There’s a week to go before the NHL trade deadline, and what can best be described as a stray from the norm, there has already been movement. Typically, there’s a lot of conservatism amongst general managers who are afraid of risking a hypothetical future in order to win now. Alas, there have already been two deals made by teams fighting for playoff positioning.
The Devils dealt captain Andy Greene to the Islanders for a second-round pick and a prospect, while also shipping Blake Coleman to Tampa Bay for a conditional first-rounder and a prospect. With still nearly a week to go, here are just a smattering of other notable names who could be on the move:
David Backes:
His time with the Bruins is all but over after he cleared waivers in January, and he did not report to AHL Providence. Turning 36 in May and with a $6 million cap hit for next year, plus the prorated hit for the remainder of this season, he’ll be hard to move. However, there’s someone out there who probably thinks his team could use a veteran forward, even if he’s four years removed from a 20-goal season.
Jeff Carter:
Another 35-year-old center, but with gas left in the tank. Carter is on pace for his first 20-goal season since 2016-17 with the lowly Kings, but moving him will likely require Los Angeles to eat his money. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has two more years on his deal, with an AAV of $5.3 million. That’s a significant price tag for a past-his-prime presence.
Corey Crawford/Robin Lehner:
The Blackhawks won’t deal both of their goaltenders, but it makes a ton of sense to trade one of them. While only six points of a playoff spot with games in hand, Chicago would have to jump four teams to sneak into the playoffs. It likely won’t happen. And with both Crawford and Lehner as pending UFAs, shipping one makes sense. They have similar cap hits (Crawford $6 million, Lehner $5 million for the season), have split duties almost down the middle and have similar numbers: Crawford a 2.89 goals against with a .911 save percentage, Lehner a 2.87 GAA with .921 save percentage.
Mathew Dumba:
A 25-year-old puck moving defenseman with a 50-point season to his name and signed long-term to fairly reasonable terms ($6 million AAV)? Even though he’s having a down year and his defense isn’t top-notch, the price tag could be hefty. Someone could be getting a player who can help win now and be a staple for the next few years, while he’s in his prime.
Mike Hoffman:
Everywhere he goes, the man scores. Since becoming a full-time NHL player in 2014-15, he’s averaged 28 goals a season, and will likely surpass that total with 21 goals entering Monday. Florida is in a precarious position, starting the week five points out of the second wild-card spot, and they’ve allowed the fourth-most goals in the East. A free agent at the end of the season with a partial no-trade, Hoffman can be a high-upside rental for a contender, while the Panthers could shore up their defense.
Ilya Kovalchuk:
What value he still has is up in the air, but one of the best goal scorers of his era is still (somehow) hanging around. After the Kings terminated his contract in December, he signed a league-minimum deal with the Canadiens, where he’s scored six goals and has 12 points in 18 games. After signing him for basically nothing (one-year, $700,000), Montreal is set to cash in on a return. It won’t be a big one by any stretch, but it will come at great value.
Chris Kreider:
Probably the most enticing name that’s available on the market, there will be a lot of eyeballs focused on the Rangers. In the final year of his deal, New York and Kreider are chatting about a long-term deal to keep him in Manhattan, but the New York Post reports that’s about a 50-50 proposition. If they can’t agree to something in the next week, he’ll likely be gone.
On pace for a career-high in goals and points, he’ll add value to a contender’s top-six and power play units, if the Rangers can’t divvy up somewhere in the seven-year, $7 million AAV range, he’ll be dealt.
