NHL commerce deadline buzz — Goalie market, Penguins-Caps strikes

We’re two weeks away from the NHL commerce deadline, which implies conversations are dialed up and trades can occur at any second. This is the newest on what I am listening to on discussions happening across the league.

THE GOALIE MARKET is simmering, although I nonetheless do not assume all the goalie-needy groups are going to finish up with goaltending insurance coverage on the deadline. For instance, the Oilers appear comfy driving it out with Stuart Skinner, shifting their focus to influence forwards and defensemen. The Montreal Canadiens appear poised to maneuver Jake Allen. I’ve heard the Nashville Predators may commerce Juuse Saros. The time to strike on a Saros deal is likely to be now, as high Preds prospect Yaroslav Askarov is tearing it up within the AHL (.920 save proportion, 2.12 GAA and 4 shutouts in 27 video games).

A Jacob Markstrom-to-New Jersey deal bought so shut, I am informed Markstrom did not assume he’d go away the world when the Flames have been on a New York/New Jersey highway journey earlier this month. It fell by means of, however I feel the Devils are nonetheless aggressively taking a look at choices, and Saros could possibly be certainly one of them. GM Tom Fitzgerald has full energy from possession to do something he can to make the crew higher. Goaltending is the plain want, though 23-year-old Nico Daws has helped stabilize the state of affairs recently. However an influence defenseman can also be key because the Devils are weak and inexperienced with out high blueliner Dougie Hamilton.

The goalie everyone seems to be interested by is Marc-Andre Fleury. Proper now, he isn’t available on the market. If there’s any lifelike likelihood of the Wild making the playoffs on the commerce deadline, Fleury is not going anyplace. Fleury and Wild GM Invoice Guerin are extraordinarily shut, having received a Stanley Cup collectively as teammates in Pittsburgh. Guerin goes to do proper by Fleury, and each of them need it to work out in Minnesota. But when the Wild are hopelessly out of the race — say, 12, 13 factors out of a spot — the dialog adjustments. Fleury has not missed the playoffs in 17 straight seasons, a streak he takes delight in. Fleury is a fierce competitor and needs to win once more. However he additionally desires to play, so it must be the precise proper state of affairs for him to conform to a deal. I am informed he isn’t going anyplace to be a cheerleader and sit because the designated backup. Fleury desires begins. We’ll see the way it shakes out, but it surely seems like it might take an actual set of dominos to fall for Fleury to complete out the season in one other jersey.

STEVE YZERMAN IS maybe essentially the most secretive common supervisor within the league. He will not even publicly (and for all I do know privately) put a timeframe on the Pink Wings’ rebuild. Nevertheless, in speaking to sources across the league, it seems like Yzerman is targeted on making the playoffs this season, capitalizing on a powerful first half.

Coach Derek Lalonde had informed me what a intestine punch it was for the gamers at the moment final season when administration determined but once more to gather for the long run, buying and selling away Tyler Bertuzzi, Filip Hronek, Oskar Sundqvist and Jakub Vrana. I used to be shocked, then, just a few weeks in the past once I heard that David Perron, a pending UFA and an emotional chief within the locker room, was probably on the transfer. I do assume there have been legit discussions about buying and selling Perron, however they’ve since quieted. The truth is, I consider a contract extension for Perron could possibly be in play both proper earlier than or after the March 8 deadline. If it does not get performed, do not be shocked in the event that they re-engage over the summer time on a possible new contract in Detroit. That mentioned, Yzerman has been listening to provides on his defensemen

THE PANTHERS HAVE emerged as the most effective crew within the Japanese Convention. The gamers have purchased into Paul Maurice’s construction — which is demanding, each bodily and mentally, however robust as heck for different groups to crack.

Credit score Florida’s pro-scouting workers for locating a lot expertise (Carter Verhaeghe, Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov, Evan Rodrigues and Gustav Forsling are all shining examples) and a gentle resurgence from Sergei Bobrovsky, who has thrived beneath the crew’s strong goaltending teaching division.

Do they get higher on the commerce deadline? After I talked to GM Invoice Zito this week, he informed me the crew is in a distinct place than the previous two seasons. In 2021, after they made splashes for Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot, it was “very important to the franchise” to win a playoff spherical. Final season was about maintaining that progress and momentum going. Now, contemporary off a Stanley Cup Closing look, the Panthers would nonetheless like so as to add — and have a wholesome $5 million cap house to take action. However Florida feels it has to seek out extra proficient gamers in decrease rounds as a result of they do not wish to empty what’s turning into a naked cupboard of belongings. The Panthers do not have a first-round decide till 2026, and are with out their second-round decide this 12 months too. Issues can change with one cellphone name, particularly when it will get nearer to March 8, and Florida is not against including both ahead or protection depth.

