With simply over per week till the 2024 NHL commerce deadline, groups across the league are working the telephones and making an attempt to strike offers. A handful of massive names could possibly be on the transfer, and I’ve taken on the position of matchmaker to seek out the right touchdown spot for every of them.
Gamers like Noah Hanifin and Jake Guentzel have garnered a lot of the commerce hypothesis over the past week, and that can solely proceed by way of March 8. Each gamers will undoubtedly get important curiosity from a handful of golf equipment, however some groups stand out as best locations for every.
In web, Jacob Markstrom and Juuse Saros would be the hottest commodities, and it looks as if the identical groups are taking a look at each of them. The New Jersey Devils have reportedly proven curiosity in every of them, however solely one of many two can wind up there. That does not imply the opposite one might be with no new residence, although.
Earlier than the whirlwind begins, listed below are the right matches for a few of the most notable names and patrons on the commerce deadline.
Noah Hanifin | D | Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Cap hit: $4.95 million
Years remaining: 0 (pending UFA)
Good match: Detroit Purple Wings
Among the best defensemen on the commerce market this 12 months, Noah Hanifin can have quite a lot of suitors as March 8 approaches. One in every of them needs to be the Detroit Purple Wings as a result of Hanifin would match proper in on their blue line.
For starters, the Wings have a necessity at that place, even with Moritz Seider rising as a celebrity. Exterior of Seider, most of Detroit’s defensemen are veterans who’ve struggled at five-on-five this season. The one Purple Wings blueliner with a five-on-five anticipated objectives share above 50.0% is the 29-year-old Olli Maatta, per Pure Stat Trick, and he has only one 12 months left on his deal past this season.
On the subject of assets, the Purple Wings have the wage cap house, draft capital and prospects to strike a deal for Hanifin. Maybe extra importantly, Detroit has the flexibleness to signal Hanifin to an extension to verify he stays with the crew for some time. David Perron, Patrick Kane, Daniel Sprong and Shayne Gostisbehere are all on expiring offers. Even after giving Seider an extension, GM Steve Yzerman ought to have some cash to spend.
Pretty much as good because the Purple Wings’ offense has been this season, the protection has been missing at occasions. Hanifin would fill that void, and he could possibly be one other cornerstone piece as Yzerman builds the crew right into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
Jacob Markstrom | G | Calgary Flames
Age: 34
Cap hit: $6 million
Years remaining: 2
Good match: New Jersey Devils
Just a few groups want a goaltending improve, and the New Jersey Devils are on the prime of the checklist. In actual fact, the Devils have been reportedly near putting a deal for Markstrom final week earlier than the potential commerce fell by way of.
Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid and Nico Daws have all struggled within the crease this season. New Jersey ranks thirty first with a crew save share of 88.5%, and it has held the crew again in 2023-24. The Devils entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations, however they at present sit 5 factors out of a playoff spot. The goalies actually do not shoulder all of the blame for the crew’s points, however they’ve performed a key position.
It isn’t a lot of a secret that Devils GM Steve Yzerman is available in the market for a brand new goalie, and Markstrom would make a ton of sense. After a brutal 2022-23 marketing campaign, Markstrom has bounced again and thrust himself into the Vezina Trophy raace this season. He has saved 11.4 objectives above common, per Pure Stat Trick, and his .864 high-danger save share ranks first amongst common starters. That is good contemplating New Jersey has been slightly leaky in its personal zone.
The important thing on this deal is that Markstrom has two extra years left on his contract. The Devils may not make the playoffs this season, however they’re nonetheless poised to contend within the close to future. If New Jersey have been to land Markstrom, the goalie place could be settled by way of 2026.
Jake Guentzel | LW | Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 29
Cap hit: $6 million
Years remaining: 0 (pending UFA)
Good match: Los Angeles Kings
If and when the Pittsburgh Penguins do determine to grow to be sellers forward of the 2024 commerce deadline, Jake Guentzel will grow to be probably the most sought-after participant available on the market. Offensive ability gamers of Guentzel’s caliber do not grow to be accessible frequently.
If there may be one crew that would use slightly extra ending expertise, it is the Los Angeles Kings. Their offense has sorely underperformed in comparison with expectations. In accordance with Pure Stat Trick, Los Angeles has generated 198.4 anticipated objectives this season. That ranks fifth within the NHL. Their 176 precise objectives rank nineteenth within the league. The Kings in all probability thought Viktor Arvidsson might give them a lift, however he hit LTIR once more simply 4 video games after getting back from a again damage.
L.A. wants extra juice in its ahead group if it needs to emerge from the West, and Guentzel might present that. Guentzel is at present on the shelf along with his personal damage proper now, however he has been tremendously efficient this season. In 50 video games, Guentzel has tallied 22 objectives and 30 assists. His 52 factors would lead the Kings, and Guentzel might slot in proper alongside the good Anze Kopitar after driving shotgun with Sidney Crosby for thus a few years.
The Kings do have their subsequent few first-round picks accessible for a deal, and maybe a participant like Alex Laferriere and/or Arthur Kaliyev might go the opposite means in a commerce with the Penguins. Los Angeles appears to be simply behind the true Stanley Cup contenders within the West, and including Guentzel would assist shut that hole.
