of Trade Targets, whose ranking seeks to blend a player’s prominence with his likelihood of a trade:
1. @Jack Eichel
Center, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 24
Contract: 5 years remaining at $10 million AAV
Scoop: Eichel said in an interview Friday that it would be “really cool” to one day play for his hometown Bruins. “Who knows what’s going to happen in the next little bit here,” Eichel said. Right now, the marriage between the Sabres and their captain appears to be irretrievably broken. The two sides have kept quiet of late, but a medical treatment disagreement boiling over publically is typically the tip of the iceberg. Teams will need reassurance on his neck injury, but there is no trepidation about this elite threat’s contract.
2. @Seth Jones
Right Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26
Contract: 1 year remaining at $5.4 million AAV
Scoop: It’s not often that a Norris Trophy-vote-earning defenseman makes it to market at age 26, but Jones won’t be re-signing long-term in Columbus. And unlike Artemi Panarin or Sergei Bobrovsky, he’s very unlikely to play out the string this season as the Blue Jackets retool or refresh under new coach Brad Larsen. Jones holds the cards, with both his 10-team no-trade clause and he may have already played a hand or two with his ability to signal his (dis)interest in an extension.
3. @Vladimir Tarasenko 🆕
Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
Age: 29
Contract: 2 years remaining at $7.5 million AAV
Scoop: We reported last month that Tarasenko provided the Blues with several teams to which he’d accept a trade, in search of a change of scenery. This is a mutual parting of the ways. After two botched shoulder surgeries which cost him the bulk of the last two seasons, Tarasenko underwent a third procedure in Colorado that has him back to full strength. When healthy, Tarasenko was one of the unquestioned most consistent snipers in the NHL, registering five straight 30-goal seasons before being beset by injury.
4. @Evgeny Kuznetsov
Center, Washington Capitals
Age: 29
Contract: 4 years remaining at $7.8 million AAV
Scoop: Simply put, the Caps are tired of Kuznetsov’s antics. From being one of the only NHL players to test positive for Covid-19 twice this season, to his four-year suspension from international hockey after testing positive for cocaine, the time is right for a change. Kuznetsov is unquestionably a talented player – see his Conn Smythe-worthy playoff run in 2018 – but an inconsistent one. His contract will be difficult to move, but perhaps less so after the Caps pay his $5 million signing bonus due in July.
5. @Conor Garland
Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 25
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: The Coyotes have not treated Garland like the player who was the heartbeat of their team. Garland’s camp, led by agent Peter Cooney, submitted two contract proposals (as requested by the club) on May 20 and there has been zero communication or dialogue since. “We’re just looking for Conor to be paid respectfully like the core player he was for the Coyotes,” Cooney told Daily Faceoff on Tuesday. It appears that will be elsewhere, which is no real shock given that Arizona nearly moved Garland in the days prior to April’s trade deadline.
6. @Reilly Smith 🆕
Right Wing, Vegas Golden Knights
Age: 30
Contract: 1 year remaining at $5 million AAV
Scoop: As the Golden Knights work through the postmortem of another failed quest for hockey’s holy grail, there seems to be little doubt Vegas is gearing up for a reboot down the middle. Smith has emerged as one of the trade chips on the wing that GM Kelly McCrimmon is willing to part with to better balance the forward corps. His assist production waned last season, but Smith still scored at a 22-goal pace over an 82-game season, which has been a sure bet almost every season on the Strip. One of the original Golden Misfits, already one of just eight remaining from 2017-18, is also due a new contract.
7. @Sam Reinhart
Center, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 25
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: Shoot some truth serum into Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and he’ll likely tell you that he has no real interest in moving Reinhart. He finished tied for 11th in the league in goals (25), which is a 37-goal pace over 82 games. By all accounts, Reinhart also emerged as one of Buffalo’s leaders. It’s just that Reinhart is one year away from free agency and his negative comments indicate there is little chance he’ll be signing long-term, so this summer might be the best time to rip the band-aid off.
