The Trade Deadline
It’s going to be a busy Monday with the trade deadline set at 3 PM ET. Follow Rotoworld for all the up to the minute updates. I’ll be doing a Trade Deadline blog on Monday. It may not be as busy as previous deadlines as there have already been a bunch of trades over the last two weeks.
Corey Abbott will have a special In The Crease on Saturday, previewing the deadline and going over the trades that have been made so far so don’t forget to read it.
As well, James O’Brien will give his take on Tuesday in his Daily Dose.
It’s a big birthday week in my family so Happy Birthday to my Mom, my brother Howie, Angela and Hayley.
Don’t forget, for everything NHL, check out Rotoworld's Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_ HK and @mfinewaxhockey on Twitter.
Now to The Week Ahead.
WEEK OF MARCH 2-8
4 Games - Calgary, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, Ottawa, Philadelphia
3 Games – Anaheim, Arizona, Boston, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington,
2 Games – St. Louis, Winnipeg
Calgary and Montreal play all four games on the road.
Arizona, Boston, Chicago, Florida, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Jose and Tampa Bay play three games at home.
Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh play three games on the road.
INJURIES
Patrick Kane is out two-three months with a fractured left clavicle. (Click here to see the rest of the injury list.)
Note: A tired team is one that has played the day or night before and is going against a team that did not play the previous day or night. The reverse is true for a rested team.
ANAHEIM
Games this week
@ Arizona, vs. Montreal, vs. Pittsburgh
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: vs. Montreal (Wednesday)
Notes
The Ducks play three games in four nights so look for Frederik Andersen to play twice if he returns to action with John Gibson playing once. The Ducks put Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers this past week and he accepted an assignment to the minors once passing through waivers. Anaheim dealt Devante Smith-Pelly to Montreal for rookie Jiri Sekac and immediately put Sekac on the second line with Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks have been slumping of late as they are 13-10-2 in their last 25 games but continue to lead the Pacific Division by 10 points. Matt Beleskey has missed the last five games but the Ducks are hoping he can begin skating by the end of this week as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
ARIZONA
Games this week
vs. Anaheim, vs. Vancouver, vs. Montreal
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Mark Arcobello has been fantasy-relevant after only seven games with the Coyotes as he has five goals since coming over from the Penguins. It is doubtful that Antoine Vermette will still be a member of the Coyotes by the time the Anaheim game rolls around as he is the most likely player to get traded. Zbynek Michalek could also get traded but his upper body injury could put a kibosh on that as teams may not be willing to take a chance on the defensive defenseman. Mike Smith has lost his last seven straight games and has given up 28 goals in that span on 223 shots. Keith Yandle leads the team in points with 40 and has a team-worst minus-32.
BOSTON
Games this week
vs. Calgary, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Detroit
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: vs. Detroit (Sunday)
Notes
The Bruins only play three games this week starting on Thursday so look for Tuukka Rask to play at least twice with Niklas Svedberg possibly getting a start. Fantasy owners who went heavily into the Bruins on draft day because of their plus-minus, have been terribly disappointed. There were 10 players last season with a plus/minus over 20 including David Krejci (+39), Patrice Bergeron (+38), Brad Marchand (+36), Jarome Iginla (+34 and in Colorado this season), Johnny Boychuk (+31 an with the Islanders), Milan Lucic (+30), Reilly Smith (+28), Zdeno Chara (+25) and Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski, both plus-22. Kevan Miller leads the Bruins this season with a plus-20, the same as last season but Lucic is the only other player in double digits at plus-10, while Hamilton and Bartkowski are minus players and everyone else still with the Bruins in single digits. David Krejci is out for four-six weeks with a knee injury.
