As a spectacle in its own right, the NHL’s trade deadline has lost some luster in recent years. Salary-cap considerations make it tougher to do complex deals within tight time constraints on deadline day, and the quick integration of more young players all around the league makes teams more reticent about giving up high draft picks in an effort to enhance their Stanley Cup chances.
On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins made the biggest splash of this year’s deadline season so far when they acquired center Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators. The original structure of the three-way deal was rejected by the NHL offices and took hours to rework before the trade was officially consummated on Friday night.
In the end, the Senators acquired a coveted first-round draft pick from the Penguins along with veteran defenseman Ian Cole, goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson and a third-round pick in 2019. Along with Brassard, Pittsburgh picked up a third-round pick in 2018 plus forward prospects Tobias Lindberg and Vincent Dunn — not be confused with defenseman Vince Dunn, who has played 55 games with the St. Louis Blues this season.
In exchange for Lindberg and for picking up 40% of Brassard’s cap hit (totalling $3 million per season through the end of 2018-19), the Golden Knights received tough guy Ryan Reaves and a fourth-round draft pick.
With the Penguins preparing to take a run at becoming the first team to win three straight Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders won four in a row between 1980 and 1983, Brassard will improve the team’s depth down the middle after salary-cap considerations prevented Pittsburgh from re-signing Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen last summer. Cullen, now 41, was an outstanding penalty killer and defensive presence with the Penguins and there are rumors that he could still return for one more Cup run.
With less than 48 hours left for general managers to try to improve their rosters before the playoffs, here are five teams to watch during the leadup to Monday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Ottawa Senators
After coming within one game of reaching the Stanley Cup Final last spring, nothing has gone right for the Ottawa Senators this season.
Despite acquiring star center Matt Duchene in a three-team deal last November, the Senators have hovered near the bottom of the league standings all year and are now firmly in “sell” mode.
In addition to dealing Brassard, general manager Pierre Dorion has also already moved defenseman Dion Phaneuf and forward Nate Thompson to the Los Angeles Kings and made a minor deal that sent forward Chris DiDomenico to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Ville Pokka.
More moves are expected, and the noise is getting louder around the possibility that superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson could be dealt.
Other Ottawa players whose names are attached to trade rumors include forwards Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith, Bobby Ryan and Jean-Gabriel Pageau as well as new acquisition Ian Cole and veteran blueliner Johnny Oduya.
New York Rangers
On February 8, the New York Rangers publicly announced that they were turning the page on their season and aiming to move out many of their veteran players with an eye toward building toward the future. Now mired in a six-game losing streak and with just three wins in their last 16 games, the Rangers look likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons and the first time under coach Alain Vigneault, who took them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
Of their impending unrestricted free agents, Nick Holden and Michael Grabner have already been dealt — to the Bruins and Devils, respectively — and Rick Nash is being shopped. Stalwarts like captain Ryan McDonagh and sniper Mats Zuccarello, who each have one year left on their current contracts, could also be moved.
The Rangers’ teardown looks like it will mark the end of any opportunity for goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to win a Stanley Cup. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has a no-movement clause in his contract that extends until the end of the 2020-21 season and apparently has no intention of waiving it.
On February 2, Lundqvist told Larry Brooks of the New York Post, “I feel so much for this organization, that whatever path they take, I’m in. I made a commitment to this organization a few years back. It was a big decision in my career. I hope they have the same commitment to me.”
Detroit Red Wings
On the verge of missing the playoffs for a second-straight season, the Red Wings are dangling one of the most desirable trade targets in right-shot offensive defenseman Mike Green.
Green can choose his destination thanks to his no-trade clause. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Green’s old team, the Washington Capitals, are both contenders who are believed to be interested. Wings general manager Ken Holland may have to wait until there’s more clarity on Erik Karlsson’s status before he finds out which teams are serious about Green.
Earlier this week, Holland moved goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for conditional draft picks. Forwards Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Luke Glendening, who all have term on their contracts beyond the end of this season, are also believed to be available as the Wings look to refresh their roster.
Vegas Golden Knights
Gone are the days when we expected to see Vegas general manager George McPhee moving his team’s impending UFAs like James Neal and David Perron to the highest bidder.
Sitting in first place in the entire NHL after games on Friday, February 23, the Golden Knights are now looking to add the climactic chapter to the story of their record-setting debut season. How far can they go in the playoffs?
As the facilitator in Friday’s Derick Brassard deal, Vegas got tougher by bringing in Ryan Reaves — and picked up yet another draft pick.
It’s unlikely that McPhee will risk disrupting his team’s us-against-the-world chemistry by making major moves before Monday. Don’t discount the possibility of more under-the-radar deals that could pay big dividends for the man who exploited the NHL’s expansion rules beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
Winnipeg Jets
Since relocating from Atlanta nearly seven years ago, the Winnipeg Jets have taken their time building their team from the ground up. This spring, fans should enjoy the fruits of those labors with the Jets poised to set a franchise record for regular-season points — and to make some noise in the playoffs.
In the 17-season history of the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers organization, the team has made the playoffs just twice, and was swept in the first round both times. That should change this year, which means GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could be an uncharacteristically active trade-deadline participant.
The Jets reportedly came up just short in the Derick Brassard sweepstakes and were foiled on a potential Mike Hoffman deal by the player’s 10-team no-trade list. With few quality centers available, veteran winger Rick Nash has also been mentioned as a potential target for Winnipeg.
If Cheveldayoff can bring in a big-name player who helps the Jets make a solid playoff run this year, that could be a turning point in boosting Winnipeg’s desirability as a place to play going forward.
