HTR.com Trade Deadline Guide
It’s all here, the HTR.com Guide to the Trade Deadline. All that you can possibly imagine.I picture the NHL like the US stock market. In the NASDAQ, you can trade in the “pre-market” from 8,00 am to 9,30 am. But after that, the open market starts at 9,30 am and ends at 4 pm. On a much wider scale, the NHL can have pre-market trades from October 1 to Janurary 30, but the market really opens from January 1 to February 27. Nonstop actions = cool. Here is team-by-team analysis on Selling and Buying.
Anaheim
Selling: Chris Kunitz, Dustin Penner, Shane O’Brien, Ilya Bryzgalov, prospects, draft picks.
Buying: Todd Bertuzi***, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin, Jason Blake, Martin Gelinas, depth defenseman.
Atlanta
Selling: Jim Slater, draft picks, prospects
Buying: Anson Carter, Richard Zednik, Milan Hejduk, Jeff O’Neill, Jason Blake, Mike York, Yannic Perreault, Paul Mara, Alex Zhitnik, Radek Dvorak, Ruslan Fedotenko, Petr Sykora..
Boston
Selling: Marco Sturm, Stanislav Chistov, Brad Boyes, Paul Mara, Tim Thomas.
Buying: Young skilled players, steady young defensemen, draft picks, prospects
Buffalo
Selling:
Buying: Paul Mara, Bryan Berard, Adrian Aucoin, Sami Salo, Brent Sopel, Derek Morris, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Martin Gelinas, bottom six veteran forward who is a playoff vet bringing experience. (Revised: Maxim Afinogenov out for six weeks, possibly; Sabres looking for scorer). Miroslav Satan, Milan Hejduk.
Calgary
Selling: C-level depth in farm system, late round draft picks.
Buying: Character role player (i.e.. Dallas Drake).
Carolina
Selling: Andrew Ladd, Anton Babchuk, David Tanabe, Trevor Letowski, prospects, draft picks.
Buying:Keith Tkachuk, Bryan Berard, Jason Blake, Mike York, Mattias Norstrom, Dallas Drake, Derian Hatcher.
Chicago
Selling: Peter Bondra, Bryan Smolinski, Martin LaPointe, Adrian Aucoin, Patrick Lalime, Bryan Boucher, Michal Handzus.
Buying: Skilled forwards, play-making center, draft picks, prospects.
Colorado
Selling: Milan Hejduk, Jose Theodore, Andrew Brunette, Ian Laperriere, Brett Clark, Ken Klee, Ossi Vaananen.
Buying: Draft picks, prospects, low salaried players; clearing salary budget.
Columbus
Selling: Anson Carter, Sergei Fedorov, Bryan Berard, Fredrik Modin and David Vyborny.
Buying: Younger players, top six wingers/centers, Vaclac Prospal, Trent Hunter, Tyler Arnason, Michal Handzus, Richard Zednik, Ruslan Fedotenko.
Dallas
Selling: Patrik Stefan, Junior Lessard, draft picks, prospects, young goalie.
Buying: Sergei Fedorov, Darcy Tucker, Eddie Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Jason Blake, Mike York, Kyle Calder, Sean Hill, Mattias Norstrom, Aaron Miller, Craig Rivet, Petr Sykora.
Detroit
Selling: Draft picks, prospects, youth players, Jimmy Howard, Robert Lang, Jiri Hudler, Andreas Lilja.
Buying: Keith Tkachuk, Brendan Shanahan***, Darcy Tucker, Mike York, Trent Hunter, Todd Bertuzzi***, Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas, Chris Gratton, Marco Sturm, Glen Murray, Kevin Weekes, Owen Nolan, Alyn McCauley, Stephen Weiss.
Edmonton
Selling: Ryan Smyth***, Raffi Torres, Petr Sykora, Jussi Markkanen, draft picks, B,C-level prospects.
Buying: Trent Hunter, Darcy Tucker, Bryan Berard, Paul Mara, Adrian Aucoin, Eric Brewer, Rob Blake, Lubomir Vishnevsky, Tomas Pock, Derek Morris, Todd Bertuzzi***, Mark Bell, Kyle Calder, Owen Nolan, Glen Murray, draft picks, prospects.
Florida Panthers
Selling: Todd Bertuzzi***, Martin Gelinas, Chris Gratton, Gary Roberts, Jozef Stumpel, Ed Belfour, Juraj Kolnik, mid draft picks, C-level prospects.
