Screen Shots: Which NHL Teams Could Join the Frenzy Next? Plus Kings, Sharks Moves
Welcome once again to Screen Shots, an ongoing THN.com file in which we tackle some hockey topics and break them down into a few paragraphs. Let’s get straight to it:
Jeff Skinner and Boone Jenner Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
There's been plenty of activity on the roster front this week, including a big contract extension for Filip Hronek with the Vancouver Canucks, then some eye-catching moves on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Kings traded Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals for Darcy Kuemper (more on that later), while the Flames traded Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils.
With this surge of off-season activity, the question comes – which other teams could be joining the off-season trade frenzy next?
From this writer’s perspective, you can add at least four teams to that group: the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets make that list because new GM Don Waddell will likely be motivated to strike early and get some massive moves with his new team. Columbus can’t afford to stand pat with its current group – one that's disappointed in the last couple of seasons. Waddell will also have to work with Patrik Laine on a new start. Whatever moves Waddell makes could correct the course for the Blue Jackets, whether it's finding another netminder or seeking a center.
Meanwhile, Predators GM Barry Trotz has shown last season he wasn’t afraid to make big moves. The Preds’ appearance in the playoffs this spring is all the motivation Trotz needs to take more steps to improve his team’s competitiveness with the $26.3 million in cap space he has.
Then in Buffalo, GM Kevyn Adams is feeling the heat to produce a playoff-caliber squad to improve in the very tough Atlantic Division. The Sabres have about $22.6 million in cap space to use to improve, and if the Sabres don’t make notable moves, their fan base may just revolt.
Finally, in Pittsburgh, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has $10.7 million in cap space after re-signing goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract worth $2.5 million per year. Dubas must use it to complement his current core of talent. Another season without a playoff appearance would be a disaster for them, but it won’t be easy for them to navigate to the top of the Metropolitan Division. Being proactive this summer rather than reactive during the season is the solution Dubas has to embrace in order to effect a positive change.
If these teams wait too long and the trade market dries up, they’re going to be left holding the bag and making excuses. It felt like the trade market kicked off this week, and it will only get more interesting from here.
The Kings made headlines with the shocking, unexpected trading of Dubois to the Capitals for veteran goalie Darcy Kuemper. That came one year after dealing forwards Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Vilardi to the Winnipeg Jets last summer in exchange for Dubois.
Kings GM Rob Blake accepted responsibility for the moves in a media availability Wednesday, saying he didn't think they did a good enough job integrating Dubois in the right roles. That said, he and the Kings are under pressure to improve their asset management and stay in the mix for a deep playoff run next year.
Certainly, Blake is hoping Kuemper and his $5.25-million cap hit will be a positive for the Kings next year. The likely upgrade in net is already one potentially good move.
The Dubois trade also increased Los Angeles’ cap space to more than $23.45 million, but Blake may now have to find a top-six forward to replace Dubois. Team aren't freely and easily going to give up that kind of high-end talent.
Blake’s off-season to-do list could make him one of the most active GMs in the NHL. He has kept L.A. in the playoffs for each of the past three seasons, but the result has been a first-round exit every time. The Dubois trade signals the window in which the Kings have to improve has shrunk in a major way.
The San Jose Sharks were also an active team on Wednesday, picking up veteran forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers and trading for Dallas Stars winger Ty Dellandrea.
Sharks GM Mike Grier clearly intended to shore up his bottom six forwards with the two deals. While things are going to get significantly better in the next few weeks with the arrival of 2023 first-round draft pick Will Smith and projected No. 1-overall pick in 2024 Macklin Celebrini, San Jose's rebuild has a ways to go.
Indeed, in the increasingly competitive Pacific Division, the Sharks are almost assuredly going to finish at or near the bottom of the standings again.
The Sharks have about $31.3 million in cap space, so they could buy out the remaining two years of defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's contract if they wanted to and not have the cap penalties affect them much at all in the next four years. They could keep him and eat the salary for the next two seasons without worrying about the salary cap and having his leadership presence. Still, they could also hand a generous contract to a UFA defenseman who could play more minutes for the Sharks and complement their younger players.
The new era is beginning in earnest in San Jose, and the additions of Goodrow and Dellandrea signal more change is coming in short order. Celebrini and Smith are the cornerstones of the Sharks' rebuild, but many more moves have to be made before San Jose can truly be a playoff contender.
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