Although the trade deadline is drawing nearer, many teams across the NHL are still at a crossroads. There is a clear top class, which includes the Edmonton Oilers, as well as a handful of rebuilding teams at the bottom, but most teams find themselves in a sludge somewhere in between. This uncertainty will put pressure on teams in the coming weeks, as they might decide a direction for the future based on those results.
Due to the smaller number of clear sellers, deadline buying might become a more expensive option. The first signs of this might have already taken shape for the Oilers, who signed veteran John Klingberg to a substantial deal. Let’s take a look at some possible developments in this week’s rumour roundup.
4 Nations Faceoff as a pressure point
Deadlines act as a force for negotiations, and usually the trade deadline and the draft are the most notable. This season we have already seen increased activity prior to the holiday roster freeze, which clearly acted as a pressure point. Perhaps another pressure point will emerge as the league shuts down for the 4 Nations Face-off from February 12 to 20.
Already near the trade deadline, teams will likely have a good idea of their intentions at that point. The week off for most players would give them some time to get situated in their new locales and to hit the ground running with their new teams. This pressure point will put a lot of emphasis on the results over the next month.
Simon Nemec could be on the market
Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils is rumoured to be on the market, a young, talented, right shot defence prospect. There has been a similar trade already this season, as David Jiricek was moved to the Minnesota Wild for a bevy of draft picks. While there are stylistic differences between the two, the trade cost might be quite similar.
Nemec has had a difficult time carving out a regular role on the Devils, who are now amongst the league’s contending teams. It is certainly a frustration for the former second overall pick, who might well be force fed huge minutes on several other teams around the league.
A big difference between the Jiricek trade and a potential Nemec trade is what assets their teams might value. The Columbus Blue Jackets are certainly more future focused than the Devils will be, and so a package made entirely of draft picks might not make sense. The Devils still have some cap space, and would likely be interested in loading up for this season.
Vancouver Canucks drama drones on
The Vancouver Canucks soap opera continues, now with the team sliding further down the standings. The alleged rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson has fuelled speculation that one or both could be moved. Miller has been the more impactful player this season, and the Canucks desire to win might see them expected to keep him in the fold. Pettersson is younger and likely would command more trade returns.
Still, it must be acknowledged that Miller has rubbed his teams the wrong way before, and rumours that more teammates might feel similarly to Pettersson has many rethinking the Canucks potential manoeuvres. If the rift is dividing the locker room, it is possible that both are traded as well. The on ice results suggest that the rift is festering, and likely eroding the potential returns if other teams sense desperation from the Canucks.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Canucks trade Miller, holding onto the younger Pettersson. Either way, the Canucks will have to be bold in finding a way out of this mess. Trading either would weaken the forward depth, meaning the Canucks might look to supplement the group in some way. Still, the Canucks could stand to upgrade their blueline, even at full health.
Could the Bruins be looking for a change?
Among the teams who will be monitoring performance over the coming weeks are the Boston Bruins. Their long stretch of strong regular seasons appears to be coming to an end, and the veteran-laden team does not seem to have a strong prospect group on the horizon. The Bruins still have some elite pieces on the roster, meaning a retool might be more appropriate than a full rebuild at this point.
Trent Frederic is among the most rumoured to be moved, but would hardly represent sweeping change. A poor performance over the next month could see more and more Bruins thrown into the rumour mill. There is no telling what the Bruins might do if things go poorly, as many of the more underwhelming spots in their lineup are newly signed.
In the end, it might be GM Don Sweeney or President Cam Neely who pay the price. The duo has had a long and successful run, which might buy them grace in the eyes of some. The expectations are high in Boston, and they have rarely been so disappointed in their results. We are walking through fresh snow for this regime, and so how they handle the situation is difficult to project. In the past the Bruins have not been afraid to deal star players, like Dougie Hamilton, Tyler Seguin, and Joe Thornton. Could another blockbuster be on the horizon?