Sean Walker | D | Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 29
Cap hit: $2.65 million
Years remaining: 0 (pending UFA)
Good match: Tampa Bay Lightning
Sean Walker has performed a big position within the Philadelphia Flyers wildly exceeding preseason expectations, and he is probably not on the transfer earlier than the commerce deadline in any respect. If Philadelphia does select to maneuver Walker, he could be simply what the Tampa Bay Lightning want to enhance what has been an in any other case underwhelming group of defensemen.
The Bolts is probably not the juggernaut of latest years, however they nonetheless have to push for a Stanley Cup with the present core of stars on their roster. If Tampa goes to go on one more deep playoff run, the protection has to enhance. Mikhail Sergachev is on LTIR, Victor Hedman is within the midst of a down season, and the remainder of the group has been somewhat pedestrian. That has led to 208 objectives towards, which ranks twenty eighth within the league. That will not get the job accomplished within the playoffs.
Buying Walker could be an enormous step towards holding pucks out of Tampa’s web. This season, Walker has been a pressure at five-on-five. Philly has managed 55.1% of the anticipated objectives and owns a plus-11 aim differential with Walker on the ice at full energy, per Pure Stat Trick. Walker may even contribute within the offensive zone a bit and has 22 factors in 60 video games this season.
Though there are a number of defensemen on the commerce market this season, Walker is a perfect match for the Bolts as a result of his low cap hit and pending free agent standing. A cap-strapped Tampa crew would not should make a long-term dedication to the 29-year-old Walker, and his acquisition value is perhaps slightly decrease than that of Noah Hanifin.
Juuse Saros | G | Nashville Predators
Age: 28
Cap hit: $5 million
Years remaining: 1
Good match: Carolina Hurricanes
It nonetheless stays to be seen whether or not the Nashville Predators could be keen to maneuver Juuse Saros earlier than the commerce deadline, however he could be probably the most interesting netminder available on the market. If Nashville does select to half with Saros, then the Carolina Hurricanes ought to step as much as purchase his companies.
The Hurricanes have handled some inconsistencies in 2023-24, and a part of that has been as a result of uneven goaltending. Pyotr Kochetkov has performed higher not too long ago, however the query is whether or not Carolina can depend on him and Antti Raanta to shoulder the load within the postseason. The Canes’ Twenty fourth-ranked save share of 89.3% actually would not encourage a lot confidence. An elite goalie ought to thrive in Carolina’s elite defensive setting.
Whereas Saros hasn’t essentially been on his sport this season, he is already confirmed to be among the best goaltenders on the planet. Saros has completed within the prime 5 of Vezina Trophy voting in every of the final two seasons, and he saved a mixed 52.9 objectives above common from 2021-2023. For those who put Saros behind the Hurricanes’ protection, it will likely be subsequent to unattainable to attain on them within the postseason.
As a company, Carolina would not prefer to spend premium belongings on leases, so the excellent news there may be Saros has one other 12 months left on his very cheap cap hit. Meaning the Canes would get not less than two playoff runs with Saros between the pipes. After all, it will nonetheless harm Carolina to accumulate Saros, however the crew has the ammo to make this deal occur. The Hurricanes have first-round picks in every of the subsequent three drafts, they usually have some intriguing younger forwards to ship the opposite means, together with Martin Necas.
Trevor Zegras | C | Anaheim Geese
Age: 22
Cap hit: $5.75 million
Years remaining: 2
Good match: Colorado Avalanche
You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts. For the final two years, the Colorado Avalanche have been looking for a second-line middle to play behind Nathan MacKinnon. As an alternative of on the lookout for band-aids each offseason, the Avs simply should be aggressive to find a long-term answer at that place.
There was hypothesis that the Anaheim Geese could be open to buying and selling Zegras, and if that’s the case, Joe Sakic must be on the telephone yesterday. Since Nazem Kadri left in free company after the 2022 Stanley Cup run, the second-line middle has been a sore spot for the Avs. J.T. Compher did not pan out in 2022-23, and Ryan Johansen has been moved down the lineup this 12 months. Colorado wants somebody aside from MacKinnon to choose up the slack down the center.
Zegras is a highly-skilled 22-year-old middle who’s signed for 2 extra years past this one. Zegras has been coping with a damaged ankle for the final six weeks, however he needs to be again for the tip of the common season. From 2021-2023, Zegras totaled 46 objectives and 126 factors in 156 video games. If he can produce like that on a rebuilding Geese crew, he ought to be capable of thrive in a second-line position on a crew with as a lot expertise because the Avalanche.
The kicker might be making this commerce occur. It could value Colorado an arm and a leg, and the crew must transfer some cash with the intention to make it work. Possibly the Avalanche might ship roster gamers like Johansen or Sam Girard to the Geese, however that will additionally require extra premium draft capital and high-end prospects. Even when issues do not work out for the Avs of their pursuit of Zegras, they may at all times pivot to Adam Henrique as one other short-term answer.
