Avalanche, Capitals among teams looking for a goalie – The Athletic
In-season goalie trades are rare, but injuries, slumps and a chance to win could force some teams to make a move this year, as Pierre LeBrun writes. The trade deadline for the 2020-21 NHL season is scheduled for April 12, but moves and talks are already happening. Keep track of all the trades, rumors and signings during the busiest time in the NHL calendar. This page will update throughout the offseason, so check back frequently.
More: Trade Bait Board | Trade Grades | What to expect from all 31 teams
Avs, Capitals among the teams in the market for a goalie
The long-term injury to Pavel Francouz has created concern for the Colorado Avalanche. No. 1 Philipp Grubauer is playing out of this world this season, but the injuries in the bubble last summer to both their top goalies should be reason enough for the Avs to go out before the deadline and add some veteran insurance. And from talking to sources around the league over the weekend, the Avs are indeed still looking at goalie options.
The Cup-contending Washington Capitals might — stressing might — also trade for a goalie, as colleague Tarik El-Bashir chronicled over the weekend.
Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo could be on the move as the Columbus Blue Jackets can’t keep both No. 1 goalies forever. Both are signed through next season so this would be a hockey deal, which perhaps can wait until the summer. But I think there are two teams that should be looking hard at either goalie right now: Colorado and Buffalo. -Pierre LeBrun (March 29)
Around the NHL
• San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau reiterated that he’d still be open to getting traded to a contender. -Kevin Kurz (March 30)
• The Minnesota Wild are at least interested in extending Ian Cole beyond this season. Cole told The Athletic that the two sides have talked and that he loves it in Minnesota. -Michael Russo (March 29)
• The Columbus Blue Jackets might want to move pending UFA David Savard for something before losing him for nothing this summer if they decide to be sellers at the deadline. with the Lightning playing the Blue Jackets four times in the next two weeks, perhaps they could knock Columbus into sell-mode and find the right price for Savard? Tampa Bay has been keeping tabs, with assistant GM Jamie Pushor seen at a couple of Columbus games. -Joe Smith and Aaron Portzline (March 30)
• The Carolina Hurricanes would move one of their two goalies for the right price. James Reimer would be a rental as he’s a UFA after the season and Alex Nedeljkovic is an RFA, so that’s a hockey deal. -Sara Civian (March 26)
Kings deal for Brendan Lemieux, sending pick to Rangers
Forward Brendan Lemieux was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, with a 2021 fourth-round pick going back to the New York Rangers. The move makes room for New York’s 2018 first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov to join the roster. Kravtsov has been practicing with the team now that his KHL season ended. Lemieux has one more season remaining on his contract at $1.55 million AAV. -Corey Pronman (March 27)
On Monday, the Kings swapped players with the Ottawa Senators. Los Angeles acquired defenseman Christian Wolanin and Ottawa got forward Michael Amadio. (March 29)
Canadiens sign top prospect Cole Caufield
Montreal’s 2019 firth-round pick Cole Caufield signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens. Caufield will need to quarantine once he arrives in Montreal, but then it is expected that he will join the AHL team in Laval. -Pierre LeBrun (March 27)
Eric Staal (Bill Wippert / NHLI via Getty Images)
Eric Staal traded to Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens acquired veteran Eric Staal from the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres will get two 2021 draft picks (third and fifth round). Staal will likely only have to quarantine for seven days as multiple reports stated the Canadian government was expected to approve a seven-day quarantine period for NHL players who are dealt from a U.S.-based team to a club in Canada ahead of the April 12 trade deadline.
Staal had to formally waive his no-trade clause to agree to the deal because Montreal was among the 10 teams on his list. The Sabres will retain $1.625 million of Staal’s cap hit.
Carolina and Buffalo talked this week about Staal but the Canes, as with any potential rental, want to wait closer to the April 12 deadline to make those types of deals for a rental, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. (March 26)
Lightning send Alexander Volkov to Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks acquired forward Alexander Volkov from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward prospect Antoine Morand and a 2023 seventh-round draft pick. The value to Tampa is in the roster and cap flexibility this move provides and that Volkov is on an expiring contract. On a cap strapped team, he’s a luxury that Tampa could afford to lose even as he looked promising for years coming up through its system. -Corey Pronman (March 25)
Kirill Kaprizov’s agent meeting with GM Bill Guerin to start contract talks
On Wednesday, Paul Theofanous (Kirill Kaprizov’s agent) and Wild general manager Bill Guerin are expected to sit down for the first time to begin initial discussions toward eventually signing the Wild’s electrifying talent to a new contract.
The chance of imminent news is doubtful. Wednesday’s conversation shouldn’t be construed as contract negotiations, per see. This could be a drawn-out, complicated process that could conceivably stretch until the offseason. Because of Kaprizov’s lack of NHL service time (on pace to play the full 56 regular-season games) and historical statistical evidence, this could be a potentially precedent-setting contract if at the end of the negotiation both sides agree on a max eight-year term.
That’s why Wednesday’s meeting between Theofanous and Guerin is expected to be more of a preliminary talk to see what both sides are thinking in terms of contract length and the team’s future as a whole. If Kaprizov’s going to commit long-term in Minnesota, he’ll surely want to get a sense of what Guerin’s plan is for the future.
The Wild prefer to sign Kaprizov, who turns 24 on April 26, to a long-term deal. More on what each side wants and what contracts are good comparables. -Michael Russo (March 24)
Ducks GM: Ryan Getzlaf not interested in a move
Anaheim’s longtime captain Ryan Getzlaf is a pending unrestricted free agent with a full no-move clause. He’s not going anywhere unless he wants to. Ducks GM Bob Murray has way too much respect for Getzlaf and has a strong relationship with him, he’s not going to ask him to waive. Getzlaf controls the process.