8. @Pavel Buchnevich 🆕
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 26
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: Sources indicate new Rangers GM Chris Drury has engaged in conversation about the possibility of moving Buchnevich. Why? He is coming off a career season, where he collected 20 goals and 48 points in just 54 games – a 30-goal and 72-point run over an 82-game stretch. That means he’s about to be paid. His arbitration award, at a minimum, is well above the $4.54 million walkaway rate – and any arbitration award would walk him to free agency anyway. It’s time to either buck-up or book a ticket for Buchnevich.
9. @Duncan Keith 🆕
Left Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 38
Contract: 2 years remaining at $5.54 million AAV
Scoop: Keith hired a new agent in Edmonton-based Gerry Johansson in an attempt to help facilitate a trade from Chicago, where he’s won three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy. Keith is interested in playing for four teams – all in the same general NHL geographic region: Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle or Vancouver. To this point, the Blackhawks have been unwilling to retain salary. The Oilers have unquestionably shown interest, putting defenseman @Caleb Jones on the table. Two questions remain: 1) Can a deal with Edmonton be revived? 2) Do the Seattle Kraken have interest?
10. @Evander Kane
Right Wing, San Jose Sharks
Age: 29
Contract: 4 years remaining at $7 million AAV
Scoop: Doug Wilson is navigating choppy waters in the Bay Area. Sources indicate significant friction built up between Kane and a number of his teammates last season, frustration that was expressed clearly to management in exit interviews. The trouble is Kane is also coming off the best season of his career: 32 goal and 40 assist pace over an 82-game season. He is one of the best at his position with a relentless forechecking style – and he’s signed to a contract that is commensurate with that production. We’ll see where this goes.
11. Rights to @Dougie Hamilton
Right Defense, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 28
Contract: Pending UFA
Scoop: The Hurricanes recently allowed Hamilton’s camp to explore the trade market. The hope is two-fold, either that as they peruse a trade and sign, that the market will show Carolina’s offers are in the ballpark – or that they’ll recoup an asset as Hamilton moves on. Hamilton is the only defenseman to hit double-digit goals in each of the last seven seasons, also the only blueliner to hit at least 39 points in that span. Break out the checkbook. Hamilton is the premier free agent available this summer.
12. @Nate Schmidt 🆕
Left/Right Defense, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 29
Contract: 4 years remaining at $5.95 million AAV
Scoop: Publicly, the Canucks denied a report saying Schmidt wanted to move on from Vancouver, with GM Jim Benning saying: “He was real positive in his exit interview. It’s not true. He doesn’t want out of Vancouver so I don’t know where that got started.” Behind the scenes, there seems to be some fire surrounding that smoke. There has been no formal ‘trade request,’ but there is also no denying Schmidt was not a great fit during his first season with the Canucks. Let’s see how this develops.
13. @Johnny Gaudreau
Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Contract: 1 year remaining at $6.75 million AAV
Scoop: Many wondered last October whether Gaudreau had played his final game as a Flame. That question looms larger this summer after a disastrous season for Calgary’s core. Extrapolated over 82 games, Gaudreau actually had an average production season, with a 28-goal and 71-point pace. But change would seem to be on the horizon in Calgary and an extension would be required at some point as well, making him a logical candidate to move. You could also add Sean Monahan, who has previously been in trade discussions, to the list in this spot.
14. @Jakub Voracek
Right Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 31
Contract: 3 years remaining at $8.25 million AAV
Scoop: Voracek has been a big part of Philly’s core for a decade, but clearing out his contract also represents the Flyers’ cleanest path to cap flexibility. Could Seattle be enticed with a pick to take him? That is believed to be Philadelphia’s preferred path, which would also allow protection for James van Riemsdyk. It wouldn’t shock anyone to see Voracek, who is owed a few million fewer in real dollars on the backend of his deal, be back in the 60-point range again next season.
15. @Tyler Bertuzzi 🆕
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 26
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: If not for a fluke back injury that ended his season and resulted in surgery on April 30, there would be a long list of takers for Bertuzzi. But the back injury, given his ferocious forechecking style of play, and the need for a new contract may have teams thinking twice. Bertuzzi was off to the best start of his career with seven points in nine games before an innocent spill left his back to sudden seizures. The 2020 All-Star representative was nothing if not consistent before that, with back-to-back 21-goal seasons.
