The calm before the storm
This trade deadline is fast approaching and while we’re seen some noteworthy trades, the quantity hasn’t been there yet. The Ducks and Canadiens swap of Devante Smith-Pelly and Jiri Sekac was the first transaction since Feb. 15 and just the fourth trade of the month. There’s a fair chance that we’ll see the pace pick up this week though, culminating with a frenzy on Monday.
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To take advantage of this relative calm before the storm, we’re going to take a look at some of the players with fantasy value that have been discussed in recent weeks. Our focus will be on why they might be dealt in the first place, the odds of such a move happening, and what a trade might mean for the player from a fantasy perspective.
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Antoine Vermette (ARI) – LW/C – Although we’ll be talking about bigger names later in this list, Vermette might end up being the best player moved over the next week. That’s because he’s one of the most likely to be assigned a new home. Arizona has no chance of making the playoffs and need to move him or risk losing him for nothing this summer as he’s set to get a big payday as an unrestricted free agent in a thin market. Vermette might end up getting Arizona a first-round pick as well as a good prospect. There’s no shortage of potential suitors for him either given his versatility and (at least for the rest of the campaign) reasonable $3.75 million annual cap hit. A trade should be great for Vermette owners as his minus-20 rating in Arizona has been a significant drag on his fantasy value. He should also see a boost in offensive production, although that will obviously be dependent on where he ends up and the identity of his new linemates.
Eric/Jordan Staal (CAR) – LW/C – I’m bundling them together because it would be a surprise if either of them are actually dealt, but I feel a need to bring them up anyways because their names have been brought up. Both have full no-trade clauses and the one that would make more sense to move, Eric given that he could walk after the 2015-16 campaign, is reportedly unwilling to accept a trade. Meanwhile, Jordan has been linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins lately, but Hurricanes GM Ron Francis has flatly stated that he won’t trade him. Circumstances might change this summer, but I would be surprised if either of the Staal brothers are moved before then.
Andrej Sekera (CAR) – D – If you’re looking for a player for Carolina to move before the deadline, odds are it will be Sekera. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and comes with a reasonable $2.75 million annual cap hit until that time. The Dallas Stars and New York Rangers have been brought up as potential destinations for Sekera recently, but his list of potential destinations is far bigger than that. Sekera stepped up last season with 44 points in 74 contests, but has come back down to Earth with two goals and 17 assists in 56 games in 2014-15. A trade could provide him with a spark, especially seeing as he’ll be moving away from Carolina, which is one of the worst team’s offensively this season.
James Wisniewski (CLM) – D – There’s a fair chance Wisniewski will remain in Columbus, but the odds of him being traded is certainly much higher than either of the Staal brothers. The Blue Jackets are reportedly shopping him and there’s no shortage of demand for an offensive defenseman that can play big minutes. Wisniewski’s contract runs through the 2016-17 campaign, so he would be more than a rental and his $5.5 million annual cap hit isn’t unreasonable. For the same reasons though, Columbus doesn’t have to move him so while it’s not hard to believe that the team is exploring his options, a move is unlikely to be made unless a very competitive offer surfaces. Wisniewski was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but he’ll be back in the lineup tonight and has stated that he would like to remain in Columbus.
Joffrey Lupul (TOR) – LW/RW – Lupul is only in the second season of his five-year, $26.25 million contract, but it’s believed that the Maple Leafs are interested in making substantial changes given their struggles in recent seasons combined with their complete collapse in 2014-15. The real question is if anyone will be willing to give Toronto anything worthwhile for Lupul. He certainly has the potential to be an effective top-six forward, but he has been battered by injuries and hasn’t been particularly effective even when healthy this season. He also has a modified no-trade clause, which limits Toronto’s potential trading partners to 14. The Maple Leafs might also end up moving the likes of Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, but those trades – if they happen at all – are far more likely to come in the summer when teams are in a better position to pull off more complicated, cap-intensive trades. The chances of Lupul being traded before the deadline are higher, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s still playing with Toronto next Tuesday. Getting out of Toronto would probably do wonders for him.
Mike Green (WAS) – D – Green is perhaps the most intriguing player on the market. He’s not the biggest name that has been floated around or the most likely to be moved, but he’s a relatively unique combination of the two. Despite Green’s injury history, the Capitals could demand a lot for Green, especially given the way he’s stepped up this season with five goals and 36 points in 52 games. He’s also set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, so if Washington doesn’t act soon, Green might simply walk, leaving the squad with nothing in return. The Capitals have to weigh the risk of losing him as a free agent against their potential for the rest of the season though. They currently hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and while they’re not a favorite to win the Stanley Cup, they certainly have a better chance with Green on their side. It will be interesting to see how Washington responds.
Keith Yandle (ARI) – D – It’s a long standing NHL tradition to discuss the possibility of the Coyotes trading Yandle around this time of year. Okay, that’s a lie – there’s no point of the year where a potential Yandle trade isn’t discussed. Will he actually be moved this time? Probably not, but it’s certainly more likely than it has been in the past. Yandle only has one season left on his contract after this one and the small-market Coyotes will have a tough time meeting his likely astronomic demands. Given that Arizona won’t make the playoffs this season anyways – and are frankly looking like longshots for 2015-16 as well – it would make sense for the Coyotes to move Yandle now while they can maximize their return. If they wait until next year’s trade deadline, then teams will be less willing to pay top dollar given that they’ll only be getting a rental at that point. It’s hard to envision him doing much better offensively, even if he’s traded, but a move would bring an end to his plus/minus woes.
Jiri Tlusty (CAR) – LW – Unlike some of the other players on this list, the odds of Tlusty getting traded are very high. He’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and should provide some secondary scoring and much needed depth to a team hoping to make a lengthy playoff run. He only has 13 goals and 23 points in 51 contests, but he’s capable of doing significantly better if given the right linemates. With that in mind, he’s worth keeping an eye on to see where he ends up.
Jaromir Jagr (NJD) – RW – Jagr isn’t demanding a trade, but he’s certainly open to the possibility. The New Jersey Devils have won four straight contests, giving them an outside shot of making the playoffs, which makes GM Lou Lamoriello’s decision a little more difficult, but in all likely he’ll still be open to selling some assets rather than bet on the outside chance that New Jersey will manage to squeak into the postseason. On a good team, Jagr would be no more than a second or even third-line forward, but he would bring with him a wealth of playoff experience. A relatively young team like the New York Islanders might find his presence to be invaluable, although something similar could be said for the Anaheim Ducks as they look to advance beyond the second round for the first time since 2007.
Loui Eriksson (BOS) – LW/RW – Although it might seem counterintuitive for the Bruins, who are hurting for skilled forwards, to move Eriksson, the possibility has nevertheless been the topic of discussion. That’s because there are reasons why Boston might want to move Eriksson. The single biggest is their salary cap issues, which are likely to become increasingly complicated given that Dougie Hamilton, Reilly Smith, and Torey Krug are among the players set to become restricted free agents this summer. On top of that, Eriksson just hasn’t really worked out in Boston. He’s gone from being a player that recorded over 70 points in three straight seasons in Dallas, to scoring just 14 goals and 33 points in 58 contests in 2014-15. He’s still just 29 years old and a change of scenery could provide him with the spark he needs to become a top-tier forward again. Despite its recent slump, Boston is still clinging onto the second Wild Card spot, which would make trading Eriksson at this time particularly painful. With that in mind, a move this summer might be more likely.