“I do have a good relationship with him and his agent and we do have an understanding, and I said this to him a long time ago, ‘If you do want to go to a contender, you got to come to me and tell me. And then we’ll sit down and discuss who may be interested and where would you want to go.’”
Murray said he just spoke with Getzlaf again before leaving for his trip last week and there was no evidence of his captain being interested in a move. -Pierre LeBrun (March 22)
What’s next for Vancouver and Tanner Pearson?
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada reported on Saturday that the Canucks front office has taken a step back from the seller’s table in the wake of their recent March success, preferring to wait. Friedman’s reporting matches some of the chatter we’ve heard from league sources in recent weeks, but members of the Canucks front office insisted this weekend to The Athletic that nothing has changed in regards to the club’s approach to the trade market.
The Canucks’ insistence that nothing has changed matches their actions over the past five days, adding multiple players to the roster via waiver claims: Jimmy Vesey on March 17 and Travis Boyd on Monday. The logic of those extra bodies – and the additional pro-rated salaries – show an internal recognition that selling some expiring deals – and shedding some pro-rated salary – is most likely to end up being the best course of action for the organization.
They are absolutely not going to make a move to buy a rental player at the deadline, but they’d be open to a hockey trade in the mold of the Jake Virtanen for Danton Heinen swap that didn’t get across the line in late February. The club is listening when rival teams call about acquiring some of Vancouver’s high profile expiring players – like forward Tanner Pearson – though league sources sense that GM Jim Benning’s preference, for now, is to extend the veteran top-six winger. -Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal (March 22)
Top-line wing help is still Islanders’ main focus
Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri and Mikael Granlund are all still available and even the ultra-secretive Lou Lamoriello made it clear that Anders Lee’s injury has altered the Isles’ deadline plans. With no movement yet, the market might still be taking shape, or it could be a strong buyer’s market, which plays well into the Isles’ hands. The Leafs are believed to be the other strong buyer right now, but the Canadian quarantine situation could give them pause — and leave Lamoriello in the driver’s seat when it comes to the top-line wing targets, as long as he’s willing to surrender a high pick. -Arthur Staple (March 22)
Red Wings and Lightning a trade fit?
It was at least interesting last week to see a Lightning assistant general manager on the seating chart for a pair of games in Detroit, especially during a season in which those seating charts have been leaner than normal. The Lightning have zero cap space and GM Julien BriseBois said it’s “unlikely” they add a player, and if they do, it would have to be a dollar in, dollar out move. The two areas the Lightning could look to address are depth on the blue line and a veteran, hard to play against forward for the bottom six. That would make blueliners Troy Stecher or Marc Staal options, and forward Luke Glendening would fit that bottom-six role. -Max Bultman and Joe Smith (March 22)
Sabres trade goalie Jonas Johansson to Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche acquired goalie Jonas Johansson from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 sixth-round draft pick.
Jonas Johansson is 1-8-2 in two seasons with the Sabres, posting a .888 save percentage and 3.40 goals-against average. Of the 66 goalies who’ve appeared in five games this season, Johansson is the only one without a victory, his save percentage ranks 58th, and he doesn’t stop pucks in practice or games.
But the Avalanche have learned this season that their backup goalie situation was unsustainable. Rookie Hunter Miska ranks 66th in save percentage at .838, and is 1-1-2. With No. 2 netminder Pavel Francouz on long-term injured reserve, Philipp Grubauer and Miska are the only two goalies to have suited up for the Avalanche this season. But this move feels like a stopgap, not a solution.
The Avalanche are strapped for cap space — they currently have $772,230 of room, per CapFriendly — and Johansson makes only $700,000, so the Avalanche won’t have to make major roster moves to stay cap compliant.
Johansson needs 15 more games of 30-plus minutes to remain a restricted free agent. Otherwise, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent.
The Sabres’ remaining goalies are Linus Ullmark (injured), Carter Hutton, Dustin Tokarski, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Michael Houser. Ullmark and Hutton will also be unrestricted free agents this summer. -John Vogl and Peter Baugh (March 20)
Matt Dumba injury ‘better than it looked’
The Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba was hurt in the second period when he hit a rut or perhaps simply lost an edge turning up ice. Dumba fell, then slid feet-first into the corner wall of his defensive zone. He was in immediate pain and had to be assisted off the ice by Brodin and head athletic trainer John Worley.
All eyes have been on Dumba as they wonder if he will be traded before the deadline because of the Seattle expansion draft. The Wild would have to go with the eight skaters-one goaltender protection option if they want to protect Dumba because Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Brodin have no-movement clauses.
Coach Dean Evason, who was not very optimistic about the injury immediately after the game, said on Friday that Dumba is doubtful to play on Saturday, but his condition is “better than it looked.” -Michael Russo (March 19)
Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas: Toronto will ‘explore every opportunity’
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said on Tuesday he is willing to move a top prospect to improve the team before the trade deadline. A rental player probably makes the most sense given the flat cap moving forward, but he didn’t close the door on a hockey deal if it made sense. Dubas also said that making the deal as soon as possible is the preference because of the 14-day quarantine rule. Dubas also confirmed that the forward position is leading their deadline discussions. (March 16)
Could an Eric Staal-Hurricanes reunion really happen?
Should the Hurricanes try to get Eric Staal, former Cane of 12 seasons, back to Raleigh for a playoff push? It isn’t imminent, and it probably isn’t all that likely, but Pierre LeBrun said there’s a chance: The Hurricanes have brought up Staal’s name internally and discussed the possibility of bringing him back. I wouldn’t describe it as a top-of-the-agenda item for the contending Canes, who honestly don’t need a thing in my mind. Their lineup is loaded. But I know the Carolina brass recently discussed the merits of picking up the phone closer to the April 12 deadline if Staal was still on the Buffalo roster and seeing what it would take in a softer deal to get the pending UFA.
Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour didn’t give anything away when asked about the possibility. “That’s a question that’s probably further up the chain than me, but I think we know he’s an awesome person,” he said. “I haven’t watched his game much this year, so I don’t really know where he’s fitting in, but we’ll have to address some things, I’m sure, at some point, potentially. But I like our team right now. I don’t know why we would be looking at too much. But everybody would want to have that guy around.” -Sara Civian (March 16)
Islanders’ trade targets
You probably didn’t need the Sunday news that the New York Islanders placed Anders Lee on long-term injured reserve to know that GM Lou Lamoriello is looking to add a top-nine wing to his suddenly depleted group. Lee’s leg injury on Thursday looked bad enough; now, he’s out at least through the first week of April and likely longer, given that the LTIR designation allows Lamoriello to add salary to his capped-out team.
Taylor Hall is the big prize at the deadline, so there will likely be other suitors, making the “buy now” price on Hall possibly the Isles’ 2021 first-round pick, which is likely to be in the 20s. Kyle Palmieri might be the top-nine winger who makes the most sense for a team like the Islanders. Does a reunion with Derick Brassard or Valtteri Filppula make sense? Arthur Staple explores 25 trade targets for the Islanders. (March 15)
What’s a reasonable return for Detroit’s top trade candidates?
The sense I’ve gotten is that a second-round pick would be viewed as a great get for Detroit in a Luke Glendening or Bobby Ryan trade. That means the realistic expectation should be a bit lower than that, even for the Red Wings’ most desirable potential targets. Something in the third- or fourth-round range may be closer to the market value this season.
As for whether Evgeny Svechnikov or Dennis Cholowski, Detroit’s 2015 or 2016 first-round picks, could be decent candidates for a change of scenery trade, the consensus seems to be that if Yzerman (who didn’t draft either player) wanted to move one of those recent first-rounders, it would be most likely to happen in the form of a like-for-like trade — meaning players of similar age or pedigree in the same situation around the league. -Max Bultman (March 15)
Around the NHL
• The position to keep an eye on for the Washington Capitals is goaltender and, in particular, Ilya Samsonov. Samsonov is pegged as the Caps’ No. 1 goalie of the future. But the question MacLellan must answer between now and the deadline is whether he’s able to fulfill that role now. Because of that uncertainty, the Caps are keeping tabs on the veteran goalie market. And there are a few the team finds intriguing and could move on, if a move were deemed necessary, I’m told. -Tarik El-Bashir (March 15)
• Elliotte Friedman reported he heard Troy Terry might be looking for a change of scenery, but a source indicated that is not the case. -Eric Stephens (March 14)
Blue Jackets acquire Mikko Lehtonen from Maple Leafs
The Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Mikko Lehtonen from the Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Veini Vehviläinen.
The Blue Jackets were in hot pursuit of Lehtonen last spring when he decided to sign with Toronto. The thought then was that deep blue line in Columbus was chief among the reasons Lehtonen didn’t pick the Blue Jackets. It’s not quite the same situation in 2020-21. The Blue Jackets have carried nine defensemen most of this season, but big changes could be coming by the April 12 deadline. David Savard and Michael Del Zotto — both UFAs — are among those who could be on the move. Lehtonen is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so Columbus will want to take a look at him.
Lehtonen will join the taxi squad once he obtains a work visa, travels to Columbus and clears 48-hour COVID quarantine per NHL protocol. The experience from the Patrik Laine trade from Winnipeg earlier this season suggests it will be at least a week before Lehtonen arrives.
This was almost certain to be Vehviläinen’s last season with the Blue Jackets. In fact, one could surmise that he would become No. 5 on the organization’s depth chart once top prospect Daniil Tarasov joins Matiss Kivlenieks after his KHL season ends. Vehviläinen will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. -Aaron Portzline (March 12)
Blues sign Jordan Binnington to extension
Goalie Jordan Binnington signed a six-year extension with the St. Louis Blues with a $6 million AAV.
Binnington’s contract includes a full no-trade clause in the first three years, a source said. The salary breaks down as follows: Year 1: $4 million, Year 2: $6 million, Year 3: $7.5 million, Year 4: $7.5 million, Year 5: $6.5 million, Year 6: $4.5 million, according to the The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong said the Blues and Binnington’s camp spoke over the past three days, and if they couldn’t get anything done, they were going to table until after the season. They found some ground and got it done. “This is a big step in keeping the band together,” Armstrong said.
Binnington added: “It feels good. It’s off the mind now, and I feel a couple emotions of I’m grateful and I’m very proud. Signing the two-year with the option of heading to free agency, yeah, I think I still had more to prove. I’m happy with how it turned out.” -Jeremy Rutherford (March 11)
What will the Wild do with their pending unrestricted free agents?
Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin fully expects the Wild to make the playoffs. So, even with five pending unrestricted free agents — Nick Bjugstad, Nick Bonino, Ian Cole, Marcus Johansson and Brad Hunt — who could be enticing to other playoff contenders and the Matt Dumba expansion decision looming, the only chance of Guerin executing a selloff is if the Wild fall off a cliff before April 12. He’s not going to weaken this year’s current roster by trading pending free agents for draft picks even if, perhaps, he has no intention of re-signing a couple of those players. And, in terms of “buying,” very, very doubtful unless some upgrade at center falls from the sky and the asking price isn’t exorbitant.
Other looming decisions for the Wild, Guerin is not going to trade Dumba at the deadline just because of the expansion decision coming down the pike this offseason. While the GM remains possible even more inclined to move Zach Parise than he was when he tried at last year’s trade deadline, Parise’s a year older, the salary cap is staying flat at $81.5 million and he thus far hasn’t looked like the Parise of old, including the one who led the team in goal scoring a season ago.
Teams will surely call on Ryan Hartman because he’s a playoff-type player. They also know that the pending restricted free agent could command a salary that’s too hefty for the Wild to stomach. In fact, you can bet your bottom dollar that Hartman’s agent, Matt Oates, will try to commence contract negotiations before the deadline because Hartman loves it in Minnesota and doesn’t want to get traded again. -Michael Russo (March 11)
Does Brent Burns even want to stay around for a Sharks rebuild?
