TORONTO — The trade board took a dramatic turn last week when the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 18-wheeler really started skidding. It’s not yet going “right off a cliff,” as former GM Brian Burke once described the team back in 2012, but it’s certainly closer to disaster than anyone expected.
If we look at the standings going into this week, the Leafs are on the outside looking in, no different than Florida or Ottawa, two teams that aren’t throwing in the towel yet. If Florida and Ottawa think they’re still in it, Toronto will too.
Now, if the Leafs finish with a couple more losses this week, there will be some tough conversations to have through the Olympic break. But when they come back, Toronto will have more big games against Florida and Ottawa as well. If they lose all, or most, of those points, that’s when we’ll start seeing some bigger names on my trade board.
With that in mind, I’m adding Bobby McMann to this trade board, as he becomes the first significant Leafs skater we hear is already out there as GM Brad Treliving gauges the market before the trade freeze begins Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT. Barring an immediate hot streak out of the Olympics, we’ll surely hear more names after the Olympic trade freeze is lifted on Feb. 23.
One of those players might end up being Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who will represent Sweden at the Olympics. Toronto is not in position to trade him yet because he’s been its best defenceman, but that calculation might change before the March 6 trade deadline.
Beyond the Leafs, Robert Thomas is the newest big name I’m adding to my trade board. I’m not sure how realistic it is that he’ll be wearing a new jersey by March 6 because the asking price is very high — higher than what Mikko Rantanen fetched in a trade last year. However, GM Doug Armstrong is serious about exploring all avenues for the Blues.
I’m not putting any Philadelphia Flyers on the board quite yet, but I’m hearing they are willing to swing big, if not now, then certainly this summer. When that comes to pass, the biggest pieces they could move out in a blockbuster are Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny.
As far as the Nashville Predators go, the Barry Trotz news puts the organization in a greater state of flux but, for now, all the usual suspects remain on my list.
This week’s trade board also includes additions Patrik Laine in Montreal, Jesper Wallstedt in Minnesota, and a couple of Seattle Kraken in Shane Wright and Matty Beniers.
For our last check-in on trade potential before the Olympics, here is my latest list.
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Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils: 7 G | 14 A | 21 PTS | 50 GP
The Devils are second-last in the East, but just seven points out of third in the Metropolitan Division, and there is pressure on GM Tom Fitzgerald to try to hang in there. I think they’re a lot like the Maple Leafs in that they’re not yet ready to wave the white flag.
Luke Hughes has been out since Jan. 19 and since the team is still trying to stay in the race, I’m not sure how eager Fitzgerald is to move Hamilton without Hughes there. The latter is out through the Olympic break, after which we’ll have more information that might influence what the Devils decide to do.
Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers: 19 G | 38 A | 57 PTS | 52 GP
If Panarin is traded — and with a no-move clause, he’s in complete control — he’d prefer to have an extension with the new team. There has been a link to Los Angeles here, among others, but the issue is that he wants an extension to be worth something in the vicinity of $50 million, depending on the term. The asking price to get him from New York is steep and the signing price is steep, but Panarin can still bring it and can help take a team to the next level. He’s being scratched from New York’s starting lineup until a move is made or the deadline passes.
Washington is all over him. There’s a sense he could be a good replacement for Alexander Ovechkin if Ovechkin does in fact decide to shut down his brilliant career after this season. Washington seems to be one of the few teams willing to spend the $40 million to $50 million he’s looking for, but will Panarin want to go there?
Where he might want to go is Florida, though it’s hard to imagine how the Panthers would make that work. But, since he has a no-movement clause, he could manipulate the situation much like Brad Marchand did last year from Boston. Don’t put anything past Panthers GM Bill Zito.
Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild: 14-5-4 | 2.62 GAA | .914 SV%
Making a case for himself to be included in the Calder Trophy conversation, Wallstedt is having such a good season as Minnesota’s No. 2 goalie and is still considered a top prospect at 23 years old, now with NHL experience. But with Filip Gustavsson also performing well as the team’s No. 1 goalie, trading Wallstedt might be GM Bill Guerin’s best way to find top-six scoring without significantly hurting his roster.
Having to play through such a tough division in the playoffs, the Wild have to maximize every position, and with Gustavsson under contract through 2031, Wallstedt has become a luxury.
Anthony Stolarz, G, Toronto Maple Leafs: 6-7-1 | 3.67 GAA | .876 SV%
The Leafs feel they have a luxury in net like Minnesota does and could get an asset for Stolarz, but he hasn’t played well enough for that yet. A strong showing before the trade deadline might push his value up enough and the Leafs will search the market. Toronto is trying to manage its goaltending assets, and having Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby playing so well in the NHL (and Artur Akhtyamov in the minors), you have to think they’d feel most comfortable moving Stolarz right now. But the return will still have to be worth it and the team has to feel it’s getting an upgrade to the roster.
