Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

No blockbuster trades at NHL draft, but be patient – they're coming

June 26, 2016, 6:28 PM ET [8 Comments]
Adam Proteau
Blogger •NHL Columnist • RSSArchiveCONTACT
When the 2016 NHL entry draft ended Saturday in Buffalo without the consummation of any blockbuster trades, there was a sense of letdown among some veteran hockey observers and fans. But, as seismologists will tell you, just because something massive didn’t happen today, that doesn’t mean something massive isn’t going to happen someday, and possibly, someday very soon.

To wit: there were rumors in Buffalo concerning the future in St. Louis of star defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk, and those aren’t about to fade in the days and weeks to come. And inexplicably – and for Canadiens fans, sadly – P.K. Subban’s name was bandied about in the media as someone who might be moved. I still don’t think Montreal should deal him (as I noted in a previous column, you’d be addressing roster deficiencies in a Subban trade, but you’d also create a deficiency that you’ll never adequately address), but stranger things have happened and will continue to happen in the NHL.

In addition, we’ve seen and heard people discuss the likelihood blueliners Tyson Barrie and Jacob Trouba – funny how a large portion of the focus has been on D-men, isn’t it? – change teams before training camp begins. And although there’s a possibility one or more of the aforementioned names find a way to remain with his current employer, it’s far less plausible all of them will. Help on the back end is vital for all 30 franchises, and the trades involving new Florida Panther Keith Yandle, new Vancouver Canuck Erik Gudbranson and new Buffalo Sabre Dmitri Kulikov are just the beginning on the reshaping of many, if not most defence corps.

Similarly, there are far too many predicaments regarding forwards that require resolution prior to the start of the 2016-17 regular season. The Edmonton Oilers are still expected to move Nail Yakupov and a member of their young core – most probably, Jordan Eberle or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – to upgrade their blueline and overall balance. The Minnesota Wild bought out winger Thomas Vanek and are pushing for bigger moves. The Red Wings unloaded the contract of Pavel Datsyuk in a draft-day transaction with Arizona, and Detroit now has more than enough salary cap space to be a player on the trade and free agent fronts. The management teams of the New York Rangers and New York Islanders have proven themselves wheelers and dealers virtually every off-season, and for different reasons, both franchises have a certain degree of urgency enveloping them this summer.

And yes, there’s still some sticky situations with goaltenders that aren’t going away. The Flames and Maple Leafs already have completed transactions changing their look between the pipes, and a as a result, solid netminders Brian Elliott and Frederik Anderson will be wearing different uniforms this coming year. But what of Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, rumored to be pushed out of Tampa Bay by the younger, more salary-cap friendly Andrei Vasilevskiy? What of Penguins cornerstone Marc-Andre Fleury, who looks like he’s about to suffer the same fate as Bishop? Absent an injury, both Fleury and Bishop appear to be the odd men out, leaving only the question of when they’re traded.

Then there’s the Dallas Stars, a team that shouldn’t be bringing back the duo of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi for a second season of platooning. The goalie market may be a buyer’s market at this stage, but at some point, a team’s need for help will be acute. And when that happens, you’d better believe Bolts GM Steve Yzerman and his counterparts Jim Rutherford and Jim Nill will be intent on freeing up cap space by shipping out a veteran.

The opening of unrestricted free agency this weekend will complicate and/or exacerbate the issues certain teams are experiencing at the moment, and that undoubtedly will lead to more deals being struck. As this space has stressed multiple times, 29 organizations each year don’t have the luxury of going back to their owners and fan bases with essentially the same squads as they had the previous season. Rather, they have two options: hire a new coach and/or GM, and/or remake the roster. Teams already have hired new management, and with a flat salary cap, free agency isn’t a panacea. To really shake things up, trades are all that remain. And more than a few teams need to really shake things up.

Change is always necessary, and there hasn’t been nearly enough of it this summer. The earthquakes didn't happen in Buffalo, but they're coming.
Join the Discussion: » 8 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Adam Proteau
» Proteau's Division Predictions
» Proteau's Division Predictions
» Pre-season picks: Atlantic Division
» Pre-season picks: Metropolitan Division
» Pre-season picks: Pacific Division