Obviously, it could be difficult for teams that might normally be interested in Brent Burns to fit his $8 million annual salary through 2024-25 under the cap, although perhaps the Sharks would be open to retaining a portion of that for at least a year or two. The Sharks would probably have to take on a sizable salary in return in any trade, regardless. But in my opinion, the organization needs to find a way to start shedding salary one way or another. Burns hasn’t been the problem when it comes to this core group, but he might be the first chip to fall on a team that probably needs to start making some changes sooner rather than later.
Moving Tomas Hertl and/or Timo Meier would also signal a full rebuild in San Jose. From a Sharks perspective, what kind of a return would they be looking for? I imagine the asking price would start with a first-round pick and a high-end prospect. But, make no mistake — if either of these two players gets mentioned by reputable sources as being potentially on the move over the next few weeks, you can assume that the front office recognizes that the current foundation needs to be dismantled. -Kevin Kurz (March 11)
Latest from Pierre LeBrun
• I wondered if the Montreal Canadiens might make a call on Eric Staal. It’s more likely Staal goes to a U.S. team because of the 14-day quarantine for crossing border into Canada. But it’s worth it for Montreal to at least check with the Buffalo Sabres at some point.
• The NHL is expected to send out a vote memo to the Board of Governors on the proposed draft lottery changes either March 12 or early the next week, and the expectation is the full BOG vote will be completed by the end of next week. The executive committee already approved it. Also, Bill Daly confirmed that, while no final decision has been taken, it’s more likely than not that the July 23-24 draft will stay as scheduled.
• In regards to alignment, Gary Bettman said it is likely that the NHL is headed back to the divisions from before this season (other than Arizona moving to the Central with Seattle coming into the Pacific).
Around the NHL
• If the New Jersey Devils want to allocate P.K. Subban’s $9 million cap hit differently in 2021-22, they might be able to trade him … after July 1. His salary for next season is $2 million, after a $6 million signing bonus is paid July 1. Also, Tom Fitzgerald approached Travis Zajac about waiving his no-trade clause a year ago, and he declined. -Corey Masisak (March 11)
• Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney made it clear he is ready to make a move if it makes sense. “If we have to shake things up, I think we will do that. Understand the expectations haven’t changed. Our group has played well, but not quite good enough. Scoring has been the Achilles heel up until this point. Hopefully we can find it from within. Or I’m going to have to make a move to bring in support.” To the latter point, up-front scoring help may have superseded blue-line reinforcement. The Bruins have cap space to add. -Fluto Shinzawa (March 10)
Can the Leafs benefit from the buyers’ market?
The Leafs are in a great position here. In talking to other teams around the league, it’s clear that the trade market is extremely slow right now. With so many teams capped out, and so many teams struggling with pandemic-related financial issues, there simply is not going to be a high demand for rental players.
There are definitely a lot of intriguing names potentially available. Eric Staal, who is eager to join a contender and get out of Buffalo, would be marvelous as an all-around third-line center. Or what about, thinking even more ambitiously, trying to find a way to shoehorn in Taylor Hall to give the Leafs more firepower up front? Other compelling options to round out Toronto’s forwards could include Kyle Palmieri, Filip Forsberg, Nick Foligno, Tanner Pearson or even Bobby Ryan.
The Leafs’ biggest desire is clear, though: Another strong two-way forward in the top nine — and ideally in the top six. Few rental players who are likely to be available fit what Toronto is after better than Nashville’s Mikael Granlund. -James Mirtle (March 9)
Predators’ Mattias Ekholm says trade ‘not the ideal situation’
The perceptive Mattias Ekholm, 30, realizes what could be in store for him but told The Athletic, “I don’t try to focus in on it too much.”
Ekholm continued: “But now, when I guess our team is doing bad, we understand nobody’s happy, and neither am I with the way we have played so far. So with that comes decisions for management, and that’s just a part of it. There’s not much I can worry about (when it comes to) that.”
Ekholm made sure to note that he has not asked to be traded, though that was never thought to be the case.
A major part of Ekholm’s appeal is the affordability of his contract, which carries a $3.75 million cap hit through next season. At a bare minimum, the Predators should be asking for a first-round pick and a quality prospect in a potential Ekholm trade, which is similar to the package the Los Angeles Kings received for veteran defenseman Jake Muzzin two years ago. -Adam Vingan (March 9)
The Boston Bruins are not likely to be one of the teams bidding for Ekholm, as GM Don Sweeney does not try to shop for the most sought-after players on the market. “You’d have to give up a lot of assets to get him,” said an NHL source familiar with Sweeney. “You’d get in a bidding war. I feel like Donny’s never been that guy. He’s more of a middle-of-the-road, conservative approach, not the swing-for-the-fences approach.” -Fluto Shinzawa (March 8)
Around the NHL
• There’s a real question about whether the New York Islanders can afford Casey Cizikas this summer, when he can become an unrestricted free agent. For now, though, he’s as important to what the Islanders do as anyone outside of Mathew Barzal and would be difficult to replace no matter who’s coming in. He’s also not really a match for a seller given the pending UFA status. -Arthur Staple (March 9)
• The New Jersey Devils have had a lot of pending UFAs over the past five seasons, and nearly all of them were traded away before the deadline in years when the club was out of playoff contention. Kyle Palmieri might want to bet on a strong postseason elsewhere to help boost his stock this summer as he seeks his next contract. It could be tough for him to get as much as he might have expected a year ago, given the economic situation around the league and his slow start to this season. Also, It doesn’t feel like Nikita Gusev is a great fit in Lindy Ruff’s system. -Corey Masisak (March 9)
• The Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic trade left the Winnipeg Jets without much in the way of NHL players who could garner a top-four defenseman in return. Jansen Harkins isn’t going to get it done. Mason Appleton has only just cemented himself into his job. I’ve talked about Mathieu Perreault as a salary-cap safety valve in the past, but he won’t return a prized asset. And the Jets aren’t going to trade a star player like Kyle Connor or Nik Ehlers. So what can Winnipeg realistically do? It can put draft picks and prospects on the table. -Murat Ates (March 9)
Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin (Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photo / Getty Images)
Could the Penguins trade Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang?