Bobby McMann, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: 17 G | 13 A | 30 PTS | 54 GP
On pace for a career-best season, McMann is garnering the most interest among Maple Leafs players. If the Leafs are going to attempt a retool on the fly so they can try to make the playoffs again next year, they may not be comfortable keeping McMann, who could be looking for about $5 million AAV. In the meantime, they could maybe get a couple pieces for him, a second-round pick plus.
In many ways, he could be one of the most sought-after wingers at the deadline because he’s the easiest to fit in with a $1.35-million cap hit, something every contender could manage, from Colorado to Florida, Anaheim, Ottawa … you name it.
Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues: 12 G | 12 A | 24 PTS | 55 GP
Armstrong is taking calls on for the valued centre for the second deadline season in a row. Schenn still has a couple more seasons left on his deal and has some say in where he goes (15-team no-trade list), and the rumours continue that he and brother Luke are hoping to come together in a new destination. For teams looking at a centre, Schenn is a slightly cheaper option than Nazem Kadri and has one less season left on his contract.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues: 11 G | 22 A | 33 PTS | 42 GP
There is no question that the Blues’ leading scorer is being shopped, but this could also be about Armstrong sending a message that any player could be available from this roster. The price is astronomical, in the vicinity of something equivalent to three top-15 first-round picks. He’s looking for cache in prospects and picks. I don’t know what team would do that, given he’s not exactly a 100-point player (Thomas has 33 points in 42 games this season). In my opinion, he’s more in the mould of a second-line centre on a Stanley Cup-contending team. Currently sidelined due to a “minor leg procedure” and out until after the Olympics, I appreciate the noise that is around Thomas.
Jordan Kyrou, RW, St. Louis Blues: 12 G | 15 A | 27 PTS | 45 GP
If the Blues do make a big change up front, Kyrou is more likely to get dealt than Thomas. Last week, Armstrong told KSDK News that the Blues are “embarrassed” to be where they are near the bottom of the standings and that “it’s been a really poor year.” He’s sent these kinds of messages to his team before and often it has led to a turnaround, including last year, when the Blues wound up in the playoffs. But this year they’re in a big hole (11 points out) and it’s Armstrong’s last deadline in the GM chair.
Jordan Binnington, G, St. Louis Blues: 8-16-6 | 3.60 GAA | .866 SV%
Binnington remains on the list because if the right deal comes along, St. Louis will consider almost anything. However, Binnington has not come through with a stretch of strong play at any point this season, so he’s no longer seen as an obvious upgrade around the league. A strong showing in the Olympics might revive a market for him and remind teams that Binnington does step up in big moments. However, as far as NHL performance and the goalie market goes, Binnington is now taking a back seat to Wallstedt.
Steven Stamkos, RW, Nashville Predators: 25 G | 14 A | 39 PTS | 54 GP
It’s believed there have not been any discussions about a possible move between Stamkos’ camp and the Predators. If Stamkos would consider waiving his no-move clause for anything, at this point it would only be to a contending team that’s also a good place for his family. It’s highly unlikely that plays out between now and March 6, given both he and the team are playing well again and in playoff contention. It’s more likely a new head of hockey operations will have to make this decision, whenever that person arrives. For now, though, I’m keeping him on the list because this team is in flux. This may end up getting revisited in the summer.
Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators: 9 G | 5 A | 14 PTS | 35 GP
Despite a much better run of play recently and crawling back to within four points of a playoff spot, the Predators will look over their options. Marchessault falls into a similar camp as Stamkos in that he also has a no-movement clause, though he isn’t playing as well. Will the Predators find the right package and will Marchessault agree to a move? Or will this situation wait for Trotz’s replacement to come in and make a call? It’s hard to say, but the Predators do want to get younger.
Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators: 18 G | 33 A | 51 PTS | 54 GP
O’Reilly is definitely garnering the most attention of anyone in Nashville because centres are at such a premium and he’s having a strong year, leading the Predators in scoring. It’s hard to imagine O’Reilly’s value will ever be higher than it is now, and he doesn’t have any trade protection. Trotz has to ask if now is the time to maximize a premium asset.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks: 13 G | 21 A | 34 PTS | 47 GP
As I mentioned on my last trade board, the Canucks are rebuilding and everything is on the table. How deep those changes will go before March 6 remains to be seen, but all options will be considered. Including Pettersson, their leading scorer this season.
A Pettersson trade will be complex for a few reasons. One, is that he has a sky-high cap hit and still has six years remaining on his contract. Two, is that his production has not improved much this season and so it’s not obvious if he’d be as significant an upgrade to another team. And, three, is that the asking price needs to be high enough to help push the Canucks forward and, likely, need to include a centre as Vancouver is thin at the position. A tough trade to make in-season, but Pettersson is very much out there and the interest from Carolina is not going away.
Jake DeBrusk, RW, Vancouver Canucks: 13 G | 15 A | 28 PTS | 54 GP
DeBrusk remains on my trade board as he struggles to produce in his second year with Vancouver. He’s just one year removed from scoring 28 goals, and the $5.5 million he makes against the cap isn’t too much for a player who should provide complementary scoring and has 86 career games under his belt.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers: 12 G | 24 A | 36 PTS | 42 GP
Like O’Reilly, Trocheck is at an age (32) where is trade value may never be higher. I think Minnesota GM Bill Guerin will be watching Trocheck closely over the Olympics with Team USA to see if he’s a fit with the Wild. Trocheck is a real asset that the Rangers know they can’t hold on to.