Buying: Draft picks, prospects, top six forwards under 30 yrs, defensemen, starting goaltender, Anson Carter, Mark Bell, Martin Biron, Tomas Plekanec, Alex Perezhogin, Antoinne Vermette, Peter Schaeffer, Robert Esche.
Los Angeles
Selling: Derek Armstrong, Alyn McCauley, Rob Blake, Mattias Nortstrom, Aaron Miller, Lubomir Visnovsky, Oleg Tverdovsky, draft picks to swap.
Buying: Draft picks, youth, prospects.
Minnesota
Selling: Branko Radivojevic, Stephane Veilleux, draft picks, c-level prospects.
Buying: Bryan Smolinski, Radek Dvorak, Martin Rucinsky, Ossi Vaananen, Ken Klee, John Madden, Sergei Brylin, Derek Armstrong, Alyn McCauley, Yannic Perreault, Marco Sturm, Ruslan Fedotenko, Vaclav Prospal, Martin Gelinas, Miroslav Satan, Dallas Drake.
Montreal
Selling: top draft picks, touted prospects, David Aebischer, Craig Rivet, Tomas Plekanec, Alex Perezhogin, Sergei Samsonov, Janne Niinimaa.
Buying: (Revised: Cristobal Huet out indefinitely) Eddie Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Kevin Weekes, Patrick Lalime. Fredrik Modin, Keith Tkachuk, Andrew Brunette, Ossi Vaananen, Miroslav Satan, Brendan Shanahan***, Derian Hatcher, Kyle Calder, Todd Bertuzzi***.
Nashville
Selling: Alexander Radulov, Jordin Tootoo, Marek Zidlicky, draft picks, prospects.
Buying: Bill Guein, Todd Bertuzzi***, Ryan Smyth***, Marco Sturm, Ken Klee, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Paul Mara.
New Jersey Devils
Selling: John Madden, Sergey Brylin, Richard Matvichuk, prospects, draft picks.
Buying: Petr Sykora, Martin Gelinas, Bryan Smolinski, Andrew Brunette, Ossi Vaananen, low salaried players.
New York Islanders
Selling: Miroslav Satan, Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov, Trent Hunter, Sean Hill, c-level prospects, middle round draft picks.
Buying: Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin, Bryan Berard, Eric Brewer, Toby Petersen, Ryan Malone, draft picks, youth players, low salaried players.
New York Rangers
Selling: mid-late round draft picks, expandable prospects/assets, Tomas Pock, Brendan Shanahan***, Karel Rachunek, Kevin Weekes, Petr Prucha, expandable assets.
Buying: Keith Tkachuk, Martin Rucinsky, Bill Guerin, Yannic Perreault, Derek Morris, Owen Nolan, Fredrik Modin, David Vyborny, Martin Rucinsky, Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas, draft picks, c-level prospects.
Ottawa Senators
Selling: Draft picks, prospects, Martin Gerber, Joe Corvo, Antoine Vermette, Patrick Eaves, Peter Schaeffer.
Buying: Gary Roberts, Todd Bertuzzi***, Martin Gelinas, Chris Gratton, Owen Nolan, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin, Fredrik Modin, Anson Carter, Chris Simon, Kyle Calder.
Philadelphia
Selling: Kyle Calder, Mike York, Geoff Sanderson, Todd Fedoruk, Ben Eager, Derian Hatcher, Alexei Zhitnik, Robert Esche.
Buying: Touted prospects, top round draft picks, young NHL-ready players.
Phoenix
Selling: Yannic Perreault, Owen Nolan, Oleg Saprykin, Derek Morris, Nick Boynton, Curtis Joseph.
Buying: Draft picks, touted prospects, NHL-ready players to fill holes, a young goaltender.
Pittsburgh
Selling: Ryan Malone, Colby Armstrong, Brooks Orpik, draft picks, b-level prospects.
Buying: Gary Roberts, Alyn McCauley, Chris Gratton, Bryan Smolinski, Radek Dvorak, Owen Nolan, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Ken Klee, Martin Gelinas, Martin Rucinsky.
San Jose
Selling: Draft picks, prospects, Vesa Toskala, Mark Bell.
Buying: Bryan Berard, Gary Roberts, Keith Tkachuk, Adrian Aucoin, Eric Brewer, Alexei Zhitnik, Derian Hatcher, Robert Esche, Paul Mara, Glen Wesley, Niclas Wallin.
