The 2019 NHL trade deadline on Monday, February 25 is now less than three weeks away. My hope is to write a more detailed article on the subject from a Carolina Hurricanes perspective over the weekend, but to be honest the situation is probably in a holding pattern for another week or two anyway with the team playing its way up close to the playoff cut line.
Nonetheless, here are a few quick hitters on the trade deadline possibilities…
Need to stay focused on the rink
The lead up to the trade deadline has quite literally been where the team’s somewhat limited playoff hopes have died in recent years. In 2017-18, the Hurricanes limped into the deadline with a 0-4-1 record. The 2016-17 season was even worse with an extended 1-5-2 slump. The 2015-16 season featured a 1-4-0 lead up to the trade deadline. For whatever reason, the Hurricanes have frozen and faded leading up to recent trade deadlines.
Micheal Ferland
I have written about him multiple times including in yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe. I would not sell off everything not bolted down as the team has done in recent years to collect a bunch of mid-round draft picks, I think Ferland could be the exception simply because of his likely value. As a power forward who can score with a cap-friendly $1.75 million cap hit, he should garner interest and a good return if the team does not instead re-sign him. If the team cannot re-sign him on favorable terms before the trade deadline such that he seems destined to depart at the end of the season and if he can net a first-round draft pick I do that deal.
For me, it is a two-part deal. I trade Ferland and collect the first-round pick. Then I shop the final hours of the trade deadline market to see if I can spend a mid-round draft pick to back fill Ferland’s slot with another rental forward. It pains me to let Ferland go heading into March, but I think a first-round pick is too much to pass up. An important disclaimer is that if the return falls to being a third round or lower pick, then I would be inclined to just ride out the 2018-19 season and risk losing him for nothing.
Brett Pesce
Not of the rental variety, the trade deadline could be an opportunity to trade a defenseman for a forward. As I have said previously, I do not just lump Brett Pesce in with the other right shot defensemen. Because of his favorable contract and steadiness defensively, I rate him higher and would not trade him unless the return is immense.
The goalies
Though one or both of Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek could net a modest return from a team that needs a backup goalie. I would not be inclined to trade either as long as the Hurricanes are within range of a playoff spot. The return would be modest and not worth upsetting the apple cart in net.
The Hurricanes as buyers
I would not be surprised to see the Hurricanes use the busy time to make a trade for a player with term on his contract who would be part of the team past the 2018-19 season, but I would not expect the Hurricanes to be players in the bidding wars for high-end rental players who are free agents at the end of the season. As I said above, maybe if the Hurricanes trade Ferland, the team spends modestly to back fill that slot.
Watching Columbus
As of right now, the bottom playoff team in the Eastern Conference (based on games above .500) is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Those same Blue Jackets have an interesting situation with stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin set to become unrestricted free agents in July and not seemingly prepared to re-sign with Columbus. Maybe due to the distraction, the Blue Jackets have struggled a bit of late. How the situation with Bobrovsky and Panarin is resolved could arguably have the greatest trade deadline impact on the Hurricanes playoff chances.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What, if anything, do you expect from the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2019 NHL trade deadline?
2) What will happen with Micheal Ferland? Will the Canes trade him? Re-sign him before the deadline? Or be willing to ride out the rest of the 2018-19 season and risk losing him for nothing in the offseason?
3) If you had to predict one big non-rental type deal for the Hurricanes leading up to the trade deadline, what would it be?
Go Canes!
Agreed on all points aside from leaning towards keeping Ferland (whether or not he’s signing at the end of the year) unless we can basically fleece someone looking for help. As much as I wanted to see Faulk gone in the off-season he’s proven me wrong and the best option to me at this point is just holding tight to the current roster and seeing how things play out as there aren’t any sore thumbs.
Decent opinions say the market on Ferland is shrinking as is our gap to breaking into the playoffs. The defense is starting to live up to expectations. Goalies are giving us a chance on almost every night. We’ve got “can’t miss” types developing at both NHL and AHL levels plus both solid bottom six/lower d pair and possible upside options simmering. Not to mention Mckegg filling the juju slot of a player with a tooth or two too few. What could we get that would rival the knowledge that if/when Nino slows down and we need a jolt we can reuinite Ferland/Aho/TT?
This team needs help in places, but everyone knew going into this season that it was rolling the dice on a lot of young players. I can’t say that GMDW won’t pull off another surprisingly solid trade for top six scoring, but it doesn’t seem like he’s as trigger happy as he started.
If pressed to make a bold trade prediction, I wonder if TVR, Bean++ couldn’t wiggle an underperforming Nylander out of cash strapped Toronto.
1. I expect another move towards building out the 2019-20 roster (and as a bonus for this year).
2. Ferland is gone if he won’t sign (I can understand if the team chooses to put their money elsewhere into a much needed sniper).
3a) Ferland dealt for 1st
3b) Kuokkanen + TVR + two 2019 1sts for Tarasenko
3c) Call up Goat Man to replace Ferland
4c) Sign Fox
5c) Extend Aho 8yr/9mil
6c) This summer deal surplus of defense to solidify goaltending
Canes would need to trade more for Tarasenko, probably Necas and Faulk plus those picks. Maybe less if we take Jake Allen.
