Some salespeople in the NHL are starting to separate themselves from the middle pack – in a bad way – which could mean trades are on the horizon. The Edmonton Oilers continue to scour the market in hopes of closing holes in their lineup. The Vancouver Canucks are finally catching on to the fact that they are in a rebuilding phase. And Nick Kypreos just released his latest trading boardwhich is full of big names and top talent.
We dive into all that and more in the latest edition of NHL Trade Buzz.
Trade targets for oil companies
Edmonton has worked its way back into the mix as a Stanley Cup contender in recent months – thanks in large part to the brilliance of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – but there are still plenty of needs that GM Stan Bowman will have to address in the coming weeks.
First off, not much has changed on the Andrew Mangiapane front. Both the team and the player are open to change, and that should happen before the trade deadline. The question remains how fast. Detroit, Winnipeg, Anaheim and San Jose are among the potential candidates.
As for what the Oilers want to add, scoring depth on the wings, a center on the third line and another quality defenseman are all in place Bowman’s wish list. Jake DeBrusk and Evander Kane are the subject of speculation given the mess in Vancouver, though Edmonton has no interest in a Kane reunion. Boone Jenner continues to draw attention as a 3C option, while insider David Pagnotta recently mentioned Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley as cheaper depth targets on the blueline.
Canucks start a fire sale?
Patrik Allvin has admitted it: the Canucks are officially in rebuilding mode. As a result, no one is off limits in Vancouver. TSN insider Pierre LeBrun summed it up best: all bets are off.
The chatter surrounding Elias Pettersson has been the loudest, with reports suggesting the Canucks are indeed listening and are willing to move the $11.6 million center. There are a plethora of teams linked together, including the Hurricanes, Kings, Red Wings, Sabres, Blackhawks, Flyers, Canadiens and Sharks. Don’t expect the noise around Pettersson to subside anytime soon.
As for other veterans in Vancouver, Kiefer Sherwood remains almost a lock to be dealt before March 6, while the names of DeBrusk and Conor Garland are both also known. DeBrusk seems to be the one to watch as the potential first domino to fall.
Nick Kypreos Trade Council
Kypreos’ trading boards are always juicy, and the latest edition, released on Wednesday, did not disappoint. Several well-known veteran names from Calgary, Nashville, St. Louis and Vancouver remain scattered throughout the list, although there are some fascinating new additions.
Pending UFA Artemi Panarin, pending RFA Jason Robertson, injured and possibly disgruntled goaltender Anthony Stolarz, pesky center Vincent Trochek and future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin all appeared on the board.
Also in attendance were Dougie Hamilton – who is expected to be traded sooner or later – as well as Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Alex Tuch and the aforementioned Mangiapane and Jenner.
Next: Stuart Skinner seems to be delivering subtle blows to Oilers and Fans
#Latest #NHL #Trade #Buzz #Oilers #Canucks #big #names #Trade #Board