St. Louis
Selling: Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin, Martin Rucinsky, Dallas Drake, Ryan Johnson, Eric Brewer.
Buying: Draft picks, touted prospects, NHL-ready youth.
Tampa Bay
Selling: Vaclac Prospal, Nikita Alexeev, Cory Sarich, Marc Denis, prospects, draft picks.
Buying: Bryan Berard, Owen Nolan, Keith Tkachuk, Curtis Joseph, Andrew Brunette, Mattias Norstrom, Aaron Miller, Alyn McCauley, Marco Sturm.
Toronto
Selling: Darcy Tucker, John Pohl, Ian White, Brendan Bell, Aleksandr Suglobov, draft picks, prospects.
Buying: Marco Sturm, Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, Eric Brewer, Martin Rucinsky, Anson Carter, Andrew Brunette, Milan Hejduk, Kyle Calder, Geoff Sandersson, Tod Bertuzzi***, Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas, Chris Gratton, Richard Zednik, draft picks, prospects.
Vancouver
Selling: Matt Cooke, Jan Bulis, Marc Chouinard, Sami Salo, Cory Schneider, draft picks, prospects.
Buying: Richard Zednik, Kyle Calder, Milan Hejduk, Bryan Smolinski, Fredrik Modin, Andrew Brunette, Owen Nolan, Marco Sturm, Glen Murray.
Washington
Selling: Richard Zednik, mid round draft picks, expandable assets.
Buying: Patrick Lalime, Curtis Joseph, Brian Boucher, Robert Esche, Kyle Calder, Geoff Sanderson, Yannic Perreault, Bryan Smolinski, Andrew Brunette, Milan Hejduk, Tyler Arnason, draft picks, prospects.
Player Name*** = The three asterisks/stars mean that the player may possibly be dealt depending on his team’s status, contract status, or health status. In this case, Todd Bertuzzi may not be dealt due to his health status. If the New York Rangers are out of playoff contention, then they may consider trading Brendan Shanahan. If Ryan Smyth and the Edmonton Oilers do not see any future agreement for a contract renewal, then the Oilers may consider trading him.
Western Conference
Forsberg a Predator, Seven Teams the Prey
The deal of Peter Forsberg to the Nashville Predators just got the Western Conference buzzing like disturbed bees. Who wins this deal? Do not listen to the crystal ball readers claiming to be experts. They do not know who won this trade unless they come from the future. Yes, the Nashville Predators gave up a hefty amount of value to land Peter Forsberg, but……….it’s P–E-T-E-R……F-O-R-S-B-E-R-G. The guy who has eye popping post-season career numbers. The guy who just put an already tough Nashville team above a few levels. If the Predators win the Stanley Cup, then this trade was a great win for the unpopular team. That 1st round pick may be no different than a second round pick, especially if it will be #30. Scottie Upshall had no future in the franchise, and he is no longer a touted prospect. A third round draft pick is cute, but not a tragic loss. Ryan Parent has the ability to be a key defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, but only time can tell in the next few years.
Still, the Predators just caused a major disaster in the Western Conference. Only two Eastern Conference teams were in real hot pursuit of Peter Forsberg, the Carolina Hurricanes and the struggling Montreal Canadiens. In the West, the Anaheim Ducks, the Vancouver Canucks, the Nashville Predators, the Detroit Red Wings, and who knows? Maybe the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks would have taken a chance on him as well. What do these highly competitive teams seek? Impact players, scorers. So if the best available scorer has now been acquired for a hefty price, how much will the other scorers go for? Ah ha! Now the Western teams looking for a scorer will be more competitive in their bidding. At this point, is it not better to overpay for Peter Forsberg rather than…..say…… Keith Tkachuk? The WC just got more interesting as Nashville’s playoff competitors are now in dire need to acquire what is needed to stop the Predators from beating them. Not to mention, the Calgary Flames, despite their recent mishaps, will also be a tough playoff competitor after their trades made earlier this month. Expect the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks to press pedal to the metal.
