NHL trade chatter has picked up significantly over the last two weeks. That chatter will only grow louder as we approach July 17, the deadline for NHL teams to submit their NHL Expansion Draft protection lists for the draft four days later.
“Once teams see the list of who Seattle can select from, I think that that’s when you start to see the trade market really open up, and I’m sure they will be involved,” a prominent NHL scout told “Off The Record” on Sunday. “There is plenty of chatter right now, though. Obviously, Jack [Eichel] is the big name, but I think Seth Jones is just as big. That’s a cornerstone defenseman on the market, and that hardly ever happens.”
There’s a long list of suitors for Jones on the NHL trade market, and this week we’ll look into the ones that may be pushing hardest to acquire the Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard.
Speaking of defensemen on the NHL Trade market, could two Chicago Blackhawks defensemen be on the move this summer?
Ever since the Arizona Coyotes and Rick Tocchet mutually parted ways, Coyotes forward Phil Kessel has been a constant name on the NHL trade rumor circuit. His $6.8 million cap hit for the 2021-22 season (Toronto is still on the hook for 15% via the Penguins trade) is hefty, but teams are interested., including one surprise.
Find out that and more in the latest ‘Off The Record.’
1. Seth Jones Suitors Lined Up
As mentioned above, Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones is easily one of, if not the biggest fish on the NHL trade market right now. We’ve kept you up-to-date on the Jack Eichel situation, but for whatever reason, there was less chatter regarding the future of the Buffalo Sabres captain last week. There was, however, increased chatter and speculation on where the Blue Jackets may trade Jones. So, we asked one of our regular and more dependable sources to list the top 5 potential destinations – in no particular order – for Jones based on what he’s heard over the last couple of weeks. He did kind of emphasize two teams more than the other three, though.
Off the record:
“Off the top of my head, I can tell you for a while now, I’ve heard the Leafs and the Av’s a lot,” a high-ranking player personnel exec told OTR. “They’ve been in it from the beginning. I don’t know how they plan on doing it cap-wise when he becomes a UFA next summer, but they’re pushing. I’d also really watch the Kings, Flyers, and the Red Wings. Stevie Y is up to something, I think.”
Interestingly enough, this past week, colleague and hall of fame puck scribe Kevin Allen wrote about the $27 million the Wings have and how they may spend it over at Detriot Hockey Now.
2. Call The Blackhawks For Rugged D-Men
After watching the Tampa Bay Lightning reach the Stanley Cup Final again, thanks in large part to a rugged defense that can also move the puck and create offense, plenty of NHL teams are looking to emulate the Bolts with their blue line on the NHL trade and free-agent market. Boston Bruins team President Cam Neely made no qualms about a physical left-shot defenseman with such attributes being the top trade target for the Bruins this offseason. The other team the New York Islanders ousted, the Pittsburgh Penguins, would also like to add more size and grit to their blue line. Could the Chicago Blackhawks be listening on two left-shot defensemen that definitely bring that snarl so many teams are lacking at playoff time?
Off the record:
“I’m hearing Zadorov really wants to break the bank,” an NHL agent said of 26-year-old, Nikita Zadorov who is a restricted free agent. “I’m not sure how that affects trade talks, but if a team like say the Bruins could make it work, I’m sure. Bringing in a guy that’s 6-foot-6, 235-pounds could definitely bring back some of that size they lost with Chara. The Blackhawks are looking to do some other big things, and they want to free up some cap space.”
Who’s the other Blackhawks defenseman that could be on the move?
“Calvin de Hann. He was available at the deadline, too,” the agent said of the 30-year-old, 6-foot-1, 195-pound, gritty rearguard.
de Hann has one year left on his contract that carries a $4.5 million cap hit.
3. Kessel Could Be Destined For Sunshine Again
At age 33, Coyotes winger Phil Kessel had a resurgence this past season. He scored 20 goals with 23 assists. Kessel is in the final season of an 8-year, $64 million contract extension, which he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs just before the 2013-14 season.
Kessel spent two seasons of that contract with the Leafs before they dealt him to the Penguins for Kasperi Kapanen, picks, and more on July 1, 2015. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, the Penguins shipped Kessel to the desert and spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. So why would the Coyotes, who will have a projected $31.4 million in cap space this offseason, want to trade a veteran who can still score from a young team that could use more vets?
Well, it’s no secret that one of the main reasons Kessel ended up in the desert was now-former head coach Rick Tocchet, whom Kessel played for and won two Stanley Cups with in Pittsburgh, but Tocchet is gone, and Arizona is making changes.
Off the record:
“I can tell you that the Kings and Panthers have poked around on Kessel,” an NHL Executive told OTR recently. “The Panthers would definitely need the Coyotes to eat some of that cap hit for sure, but–from what I know–both those teams are interested.”
Note: The Florida Panthers have $12.2 million in cap space, and the Kings have $18.8 million.
