5 NHL Teams in Need of a Trade After Missing Out in Free Agency
The opening day of the 2022 NHL free-agent market saw the usual flurry of signings as general managers sought to address their roster needs for next season. Some of the notable moves Wednesday included the Columbus Blue Jackets signing winger Johnny Gaudreau, the Washington Capitals inking goaltender Darcy Kuemper and the Ottawa Senators landing forward Claude Giroux.
As the dust settles from the frenzied early activity, several playoff contenders still have needs to be addressed. The Calgary Flames, for example, must find a suitable first-line player to replace Gaudreau. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders need a scoring winger to complement playmaking center Mathew Barzal.
Finding those options among the now-shallow pool of free-agent talent could prove difficult. Some general managers could follow the example of the Carolina Hurricanes and turn to the trade market for help.
During the first day of free agency, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Brent Burns from the San Jose Sharks and left winger Max Pacioretty from the Vegas Golden Knights. Burns will bolster their top-four blue-line depth, while Pacioretty is an experienced scorer.
The following slideshow will examine five clubs that should swing a game-changing deal for 2022-23 after missing out in free agency. We'll look at their respective needs and potential trade partners.
Did we overlook a club? Are there other trade options we may have missed? Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames' scoring punch suffered a serious blow with Johnny Gaudreau's departure to the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent. The 28-year-old winger was the Flames' points leader (608) from his first full rookie season (2014-15) through his career-best 115-point performance in 2021-22.
The gifted playmaker's absence leaves a big hole among their first-line scorers that will be difficult to fill. Nevertheless, general manager Brad Treliving must do something to address that void. With few suitable options remaining in the free-agent market, he could attempt to make a trade.
With $18.5 million in salary-cap space for next season, Treliving has the room to take on an offensive forward from the Blue Jackets. Winger Jakub Voracek lacks no-trade protection, carries an $8.25 million cap hit through 2023-24 and netted 62 points last season. If Patrik Laine's negotiations stall, perhaps Treliving will inquire into the cost of acquiring the restricted free agent.
St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko could be another option. On July 8, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported the 30-year-old winger hasn't rescinded his trade request from last summer. He has a year remaining on his contract with a $7.5 million cap hit, but his actual salary is $5.5 million. Maybe he'd accept a move to the Stampede City.
Dallas Stars
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John Klingberg's departure via free agency leaves the Dallas Stars in need of a right-side defenseman on their second defense pairing. Given the slim pickings for a puck-moving rearguard in the free-agent market, a trade seems the only reasonable option to replace the 47 points Klingberg provided last season.
Stars general manager Jim Nill has $11.5 million in cap space to work with for 2022-23. Most of that, however, will be taken up by re-signing goaltender Jake Oettinger and winger Jason Robertson. The rising young stars have completed their entry-level contracts and will be seeking raises on their new contracts.
The Stars were linked to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry. However, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported Wednesday that a deal didn't seem likely to materialize because of the Canadiens' reluctance to retain a portion of Petry's $7.5 million salary.
Nill could give Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall a call. On Wednesday, Hextall told reporters that he's carrying “a couple too many” defensemen. Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski included John Marino among his suggested list of trade candidates. The 25-year-old carries a $4.4 million cap hit through 2026-27. Maybe Nill could convince Hextall to retain part of it.
New York Islanders
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On Thursday, The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported the New York Islanders were among the clubs believed to be interested in Johnny Gaudreau prior to his signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kurz wondered whether general manager Lou Lamoriello had a plan B to add a scoring winger.
The Islanders must find a scoring forward to skate alongside playmaking center Mathew Barzal, whose production has suffered in part from the lack of a talented wing. Lamoriello has $11.2 million in cap room for 2022-23, though some of that will be taken up by re-signing restricted free-agent defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov.
New York could try the free-agent market, but the best remaining right wingers are a 34-year-old Phil Kessel and former Islander Nino Niederreiter. Better options can be found in the trade market.
Kurz suggested Patrik Laine as a trade target if the Blue Jackets aren't able to re-sign the restricted free agent. He also wondered if Lamoriello might revisit his previous interest in St. Louis Blues wing Vladimir Tarasenko or Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller. Both become eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.
Lamoriello could request that the Blues retain part of Tarasenko's $7.5 million cap hit. Miller carries a more affordable $5.25 million average annual value, but the Canucks will likely set a high asking price in return. Nevertheless, the crafty 79-year-old might be able to find a way to make it work to acquire one or the other.
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Los Angeles Kings
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The Los Angeles Kings made significant improvement last season. Thanks in part to the addition of veteran forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson, they reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Kings general manager Rob Blake showed his willingness to go to the trade market this summer, acquiring winger Kevin Fiala and signing him to a seven-year contract. However, his only notable free-agent signings were bringing back defenseman Alexander Edler and depth forward Brendan Lemieux.
The Kings must bolster their top-four depth on the left side of their blue line if they hope to build upon last season's 99-point performance. Edler is 36 and will likely be used on the third pairing. Michael Anderson is 23 and coming off his third NHL season. Sean Walker missed all but six games to injury last season.
Blake has just $2.3 million in salary-cap space. He might have to consider dollar-for-dollar deals or perhaps targeting cap-strapped teams that could retain some salary in a cost-cutting trade.
The Florida Panthers' MacKenzie Weegar ($3.25 million) could be a good trade option. L.A. could pursue Arizona Coyotes' Jakob Chychrun, but the asking price could prove too expensive. The Pittsburgh Penguins could consider offloading Brian Dumoulin, who's in the final year of his contract with a $4.1 million cap hit.
Ottawa Senators
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Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has enjoyed a productive offseason in the trade market. He acquired 41-goal winger Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks, shipped oft-injured goaltender Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs, traded for goalie Cam Talbot from the Minnesota Wild and sent winger Connor Brown to the Washington Capitals.
Dorion did address one need via free agency by signing Claude Giroux to boost his forward lines. However, he didn't sign anyone that could improve his blue line.
The Ottawa Sun's Ken Warren reported the Senators are seeking a defenseman to round out the top end of their defense chart. With $11.6 million in salary-cap space for next season, Dorion might not be done making additions.
The Sens could make another dive into the free-agent pool, but the depth grows shallow beyond John Klingberg, who could prove expensive to sign. Considering how busy he's been in the trade market of late, Dorion could decide to make another player swap to address his blue-line needs.
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun's been linked to the Senators in the rumor mill. However, PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan expects the 24-year-old will start the season with the Coyotes. Unless Dorion is willing to pay what could be a high asking price for Chychrun, he'll have to consider other options.
The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported Dorion has considered Chychrun, Brent Burns (before he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes) and the Florida Panthers' MacKenzie Weegar. The Panthers are sitting above the $82.5 million cap and must shed salary. They could move the 28-year-old Weegar, who carries a $3.25 million cap hit and is slated to become a UFA next summer.
Stats via NHL.com and salary information via CapFriendly.
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