The NHL Draft will go down in Buffalo on June 24.
With each passing day, the embers in the trade rumor bonfires continue to snap, crack and pop.
Sixty percent of the teams in the exclusive top five echelon teams of the 2016 NHL Draft are actively listening to trade offers for their premium draft choices. Toronto and Winnipeg are standing pat and will selecting Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, with the first and second overall picks, respectively.
The Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks were among the seven Canadian teams that failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Columbus Blue Jackets are fighting for NHL respectability.
NHL GMs are being told that if they are serious about trading for the #3, #4, and #5 overall picks in the draft, you better bring you best offer to the table now. No tire kicking. No window shopping. No "Let me check with my wife".
If you want it, here it is come and get it. But you better hurry cuz it's going fast.
T-Minus 15 days until the NHL Draft sets up ship in Buffalo, NY.
On Wednesday, TSN's Darren Dreger told AM 1290 in Winnipeg that he has heard Jarmo Kekalainen, Peter Chiarelli and Jim Benning have their ears on and are listening intently to any and all offers for their first round draft choices.
I don’t see any way the Toronto Maple Leafs flip first overall. And I think it would be next to extraordinary for the Winnipeg Jets to consider moving second overall. I’m not going to say the same thing, though, about 3, 4, and 5, and that’s Columbus, Edmonton, and the Vancouver Canucks.
I was told last weekend at the NHL Scouting Combine that the Blue Jax are intent on holding onto #3 so that Kekalainen can select Finn forward Jesse Puljujarvi. Dreger says Kekalainen, a Finnish hockey hero himself, may be will to trade #3 if the deal is too good to turn thumbs down on. Jarmo's D corps needs a serious upgrade in talent. He needs a top four D. He also needs a 5-6 D and a top 6 forward and a 2016 first round draft choice.
“I know that there are aggressive offers being made for the Blue Jackets’ third pick overall. I don’t believe the Blue Jackets are even remotely close to considering moving that pick, but they have to listen, right? That’s a club that’s got some great young players coming through the American Hockey League. They’re developing the right way. But they’re not there yet. And so because of that, they’re just doing due diligence and being responsible and listening. But it would take an unbelievable deal for Jarmo Kekalainen to move the third pick overall".
I told you before the Scouting Combine that Peter Chiarelli is very eager to trade #4 overall in exchange for a package that includes a right handed QB, a veteran top six forward, and a 2016 first round pick.. Chiarelli had eye ball to eye ball conversations with several NHL teams at the NHL Scouting Combine last week in Buffalo.
"Edmonton is more eager to move. They’re not shopping the fourth pick overall, but certainly willing to listen. And obviously they would want a defenseman in return, whoever that might be.
Let's no overlook the Vancouver Canucks who covet Pierre-Luc Dubois, the power forward that Canucks GM Jim Benning would love to get his hands on. Having said that, if Benning can take possession of a top six power forward, a top four D, and a 2016 first round draft choice, he may move the 5th overall pick. If you doubt Benning's appetite to improve his roster and to make the playoffs, just remember how nobody saw the Jared McCann to Florida Panthers for Erik Gudbranson trade that Benning pulled off in stealth-like fashion last week. Like Kekalainen, Chiarelli, Benning and the 27 other NHL GM's, it's playoffs or bust. Just get into the tournament and do some damage.
“Vancouver is similar. Vancouver likes fifth overall. They know they’re getting a very, very good player, but Jim Benning did not like being part of the non-playoff picture in the National Hockey League. He’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen again.“So 3, 4, and 5 could definitely be in play."
Source: Nichols on Hockey
Getcha popcorn ready. These next two weeks are going to be very exciting for NHL fans!
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Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray is fixing to trade to secure a top five pick.
I can't see Jarmo Kekalainen trading his 3rd overall pick. Kekalainen is a HUGE Rasmus Ristolainen fan having scouted him in the Finnish Elite Liga. Lets agree that Jarmo would want Ristolainen and Murray's 8th overall pick in exchange for the 3rd overall pick that Murray would use to draft Matt Tkachuk.
Its a non starter. Murray will not trade his 21 year old #1 D who will be a Norris Trophy candidate in the next two season.
If Pete Chiarelli wants Mark Pysyk, Zemgus Girgensons, and the 8th overall pick in exchange for the 4th overall pick then so be it. Do it.
If Jim Benning wants Pysyk, Tyler Ennis and the 8th overall pick you do the deal if you are Murray.
Tim Murray wants to draft a power winger. That's the only reason why he is grinding away morning and night on his phone looking for a portal that will grant him access to either Matt Tkachuk or Pierre-Luc Dubois.
If Murray can't find a dance partner in Columbus, Edmonton or Vancouver, then he will keep his eighth overall pick and select a future top four D in Jakob Chychrun, Mikhail Sergachev or Olli Juolevi.
Either way, Murray and the Sabres will earn themselves a monster player.
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