We are now exactly 10 weeks away from the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline.
This leaves plenty of room for buyers and sellers’ needs to shift before major decisions are made, or for buyers and sellers to switch places. But in a season that’s already been filled with trade action, it’s not too early to try to find fit between teams and players on our latest NHL trade board.
With that in mind, here’s part two of the Trading Board Matcher.
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NHL Trademakers: LeBron, Johnston predict where top targets will go before deadline, Part 1
team: san jose sharks
Location: F
shooting: L
age: 32
Contract term: 2025 black hair
Adenovirus: US$5 million
LeBron: Vegas Golden Knights
Granlund, 32, leads the Sharks in scoring and is on pace to set a career high in points. He also means a lot to San Jose off the field in terms of his leadership and influence on young people. He likes it there too. All of which is to say, he’s not getting traded at the deadline just because he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. Granlund’s agents, Todd Diamond and Mark Gandler, are expected to hold discussions with Sharks general manager Mike Grier in the new year. But the team will need to balance any potential extensions with offers on the trade market, and there will certainly be some. Granlund’s versatility, being able to play all three forward positions with ease, will attract contenders. He could also increase his trade value, depending on how he performs in the spotlight when he plays for Finland in the four-nation tournament in February. Look into my matchmaking crystal ball and make him a Vegas Golden Knight. A year ago, the Sharks and Cavaliers reached an agreement involving Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline. I like the idea of Vegas adding this depth given Granlund’s versatility and the unfortunate reality of always worrying about Mark Stone’s health.
Johnston: Minnesota Wild
A lot has happened since Granlund was a first-round draft pick by the Wild and he played seven seasons with the organization. But isn’t this a wonderful homecoming story? Minnesota does need a forward who can switch between center and wing while participating in some offense. Granlund checks all of those boxes and should feel more comfortable considering his familiarity with the organization. The cap side needs to be addressed as San Jose doesn’t have any reserved spots still open and Minnesota faces some additional challenges operating on long-term injured reserve, but those hurdles aren’t enough to prevent that from happening.
team: philadelphia flyers
Location: D
shooting: right
age: 30
Contract term: 2027 black hair
Adenovirus: $5.1 million
LeBron: Winnipeg Jets
It wasn’t long ago that Ristolainen’s contract was scary for teams, but interestingly, the top-four back who plays 20 minutes a night is finding his game to be more consistent, as he has been this season. Suddenly, with the salary cap going up, hitting $5.1 million over the next two and a half years isn’t that bad at all. That’s why league sources say the Flyers did get calls this season asking if they were willing to trade Ristolainen. The answer for the Flyers is yes — if a certain price is met. They want a good prospect or young player in return, or a combination of prospects and draft picks. While trading players with contract terms is not a typical deadline move as most contenders would prefer a loan, I could see it being attractive to some teams. For example, the Jets. I’d like to see the Jets add the kind of size Ristolainen brings to the right side of the defense. And after giving up a first-round pick last season for rental Sean Monahan only to see him leave July 1, and keeping in mind how difficult it is for the Jets to attract free agents to Winnipeg, I like the idea of acquiring a player under Contract. Now you know, I’ve got the Jets in the cup game against Ristolainen.
Can Rasmus Ristolainen finally make it to the Central Division? (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
Johnston: Dallas Stars
The Stars made a huge splash by acquiring Chris Tanev before last year’s deadline, but were unable to retain him as a free agent this summer. They haven’t filled that hole on the right side of the blue line. The remainder of Ristolainen’s contract fits in with the Stars’ win-win window, and the improvement in his game should be attractive given how few defensive players are expected to be on the market. Depth is crucial for any team preparing for a long spring, and Dallas is going all out to win the Stanley Cup.