BUFFALO
Games this week
@ Tampa Bay, @ Ottawa, @ Washington
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ Washington (Saturday)
Notes
It's pretty rare but goaltender Michal Neuvirth was fined $2,000 for embellishing/diving. Tyler Ennis is out with a lower body injury but could return this week. Chris Stewart will likely not be around this week for the Sabres as they will surely deal him elsewhere by the Monday deadline. It has been a horrible season for Cody Hodgson as he potted just his third goal of the season on Tuesday. He started off the season as the top center but now is getting fourth line minutes. Zemgus Girgensons could be out the rest of the season after blocking a shot with his foot on Tuesday. The citizens of Latvia will have to root for Vancouver’s Ronalds Kenins the rest of the way.
CALGARY
Games this week
@ Philadelphia, @ Boston. @ Detroit, @ Ottawa
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ Detroit (Friday)
Notes
The Flames are in the midst of an eight game road trip as the Brier is being played at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary plays three games in four nights as part of their four game week, so expect to see Karri Ramo and Jonas Hiller split the net. Curtis Glencross scored on Wednesday but it could be his last goal as a Flame as he is expected to get traded by Monday. Sean Monahan got off to a poor start this season with only two goals and two assists in his first 11 games but he has 19 goals and 38 points in his last 50 starts. So much for the sophomore jinx for the second year player. Mark Giordano had an assist on Wednesday for his first point in four games.
CAROLINA
Games this week
@ Chicago, vs. Minnesota, vs. Edmonton
Rested Team: vs. Minnesota (Friday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Hurricanes did okay for themselves in trading Andrej Sekera to the Kings, picking up the Kings first round pick in 2015 and Roland McKeown, a defenseman drafted 50th overall in 2014. He was considered the best pure skater among defensemen in the draft and he has an exceptional hockey IQ. He will likely become a steady NHL defenseman but may not be a fantasy asset. GM Ron Francis also traded Jiri Tlusty to Winnipeg for a conditional sixth (which becomes a fifth if the Jets make the playoffs) this season and a third in 2016. Jordan Staal has been a nice addition since returning from a broken leg. In the 23 games since his return, he has 15 points. He practiced on Thursday with brother Eric and Alexander Semin. There have been rumors linking him to a trade with Pittsburgh and we will find out if they were true by Monday.
CHICAGO
Games this week
vs. Carolina, vs. Edmonton, vs. New York Rangers
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The loss of Patrick Kane is a huge blow to fantasy teams as well of course, as the Blackhawks. The NHL’s leading scorer at the time of the injury is out about 12 weeks after fracturing his left clavicle that required surgery. The Blackhawks recalled Teuvo Teravainen and he should get a long look with Chicago as a top-six forward. Corey Crawford had struggled over his last two games, giving up eight goals on only 44 shots, but shutout the Panthers on Thursday stopping 20 shots. The Blackhawks went with the newly signed Scott Darling on Tuesday and he stopped 34 shots in a 3-2 shootout win over Florida. Antti Raanta was sent to the minors. Brent Seabrook was plus-21, plus-12 (in the lockout year) and plus-23 in his last three seasons but is a minus-two this year.
COLORADO
Games this week
vs. Pittsburgh, @ Columbus, @ Minnesota
Rested Team: @ Columbus (Saturday)
Tired Team: @ Minnesota (Sunday)
Notes
It’s hard to believe but Nathan MacKinnon had only nine goals in his first 59 games this season before exploding for four goals in his last two games. Semyon Varlamov has started the last 17 games in a row and is 8-7-2 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.53 GAA. Daniel Briere has been a healthy scratch in each of the last six games. There has been some speculation that the Avalanche could be interested in trading Ryan O'Reilly. He has six assists in his last six games and 35 points overall in 61 contests. Look for the Avs to expect a lot back for O'Reilly if they deal him.