Kris Letang hasn’t been good this season, though he’s found himself in the past two weeks. So, what to do with him? My guess is that the Penguins will keep him this season. Oh, I bet they’re tempted to move him. He’s been really bad for his standards, which are extremely high. But how much would the Penguins reasonably get in a trade for him? Other teams are watching how he’s playing, too. He’s going to be 34 in April. He’s had many health issues. And he’s a free agent in 18 months anyway. Come this summer, things get really interesting when the Penguins can give him a new deal, trade him or do nothing.
Evgeni Malkin has more trade value than Letang does simply because, as poorly as he’s played this season, he’s Evgeni Malkin. It takes only one overzealous general manager to make the Penguins an offer they can’t refuse. He has a full no-trade clause in his deal. I imagine there are a few teams he’d play for, with Florida being the obvious destination because he lives near Miami for a good chunk of the year. If Florida wants to trade Aleksander Barkov for him, hey, I’m sure the Penguins would be all ears. But I don’t see Florida trading for a player nine years older than Barkov. It seems totally unlikely to me, especially with how well the Panthers are playing this season. So the guess is that Malkin stays put for now. But he’s not untouchable, not if he’s going to play like this. -Josh Yohe (March 4)
NHL prospects who could be trade chips
I don’t think Florida wants to trade Spencer Knight, but it is a topic being discussed around the league in light of the fact that Sergei Bobrovsky has a cap hit of $10 million through the 2026 season. I think Florida and Knight can make it work, but some in the NHL are doubters that will happen.
If the Blues want to buy, Klim Kostin is the guy teams point to as the obvious candidate. Timothy Liljegren has an NHL future, and it could be with Toronto, but as a featured piece for a trade deadline push, he would be the likely candidate in their prospect pool per discussions with teams around the league. Given Victor Mete’s lack of playing time and whether his trade request was real or not, this is one sources around the league are monitoring and think could be moved at the deadline. -Corey Pronman (March 4)
Canucks selling in a difficult season
At this juncture, the secret is out around the league and Jake Virtanen’s lack of production hasn’t helped him maintain the trade value he commanded as recently as the offseason. The Canucks still believe they can move Virtanen for positive value rather than just taking back an expiring deal to duck Virtanen’s $2.55 million cap hit for the 2021-22 league year — and perhaps more importantly, his $3.7 million backloaded salary.
Micheal Ferland’s deal is reportedly uninsured, which is inconvenient, but the contract also carries sneaky value in trade talks since it’s likely to remain on long-term injured reserve for the term that remains on the deal. So bookmark Ferland as a possible offseason trade chip, but know that there’s next to no chance of him moving in-season.
Tanner Pearson is on an expiring deal with no trade protection and should command a decent return — perhaps even a second-round pick — particularly if the Canucks were willing to retain salary or take back some cash in the swap. Perhaps the bigger question is whether or not the club might explore a possible extension with Pearson and it’s believed the Canucks have some desire to have those talks. -Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal (March 4)
Red Wings not likely to sell low
On The Athletic’s Big Board earlier this week, it was reported there was “a belief that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman would consider trading one of his younger forwards like Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha in the right deal.” It’s an eye-catching sentiment, but I get the sense such a deal is unlikely. In addition to the obvious that these are two of Detroit’s top players, Mantha has started slow this season and Bertuzzi has missed more than a month with an undisclosed injury. Also, it’s unclear how robust the pool of buyers will even be in the next few weeks. The trade deadline already narrows the list of potential trade partners, and that’s in a normal year. Is that really the market on which Detroit would want to make a move of this magnitude? My sense is to not hold your breath for anything here, especially during the season. -Max Bultman (March 4)
How will the Dougie Hamilton situation play out?
Dougie Hamilton will be the No. 1 blueliner on this year’s unrestricted free agent list come July 28 if for whatever reason he can’t come to an agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes before that time. There have been contract talks between the Hurricanes and Hamilton’s camp led by veteran agent J.P. Barry of CAA Sports. But after each side shared its position last month, sources said negotiations have gone quiet. There’s a tangible gap in each position. This might have to wait until after the season unless one side presses the issue.
I suspect Hamilton’s camp would have wanted to start their position closer to Alex Pietrangelo’s deal with Vegas ($8.8 million AAV) and work from that area ($8 million-plus). I suspect the Hurricanes look at Torey Krug’s contract in St. Louis and want to work from there ($6.5 million salary ballpark). Can both sides find the middle ground? I’m betting on yes, but there’s no guarantee of that. -Pierre LeBrun (March 3)
Will the Blackhawks be buyers at the trade deadline?
The Blackhawks have money available because Jonathan Toews is on long-term injured reserve and are surprise playoff contenders this season, so would Stan Bowman really try to be a buyer and sacrifice a pick or a prospect to earn a first-round date with the Tampa Bay Lightning? Well, the team also has to consider its pending free agents this offseason and next, plus who it will lose in the Seattle expansion draft. Dominik Kubalik, Nikita Zadorov and Calvin de Haan are longshots to be dealt, but it isn’t out of the question.
One league source recently said the Blackhawks should strongly consider trading Kubalik now. “He’d get them back a first-rounder now,” the source said. “He’s going to be too expensive for them in his next contract. You have to pay (Kirby) Dach and others. Plus, Kubalik’s not a great fit for this current team.”