Blake Coleman, LW, Calgary Flames: 13 G | 8 A | 21 PTS | 44 GP
Out through the Olympics with an upper-body injury, Coleman still has plenty of potential suitors and is the player Calgary is getting called most about. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner and is under contract for another season, so should return more to the Flames than a traditional rental package.
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames: 9 G | 26 A | 35 PTS | 54 GP
Since Kadri has so many seasons remaining on his contract, there hasn’t been great urgency to move him yet and even some talk of keeping him. However, he has informed Calgary that he’d like to move, and the Flames know his wish is to try to win a Stanley Cup this year.
The market still has to be right for the Flames to trade him, and some teams are cautious about making this trade because of his age and the fact he still has another three years left on his contract.
Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken: 9 G | 11 A | 20 PTS | 54 GP
Picked fourth overall in 2022, Wright has been unable to build on and break out from a 44-point effort last season. He has nine goals and 20 points in 53 games, but he’s still just 22 years old and has a solid pedigree. There are teams seeking youth that will find him intriguing. Seattle is in a heated playoff push but need to add scoring, so we will see if they can use Wright to get that immediate roster upgrade.
Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken: 14 G | 23 A | 37 PTS | 54 GP
The second-overall pick of the 2021 draft, Beniers has been a solid player for the Kraken — a first-line centre who’s tied for the team scoring lead, at 37 points.
While trade conversations with the Kraken might start with Wright, they could turn to Beniers as well if Seattle can get its much-needed scoring upgrade that way. But a team would need to pay for his upside, which has not yet fully surfaced. It would be tough to move him and Beniers isn’t the most likely player to be traded off this roster. He’s on this list because if the return is a franchise-changing blockbuster for the Kraken, they’ll consider it. I’m not sure if GM Jason Botterill is ready for that, but teams will try.
Patrik Laine, LW, Montreal Canadiens: 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS | 5 GP
Laine hasn’t played since October, when he was shut down to have surgery to repair a core muscle. That return timeline was initially three-to-four months and he passed the three-month mark last week. Laine has practised with the Canadiens, but a return to the lineup isn’t imminent, though he’s ready to play again.
Montreal is looking to move out his money and might be willing to spend an asset to do that. The Canadiens are prepared to retain a good chunk (even up to 50 per cent) of his deal, considering they haven’t used any retention slots and because Laine’s contract expires at the end of the season anyway. I wonder if this kind of move could help Montreal open space to do something bigger, and there is interest in Laine because he’ll be coming on an expiring contract. He would be a freebie with upside, whether for a playoff team hoping to find a cheap-to-acquire scorer, or for a non-playoff team like Calgary to get a free look at him before considering him long-term.
Edmonton’s Andrew Mangiapane is also on my list and it makes me wonder if a Montreal-Edmonton match might be found here.
Ryan Strome, C, Anaheim Ducks: 3 G | 5 A | 8 PTS | 32 GP
I think Anaheim is a team to keep an eye on just before the Olympics. Though they have plenty of cap space, the Ducks would love to shed some money and a Ryan Strome trade could accomplish that. As for the market of teams that need a centre, Strome represents the cheapest cost of acquisition compared to Schenn, Kadri or O’Reilly.
Braden Schneider, D, New York Rangers: 2 G | 9 A | 11 PTS | 56 GP
Just about any option is on the table in New York outside of Igor Shesterkin. Schneider, a 24-year-old pending RFA who’s been getting top-pair minutes, is one player the Rangers are taking calls on. Schneider is young enough and under contract control long enough to appeal to a wide ranger of teams, plus he’s a valued right shot.
Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Canucks: 9 G | 16 A | 25 PTS | 54 GP
If the Canucks can trade Kane, they will, but it’s been a slow market to develop. Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein, has been given permission by the team to try to find a trade partner. No doubt, Vancouver would be willing to use one of its two remaining salary-retention slots on Kane to make him a more appealing asset. The Los Angeles Kings are one team with some level of interest.
Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Edmonton Oilers: 6 G | 6 A | 12 PTS | 47 GP
Though it just hasn’t worked out in Edmonton and he’s not the player he was with Calgary, the Oilers continue to work the market for Mangiapane and should be able to find a partner by March 6, though the return isn’t likely to be anything major. The biggest hurdle might be Mangiapane’s no-trade clause, though it does seem like he’d be willing to waive it to try to find a better fit elsewhere.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Carolina Hurricanes: 2 G | 7 A | 9 PTS | 34 GP
The Hurricanes are in on several players as they seek to upgrade the roster and finally get over the playoff hump with this group. Though Kotkaniemi has not delivered on the promise he had when he first arrived in Carolina via offer sheet, he’s still just 25 years old and a centre, so there may be a team out there willing to take a chance that he’ll rebound.
