10 Most Likely NHL Trade Candidates in the 2016 Offseason
Following the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, the NHL trade market will return to life. Players who've been the subject of recent trade speculation, such as St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (pictured above), could be on the move this summer.
This slideshow lists the 10 NHL players most likely to become trade candidates during the 2016 offseason. We'll examine the reasons why they could be dealt. Player performance, contracts, roster needs and salary-cap payroll factored into this compilation.
Let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below.
10. Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders
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Goaltender Jaroslav Halak may have played his final game with the New York Islanders.
Injuries limited the 31-year-old to only 36 games played this season. He put up a record of 18 wins, 13 losses and four overtime losses, with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and three shutouts.
With Halak sidelined down the stretch and into the 2016 NHL playoffs, backup Thomas Greiss took over the starter's job. He carried the Islanders to their first playoff series victory since 1993. The Isles also have promising Jean-Francois Berube waiting in the wings.
On May 10, Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post speculated Halak could become a trade piece this summer. On May 18, however, Newsday's Arthur Staple reported Halak needed six to eight weeks of recovery from sports hernia surgery.
Once Halak is healthy later this summer, he could attract interest from clubs still in need of goaltending depth. His $4.5 million annual salary-cap hit through 2017-18 could be a sticking point. The Isles might have to pick up part of that cap hit to move him.
9. Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers
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A need to free up salary-cap space and to bring up more young defensemen could spur the Philadelphia Flyers to trade veteran blueliner Mark Streit.
The 38-year-old Streit put up a respectable 23 points in 62 games this season. He also averaged 21 minutes and 52 seconds of ice time per game.
Streit has one season remaining on his contract at a salary-cap hit of $5.25 million. In actual salary, he'll earn $4 million. He also has a modified no-trade clause listing 10 preferred trade destinations.
The Flyers have only $7.5 million in salary-cap room for 2016-17 and must re-sign restricted free agents Brayden Schenn, Radko Gudas, Nick Cousins and Brandon Manning. They also lack room to promote promising blueliners such as Ivan Provorov and Samuel Morin and bolster their depth at left wing.
On April 27, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi suggested Flyers general manager Ron Hextall could gain some cap space by trading Streit or right wing Matt Read.
Streit's age, salary and no-trade clause makes him difficult to move—but not impossible. Hextall dealt Chris Pronger's contract last summer to the Arizona Coyotes and shipped little-used center Vincent Lecavalier to the Los Angeles Kings this season. He could find a taker for Streit.
8. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury enjoyed a stellar 2015-16 regular season. The 31-year-old had a career-best goals-against average of 2.29 and matched his career-high save percentage of .921. His 35 victories mark the eighth time he's won 30 or more games in a season.
Fleury was a significant reason why the Penguins overcame a poor start to this season to reach the playoffs. A late-season concussion, however, sidelined him for most of the 2016 playoffs. Backup Matt Murray has taken over the starter's job, which could raise questions over Fleury's future in Pittsburgh.
If there's an expansion draft next year, the Penguins could face a choice between Fleury or Murray. On May 3, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported teams can only protect one goalie. While players with full no-movement clauses must be protected, Johnston noted Fleury's clause only applies to waivers and demotions.
Fleury has a modified no-trade clause listing 18 preferred trade destinations. If there's an expansion draft next June, the Penguins could protect Murray and move Fleury this summer.
The Penguins also have limited salary-cap space for next season. Moving Fleury's $5.75 million annual cap hit would provide them with much-needed room to address other roster needs as required.
Potential trade candidates could include Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. All are in need of a goaltending upgrade.
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7. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
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It's seems unthinkable to suggest the Detroit Red Wings could trade longtime center Pavel Datsyuk.
In his 14 seasons with the Wings, he's amassed 918 points and helped them win two Stanley Cup championships in 2002 and 2008. He's also a four-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and a three-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy.
The Wings, however, could face moving his contract for salary-cap purposes this summer.
On April 11, Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press reported Datsyuk expressed his desire to return to Russia for family reasons to finish his playing career. On May 25, Albom's colleague, Helene St. James, reported Datsyuk's agent said his client will inform Wings management of his decision sometime in mid-June.
Datsyuk has one season remaining on his contract at an annual salary-cap hit of $7.5 million, though in actual salary he'll earn $5.5 million. Because he's under a 35-plus contract, retiring from the NHL won't remove that cap hit from the Wings books.
Rather than pay for a player no longer on their roster, St. James speculated the Wings could move his contract to a team in need of reaching the salary-cap floor for 2016-17.
The Wings won't want much salary in return. A draft pick or an affordable player could be the asking price. The Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils could be destinations for Datsyuk's contract.
6. Scott Hartnell, Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Columbus Blue Jackets could attempt to move left wing Scott Hartnell this summer.
It's not Hartnell's performance that's the issue. The 34-year-old scored 23 goals and added 26 assists for 49 points in 79 games in 2015-16.
Salary-cap concerns are the motivating factor. Assuming a $74 million salary cap for 2016-17, the Blue Jackets have only $4.8 million in cap space. With defenseman Seth Jones due for a substantial raise and the Jackets' need for skilled depth at center, Hartnell could become a salary-cap casualty.
Hartnell is under contract through 2018-19 at an average cap hit of $4.75 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, giving him full control over his trade status.
