The trade deadline is about 24 hours away and all remains quiet on the front. Expect it to remain that way for the most part for a few reasons.
First that there aren’t as many big name UFA’s that will be changing hands this year. Last year there were quite a few, this year it’s paltry for ones that not are free agents and don’t have a no trade or movement clause. Guys like Adam Foote and Rob Blake would normally garner a bounty, but neither seem willing to waive their clauses so they’re taken out of talks.
Secondly how close the playoffs races are. There are few teams that are actually out of it right now, meaning most teams are buyers rather than sellers. That dries up the available pool even more.
Lastly is that last year showed the big name acquisitions had little impact on the teams they were dealt to. Bill Guerin and Todd Bertuzzi, two big names had little to no impact on their teams. This will make GM’s more wary about dealing for anyone in general with a high price.
But that’s not to say there won’t be any deals, and names continue to be thrown out there. So lets take a look at what big names could be moving on by tomorrow.
Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers
Contract talks seem to have completely failed meaning Atlanta is going to get what they can for him. Expect them to land a first round pick and a young player or two in return. Hossa is the biggest name and definitely an impact player so his value will be high.
Bobby Holik, Atlanta Thrashers
Holik is a UFA at the end of the year and whether or not he gets dealt will depend on how likely Wadell thinks the Thrashers will make the playoffs. He wont get them a lot, but if they think they cant go far (which I don’t think they can), they should get what they can for him.
Mats Sundin, Tornto Maple Leafs
He’s stated he wont waive his NTC, so he wont be going anywhere
Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
He’s their best dman, but his NTC doesn’t kick in until next year. For his price and what he brings I think Fletcher is smart enough to keep him around.
Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs
With multiple years on his deal remaining and a no movement clause, Id ont expect him to be going anywhere.
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Richards have given Jay Feaster a list of teams he would accept a trade to and that means the ball is rolling. Whether or not it will keep going is another story. The Richards contract was a mistake from the get go, another idiotic move by Feaster in giving in to an agents demands. Now the Lightning have little depth and their only chance to recover is to offload one of the big 3, Richards having the biggest salary and currently the worst play. If Feaster can get a decent deal, and Richards waives his NTC, this will happen, but it is really the latter that is the big question.
Dan Boyle, Tampa bay Lightning
Rumor is Boyle is seeking Scott Niedermayer money. If he truly thinks he will get that he vastly over rates himself. Still, with new ownership plus lagging far behind in the playoff race expect the Lightning to deal the defenseman for young players and free up salary to sign some guys in the off season.
Vaclav Prospal, Tampa Bay Lightning
Apparently far apart on contract talks, and almost out of contention, expect Feaster to get what he can for Prospal.
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Things don’t look too good for Jagr returning to new York after this year for various reasons, but his value for the playoffs is too great to get rid of. He will be with the blue shirts for the remainder of the year.
Adam Foote, Columbus Blue Jackets
As mentioned earlier he has an NTC and doesn’t seem to want to waive it. If he doesn’t the Jackets are missing out on a big return because Foote is the kind of player teams love to get at the deadline. I expect him to not waive it and stay put.
Sergei Federov, Columbus Blue Jackets
He hasn’t been the same since he left Detroit but his experience can bring a good return. No way the jackets will keep him at his current deal so I expect for him to off loaded for whatever they can get for him.
Rob Blake, LA Kings
Like Foote he seems to be intent on not waiving his NTC. He likes LA and doesn’t mind being on a rebuilding team. Also like foot that is somewhat bad as the Kings can command a lot for him. I don’t think he will waive his clause, and I expect him to resign with the Kings for a lesser price in the off season.
Ladislav Nagy, LA Kings
Nagy hasn’t done that well since the lockout and his stock continues to drop. LA will move him just to gain some assets, but don’t expect it to be much for this fading forward.
Brad Stuart, LA Kings
Stuart hasn’t done that well for the Kings, but hasn’t been bad. As defensemen are a hot commodity this time of year, I wont be surprised if he is dealt, or if the Kings keep him to sign him for another year or two.
Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks
His salary and injury history make this talented player all but tradable. I don’t see anyone taking a risk on paying a guy $6mm a year for half a season
Glen Murray, Boston Bruins
Every year his name pops up. Look, he’s aging, he’s injured and his production keeps dropping. As long as he has a year remaining on his contract he’s not going anywhere because no one is dumb enough to take him (with Mike Milbury gone and Feaster having no room for him).
Mike Comrie, New York Islanders
The Isles like Comrie and he has played well there. Expect them to try and sign him long term
Ollie Jokinen, Florida Panthers
People always ignore the fact that Jokinen likes Florida and signed a long term deal and passed on free agency two years ago. He’s not moving, get over it rumor mongers
Brian Campbell, Buffalo Sabres
Negotions failed to sign the blue liner to a long term deal, and past history indicated Buffalo wont be able to sign him in the off season. Campbell will most likely be the big name defenseman moved at this deadline.
John Michael Liles, Colorado Avalanche
As long as the Avs think they can make the playoffs he will be staying put, even if it seems he is already gone after this year.
Alex Tanguay and Kristen Huselius, Calgary Flames
Honestly, do we really think Sutter isn’t going to try and win it all and keep his big guns? I didn’t think so.