As recently as last month, Bowman made it clear he still sees Zadorov as part of the Blackhawks’ future, even referring to the big bruiser as Blackhawks “property” due to his restricted-free-agent status. But Zadorov’s next contract has to be a slight concern for the Blackhawks.
Also a source believed the Blackhawks would try to trade de Haan before the deadline because they could lose him in the expansion draft. –Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus (March 3)
Los Angeles Kings’ trade options
If you were to project the Kings as active participants or mostly interested bystanders at the trade deadline, it’s likely they’ll skew more to the latter. That doesn’t mean general manager Rob Blake isn’t fielding calls or that the Kings are unwilling to listen to overtures that make them better.
Dustin Brown is 36, is signed through 2021-22 on a contract worth $5.875 million. A year ago, Brown wouldn’t have been in the conversation here, but NHL teams have noticed a resurgence in his play, based on him playing fewer minutes as a penalty killer and dropping some weight, which has made him quicker off the mark. Would the Kings trade a franchise cornerstone? It probably would depend upon the return. Brown does have some control here – he has a modified no-trade clause in his contract.
Alex Iafallo’s status will depend largely on whether the Kings think he will sign an extension with them or test the free agency waters in the summer. A guess? The two sides will make a deal, if only because Iafallo surely must understand the grass is almost certainly not going to be greener elsewhere. But he’ll have value, and teams will inquire. Andreas Athanasiou‘s stock around the league has dropped, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t some value. The Kings’ investment in Athanasiou was modest, and so any return they might get in a deal likely would be modest as well. But he’s a chip that’s very much in play. -Lisa Dillman (March 3)
Mattias Ekholm, Jack Eichel and 26 others who could be dealt
Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm might be the most attractive all-around player available right now. He is a 30-year-old, top-four defenseman who is signed for both this year and next at an attractive salary-cap number. But any team acquiring Ekholm would almost certainly have to find a fit for him on their expansion-draft protected list, and that’s a complication for NHL teams with reasonable blue line depth.
Jack Eichel’s no-trade doesn’t kick in until after the 2021-22 season so there’s no immediate rush here, only a window of time in which the Sabres retain leverage. The Sabres are struggling again and the questions about Eichel’s future have resurfaced and there is some compelling logic to seeing him end up with the Rangers, a team that has attractive young assets that could be packaged in return. An NHL source with ties to Eichel mentioned that the Bruins should be a consideration: “I just don’t see any way they can’t be all over him.”
The Panthers have zero intention of moving high-end goalie prospect Spencer Knight. They still believe he’s a franchise goalie and they’d like it to be their franchise. If a goalie is leaving South Florida before the trade deadline, the smart bet is on Chris Driedger.
The Blackhawks aren’t actively shopping Dylan Strome, but teams believe he’s an option for those who are looking for a boost down the middle. “They’ll listen on him,” said an Eastern Conference executive. (March 1)
Check out the full Trade Deadline Big Board here.
Top free agents from college hockey and Europe
Damir Zhafyarov, Matt Kiersted and Strauss Mann are three big names to watch as NHL teams look for talent outside of the NHL. Corey Pronman ranked the top 27 college and European players who will be free agents, detailing what to expect of each. Plus he ranks the collegiate players who could become free agents this summer, with Boston University’s David Farrance topping the list. (March 2)
Around the NHL
The Minnesota Wild placed Alex Stalock on waivers with the hope of sneaking him through to Iowa, but the Edmonton Oilers decided otherwise and plucked the talkative, athletic, solid puckhandling and, frankly, playmaking goalie right out from under them. As shocked and disappointed as he was by the end of his time in Minnesota, Stalock said Monday during an exclusive interview with The Athletic that he can’t wait to fly to Edmonton on Tuesday. “I want to get up there as soon as I can so I can get going,” Stalock, 33, said. -Michael Russo (March 1)
• I believe the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to try to bolster their depth on the blue line. They never replaced the two veteran right-shot defensemen they lost in the offseason (Zach Bogosian and Kevin Shattenkirk), both of whom played significant minutes during their playoff run. -Joe Smith (March 2)
• There are two factors that will make this deadline even more challenging for the St. Louis Blues: They will have a difficult time evaluating a roster that saw seven players leave the lineup in the past six games, and with the uncertainly of when the regulars will return, the team won’t know until the final days leading up to the deadline how much cap space it has to spend. -Jeremy Rutherford (March 2)
• Oliver Wahlstrom’s emergence as a capable third-line wing and very good power-play threat has most likely alleviated the New York Islanders’ need/desire for a scoring winger upgrade, if that were even a possibility with the Isles’ cap situation this season and next. There are going to be some options available, likely starting with Taylor Hall, but for almost any addition, even a rental, the Islanders would have to move a contract out. -Arthur Staple (March 1)
The cost to trade the Ducks’ veterans and the pursuit of Jake Virtanen
A high-ranking NHL executive told The Athletic that there would be interest in players like Adam Henrique and others — think Jakob Silfverberg, Cam Fowler or even Ryan Getzlaf — but that the Ducks may face problems moving them unless they retain some salary. For a player like Henrique with three years left on his contract at over $5.8 million in each, it might mean retaining the maximum 50 percent. Silfverberg and Fowler are signed for as long or more. Even though Getzlaf is in the final year of his deal, he has a full no-movement clause and there are few contending clubs that can fit in his $8.25 million cap figure without moving salary to create room.
Ducks general Bob Murray is open to making a move. There have been trade conversations involving current NHL roster players in the past and present. None of them have signaled a fire sale. It included the latest discussions to bring in Vancouver right winger Jake Virtanen, a big and speedy forward with some offensive ability who hasn’t lived up to expectations. Danton Heinen, who has been out of the lineup with the call-up of Zegras, was a piece being dangled as part of a return.