COLUMBUS
Games this week
vs. Washington, @ New Jersey, vs. Colorado
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: vs. Colorado (Saturday)
Notes
The Blue Jackets are looking to get Sergei Bobrovsky back for the Washington game, if not sooner. He has been out with a groin injury since January 21 and he took part in the optional skate on Wednesday. Columbus has been relying on Curtis McElhinney between the pipes and he has been 6-4-1 since the Bobrovsky injury, with a .929 save percentage and a 2.37 GAA before Thursday’s game against Montreal. Jack Skille required shoulder surgery and that will keep him out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. The Blue Jackets may be looking to deal James Wisniewski who was a healthy scratch on Sunday. The offensive defenseman will be a good addition to any playoff team as he has 28 points in 53 games this season after a 51 point effort last year. They picked up David Clarkson from Toronto for Nathan Horton on Thursday. The cap hit was similar and there is a very good chance that Horton’s career is over because of back problems. The hope is that Clarkson can turn his game around to where it was in New Jersey rather than where it had gone to in Toronto.
DALLAS
Games this week
vs. New York Islanders, @ Florida, @ Tampa Bay
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Tyler Seguin is hoping to return around the middle of March as he has started to work out off the ice while rehabbing an MCL tear to his knee. The timetable on his return was pegged at three-six weeks and he is hoping to return after four which would be in the middle of March. Erik Cole has three goals in his last four games as he has jumped to the top line with Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza. Speaking of Spezza, he has really taken over since the injury to Seguin as he has three goals and nine points in six games. Jhonas Enroth has started the last two games for Dallas and has given up nine goals on only 59 shots in two losing efforts.
DETROIT
Games this week
vs. New York Rangers, vs. Calgary, @ Boston
Rested Team: vs. Calgary (Friday), @ Boston (Sunday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Red Wings are hoping to get Henrik Zetterberg (upper body) back for the Rangers game on March 4. It was nice to see Jonas Gustavsson back in goal as he made his first start since November 5 on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles. Daniel Cleary played in only his second game since January 7 on Monday and was promptly a healthy scratch once again on Tuesday. He has only a goal and an assist in 13 games this season and this could be the final season for the 36-year-old in the NHL. Teemu Pulkkinen is seeing only third line action with Stephen Weiss and Joakim Andersson as his linemates.
EDMONTON
Games this week
vs. Los Angeles, @ Chicago, @ Carolina
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
After the Hurricanes dealt Andrej Sekera to the Kings, the Oilers must have been pleased as they figure they may be able to get a first round pick for Jeff Petry, the best defenseman out there who can become a UFA at the end of the season (and not on a contending team). Nail Yakupov is out of action after tweaking his groin. Jordan Eberle has not found the back of the net in 11 games but does have 10 assists in his last nine contests. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has four goals and six points in his last eight games. He has 16 goals and 37 points in 60 games with a minus-10 rating. He has had shoulder troubles in his four year career and that has hindered his progress.
FLORIDA
Games this week
vs. Toronto, vs. Dallas, vs. New York Islanders
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Panthers seven game home stand ends on March 12. Well, it sure looks like the Panthers are going all in for their playoff drive as they picked up Jaromir Jagr on Thursday from the Devils for a second round pick in 2015 and a conditional third rounder in 2016. Jagr will provide a veteran presence on the young players in the Florida dressing room and that cannot hurt the franchise. The move could force Boston, which is only two points ahead of the surging Panthers, into a move of their own. Roberto Luongo has been a great presence in the Panthers net as he has provided the Panthers with outstanding goaltending all season. He is 22-16-11 with a 2.38 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
LOS ANGELES
Games this week
@ Edmonton, vs. Montreal, vs. Pittsburgh
Rested Team: vs. Montreal (Thursday), vs. Pittsburgh (Saturday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
This is the second week in a row that the Kings play as the rested team twice. The Kings gave up a lot for the services of Andrej Sekera (see Carolina) but the defenseman will help out immediately and that will help Drew Doughty who is expected to see less ice time with Sekera in tow. This will help keep Doughty rested as he was seeing over 30 minutes of action too many times this season. The Kings are red-hot as they have won eight of nine after a 1-0 loss on Thursday and are now in the playoffs, albeit tied with the ninth place Flames with a game in hand. Jonathan Quick has won all eight, giving up 13 goals on 218 shots. The Kings signed Kyle Clifford to a five-year/$8 million deal.