Eastern Conference
Conservative Economists
The Eastern Conference may be more conservative than the Western Conference. How so? The race is extremely tight, but teams are in a position where they do not have enough to seek a big shot name, or they are unwilling to overpay with youth and prospects. Teams like the Atlanta Thrashers and the Pittsburgh Penguins are new to the playoffs. Call them the playoff rookies. The New Jersey Devils are way too tight with their cap budget that in order to make a trade, they must sell either John Madden or possibly Sergei Brylin. Yet, they are one of the toughest team in the league and thus they do not need to make major changes. The Sabres have a fine chemistry, so why break it? Expect them to make adjustable trades, such as possibly acquiring a better playoff performer on D, and maybe a more experienced veteran for the checking lines. I am looking forward to a Free Agency HTR.com Guide, and I already had in mind that the Florida Panthers will be seeking a goalie to sign. While J-S Giguere may top everyone else’s list, Martin Biron tops mine. In this case, the Panthers may try to experiment, if they wish, by acquiring Martin Biron for Eddie Belfour. These are just playoff adjustment trades for the Sabres, but nothing too flashy. The Carolina Hurricanes dealt a good value from last year when acquiring Mark Recchi, Doug Weight, and trading Jack Johnson earlier this season. Do not expect these guys to trade more future; and, be surprised if they do. The Ottawa Senators will be the major dealers from the East. GM John Muckler is hesitant to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, and he will go for what is needed. The New York Islanders may be in the race, but they have few assets to trade to land sought after players like Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin. The Isle’s would have to overpay, and I doubt they will risk doing so. The New York Rangers may still be able to trade Petr Prucha for the right price, but other than that…. GM Glen Sather has already pointed out that he won’t be parting with his young assets; only expandable ones. The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have a lot of cap room left, and the best tradeable asset is Darcy Tucker. They will try for a winger, but GM JFJ may not have enough to beat other teams’ offers.
The EC may look weaker, but the teams are just as solid even without a Peter Forsberg.
The Three Question Marks
It is only a matter of time until we see the Edmonton Oilers possibly dealing Ryan Smyth. Why is this not a big talk? A UFA player by July 1, if not re-signed, Ryan Smyth would be a key TD-Day acquisition for any team. With the Philadelphia Flyers having had “meetings” with Peter Forsberg, and to no conclusion for a contract renewal, GM Kevin Lowe may be using the same play book. It won’t be out of the question if Ryan Smyth gets traded and would sign with the Oilers again, same with Forsberg. I actually find that to be a cheap-shot deal. The NHL has a rule on players being bought out, which is the team cannot reacquire them for a year. The same should apply to the UFA players. The St. Louis Blues may be ripping off teams acquiring Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin. These two may re-sign with the Blues a few months later. That should not be allowed.
Getting back to the point, however, Ryan Smyth may see his last days with the Edmonton Oilers. I think the Oilers should give in and sign him to a contract that satisfies him. If not, put him on the block ASAP before teams trade away assets that would be significant for the Oilers organization.
Darcy Tucker is still MIA and that hurts him and the Toronto Maple Leafs. If true that he wants a $4M p/s contract, then the Maple Leafs should be shopping as I am writing this. He is a workaholic, aggressive, can score, be a key part of a PP-unit, but he is not worth $4M a season and to pin-point how that is a proven fact, the Leafs are playing very well without him. Thing is, will he be back in time? I think he will, but Leafs fans should not expect such a great return for Tucker once traded. Or will he?
Will Todd Bertuzzi be traded? Only if a team that wants him is stupid enough to do so. Jacques Martin has to know what the chances are of re-signing Bertuzzi, even for a one-year deal. If chances are good, and Bertuzzi feels that he should give the Panthers a healthy season of play, then no way does this guy get traded. Yet if a team is willing to throw the dices and gamble by trading valuable assets for the Panthers, then be my guest! The Detroit Red Wings have been following the Florida Panthers as of late. Of course, it must not mean a trade will happen, but it could. GM Ken Holland may not have that many assets to acquire the likes of Tkachuk, Guerin, Sturm, Tucker, and other key TD players, but he may have enough to gamble for Todd Bertuzzi, if that is the case (most likely looking at Gary Roberts/Martin Gelinas). I say, no trade for Bertuzzi.
Smyth-traded, Tucker-traded, Bertuzzi-not traded.
So, this is a new project I am starting for HockeyTradeRumors.com. The HTR.com Trade Deadline Guide. I hope you enjoy it and of course, it will be better next year as this was a bit rushed. Next year I’ll add player profiles (our very own). Expect something similar like this for the Free Agency period.
Thanks for reading as always,
Micki Peroni
Vice-Administrator, HTR.com