The glitch in the proposed deal has been Virtanen’s salary, which jumps from $1.7 million this year to $3.4 million next and the Canucks’ reluctance to eat a portion of that. It is believed that more pieces — another player or a draft pick — have been discussed. As of Saturday night, the talks appeared dead or at least went dormant. The Ducks are also at the 50-player contract limit. -Eric Stephens (Feb. 28)
LeBrun: Why the NHL trade deadline may be quieter than usual
You can never fully predict these things. Sometimes one move by a contender forces a domino effect from rivals and suddenly you’ve got some action that wasn’t foreseen. But there are some ominous signs that point to a quiet deadline.
For starters, we’ve had as many as 18 clubs in LTIR this season and currently, according to CapFriendly, 15 clubs with a projected cap hit that exceeds the upper limit of $81.5 million using LTIR. The end result with the flat cap is that this is the tightest the league overall has been to the cap probably since its infancy. One GM told me Monday it’s not even close, for sure it’s the tightest it’s ever been. I’ve had several team executives point to that in conversations over the past week. We’ve never had a landscape this crazy as far as teams with so little wiggle room. This means trades with those teams have to be cap space in, cap space out — you can’t just take on money in one direction. Which obviously makes it more difficult to make a trade. (March 1)
What will happen to David Krejci next season?
David Krejci can still play, however, he is in the last season of his six-year, $43.5 million contract. He turns 35 on April 28. The Bruins have Jack Studnicka, 22, and Trent Frederic, 23, eager to play center full-time. Krejci is not interested in retiring. So even though a continuation of their partnership could serve Krejci and his employer well, recent history indicates a parting is more likely.
General manager Don Sweeney is likely to take his time, perhaps the entire season and beyond, to make his decision. But extending unrestricted free agents is not Sweeney’s preference. Since 2018, UFAs-to-be who have walked include Chara, Torey Krug, Joakim Nordstrom, Noel Acciari, Marcus Johansson, Riley Nash, Tim Schaller and Anton Khudobin. In this stretch, Chara (2018 and 2019) and Jaroslav Halak (2020) are the only 35-or-older players who signed extensions. -Fluto Shinzawa (Feb. 23)
What is Adam Pelech worth to the Islanders?
And at the end of this season, the Isles’ shutdown guy will be a restricted free agent, coming off a four-year deal that looked like a bit of a head-scratcher when Garth Snow signed Adam Pelech to it in July 2017 and Pelech had just 53 NHL games under his belt. But the term and the cost, $1.6 million per year, look like genius for the Islanders now, given the load Pelech carries.
He’s still an RFA after the season, this time with arbitration rights and one year away from unrestricted free agency. Given how tight the Islanders will be to the 2021-22 cap, which will stay at $81.5 million, as well as the need for new deals for fellow RFAs Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin, Pelech’s resolution may not come until late in the offseason or in arbitration, where it’d be a one-year deal and the sides would have to do it all over again in the summer of 2022. Sources around the league suggested “something along the lines of 4×4, maybe a bit more if he stays healthy all year,” was a reasonable estimate. -Arthur Staple (Feb. 23)
Trade destinations for Predators’ Mattias Ekholm
At a $3.75 million cap hit this year and next, Mattias Ekholm, 30, is probably the most desirable asset in Nashville. Plus, there’s the Seattle expansion draft factor hanging over the team. If the Preds decide to go the 7-3-1 protection route, one assumes the three protected blueliners would be Roman Josi , Ryan Ellis and youngster Dante Fabbro.
Potential fits for Ekholm include the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. -Pierre LeBrun (Feb. 20)
Ducks’ Adam Henrique clears waivers
On Sunday, Adam Henrique cleared waivers and was still skating with the big club; the Ducks not choosing to bury him in the minors.
Henrique still has three years left on a contract that pays him $5.825 million per season. The Ducks are not surprised that another team wasn’t willing to take on the full freight of the contract. What it does is open the door toward a potential separation by another means. GM Bob Murray has made Henrique available for trade in the hopes a team might still think he has the ability to produce in the right situation and boost their forward lineup. The Ducks could take back a bad contract with less term on it. They could also facilitate a deal by retaining salary, whether it be 25 percent or the maximum 50 percent. But the real impediment toward a trade could be those three years left. -Eric Stephens (Feb. 21)
Jack Eichel trade talk, real or perceived, will only grow
Let’s add it all up: A guy that hates losing, a losing team that seems to be at a loss, interested suitors with money and talent to spare, a hockey city longing for change and a rumor world ready to pounce. There’s plenty of wood to throw on the fire.
Jack Eichel is in the third season of an eight-year, $80 million deal. The final four seasons feature a no-movement clause. If it got to that point, the Sabres would be dealing from a position of weakness, as they could deal only with teams that got a green light from Eichel.
Just like in the fall, the Rangers have become the hot topic. New York’s reported inquiries ignited the first firestorm. The Big Apple loves its Broadway stars, and Eichel would fit the bill. Not only that, the Rangers have the cap space and assets to create a blockbuster with a strong prospect pool. The Kings similarly have young assets, cap space and a need for a new face to stay relevant in a city full of stars. -John Vogl (Feb. 18)
What will Jordan Binnington’s next contract cost the Blues?
Jordan Binnington‘s two-year deal is set to expire after this season and the Blues goalie might be playing better than when he led the charge to the Stanley Cup.
Industry sources say the AAV on Binnington’s next contract could be between $5.5 and $6.5 million and the term could be between five and seven years. Among goalies who signed last season, the top comparables are Markstrom, 31, who agreed to a six-year, $36 million deal ($6 million AAV) and Vegas’ Robin Lehner, 29, who agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal ($5 million AAV). Binnington will likely want more than Markstrom and Lehner got — and even than Matt Murray got from Ottawa. Younger even than Binnington (26) and with a history of postseason success, Murray got a four-year, $25 million deal ($6.25 million AAV) from Ottawa in the offseason.