MINNESOTA
Games this week
vs. Ottawa, @ Washington, @ Carolina, vs. Colorado
Rested Team: vs. Colorado (Sunday)
Tired Team: @ Carolina (Friday)
Notes
The Wild play four games this week including three in four nights but it may be hard for head coach Mike Yeo to stop using Devan Dubnyk. If he decides to give Dubnyk a rest, then he will likely go to Darcy Kuemper. Dubnyk has played in 19 straight games for the Wild and he has moved them into seventh place and a spot in the playoffs. Sean Bergenheim played his first game with the Wild on Thursday and did so with Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu on his line. Jared Spurgeon is on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury. Jonas Brodin leads the Wild in plus/minus at plus-15 while Zach Parise continues to lead the team in points with 46.
MONTREAL
Games this week
@ San Jose, @ Anaheim, @ Los Angeles, @ Arizona
Rested Team: @ Anaheim (Wednesday)
Tired Team: @ Los Angeles (Thursday)
Notes
The Canadiens are on the road for all four games this with three in sunny California and one in Arizona. Expect to see Carey Price play three games with Dustin Tokarski playing in one contest. The Canadiens picked up Devante Smith-Pelly from the Ducks this past week. The big winger was drafted in the second round in 2010 and has the ability to stand in front of the net and get some dirty goals, something every team in the NHL needs. Max Pacioretty was the third star of the week with four goals and six points in four games. Tomas Plekanec has five goals and nine points in his last 11 games. Jacob de la Rose picked up his first two NHL goals in his career on Thursday.
NASHVILLE
Games this week
@ New York Rangers, @ New Jersey, vs. New York Islanders, vs. Winnipeg
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ New Jersey (Tuesday)
Notes
The Predators play three games in four nights so expect to see Carter Hutton play once for the outstanding Pekka Rinne. Ryan Ellis returned to the Nashville lineup on Thursday after missing 21 games with a lower body injury and was paired with Seth Jones on the second unit. The Predators have been using newly acquired Mike Santorelli at both center and the wing. Roman Josi has been under the radar this season and the blueliner has been terrific as he has 11 goals and 44 points in 63 games with a plus-19 rating. He is two points ahead of Shea Weber but Weber does have 66 penalty minutes in addition to a plus-20 rating.
NEW JERSEY
Games this week
vs. Nashville, vs. Columbus, vs. Philadelphia
Rested Team: vs. Nashville (Tuesday), vs. Philadelphia (Sunday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Devils still think they are in the playoff race despite trading Jaromir Jagr to Florida for a couple of draft picks. Michael Cammalleri has been hot of late with five goals and six points in his last four games. He has 23 goals and 31 points in 49 games. Michael Ryder has not asked for a trade but would certainly welcome one as he has been a healthy scratch in 13 of the Devils last 14 games. Eric Gelinas has also been a healthy scratch on numerous occasions this season but was benched on Monday when he took part on a rush in the third period when the Devils were up 2-0. Scott Gomez has a goal and five assists in his last 10 games and there could be some teams interested in his services at the trade deadline.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Games this week
@ Dallas, @ Nashville, @ Florida
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Islanders are on the road for all three games this week. New York inked defenseman Nick Leddy to a big seven-year/$38.5 million contract extension. He has eight goals and 25 points this season with a plus-14 rating. Expect more next season from the 23-year-old as he is likely to see more power play time. John Tavares is closing in on his first scoring title as he is in fourth place heading into action on Thursday but only one point behind Patrick Kane, who is injured and out for the season, Jakub Voracek and Nicklas Backstrom. The race is very tight as Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are only one point behind Tavares with Evgeni Malkin two points in arrears of Tavares. Anders Lee has five goals and 12 points in his last 10 games.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Games this week
vs. Nashville, @ Detroit, @ Chicago
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Rangers are red-hot as they are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games. Rick Nash returned to action on Thursday after missing one game with neck spasms. He was replaced on Tuesday but Kevin Hayes on a line with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello but Hayes moved back to the third unit on Thursday with Carl Hagelin and J.T. Miller. Zuccarello was taken off the first power play and replaced by Martin St. Louis. Kevin Klein continues to have a career year with nine goals and 25 points with a plus-21 in 59 games. Lee Stempniak had a pair of goals on Thursday but has only nine this season.