On April 19, the Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline reported the Blue Jackets attempted to trade Hartnell and defenseman Fedor Tyutin before the Feb. 29 trade deadline. He speculated they could try to move them again this summer.
Teams with available cap space in need of experienced scoring depth include the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils. Because it's a salary dump, the Jackets could seek a draft pick and either a prospect or an affordable, young center in return.
5. Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks
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Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen is coming off his best season to date. In 2015-16, he set career-high numbers for games played (71), assists (29), points (38) and plus/minus (plus-eight). In seven playoff games, he scored once and set up three others for four points.
Vatanen, who turns 25 on June 3, is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He's completing a two-year deal worth an average annual salary of over $1.262 million. As a top-four defenseman, he's in line for a substantial pay raise.
The Ducks possess considerable depth in young defensemen. In addition to Vatanen, they must re-sign rising star Hampus Lindholm. Promising Shea Theodore is ready to crack the lineup on a regular basis, and Brandon Montour is waiting in the wings.
Should Vatanen prove too expensive to retain, the cost-conscious Ducks could put him on the offseason trade block. They need depth on the wings, particularly on the left side. A trade return for Vatanen could address that issue.
The Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers need depth in good young defensemen. Vatanen could be on their radar as a trade option.
4. Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche
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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie was a key part of his club's offensive attack in 2015-16. The puck-moving 24-year-old netted 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points, finishing among the Avs' top-five scorers.
Barrie is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He's coming off a two-year bridge contract worth an annual salary-cap hit of $2.6 million. With 49 points this season and 53 in 2014-15, Barrie could look to double his annual salary on a long-term deal.
The Avalanche are a budget-conscious club. In addition to Barrie, center Nathan MacKinnon is also a restricted free agent, though he lacks arbitration rights. They must also re-sign or replace pending unrestricted free-agent winger Mikkel Boedker.
During a May 27 interview with Calgary's Sportsnet 960 radio (via Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot), Elliotte Friedman suggested there's a "good chance" Barrie could get moved.
Terry Frei and Mike Chambers of the Denver Post also discussed the possibility of a Barrie trade. They suggest the Avalanche could re-sign him to a two- or three-year deal.
Barrie, however, could prefer a longer term. His arbitration status could also complicate matters. If he gets a two-year deal, that puts him only two years away from eligibility for unrestricted free agency.
Should contract talks get contentious, the Avs could move Barrie. Possible suitors could include the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers.
3. Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen had a solid 2015-16 campaign. In 43 games played, the 26-year-old posted a record of 22 wins, nine losses and seven overtime losses. He had a 2.30 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and three shutouts.
In five playoff games, Andersen won three of them. He finished the postseason with a 1.47 GAA, a .947 SP and one shutout.
Andersen split the goaltending duties this season with 22-year-old John Gibson, who posted slightly better stats during the regular season. Though Gibson struggled in the postseason, he's being groomed as a starting goalie.
A restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights, Andersen is only one year away from eligibility for unrestricted free agency. He's completing a two-year contract worth an annual salary-cap hit of $1.15 million and is in line for a hefty raise.
With the younger Gibson under contract for the next three years at an affordable $2.3 million annually, the Ducks could part ways with Andersen. Lacking depth at left wing, Andersen could be used as bait to address that need.
The Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs need help in goal for next season. Andersen could be an attractive trade target for those clubs.
2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
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Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins endured his worst season of his five-year NHL career in 2015-16. Injuries limited him to only 55 games. His 34 points were his lowest in a non-lockout year.
Nugent-Hopkins, 23, was considered among the Oilers' young, core forwards. However, the emergence of centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl pushed him down the depth chart. While he's entering the third year of a seven-year, $42 million contract, his days in Edmonton could be numbered.
On May 26, the Edmonton Journal's David Staples proposed Nugent-Hopkins to be the major asset the Oilers could use this summer to land a top right-sided defenseman.
Teams carrying a solid base of defensemen in need of depth at center could consider Nugent-Hopkins a trade target. On May 14, the Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa suggested the Minnesota Wild as a destination.
The Anaheim Ducks are deep with blueliners, but they're in need of depth on the wings. The Carolina Hurricanes could be a more viable trade partner.
1. Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
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St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored 14 goals and collected 30 assists for 44 points in 72 games this season. In 20 playoff games, he tallied twice and set up nine others for 11 points. The 27-year-old led all Blues defenders in points during the regular season and postseason.
Shattenkirk has one season remaining on his contract at a salary-cap hit of $4.25 million. The Blues, however, have only around $11.9 million of cap room for 2016-17. With several key players to re-sign or replace (including forwards David Backes, Troy Brouwer and Jaden Schwartz), they need to free up some payroll.
Next summer, Shattenkirk will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. As one of the league's better puck-moving defensemen, he'll be in line for a big raise. He could prove too expensive for the Blues to re-sign.
The emergence this season of rookie blueliner Colton Parayko could make it easier for the Blues to ship out Shattenkirk. As it could be a cost-cutting deal, they might want a return of a first-round draft pick and a top prospect.
Shattenkirk could attract the interest of the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings. Those clubs need a skilled offensive blueliner.
There was speculation the New York Rangers could be interested. On May 25, however, the New York Post's Larry Brooks cited sources claiming it was "extremely unlikely" they go after Shattenkirk.
Player stats via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.
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