team: chicago blackhawks
Location: F
shooting: L
age: 33
Contract term: 2025 black hair
Adenovirus: $6 million
LeBrun: Utah HC
The Blackhawks haven’t actually committed to trading Hall, although given their position in the standings, one would imagine that would be the most logical course of action for the veteran as he awaits unrestricted free agency. It hasn’t been the best season for the 33-year-old winger, but something tells me a move to a cup contender could spark a spark in the former Hart Trophy winner. He has been one of the smartest players in the league. Even though the skating has slowed down a bit, the hockey IQ hasn’t dropped. If the Hawks were willing to take on a portion of Hall’s $6 million salary cap hit, I don’t think there’s any doubt there would be a market for him. Hall had his no-trade clause modified so his agent, Darren Ferris, could play a role in helping the Hawks find a suitor. So hear me out: Utah HC as a buyer! That would only be realistic if Utah kept playing in the second half. They could use a little more offense. Hall has a cache of names that would be fun to introduce into the NHL’s newest market, while Utah has plenty of cap space and a strong desire to stay in the playoff picture.
Johnston: Colorado Avalanche
AV is one of the few top teams able to make room for Hall in the top six, which is likely where a player with his skill set will need to flourish to be most effective. The continued uncertainty surrounding Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has not played in two and a half years while recovering from a cartilage transplant in his right knee, makes the need for another left winger even more apparent. Hall may not be skating at the same level as he was earlier in his career, but he still has above-average speed and could line up with Nathan MacKinnon in the top position if needed. At the very least, he would give the Avalanche more roster flexibility than they currently have. The acquisition cost also shouldn’t be too great for a veteran player who’s unlikely to be part of the Blackhawks’ long-term solution to their rebuild.
team: new york rangers
Location: D
shooting: right
age: 28
Contract term: 2025 black hair
Adenovirus: $2.7 million
LeBrun: Florida Panthers
The Rangers just acquired Bogan, but he’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and unless New York can somehow stop the bleeding and turn the season around, the Blueshirts will be sellers and willing to sell him. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Bogan is a perfect fit for South Florida. I think in many ways, pending unrestricted free agent David Savard is a better fit for the Panthers because of his past relationship with Panthers general manager Bill Zito in Columbus connections, I wouldn’t be surprised if Florida was looking for Savard. But if the Rangers do decide to bring Bogan on, he will be a much less spectacular move.
Will Bogan (right) has only played three games for the Rangers, but he could be on his way out again. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
Johnston: Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have struggled since losing Filip Hronek to a serious lower-body injury earlier this month, and they don’t expect him to play again before February. This exposed how aggressively the front office has been working to address a huge need on the right side of the blue line. Enter Bogan, who excels in the less famous parts of the game, such as the shootout, which Vancouver can certainly take advantage of. The all-purpose defenseman is an elite skater who should be able to slot into the team’s second pairing and bring that size to the team, which should be considered an added advantage in the playoffs. Bogan will have many suitors before the deadline, but perhaps no one is more motivated to pursue him than Vancouver.
team: Seattle Kraken
Location: F
shooting: L
age: 32
Contract term: 2025 black hair
Adenovirus: $3.5 million
LeBron: New Jersey Devils
All signs point to the pending unrestricted free agent winger being traded before the deadline if the Kraken don’t make the playoffs, which currently seems likely. My understanding is that there are several contenders waiting to see if/when Tanev appears on the market because they want to challenge him. He brings the kind of hard-fought game most playoff teams are looking for. He’s a great penalty killer and leads Seattle in shorthanded ice games. He won’t back down from anyone. I love the Devils. They’re looking for a boost in the bottom six, and I can imagine Tanev finding a nice spot in a cup lineup that has no shortage of offensive talent but could use a little more sandpaper.
Johnston: Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas enters the NHL break with the league’s highest scoring rate, and expectations are strong that it will step up again before the deadline. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Golden Knights pursue two forwards – one with more offensive prowess and one in the bottom six to round out other elements of the team. Tanev falls into the latter category and could end up being the strongest player with this skill. As a high-end skater who competes hard, it’s not hard to imagine him fitting into a team accustomed to winning using all four routes.
(Photos of Mikael Granlund and Brandon Tanev: Eric Hartline/USA Today and Erica Jenner/Getty Images)
