The trade market in the NHL this summer is likely to be the busiest it has been in years.
Not only because the salary cap is expected to increase, but also due to the fact that a number of teams are of a mind to shake up their rosters and do not have the option of adding players through unrestricted free agency because of a very thin free agent class.
Recent reports indicate that the cap increase will be lower than the early season projection of $71 Million(due mostly to the decrease in value of the Canadian dollar) and will more likely be in the $68-70 Million range, which could affect teams with limited cap space from adding a quality player who could make a difference for them next season.
Forwards Paul Stastny, Thomas Vanek, Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen and Mike Cammalleri lead a decent forward group, but the pool of free agent defenseman is not deep.
The prize appears to be 27-year-old Matt Niskanen, who had a breakout season with 10 goals and 36 assists in Pittsburgh, but the rest of the group is a collection of grizzled veterans well past their prime and depth defenseman in line to make a financial killing.
Five of the top 10 defenseman(Andrei Markov(MON),Marek Zidlicky(NJD), Dan Boyle(SJ),Kimmo Timonen(PHI), Derek Morris(PHO)) listed by Cap Geek are 35 years old or more, which is a risky proposition not only for the player’s diminishing skills but also because the player’s full salary will count against the cap even if he retires or is sent to the minors.
List Of Unrestricted Free Agent Defenseman (courtesy of Cap Geek )
It is unlikely that the Penguins will choose to re-sign Niskanen with Kris Letang, Rob Scuderi and Paul Martin making big money, as he is expected to get at least $5 Million annually on a new deal, just as pending free agent Andrew MacDonald received from the Philadelphia Flyers last month.
Markov and Timonen are expected to re-sign with their respective clubs and veterans Boyle and Zidlicky could find short term, high salaried deals elsewhere, but the lack of quality depth on the market will be an advantage for teams who are willing to trade defensemen, as the Maple Leafs may be with RFA Cody Franson and team captain Dion Phaneuf.
Franson is eligible for salary arbitration this summer and is coming off a disappointing year, in which he barely eclipsed his 2013 offensive totals and led the club with a -20 plus/minus rating. With the shot and offensive ability to play on the power play, Franson could be an attractive, cost-effective option for another team as he should not make more than his $2 Million price tag in arbitration.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported last weekend that the Leafs were shopping the 29-year-old Phaneuf to teams in the Western Conference, but Leafs GM Dave Nonis indicated that the club was not discussing trading their captain with other clubs, but is willing to listening to offers.
“Dion and I treat this information as simply rumors,… agent Don Meehan said to the Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby on Tuesday. “As such, we don’t really feel obligated to comment further in this regard.…
The thought that Phaneuf’s seven-year, $49 Million contract will scare off a number of teams may be off the mark, since he would have likely received comparable offers from teams if he had been free to accept offers this July. Toronto may agree to retain some of Phaneuf’s new salary to improve the return in a potential deal, but with the appearance that the summer will be a seller’s market, Nonis may not have to.
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The animosity between Leafs coach Randy Carlyle and defenseman Jake Gardiner appears to be a case of perception not meshing with reality.
Recently dismissed assistant coach Scott Gordon indicated in an interview with the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle that the veteran bench boss sees a lot of potential in the young blueliner.
“There’s this perception that Randy doesn’t like Jake Gardiner, and it’s comical,… Gordon said. “I can’t tell you how many times that Randy has said that the thought of trading Jake can’t even be discussed until he’s played 300 games. He personally thinks it takes 300 games for a defenseman to get to the point where you can make a decision on them.…
Gardiner has 17 goals and 48 assists in 167 games for the Maple Leafs and is a restricted free agent this summer. It is expected that Toronto will attempt to get the 23-year-old blueliner signed to a two or three year bridge deal similar to the contract Nazem Kadri signed last September.
The Leafs bench boss may be taking a page from his own personal experience as a player in giving Gardiner some additional time to mature. Carlyle was 22 years old and played less than 100 NHL games when Toronto shipped him and forward George Ferguson to Pittsburgh for veteran blueliner Dave Burrows. Three years later, he scored 16 goals and 67 assists for the Penguins and won the Norris Trophy.
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