If we believe the chatter, this NHL off-season could feature some fireworks. There are plenty of prominent players on Nick Kypreos’ latest trade board, including three recent top-five draft picks who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Here is a look at what those players can offer to potential acquiring teams:
Age: 23
Position: Centre/left wing
Draft position: Third overall in 2021
Career statistics: 77 goals, 181 points in 304 games
Kypreos’ intel: “With new contracts coming to pending RFAs Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier this summer, Mason McTavish's contract is vulnerable to be moved.”
The first year of McTavish’s six-year deal ($7 million cap hit) did not go according to plan. McTavish fell out of favour with new Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, who slashed his ice time from 16:53 to 15:19 per game and scratched him at points during the team’s first playoff appearance in eight years.
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McTavish told reporters after the season that improving his defensive game and footspeed are his top priorities this summer, but he already has the attributes of an effective power forward. This season, he finished 12th in forecheck scoring chances per 20 minutes and 18th in slot-pass success rate out of 411 forwards who played at least 40 games.
Many of the same criticisms of McTavish’s game were lobbed at ex-teammate Trevor Zegras, who flourished in his first season with the Philadelphia Flyers. Perhaps a fresh start for McTavish, who is one season removed from recording 22 goals and 52 points, can have the same effect.
Age: 22
Position: Right defence
Draft position: Second overall in 2022
Career statistics: 16 goals, 49 points in 155 games
Kypreos’ intel: “After several rumours that Nemec had asked for a trade, it now sounds like he wants to stay. However, that doesn’t mean he will.”
New Jersey’s blue line may not be big enough for Nemec and fellow youngster Luke Hughes, who is signed through 2032 at $9 million per year. AFP Analytics projects Nemec, a pending restricted free agent, to receive a cap hit of around $8.1 million on a long-term contract. If the Devils (or another team) decide to go short-term on his next deal, it is projected to carry a roughly $4.5 million cap hit.
Nemec is not a defensive stopper by any stretch of the imagination. He can make goals happen from the back end, however, finishing 32nd in offence-generating plays per 20 minutes this season out of 201 qualified defencemen (minimum 40 games played). In addition, he ranked 25th in controlled entries per 20 minutes.
Nemec’s offensive skill set makes it easy to imagine him running a productive power play. Those minutes have rarely been available to him in New Jersey, where Hughes and Dougie Hamilton receive top billing.
Five defencemen under contract with the Devils have some form of trade protection, and the team is not flush with cap space. New general manager Sunny Mehta may have no choice but to trade Nemec, who has shown plenty of promise.
Age: 22
Position: Centre
Draft position: Fourth overall in 2022
Career statistics: 36 goals, 78 points in 169 games
Kypreos’ intel: “Wright is still just 22 years old and several teams are seeking to bring in skilled players in that age range. Would one of them move a veteran scorer for him?”
Once considered the No. 1 prospect in his draft class, Wright’s NHL career is off to an uneven start since he fell to fourth overall in 2022. Over two full seasons in the league, Wright has averaged around 17 goals and 38 points per 82 games despite receiving under 14 minutes of ice time per game for the Kraken.
Wright, who has one more year on his entry-level contract, showed some defensive chops this season. His 5.85 defensive plays per 20 minutes ranked 44th out of the 400-plus qualified forwards, and he recovered 6.81 loose pucks per 20 minutes in the defensive zone (73rd).
On the offensive end, Wright does not waste time on the fringes. Nearly 70 per cent of his total shot attempts (255-of-366) over the past two seasons have come from the slot, and 18 of his 31 goals have been scored from the inner slot.
Seattle, which has missed the playoffs in four of its first five seasons, desperately needs a jolt. CEO Tod Leiweke told reporters in April that the Kraken “have not delivered on the promise of this team” and he anticipates a “prolific off-season.” If Seattle goes fishing for a big-name player, Wright is tantalizing bait.
All stats via Sportlogiq
