It’s finally the NHL Trade Deadline. Eric Staal, Jiri Hudler, and Justin Schultz have all been shipped to playoff contenders, making their new teams even more dangerous. But what is to come of the actual deadline day?
Loui Eriksson, Cam Ward, and Dan Hamhuis are among the many players waiting to hear whether they’ve been traded or not. It can be a stressful day for players and fans alike. All hoping their teams can bolster their rosters for the playoff run or take a step toward a better 2016-17 season.
Related: 32 NHL Trade Deadline Questions (and Answers)
On now the final day of the NHL’s trading season, let’s take a look at ten trade scenarios that are bound to happen today:
1. Dallas Makes a Splash
With one of their best teams since their 1998-99 championship team, the Dallas stars will make a splash Monday and acquire Dan Hamhuis AND Radim Vrbata from the Vancouver Canucks. Their additions will bring another veteran presence to the blueline and a top-six player joining the likes of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Patrick Sharp, and Jason Spezza up front for the Stars.
2. Edmonton Moves a Top Player
Having already dealt Teddy Purcell, Andres Nilsson, and Justin Schultz, the Edmonton Oilers are going to continue the purge by trading either Nail Yakupov or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Monday. One of the two former first round picks will find themselves on a new team with a solid return heading back to Edmonton.
3. Jonathan Drouin Stays in Tampa Bay
While there have been plenty of rumors involving Jonathan Drouin this season, watch for Steve Yzerman to hold onto Jonathan Drouin for the rest of the season. Yzerman knows the caliber of the player he has in Drouin and won’t give him up for whatever the highest bid is. Drouin is worth a significant amount, so expect Yzerman to ultimately wait for another opportunity to move the young star-in-the-making.
4. Los Angeles Acquires Loui Eriksson
With Boston still debating what to do with big winger Loui Eriksson, watch Los Angeles swoop in in the final hour of the trade deadline and make Boston an offer they cannot turn down. Eriksson, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, would reunite with Milan Lucic out west and make an already strong Kings team even better.
5. Parenteau Heads to the Penguins
The trade partners strike again. Toronto and Pittsburgh will come together for yet another deal, with this one sending P.A. Parenteau to the Penguins for a pick and a current bottom-six forward. The Penguins current depth chart is filled with AHLers in bottom-six roles with others injured. Expect Pittsburgh to move one and at least a 3rd round pick for P.A. Parentau—a solid depth add for the playoffs.
6. Florida is Not Finished
After already acquiring Jiri Hudler, Jakub Kindl, and Purcell, the Panthers will add another depth player for their playoff run. Florida, having their best season since the 1995-96 season, will go all out to solidify their roster, given the small window they have with Jaromir Jagr and Roberto Luongo. A gritty add like Matt Hendricks would give the Panthers a fourth line mucker with more offensive ability than Shawn Thornton.
7. Anaheim Acquires a Star Forward
If Anaheim makes a move on Monday, it will be in a blockbuster deal. They’ve recently traded with Montreal on a few occasions and could make yet another deal involving Max Pacioretty and one of the Ducks’ top, young defensemen, such as Hampus Lindholm or Shea Theodore. It would take more than a defenseman heading back to Montreal for the Canadiens to trade their captain.
8. St. Louis Overpays for a Mid-Tier Talent
Having seen Chicago stockpile assets and Dallas acquire Hamhuis and Vrbata, look for St. Louis to overpay for a solid, yet unspectacular player in an attempt to keep up with their division rivals. The Blues do not have a lot of cap space, so they will need to be creative in order to bolster their somewhat underperforming roster at the trade deadline.
9. Detroit Stands Pat
Much to the dismay of Red Wings’ fans, Detroit will stand strong at the deadline and resist overpaying for depth talent. Without much cap space or room on the roster, the Red Wings would likely need to trade a roster player in order to make any deals work. Ken Holland will opt to keep his healthy roster as is and avoid moving young talent for a rental player, like he did with Erik Cole and Marek Zidlicky last year.
10. Chicago Makes One Last Move
And this one will be another “you’ve got to be kidding me” trade. Western Conference GMs will reach for the Tums when Chicago GM Stan Bowman acquires another depth piece for the Blackhawks quest for a second straight Stanley Cup. The Hawks will acquire a depth blueliner with plenty of playoff experience, similar to the Kimmo Timonen move of last year. at the trade deadline.
Related: Looking Back at the 2005-06 NHL Trade Deadline
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