The NHL trade deadline isn’t until March 21, but it’s never too early to start thinking about transactions.
Few things get sports fans' minds racing like trades, signings, or even potential deals. Just the thought of your favourite team making a move is enough to send you to the moon with excitement, and that’s what I intend to do in this blog.
Just under 11 weeks out from the trade freeze, I’ve compiled a list of 10 players that should be dealt. That doesn’t mean that they will or that their name has been swirling around in trade rumours, it just means that if I was general manager, I would be looking to deal this player.
If you’ve got a problem with my theoretical trades, go make your own. I’m sure I’ll hate them.
1. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
It seems pretty obvious that the Flyers’ next championship window isn’t going to include Giroux.
At 33 years old, the captain is playing out the final season of an eight-year deal that carries a cap hit of $8,275,000. His contract does include a full no-move clause, but we’ve seen players in the past be open to the idea of waiving it to join a contender. With Philadelphia deserted in the dreaded middle of the NHL standings, the squad is neither in a position to tank nor seriously contend for a title. The last thing any franchise should want to be is directionless, and if Philly were to keep Giroux around, it would be exactly that.
Plenty of teams would salivate over the opportunity to add Giroux, even strictly on a rental basis. He’s totalled 11 goals and 29 points this year, and he would serve as a high-end second-line centre on a contending team.
Considering the Flyers are short a second-round pick in each of the upcoming drafts, trading Giroux could help them re-stock some draft capital in addition to strengthening their prospect pool.
Mock Trade
Flyers acquire: Vitali Kravtsov, Greg McKegg, New York Rangers 2nd (2022), St. Louis Blues 2nd (2022)
Rangers acquire: Claude Giroux
2. Jonathan Drouin, Montreal Canadiens
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Canadiens would be set up so well for a quick rebuild had then-general manager Marc Bergevin not traded away a gifted first-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for a faceoff specialist-plus in Christian Dvorak.
Alas, this is the reality the Habs find themselves in, and although the squad will likely not be able to recoup a lost first-rounder in a trade involving Drouin, there should be teams that are interested in the forward.
The 2013 third-overall pick has had a pretty strong 2021-22 campaign, potting six goals and 17 points in 27 contests. His versatility as a winger who can play centre if needed is an added boost to playoff teams that could use some lineup flexibility.
His contract also isn’t horrible, as he carries a cap hit of $5,500,000 for each of the next two campaigns before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2023-24.
Mock Trade
Canadiens acquire: Egor Afanasyev, Nashville Predators 4th (2022)
Predators acquire: Jonathan Drouin