OTTAWA
Games this week
@ Minnesota, @ Winnipeg, vs. Buffalo, vs. Calgary
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ Winnipeg (Wednesday)
Notes
The Senators play three games in four nights as part of a four game week. Craig Anderson (hand) is not yet back in action, nor is Robin Lehner (upper body) so look for Andrew Hammond to get the starts if Anderson or Lehner has not returned. He has given up only three goals in the last four games. Anderson is hoping to return before the end of the road trip from a hand injury. Jared Cowen was suspended for three games for a high hit on the Panthers Jussi Jokinen. Erik Karlsson is on a six game point scoring streak heading into action on Thursday and leads the team in points with 45, one ahead of Bobby Ryan.
PHILADELPHIA
Games this week
vs. Calgary, vs. St. Louis, vs. Boston, @ New Jersey
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ New Jersey (Sunday)
Notes
The Flyers play four games this week including three games in four days so Steve Mason and Rob Zepp should share the net as Mason is just returning to action after undergoing knee surgery on February 10 to repair a torn meniscus. Ray Emery was placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury. Vincent Lecavalier is becoming a non-entity in Philadelphia as he has been a healthy scratch for four straight games. It did not help that he was held off the scoresheet in nine of his 10 previous games. Michael Del Zotto has been an offensive force on the blueline for the Flyers of late with 11 points in his last 15 games.
PITTSBURGH
Games this week
@ Colorado, @ Anaheim, @ Los Angeles
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ Los Angeles (Saturday)
Notes
The Penguins play three on the road in four nights. It is likely that Thomas Greiss will get one start with Marc-Andre Fleury getting the other two. Chris Kunitz halted a five game pointless skid with a goal and an assist on Wednesday. The Penguins picked up Daniel Winnik from the Maple Leafs and paid a fairly high price for the bottom-six forward as they gave up a fourth round pick this season and a second rounder in 2016 in addition to Zach Sill. Christian Ehrhoff returned to the Pittsburgh lineup on Wednesday for the first time in 15 games after he suffered a concussion. Sidney Crosby has four points in his last three games after going pointless in five of his previous six and nine of his previous 13 games.
ST. LOUIS
Games this week
vs. Philadelphia, @ Toronto
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Patrik Berglund scored the Blues only regulation goal on Thursday and has only 19 points in 57 games this season. Berglund moved to the top line with David Backes and T.J. Oshie on Tuesday but was back with Ryan Reaves and Paul Stastny Thursday. He has been a big fantasy disappointment. The Blues re-acquired Adam Cracknell from the Blue Jackets for future considerations. He should be a fourth line player. Brian Elliott has played in net the most for the Blues but Jake Allen has split the last four games in net with Elliott who has been pulled in two of his last seven games.
SAN JOSE
Games this week
vs. Montreal, @ Vancouver, vs. Vancouver
Rested Team: None
Tired Team: @ Vancouver (Tuesday)
Notes
The Sharks play the Canucks twice this week so if there are fisticuffs look for Andrew Desjardins and/or Brenden Dillon to add to their penalty minute totals. Patrick Marleau scored the 450th goal of his career on Thursday. Joe Thornton picked up his 892nd career assist in the same game to move into 20th place all-time in assists, just two behind Phil Housley. Scott Hannan could be moved at the deadline as the Sharks are currently on the cusp of the playoffs as they are in 10th, just two points out of eighth. It was thought at the beginning of the year that the Sharks would go to Alex Stalock in net in 2015-16 but he has regressed so they could be interested in re-signing Antti Niemi before he becomes a UFA on July 1.