First that there aren’t as many big name UFA’s that will be changing hands this year. Last year there were quite a few, this year it’s paltry for ones that not are free agents and don’t have a no trade or movement clause. Guys like Adam Foote and Rob Blake would normally garner a bounty, but neither seem willing to waive their clauses so they’re taken out of talks.
Secondly how close the playoffs races are. There are few teams that are actually out of it right now, meaning most teams are buyers rather than sellers. That dries up the available pool even more.
Lastly is that last year showed the big name acquisitions had little impact on the teams they were dealt to. Bill Guerin and Todd Bertuzzi, two big names had little to no impact on their teams. This will make GM’s more wary about dealing for anyone in general with a high price.
But that’s not to say there won’t be any deals, and names continue to be thrown out there. So lets take a look at what big names could be moving on by tomorrow.
Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers
Contract talks seem to have completely failed meaning Atlanta is going to get what they can for him. Expect them to land a first round pick and a young player or two in return. Hossa is the biggest name and definitely an impact player so his value will be high.
Bobby Holik, Atlanta Thrashers
Holik is a UFA at the end of the year and whether or not he gets dealt will depend on how likely Wadell thinks the Thrashers will make the playoffs. He wont get them a lot, but if they think they cant go far (which I don’t think they can), they should get what they can for him.
Mats Sundin, Tornto Maple Leafs
He’s stated he wont waive his NTC, so he wont be going anywhere
Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
He’s their best dman, but his NTC doesn’t kick in until next year. For his price and what he brings I think Fletcher is smart enough to keep him around.
Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs
With multiple years on his deal remaining and a no movement clause, Id ont expect him to be going anywhere.
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Richards have given Jay Feaster a list of teams he would accept a trade to and that means the ball is rolling. Whether or not it will keep going is another story. The Richards contract was a mistake from the get go, another idiotic move by Feaster in giving in to an agents demands. Now the Lightning have little depth and their only chance to recover is to offload one of the big 3, Richards having the biggest salary and currently the worst play. If Feaster can get a decent deal, and Richards waives his NTC, this will happen, but it is really the latter that is the big question.
Dan Boyle, Tampa bay Lightning
Rumor is Boyle is seeking Scott Niedermayer money. If he truly thinks he will get that he vastly over rates himself. Still, with new ownership plus lagging far behind in the playoff race expect the Lightning to deal the defenseman for young players and free up salary to sign some guys in the off season.
Vaclav Prospal, Tampa Bay Lightning
Apparently far apart on contract talks, and almost out of contention, expect Feaster to get what he can for Prospal.
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Things don’t look too good for Jagr returning to new York after this year for various reasons, but his value for the playoffs is too great to get rid of. He will be with the blue shirts for the remainder of the year.
Adam Foote, Columbus Blue Jackets
As mentioned earlier he has an NTC and doesn’t seem to want to waive it. If he doesn’t the Jackets are missing out on a big return because Foote is the kind of player teams love to get at the deadline. I expect him to not waive it and stay put.
Sergei Federov, Columbus Blue Jackets
He hasn’t been the same since he left Detroit but his experience can bring a good return. No way the jackets will keep him at his current deal so I expect for him to off loaded for whatever they can get for him.
Rob Blake, LA Kings
Like Foote he seems to be intent on not waiving his NTC. He likes LA and doesn’t mind being on a rebuilding team. Also like foot that is somewhat bad as the Kings can command a lot for him. I don’t think he will waive his clause, and I expect him to resign with the Kings for a lesser price in the off season.
Ladislav Nagy, LA Kings
Nagy hasn’t done that well since the lockout and his stock continues to drop. LA will move him just to gain some assets, but don’t expect it to be much for this fading forward.
Brad Stuart, LA Kings
Stuart hasn’t done that well for the Kings, but hasn’t been bad. As defensemen are a hot commodity this time of year, I wont be surprised if he is dealt, or if the Kings keep him to sign him for another year or two.
Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks
His salary and injury history make this talented player all but tradable. I don’t see anyone taking a risk on paying a guy $6mm a year for half a season
Glen Murray, Boston Bruins
Every year his name pops up. Look, he’s aging, he’s injured and his production keeps dropping. As long as he has a year remaining on his contract he’s not going anywhere because no one is dumb enough to take him (with Mike Milbury gone and Feaster having no room for him).
Mike Comrie, New York Islanders
The Isles like Comrie and he has played well there. Expect them to try and sign him long term
Ollie Jokinen, Florida Panthers
People always ignore the fact that Jokinen likes Florida and signed a long term deal and passed on free agency two years ago. He’s not moving, get over it rumor mongers
Brian Campbell, Buffalo Sabres
Negotions failed to sign the blue liner to a long term deal, and past history indicated Buffalo wont be able to sign him in the off season. Campbell will most likely be the big name defenseman moved at this deadline.
John Michael Liles, Colorado Avalanche
As long as the Avs think they can make the playoffs he will be staying put, even if it seems he is already gone after this year.
Alex Tanguay and Kristen Huselius, Calgary Flames
Honestly, do we really think Sutter isn’t going to try and win it all and keep his big guns? I didn’t think so.
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2 comments:
Thanks for the clock up there. The sad truth is that without that I would have no idea when the deadline actually goes down.
wow, i remember when the avs had like, 5 of these guys at the same time. sad...
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