“(Binnington) bet on himself, and he’s going to get paid like those guys expect to be paid and will get paid like the guys that have had success,” St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong said. “I think around the league, he’s looked at as a good No. 1, and that’s the way we’ll look at him as.” -Jeremy Rutherford (Feb. 18)
Why a Jake Virtanen buyout could make sense for the Canucks
The Canucks are stuck between a rock and a hard place with Jake Virtanen and the rumor mill has started to speculate that he is on the trade market. His value is much lower than it would have been last season, so making a deal isn’t simple. Trading him for a draft pick (which you can either keep or flip in the offseason as a trade chip) would obviously be a much better outcome than a buyout, but if that’s not possible, the Canucks shouldn’t feel forced to accept the first deal that comes across the table. In this scenario, no deal is better than a bad deal where you simply swap problems because having the buyout card in the back pocket means the Canucks already have an avenue to clear his cap hit for a minimal cost. -Harman Dayal (Feb. 18)
Latest from Pierre LeBrun
• Canucks star Elias Pettersson has officially made CAA Hockey his representatives, the agency announced on Feb. 17.
• The fact Alex Galchenyuk stayed back in Ottawa after the Sens-Hurricanes deal Saturday means he can join the Leafs without the 14-day quarantine because he never crossed the border. Any player crossing the border from the U.S. to Canada must quarantine for 14 days.
• It is still not clear when exactly the next NHL Draft will be held, but it sounds like whenever that is a tweaked draft lottery format could be in place. During an October GMs virtual meeting, the NHL, in response to a bit of grumbling about the existing draft lottery format, decided to do some informal polling of team executives to gauge ideas on how to tweak it. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Thursday that the draft lottery format is being worked on and will be discussed with the Board of Governors when the time is right. Beyond that, Daly didn’t want to hint at any other details, mostly because it’s still in the works. But I think it’s safe to say there are probably going to be changes to the lottery format for the second time in seven years.
Leafs could be interested in Predators’ Mikael Granlund
It’ll be interesting to see how aggressive Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is in the next month, with the trade deadline now just under eight weeks away. Already there have been rumors about trades the Leafs might make, with Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman getting a lot of attention last week for his comment that there was one particular forward Dubas and company are interested in. The consensus among sources around the league seems to be that one player who the Leafs like is winger Mikael Granlund, who will become available if the 6-9-0 Predators continue to drop games.
Granlund was one of the NHL’s unrestricted free agents impacted by the flat cap, as he hung around unsigned well past the October opening of free agency. He ultimately didn’t get a contract until late December when he inked a one-year deal for $3.75 million to go back to a team where he had struggled mightily to produce. One of the teams that showed plenty of interest along the way was the Leafs, but Dubas simply didn’t have enough cap space to make it happen. -James Mirtle (Feb. 16)
Blue Jackets dealing 7th-round pick to Canes could be a big win
Gregory Hofmann, 28, is a skilled forward with great offensive instincts. He makes a lot of plays and does so with pace. He’s not undersized and he’s a very good skater, above-average for the NHL, which is why I think his game will translate to the NHL. He’s not great off the puck and won’t be a penalty killer in the NHL, but I think the skating and skill combination is good enough to take a regular shift at even strength and be a useful contributor in the bottom six.
Hofmann has never played at a club level higher than the Swiss league. He’s not so talented that he’s a sure thing, and Columbus has to get him to sign on the dotted line, but for a seventh-round pick, this is a nice gamble. Carolina recoups a later pick in the 2022 draft for a player. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline said Hofmann could join Columbus in the near future. -Corey Pronman (Feb. 14)
Jets and Blue Jackets swap stars Patrik Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois
Jarmo Kekalainen spoke to two-thirds of the league about young center Pierre-Luc Dubois but in the end, the Blue Jackets GM made the deal so many people thought was destined to happen in acquiring Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Columbus also sent a 2022 third-round pick to Winnipeg. The Jets will retain 26 percent of Laine’s salary. Several front-office executives from around the NHL weighed in on the blockbuster trade. -Pierre LeBrun (Jan. 24)
Blue Jackets players weren’t going to lambaste Pierre-Luc Dubois on his way out of town, but you can safely bet a few of his former teammates would have helped him pack for Winnipeg. Asking for a trade is one thing. A trade request, like a contract impasse, will rarely draw the ire of a fellow NHL player because the business side of the sport is something each player figures he’ll confront at some point in his career. But when Dubois’ frustration spilled into his on-ice performance — you couldn’t watch him play without wondering if he was trying to force a trade — that’s when the situation for all parties became untenable. -Aaron Portzline (Jan. 23)
NHL Trades in 2021
Kings get: D Christian Wolanin
Senators get: F Michael Amadio
Kings get: F Brendan Lemieux
Rangers get: 2021 fourth-round pick
Canadiens get: F Eric Staal
Sabres get: 2021 third-round and fifth-round picks
Ducks get: F Alexander Volkov
Lightning get: F Antoine Morand and 2023 seventh-round pick
Avalanche get: G Jonas Johansson
Sabres get: 2021 sixth-round pick
Blue Jackets get: D Mikko Lehtonen
Maple Leafs get: G Veini Vehviläinen
Maple Leafs get: F Alex Galchenyuk
Hurricanes get: F Egor Korshkov and D David Warsofsky
Blue Jackets get: F Gregory Hofmann
Hurricanes get: 2022 seventh-round pick
Senators get: F Ryan Dzingel
Hurricanes get: F Cedric Paquette and F Alex Galchenyuk
Senators get: F Jack Kopacka and 2022 seventh-round pick
Sharks get: D Christian Jaros
Sharks get: F Jack Kopacka
Ducks get: D Trevor Carrick
Jets get: F Pierre-Luc Dubois and 2022 third-round pick
Blue Jackets get: F Patrick Laine and F Jack Roslovic
Wild get: D Ian Cole
Avalanche get: D Greg Pateryn
Senators get: F Clark Bishop
Hurricanes get: D Max Lajoie
(Top photo of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins: Jason Mowry / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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