Around the NHL: Flurry of trades expected as NHL regular season resumes post Olympics
Welcome back to another edition of around the NHL, as everyone in the hockey world has quickly shifted back to NHL action after the Olympic takeover the past couple of weeks. Congratulations to Team USA for upsetting the Sidney Crosby-less Canadian squad, in what was one of the best hockey games in history.
It’s business as usual in the NHL, as the Olympic roster freeze has been lifted, Olympic participants will eventually make their way back to their respected clubs early this week, and the regular season resumes Wednesday night with 16 teams in action.
Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:
Trade market expected to heat up in major way
Dating back to last February after the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament, there was several trades completed within the first week, and expect to see much of the same this week, as there’s brewing speculation across the league that multiple deals could be finalized this week.
The Panthers entered the break with a 29-25-3 record, eight points out of the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, and four teams to leapfrog in order to get into the playoff picture. Bobrovsky has posted a 21-17-1 record this season for the injury-riddled two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers, including a disappointing .871 save percentage.
With Yaroslav Askarov the goaltender of the future in San Jose, and with potential to sneak into the playoffs, it makes sense for the Sharks to bring in an experienced netminder, who also happens to be Russian and can be a mentor, and positive influence on the team’s young goaltender.
“If Ryan O’Reilly isn’t available, well Nazem Kadri’s expected return probably goes up; there could be more of a waiting game but I do get the sense that it’s gonna happen with Kadri,” said Dreger. ” I do think the appetite for change is increasing.”
Kadri is under contract through the 2028-29 season at $7 million AAV, and the 35-year-old holds a 13-team no-trade list. Kadri’s leading the offensively challenged Flames in points, collecting 39 points in 56 games, and his Stanley Cup pedigree, and two-way capabilities are going to be very appealing to contending teams. Don’t be surprised to see the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Islanders have variable levels of interest. Like Dreger mentioned, if O’Reilly isn’t available, Kadri is likely the best pivot on the market and this could turn into quite the bidding war.
New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck is another two-way centre who could be on the move soon. The Rangers are in sell mode and while GM Chris Drury doesn’t want to completely tear it down, Trocheck’s value is near an all-time high at the moment, and Drury could look to cash in.
The Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators are two teams who could have serious interest in adding Trocheck for their playoff pushes. The veteran centre brings a ton of intangibles to the table, including secondary scoring with 36 points through 43 games this season. Trocheck’s won 56% of his faceoffs, he’s landed 130 hits, and he also plays a huge role on both sides of special teams. Wild GM Bill Guerin is extremely familiar with Trocheck’s game, and even though Guerin’s made a huge splash already once this season adding Quinn Hughes, don’t be surprised to see the Wild add a top-six forward before Mar.6.
Team USA honors Gaudreau family during celebration
After one of the most intense hockey games in recent memory, hockey fans were reminded that regardless of the outcome, it’s about much more than just hockey.
Team USA’s Jack Hughes ended the gold medal game just a couple of minutes into overtime, and as the team was celebrating, getting everyone together at centre ice for a team photo, Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski made sure they were going to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau.
Larking and Werenski picked up 3-year-old Noa and 2-year-old Johnny Jr. and brought them onto the ice to join the celebratory photo, in what was one of the most touching moments of the Olympic tournament.
This will go down as the most heart wrenching clip of the year.
Johnny Gaudreau gets to look down from heaven and see his kids celebrate a gold medal w/ Team USA and his parents soak it in from the stands.
That hockey brotherhood is special 🙏🏼
It was obvious after the game that the Americans were playing for much more than themselves, they were playing for ‘Johnny Hockey’ and all of the Gaudreau family.
“He’s with us here in spirit for the whole tournament,” captain Auston Matthews said postgame. “To have his jersey out there in the team photo and have his kids come out and be with us, we’re obviously thinking of him.”
Quick hits from around the NHL
- Pittsburgh Penguins will wait until Sidney Crosby gets home early this week to re-evaluate his knee, and figure out a plan to get him back onto the ice for their stretch run.
- Don’t be surprised to see Penguins GM Kyle Dubas try to add a defenceman with term on their contract ahead of the trade deadline.
- Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland is rumored to be making calls to gauge the price on some top-six forwards, as Kevin Fiala isn’t expected back this season due to his recent leg surgery.
- While it may have to wait until the summer months, many believe Jordan Kyrou’s days as a St. Louis Blue are numbered.
- The Wild are open to adding up front, and have reportedly been using goaltender Jesper Wallstedt as a trade chip. One proposed trade circulating was Wallstedt to the Philadelphia Flyers for Matvei Michkov.
- Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is likely going to wait until right up to deadline day before pulling the trigger on any moves, the same is expected from the Nashville Predators, as they also are fighting for playoff positioning.
- Ottawa Citizen’s Bruce Garrioch reports there’s a growing market for right-handed defencemen, and teams in the market include the Red Wings, Bruins, Sabres, Sharks, Stars and Mammoth.
- Winnipeg Jets and towering defenceman Logan Stanley are working on a contract extension.
- Don’t be surprised to see Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins agree to a one-year contract extension. The 39-year-old Malkin has scored 44 points in 41 games so far this season.