16. @Jake DeBrusk
Left Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 24
Contract: 1 year remaining at $3.675 million AAV
Scoop: One of the NHL’s more consistent, young goal-scoring wingers found himself on the outside of the Bruins’ lineup in Game 5 of the second round. It was the fourth time DeBrusk was healthy scratched by Bruce Cassidy last season, leaving Cassidy to say after the season that the two needed to sit down and find ‘common ground.’ If Taylor Hall re-signs, that gives Boston more flexibility to explore a fresh start for DeBrusk.
17. @Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Left Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 29
Contract: 6 years remaining at $8.25 million AAV
Scoop: The word around Arizona is everyone is available aside from Jakob Chychrun. That includes the captain. Last offseason, Ekman-Larsson only gave Arizona two options: Boston and Vancouver. There is more flexibility there this time around. But that is a very difficult contract to move in a flat cap world and there are plenty of questions about Ekman-Larsson’s recent and noticeable drop-off in play. The Coyotes are believed to be looking for a Ryan O’Reilly (to St. Louis)-type deal: pick, prospect, roster player and are willing to maybe take a smaller, less desirable contract in return.
18. @Rickard Rakell
Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 28
Contract: 1 year remaining at $3.789 million AAV
Scoop: Keep an eye on the Ducks to reshuffle the deck this summer. GM Bob Murray wants to speed up the rebuild after three straight seasons picking in the Top 10. Rakell is a talented player who was one of the hottest players in the league for a stretch this season until an untimely injury derailed a possible deadline deal.
19. @Rasmus Ristolainen
Right Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 26
Contract: 1 year remaining at $5.4 million AAV
Scoop: Feels like years now that ‘Risto’ has been part of the rumor mill, but after a Covid-19 ravaged season, this offseason probably brings the best probability that he’s finally on the move. To think, at one point, Ristolainen put together four straight seasons of 40-plus points. Can that ability be unlocked again?
20. @Alexander Kerfoot 🆕
Center, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 26
Contract: 2 years remaining at $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: The belief is the Seattle Kraken have interest in selecting Kerfoot. The question for the Leafs is: Does it make sense to trade Kerfoot elsewhere before the Expansion Draft? The trick is any return short of future assets would also require protection from Seattle. That may ultimately result in losing Kerfoot from the roster, plus whomever the Kraken decide to then take – which could be defenseman Travis Dermott. Like many teams, the Leafs are weighing that out at the moment.
21. @Dante Fabbro
Right Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 23
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: What an odd season in Nashville. The Preds went from having nearly their entire roster on the block to making the playoffs. Similarly, Fabbro went from playing Top 4 minutes for John Hynes, to sitting as a healthy scratch for all five playoff games after being jumped over by Alexandre Carrier in the lineup.
22. @Vince Dunn
Left Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 24
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: Dunn is also no stranger to the trade talk. For the second straight offseason, he needs a new contract. He was healthy scratched at times by Craig Berube last season. But the question is what are the Blues looking for in return? He’s played like a third-pair defenseman with flashes of potential, but teams say the Blues value him more like a second-pair guy.
23. @Warren Foegele
Left Wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 25
Contract: RFA (Arbitration Eligible)
Scoop: It’s probably no great shock that Foegele is hungry for more opportunity and ice time. It’s also probably no great shock that Carolina may not be in the position to give him more. Foegele is a capable player who competes, brings a shovel and is ready to dig in.
24. Rights to @Chris Driedger
Goalie, Florida Panthers
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA
Scoop: The Panthers are ready to move Driedger’s rights to a suitor. Driedger is coming off two solid seasons in which he proved to be a capable NHL netminder. With the Expansion Draft, this is not an easy time to trade goalies (and the Blue Jackets might be moving one of theirs, including an expansion-exempt Elvis Merzlikins). But there are a few teams who do not have expansion concerns at that position and might be in the market to lock up a reasonably priced ($3 million?) option in Driedger.
25. @Sami Niku
Left Defense, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 24
Contract: 1 year remaining at $725,000 AAV
Scoop: The Jets are resigned to the fact that a change of scenery is on the horizon for their former AHL Defenseman of the Year, who could not crack the team’s lineup last season. His one-year deal at league minimum makes Niku a no-risk proposition.
Next up: Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators.