5 Players Who Teams Will Overpay for at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline
The NHL's March 8 trade deadline is just over a month away. However, two significant trades have already gone down.
The first took place on Jan. 31, with the Vancouver Canucks acquiring Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames. In return, the Flames received winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defense prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder.
Two days later, the Montreal Canadiens sent center Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets. In return, the Canadiens received the Jets' 2024 first-round pick plus a conditional third-rounder in the 2027 draft.
Fans and pundits can debate whether the Canucks and Jets paid too much or whether the Flames and Canadiens got too little in those deals. Nevertheless, it could be considered as setting the market value for players comparable to Lindholm and Monahan leading up to deadline day.
General managers will be under pressure to make moves to address their clubs' needs by March 8. Buyers will try to land one of the few notable players available to bolster their rosters for the playoffs. Sellers, meanwhile, will try to take advantage of a buyer's desperation to squeeze them for more than perceived market value.
Looking at our NHL Trade Block Big Board for February 2024, players of varying value are believed to be available. Someone like the Pittsburgh Penguins Jake Guentzel is a star in his playing prime who should be worth more than what the Flames received for Lindholm.
However, there are others on our board, such as the Anaheim Ducks' Adam Henrique, whose trade value could be inflated as the deadline approaches.
Here's a look at five players that teams will likely overpay to acquire leading up to the trade deadline. Feel free to express your thoughts on this topic in our app comments section.
Jake Allen, Montreal Canadiens
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The Montreal Canadiens already made a significant move by trading Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 2. General manager Kent Hughes might not be done, as he'll likely gauge the market value for goaltender Jake Allen.
Signed through 2024-25 with an average annual value of $3.9 million, the 34-year-old Allen appears to be the odd man out among the Canadiens goalies. Sam Montembeault has locked up the starter's job, while promising Cayden Primeau appears ready for full-time backup duty.
Hughes told reporters on Jan. 15 that he was comfortable carrying all three netminders for the rest of this season. Nevertheless, some playoff contenders—potentially including the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils—could come calling looking to shore up their goaltending depth.
Allen had a record of five wins, nine losses and three overtime losses behind a porous Canadiens defense with a 3.43 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. However, he has a career 2.73 GAA and .908 SP. He won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and was the Habs' backup during their underdog run to the 2021 Cup Final.
An experienced backup who can spell off a struggling starter might fetch at most a third-round pick in a normal season. With the market thin on available netminders, a contender in need of goalie depth might be willing to pony up a second-rounder and a conditional pick in a later round.
Adam Henrique, Anaheim Ducks
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As the calendar flipped to 2024, Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan were considered the top two centers in the NHL trade market. With both players now off the board, Adam Henrique of the Anaheim Ducks becomes the best available center.
A 14-year NHL veteran, the 33-year-old Henrique is a versatile two-way forward who can play center or left wing. He has eight seasons with 40 or more points and is on pace this season to reach that plateau again with 33 points in 49 games on the rebuilding Ducks.
It's not just Henrique's offensive stats that make him enticing to playoff contenders seeking a middle-six forward. He's good in the draw with a faceoff win percentage of 53.4 and is also a reliable penalty killer, averaging 2:35 of shorthanded ice time per game.
With a salary-cap hit of $5.8 million, Henrique will be an expensive playoff rental player in a season with so many teams carrying limited cap space. A club could request the Ducks retain half of his cap hit, which will drive up the asking price.
The Canadiens got a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2027 for the 29-year-old Monahan. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek could seek a similar return for the 33-year-old Henrique. Given the limited options in the market, someone will likely pay that price.
Chris Tanev, Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames traded away Elias Lindholm, but he might not be the only noteworthy player they move before the March 8 deadline. Chris Tanev could be the next pending unrestricted free agent to depart the Stampede City within the next four weeks.
A fixture in our NHL Trade Block Big Boards, Tanev is a well-regarded stay-at-home defenseman whose style of play would provide a boost to a playoff contender's blue-line corps. The 34-year-old rearguard carries a $4.5 million cap hit as well as a 10-team no-trade clause.
On Jan. 30, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Ottawa Senators are interested in acquiring Tanev and signing him to a contract extension. He also indicated that several playoff contenders such as the Toronto Maple Leafs could pursue him as a postseason rental player.
Tanev is at an age when performance begins to decline. While he plays a smart, solid defensive game, he's not considered a top-pairing blueliner. He is best suited to playing on the second or third-defense pairings. His style of game has also sidelined him at times with injuries.
At most, a player like Tanev should be worth a second-round draft pick. According to CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal, however, it's believed the Flames seek a first-round draft pick for the veteran blueliner. Don't be surprised if a contender desperate for defensive depth pays that price.
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Vladimir Tarasenko, Ottawa Senators
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On Feb. 9, 2023, the St. Louis Blues traded Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. A year later, the 32-year-old right wing skates with the Ottawa Senators but could once again find himself on the move before the trade deadline.
The Senators are stuck near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. On Jan. 25, general manager Steve Staios told the media he hadn't approached Tarasenko about waiving his no-trade clause, but it's something he and his staff will continue to monitor. Staios could have that discussion if he gets a suitable offer for Tarasenko before deadline day.
A Stanley Cup champion in 2019, Tarasenko was a six-time 30-goal scorer with St. Louis. He had a 50-point performance last season split between the Blues and Rangers. With 33 points in 45 games, the veteran winger could reach 50 points this season. He carries a $5 million salary for this season.
The Blues got forward Sammy Blais, minor-leaguer Hunter Skinner, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder from the Rangers last season for Tarasenko. While he's still an effective scoring forward, he's no longer as productive as he once was.
At this stage in Tarasenko's career, a second-rounder and perhaps a prospect might suffice. However, a contender seeking a second-line right wing with Stanley Cup experience could be willing to pay more if the market for scorers thins out. If Staios plays his cards right, he could get a first-round pick and either a prospect or a pick in a lower round.
Sean Walker, Philadelphia Flyers
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On Jan. 31, TSN had Sean Walker sitting at No.4 on its list of trade candidates. We had the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman at No. 5 on our February NHL Trade Block Big Board. Despite his lofty status among this season's most desirable trade bait, most hockey fans could be unfamiliar with him.
That's not a disparagement of Walker. The 29-year-old is a six-year NHL veteran who spent five with the Los Angeles Kings before being acquired by the Flyers last summer. The 5'11", 196-pounder is a hard-working, feisty defenseman with good puck-moving abilities. He and teammate Nick Seeler have formed a solid second-defense pairing for the Flyers.
Walker's been the subject of trade speculation for much of this season. That conjecture was stoked by Flyers general manager Daniel Brière last month telling reporters he was maintaining his rebuilding plans. That could include moving Walker though Brière indicated the trade market would dictate that.
In other words, Brière would listen if someone approached him with a solid offer for Walker. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $2.7 million cap hit. The Flyers GM could retain half of that for the right price.
Philly Hockey Now's Jonathan Bailey noted that playoff contenders like the Tampa Bay Lighting and Toronto Maple Leafs are short on defensemen. Walker might ordinarily fetch a second-round pick. Considering his ranking among blueline trade candidates, he could fetch a second-rounder and a prospect or perhaps even a low first-round pick.
Stats (as of Feb. 4, 2024) via NHL.com with salary info via Cap Friendly.
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