The Trade Deadline Is Right Around The Corner and I couldn't be Less Excited About This One

​                As a hockey fan there are may times I can sit here and claim that specific days are “like being a kid on Christmas”.  Canada Day, the day free agency starts (seems like 2 holidays in one in Canada), The Draft, and The Stanley Cup Finals. But there is no day more chaotic and fun like Trade Deadline Day in the NHL. I have some scenarios I want to go over cause some name are on the move!
                First and most obvious choice is Mattias Ekholm of the Nashville Predators. He is an older Defenseman who is more know for is defensive skills rather than playing the puck. But his points have stayed at a consistent 25 to 35 point range, mostly assists but those breakout plays are incredibly useful. He is really reaching the prime of his career late. Where at 30 years old most defenseman show signs of wear, his play has shown him getting increased play, year in and year out. His cap hit is quite manageable too, at only 3.75 million per season and an extra year on his contract. Teams are foaming at the mouth to get an extra season out of defenseman who can break out the puck like Ekholm. Teams like Toronto and Boston need the left shot defenseman for a possible cup push. Toronto has mentioned that all prospects are on the block and Boston has a young star possibly on the block too. I see Mattias Ekholm going to Boston for Jake DeBrusk and a goaltending prospect. On top of that Boston will have to give up either a first or second round pick.
                Next up is Devan Dubnyk, he is having a rough year and might have crashed his trade stock. But that’s good for whoever trades for him because they can keep some key pieces and won’t have to give up much in future draft picks. His cap isn’t a bad hit for what would be a backup goalie for a playoff push either. However, he does have a modified no trade clause so he will be able to pick where he goes essentially. His current cap hit after the Minnesota retained salary is 2.16 million and basically any team needing a backup should be able to afford that. Also, rumor does have it that he is willing to waive his NTC for a contender seeing that he is on the back 9 of his career. I can see him going to a team like Vegas for Robyn Lenher or Colorado for a defenseman which San Jose desperately needs. Honestly its hard to read this one because of the NTC and not knowing where he says it’s okay to trade him to or not but in the end look for a goalie for goalie hockey trade here because I think Martin Jones might be done too.  
                Next up is Nicholas Foligno, the captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets also quite possibly their best all around player currently. Another player on the last year of his contract with a No Trade and No Movement Clause (I’m going to consolidate both here as an NTC since I can’t see him being waived anytime soon). Foligno is incredibly serviceable here but his cap hit is just far too much to truly be moved if he waives his NTC. His remaining cap hit for the Jackets is 2.13 million and with most of the season gone I can’t see teams eating that much for possibly just trading him at the draft. Columbus will have to eat half his salary and take a prospect. But now to where, and I have one team in mind. The Islanders, that slimy Lou Lamoriello will find a way to squeeze the Jackets into giving up Foligno for a couple of late draft picks and a 4 liner buried in the AHL. If anyone can its Lou, especially with Anders Lee being injured for the foreseeable future the Isles will find a way to get some leadership in that locker room. 
                Onto Kyle Palmieri, the forward out of New Jersey. His remaining cap his is 1.8 million on his contract and he will be incredibly useful to anyone going on a playoff push. Look for him going to a fringe contender like Edmonton who needs back 6 forwards and can slide him into a solid PK and 3rd line position. His contract will be easy to absorb for any team willing to trade for him if he waives his No Trade Cause.
                Let’s go Anaheim and talk about Rickard Rakell. First off, he has 1.5 million for a cap his remaining on the season and second off he has a year left on his contract. He is a good pickup for any team who had a wide open window for a couple more years and can make playoff pushes for a few more years before the core starts dropping. I know I haven’t talked much about the Canadian teams here but there are many reason for that, the 2 week covid protocol period mainly. But If anyone is going to Canada is Rakell. His smaller cap hit and team who will be on the up swing in a few years that can afford him is Vancouver. Petterson currently being hurt is really what is putting the team down and this difficult Canadian division is a blood bath. But next season hopefully going back to normal will put Vancouver in the shockingly weak West Division and Rakell being apart of that team would make them contenders.
                Seriously saving the best for last here, Taylor Hall. Buffalo seriously fucked up here. It’s really no one’s fault but Taylor Hall’s though. He in the words of Obi Wan Kenobi “Was the chosen one” the big ticket this past off season. He has not lived up to expectations. I know all 7 of you who read this are probably thinking “where is Jack Eichel” and all you need to Shut the fuck up cause he is the heart of this spineless organization. Hall on the other had is more than likely not going to resign and you need to save face rather than lose him for nothing. He has tremendous upside as a recent Hart trophy winner, especially if you get him in a system where he can have success. That’s why the Islanders are out, Hall wont be able to play his game one bit under Trotz. Now before I get to where, I need to get to the how’s and return. First, Buffalo is retaining half of his remaining salary, no matter where he goes. With his cap strapped year GMs would rather let him rot in Buffalo if they had to pay his blown up salary. Second Buffalo isn’t going to get a star for a star here. They are getting table scraps, no one wants to do work with them currently, and players don’t want to go there. I mean no coach, awful ownership and a rookie GM isn’t a recipe for success. Now to the where, I can’t see Hall going to a full blown contender. Most of those rosters are built already and are one piece away (mostly goaltending or a stay at home defenseman). Hall will find himself on a fringe contender, a team who lacks a scoring touch below the first line. Now the rumor is that Hall is going back to Canada and I just can’t see that with the covid protocol. No one really wants to wait the two weeks and have players sitting when they need to gel with their new team and fast. I do see Hall moving west. I can see Hall going to St. Louis or possibly Nashville (who is 4 point out of a playoff spot). Now Buffalo won’t see a good return, but if Buffalo plays their cards right (which I doubt) they can get a couple of young, good prospects to play in the big club to get them NHL ice.
                All in all this is probably going to be one of the worst deadlines in recent history but with playoff teams looking for that last piece you can bet on a dynamite playoffs.

---