The Olympics were a treat for hockey fans around the world. But now that they’ve concluded, the NHL is about to ramp up again. The Olympic trade freeze lifted at 11:59 pm last night, and the trade deadline is less than two weeks away. With that, let’s fire up the trade machine for one final round of predictions ahead of the March 6 deadline.
Patrik Laine: Carolina Hurricanes
Reports before the Olympic break indicated that the Montreal Canadiens are looking to free up some cap space to make improvements to their roster ahead of a playoff run. One of those moves could include moving Patrik Laine and the remainder of his contract to another team. He has a cap hit of $8.7 million for the rest of the season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
It’s been a tough season for Laine. He’s only played in five games after having surgery for a core injury, but all indications are that he’s healthy and ready to return to action with the Olympics now over. He’s struggled to stay healthy for much of his career, but he’s still productive when on the ice. He finished with 20 goals in 52 games last season, a 32-goal pace over 82 games.
What do the Carolina Hurricanes need most to compete with a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs? Scoring. Laine may have his flaws, but his shot is still a weapon, and the Hurricanes could use more of that in their top nine. And because Laine will be a cap dump, they shouldn’t have to give up any significant assets to acquire him. They should even get a sweetener or two, as the New York Islanders did when they traded for Ondřej Palát from the New Jersey Devils.
Bobby McMann: Edmonton Oilers
It has been a disappointing season for the Edmonton Oilers, but they’re sitting in a good spot playoff-wise. The Pacific Division is easily the worst in the NHL, and they should finish with a top-three place in the Pacific. They will need some help once they get to the playoffs, though, specifically up front.
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The Andrew Mangiapane signing hasn’t worked out, and they will likely move his contract before the March 6 trade deadline. Could swapping Mangiapane for someone like Bobby McMann work for both sides? McMann is having an excellent season, totaling 19 goals and 32 points in 56 games at the Olympic break.
Meanwhile, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was the GM in Calgary when Mangiapane played for the Flames. There’d probably be some draft picks swapped by each side as well, but I could see the fit. McMann would bring some scoring upside and edge to an Oilers side that needs it, and the Maple Leafs get a good player who might just need a change of scenery.
Warren Foegele: Buffalo Sabres
Warren Foegele has struggled this season with the Los Angeles Kings, and that’s led to rumors that they could move the remaining year and a half of his contract to free up some cap space. However, his struggles aren’t all his fault.
One) The Kings’ offensive environment is one of the worst in the NHL. Only the Devils might be worse. Two) His on-ice shooting percentage has cratered from 9.9 percent to just above five percent. He’s had some poor luck, so that suggests he has bounce-back potential. Keep in mind that he was a 24-goal, 46-point scorer for the Kings last season. You don’t suddenly forget how to play hockey like that overnight.
The Buffalo Sabres are on the precipice of ending some unfortunate history. They’re in a prime position to break the longest playoff drought in North American sports, leaving the New York Jets of the NFL to hold that title. They could use a bit more scoring up front, and Foegele could be a good addition for them for a couple of reasons.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff likes to play a more uptempo style of hockey, and Foegele is a high-end skater who would fit that system. He also shouldn’t cost much to acquire, and it’s possible he’d net the Sabres a sweetener, too. For where the Sabres are as an organization, he might be the right kind of trade target.
Robert Thomas: Boston Bruins
I remain skeptical that the St. Louis Blues will trade Robert Thomas. If they do, a team will likely have to overpay to do so. The Boston Bruins have done a great job revamping their center depth over the last year, but they’re still missing a true No. 1. Elias Lindholm has some gas left in the tank, and Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov have had solid rookie seasons, but Thomas is a difference-maker.
Thomas is an ideal on-ice fit for the Bruins, but do they have the assets to acquire him? Would something like a first-round pick, James Hagens, and Mason Lohrei do the trick? Would the Bruins even want to pay that much for Thomas? He would give them the true No. 1 center they lack. I love the fit for them, and if there’s a path to making it work, they shouldn’t hesitate.
Jake DeBrusk: Detroit Red Wings
The Vancouver Canucks are the frontrunners to land the best draft lottery odds, so they will be clear sellers over the next two weeks. They already traded Quinn Hughes, and there should be more to come. Jake DeBrusk is having a fine season, with 13 goals and 28 points in 56 games at the Olympic break, but trading him could be tricky.
DeBrusk has five years remaining on his contract, though he has a manageable cap hit of $5.5 million. Some team could bite on that with the salary cap projected to rise the way it is, even though he has plenty of term. Could a team like the Detroit Red Wings make sense?
Although their playoff drought is not what the Sabres’ is, the Red Wings are on the cusp of breaking a long spell without playoff hockey. They could use another top-six winger, and they have plenty of cap space, prospects, and draft capital to give up for someone like DeBrusk. The Atlantic Division will be a gauntlet to end the regular season and into the playoffs, so adding some more scoring help couldn’t hurt.
With the Olympics over, NHL trade activity should pick up quickly. There are just 11 days until the trade deadline, and with just some limited trade activity before the Olympics, the next week and a half could be busy.