TAMPA BAY
Games this week
vs. Buffalo, vs. Toronto, vs. Dallas
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Lightning sent goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to the minors for a day to get in some action. He hasn't won in the Lightning net in three weeks and gave up five goals on only 13 shots Sunday. Andrej Sustr has been playing alongside Victor Hedman in the second half of the season but still does not have fantasy value with only eight assists in 58 games to go with a plus-eight rating. Ryan Callahan is having a nice but quiet season with 18 goals and 43 points in 57 games including seven goals and 12 points on the power play. Steve Stamkos has four goals and five points in his last six games but was held off the scoresheet and was a minus-three Sunday against Colorado.
TORONTO
Games this week
@ Florida, @ Tampa Bay, vs. St. Louis
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Maple Leafs were busy once again in the trade market as they dealt away Daniel Winnik and David Clarkson with the future in mind. They received a fourth round pick in 2015 and a second rounder in 2016 from Pittsburgh for Winnik as Zach Sill was also sent to Toronto. They then dealt Clarkson to Columbus and got back Nathan Horton who is unlikely to play again in the NHL due to back woes. Horton can be placed on the long-term injured list at the start of each season if he cannot play, freeing up over $5 million each year under the salary cap. Phil Kessel had a two point night on Thursday for the first time since January 9. Dion Phaneuf returned to the Leafs lineup on Thursday after missing five weeks with an upper body injury. There are still plenty of rumors about who the Leafs will trade before the deadline with everyone with the exception of Morgan Rielly being a possibility.
VANCOUVER
Games this week
vs. San Jose, @ Arizona, @ San Jose
Rested Team: vs. San Jose (Tuesday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Canucks play the Sharks twice this week. Derek Dorsett is likely to get some penalty minutes if any fight breaks out. The Canucks got some bad news on Sunday when Ryan Miller sprained his knee. He will miss four-six weeks and that could hurt their playoff chances as they sit in sixth place in the West with 73 points but only three points ahead of ninth place Calgary. Eddie Lack will take over and while he played well in taking over on Sunday as well as Tuesday in Boston, he did not look good in giving up five goals on 23 shots to lowly Buffalo Thursday. The Canucks recalled Jacob Markstrom from the minors and Vancouver could give him a chance to run with the job. The injury to Alex Burrows gave Zack Kassian the opportunity to play with the Sedin twins. Kassian has not disappointed with four goals in four games.
WASHINGTON
Games this week
@ Columbus, vs. Minnesota, vs. Buffalo
Rested team: vs. Buffalo (Saturday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
What a difference coach Barry Trotz has meant to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals! Ovechkin had 51 goals last season with 28 assists and thus far he has 39 goals and 23 helpers in 62 games but the big difference is his plus/minus as Ovechkin was one of the worst in the NHL last season at minus-35 while he has improved to a plus-11 this year. The Capitals should be buyers at the trade deadline and that makes it very unlikely that they will trade Mike Green, even though he could be a UFA come July 1. He will be too valuable during the playoffs for the Capitals to entertain any offers.
WINNIPEG
Games this week
vs. Ottawa, @ Nashville
Rested team: vs. Ottawa (Wednesday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Jets made another splash by dealing for Jiri Tlusty to add to their depth at forward. Tlusty joins fellow Czechs Michael Frolik and Ondrej Pavelec and that ought to make his transition a lot easier. Tlusty saw his first action on Thursday and played alongside Drew Stafford and Mark Scheifele on the second line. The trade allowed Dustin Byfuglien to move back to the blueline. The Jets placed Blake Wheeler on the injured reserve list with a lower body injury but he could return as early as March 1. Bryan Little scored his 146th career goal on Tuesday to move into second place in franchise history. He trails only Ilya Kovalchuk who is sitting at 328.