This is a summer deal. If the Blues miss the playoffs(especially if the Hawks make it) then they will go full rebuild.
Tarasenko is cheap at 7.5 a yr.
I still think about the Ferland like you do, Matt: that we may ultimately get an offer that’s too good to pass up and he’ll be traded. I hope we don’t just dump him for the best offer if it doesn’t include a 1st and/or a nice young roster player.
I do not see us trading for a pricey Rental or any Rental for that matter. More likely we trade a RHD for a player with term at the deadline – VGK did it with Tatar and TBL with Ryan McDonagh – so it’s possible even if unlikely. To me, our deadline trade was Rask for TT – absolutely fantastic so far – and our best remaining deadline trade isn’t a trade: it’s getting Staal back.
I have no idea who we’re looking at and can’t suggest any trades. I actually like where we are right now and want to see this team play these next few more games. If I did anything, I’d pull the trigger on Ferland especially if I knew when Staal was coming back (if he’s coming back).
1) I have no inside information–so more of what I guess/hope will happen. I think the organization trades Ferland if the return is a 1st. If that happens, then my hope is the team does nothing else. As I said yesterday, the team is winning with the lineup as is–seriously I don’t know who I think should be benched. So when Staal is ready, the forwards are full.
2) Again, if the offer is a first, I don’t think the Canes can or should pass. Anything less, and ride it out.
3) Any good deal at the deadline is likely to be a rental. The best options are in the offseason. Toronto will need to do something due to cap constraints. The more interesting option is Winnipeg, the math likely doesn’t work to give both Laine and Connor new contracts. While Finns are well-represented in the organization, I am most fascinated by the possibility of going after Connor. There are two options. One–offer sheet around $6.6M for 6 years. It would cost a 1st,2nd, and 3rd. If the Jets have already committed to Laine, they would be hard-pressed to match. Two–propose two firsts (especially if Ferland returns one) and a prospect (so a better return than the offer sheet) prior to the draft. A similar trade offer, but no offer sheet, could be made for Nylander this offseason. I think a Connor/Aho/Teravainen line would rival the first lines for the Avs and Bruins.
I realize talking about one player in February is borderline preposterous, but I do think the Canes should think big after the season and not middling at the deadline.
I agree that the team is past the rebuilding mind set of trading everyone who isn’t bolted down for picks at the trade deadline.
I hope Ferland can be resigned for something decent, if not, trade him for a first or prospect and bet on the Goat to be able to replace him.
Also, if the team is out of contension I wonder if JW would be interested in doing himself and the team a favor, allow himself to be traded to a team with good cup potential and make a gentleman’s agreement to come back in July for another year or two.
Tor have to offload one of their pricy forwards so I think the Canes should be on the lookout for a favorable Nylander or Kapanen trade, but a second line center is one of the most urgent needs.
If the team were to become buyers at the deadline I wonder if getting Mat the Zukker from the Rangers would make sense, then resign him to a year or two deal, giving Necas and othre prospects time to develop further.
The Rask for NN deal was of the brilliant variety and I see no need to trade for the sake of trading.
I really want to see Saarella with the big club, he’s been consistently scoring on a Checkers team that has faded drastically in recent weeks. He’s got the sniper skill that we’re all talking about and could add a threat to any line.
I’d think back to the year when we won the CUP! JR went out and bolstered an already good team, by acquiring Weight and Recchi!
Soooo, I’d re-sign Ferland, and trade picks/ prospects (whatever), for a couple rugged, skilled veterans…AND GO FOR IT!
If you get in…you can WIN. THIS TEAM (as is) might make it into the playoffs, but it’s not ready to compete with the Caps or TB.
1. Waddell said the other day there will be no rental trades – just hockey trades. That may change in a Ferland deal as you outline – but I am beginning to think we keep Ferland as a “self-rental”‘ unless the return is really good.
2. We will not re-sign Ferland. Apparently the level of interest in him hasn’t really been that great (or we are asking too much for him). There was talk we would trade him sooner rather than later to avoid additional injury risk but as time continues, I think that’s less likely.
3. The team was recently said to have an interest in Toffoli (sp?) of LAK.
1. As in the past, a sleeper trade no one expects could happen. Maybe Fleury for Burakovsky (both are RFA’s next year), or a package for Silfverberg.
2. We need to keep Ferland unless the team tanks in the next 2 weeks.
I’m shocked that NOBODY IS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO WIN THE CUP…THIS YEAR!!
Come on, we are ONLY a few points away from being in the PLAYOFFS!
Why would we CAPITULATE NOW?
One or THREE moves could make the CANES…EQUAL TO the other pretenders /contenders!
I think the fans (here) are – so jaded – (used to losing) that WINNING doesn’t enter their minds!
Do you REMEMBER THE MOVES THAT JR MADE, before the Canes WON THE STANLEY CUP?
Think like a champ, and…IT CAN HAPPEN!!!