The pieces are starting to fall ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline and if Friday’s situation with Derick Brassard, the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins is a preview of what’s to come…buckle up.
Here are the latest notes from around the NHL ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
Grabner trade impacting Nash, Kane asking prices
The New York Rangers sent Michael Grabner to division rival New Jersey Devils Thursday night for a 2018 second-round pick and prospect Yegor Rykov. Not only did that deal make history, as it was the first time those two teams had ever been trade partners, but it also had an impact on the market for fellow Rangers rental player Rick Nash and Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane.
“I think what this says is that teams are asking for first-rounders for rentals, now you’re not getting them,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman told Sportsnet 960 Friday morning. “I’m sure in Buffalo last night when they saw what the return was [for Grabner] they were thinking ‘that’s not necessarily good news for us with Evander Kane.’
“I think Nash will go higher and I’m sure Buffalo will argue that Kane is a more effective player than Grabner … although I’m sure the Rangers aren’t taking that return for Nash.”
Predators might not have the pieces to acquire Nash
Speaking of Nash, when it was first revealed the Rangers officially asked the winger to submit a list of teams as part of his modified no-trade clause, the Nashville Predators were considered among the favourites to land him.
That no longer seems to be the case.
“For Nash, I’m not convinced the Predators—I think they would’ve really like to have gotten him—I’m not convinced they’re going to have what it takes after being involved in the [Matt Duchene/Kyle Turris] deal,” Friedman said.
There are several other Western Conference teams that might be interested in the 15-year veteran.
“I still think Winnipeg is going to be an interesting one in all of this,” Friedman added. “I think St. Louis has yet to fire its bullets and they’re all of the sudden they’re looking at Calgary right behind them and worried about where they’re going to be. So I think St. Louis is going to be in on this stuff. I think Winnipeg is going to be in on this stuff. I think Tampa obviously is going to be in on a lot of this stuff.
“I think there’s a lot of teams and a lot of moving parts and we haven’t even mentioned Anaheim and San Jose. I think San Jose has been looking to get offense. … I think there’s a lot of teams lurking and trying to stay quiet. But I think what the Rangers have done is they’ve created an auction and I think at the end of the day it’s going to help them.”
Lightning the frontrunners to land Karlsson?
If the Sens move Erik Karlsson it will overshadow any other trade that occurs at the deadline. A few months ago the notion of the Sens trading their captain mid-season seemed outlandish but it’s now a distinct possibility.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have emerged as frontrunners.
“I do think [Ottawa] and Tampa have been working hard at or grinding each other over a deal,” Friedman said.
The Sens also want to shed Bobby Ryan’s $7.25-million cap hit if they can. Trying to kill to birds with one stone in this situation could prove too complicated.
“I think if Ottawa was smart they’d separate Bobby Ryan from this. First of all, I’m not sure who can do it, and secondly I just think a team is going to tell them, ‘If you’re going to trade us Karlsson and we’re going to take Bobby Ryan’s contract as part of it, your return’s not going to be as good.’
“I do think too that there are some teams we haven’t thought about that are getting involved on Karlsson. When you have a guy like him who’s available, if you’re a GM, you’re not doing your job if you’re not saying ‘hey, can we be in this?’ because players like that do not become available too often. I still think Tampa is the most likely landing spot.”
Canucks could be sellers
Rick Dhaliwal of NEWS 1130 and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver has a couple tidbits on a handful of Canucks that may not be on the team at this time next year, including an injured Chris Tanev.
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