ONE OF THE stealth groups yearly on the commerce deadline is the Tampa Bay Lightning. GM Julien BriseBois all the time appears to have some methods up his sleeve. Tampa Bay is correct within the combine for a playoff spot within the East.

They have been buying and selling away future belongings for Cup chases the final a number of years. This season, they’ve handled the harm bug. However in some methods, it has been a optimistic as a result of they will check out their younger gamers and European free brokers. Final season, Tampa Bay solely made one call-up at ahead for one recreation all season. I’ve heard they’re contemplating including a ahead on the deadline. However essentially the most evident want is protection, which is particularly skinny with the lack of Mikhail Sergachev (fractured tibia and fibula) for the common season. BriseBois confirmed Sergachev has an opportunity to return if the crew makes an extended playoff run. He informed me Sergachev’s loss does not change their goal — Tampa Bay was already looking out for deadline enhancements. There’s been a number of smoke across the league that the Lightning are the likeliest vacation spot for Calgary defenseman Noah Hanifin, who desires an opportunity to play in the USA. He makes a number of sense there, however we’ll see the way it shakes out.

WHEN I TALKED to Caps GM Brian MacLellan earlier this month, he informed me he was going to find out quickly whether or not his crew could be trying to commerce gamers on the deadline. The choice could be dictated by the crew’s place within the muddy wild-card race. “In some unspecified time in the future,” he mentioned, “the maths simply does not add up.”

Most individuals I discuss to across the league consider Washington will attempt to unload some contracts to place higher for the long run. MacLellan mentioned he’s balancing doing proper by legacy gamers — particularly captain Alex Ovechkin and his quest for the NHL all-time purpose file — whereas making an attempt to remain aggressive and get youthful. It is a delicate tightrope. Nic Dowd and Joel Edmundson are two gamers I heard have been drawing league-wide curiosity. I consider Anthony Mantha is getting some curiosity based mostly on a powerful season, too. I additionally consider there’s a distinct risk Max Pacioretty could possibly be traded.

Pacioretty signed a one-year, bonus-laden deal in Washington after coming off his second Achilles surgical procedure. Contemplating all of the 35-year-old went by means of to return again — he actually traveled the world trying to find options — idling on a non-contending crew for the final two months is not ideally suited. In his 16-year profession, Pacioretty has by no means received a Stanley Cup, and he is aware of his time is ticking. He was traded away from Vegas the 12 months earlier than they hoisted the Cup. Pacioretty’s deal has a full no-movement clause — a rarity for Washington. Ovechkin is the one different participant on the roster with that safety. Meaning he has full management of his state of affairs. If Pacioretty strikes, it might be for a state of affairs the place he appears like he has a critical likelihood to win. Geography can also be essential for Pacioretty and his household.

MACLELLAN REMARKED HOW comparable the conditions have been for his crew and its greatest rivals over the past decade, the Pittsburgh Penguins. GM Kyle Dubas held a information convention this week laying out the Penguins’ state of affairs. Dubas mentioned the crew’s middling efficiency, particularly because the All-Star break, has him taking a look at methods to shake up the roster.

“Every part that we do will probably be with the intention of delivering a championship contender for the crew with out [Sidney Crosby and the core veteran players] having to undergo years of ache to get there,” Dubas mentioned. “That is my dedication.”

Curiosity in Jake Guentzel across the league hasn’t waned in any respect, regardless of him being on injured reserve by means of the March 8 deadline. It nonetheless appears possible Guentzel is on the transfer. I’ve heard the asking value on Guentzel is a number of first-round picks (or a first-round decide and equal in high prospects or roster gamers). One rival govt mentioned “the Guentzel asking value is ridiculous.”

The Penguins have made it clear that every one non-core gamers on their roster could possibly be accessible — and never simply searching for future belongings, however hockey trades too (although these are usually simpler over the summer time). Veteran Reilly Smith hasn’t had the smoothest transition in Pittsburgh, however there’s rising league-wide curiosity within the veteran ahead, who received a Stanley Cup final season with the Golden Knights. Two of Smith’s former groups, Vegas and Florida, could possibly be suits — as may the Hurricanes.

TWO TEAMS THAT are speaking about varied gamers proper now are the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche. The Canes have 13 gamers on their roster who’re due for brand new contracts this summer time. Given the way in which Carolina operates — they put a price on gamers that’s usually totally different than anybody else’s worth, they usually keep on with it — it is not shocking that they’ve tried to maneuver a few of these gamers for “hockey trades.” The Canes, who’ve almost $7 million in deadline cap house, actually appear open to something, and it might be surprising to see them do nothing in any respect on the deadline. It seems like their emphasis has been on including forwards although.

The Avs have been clear that they want some goalie assist as All-Star Alexandar Georgiev has seen a heavy workload. However I consider they have been making calls on facilities too, and are within the combine for some defensemen, like Calgary’s Chris Tanev.