Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
In the last post we predicted which Eastern Conference player was most likely to be traded by the deadline, so we'll follow that up today and do the same for the West.
Todd Cordell: Nick Leddy
Leddy is a good defenseman, but he doesn't play in Chicago's top-4 and carries a cap hit close to $3 million. For a cap team that always seems to be pushing the limit (or in this case is over), that's an unnecessary luxury.
Leddy's name has popped up in trade rumors all summer, and I think it's only a matter of time before he's traded out of Chicago.
Matt Henderson: Joe Thornton I think the Sharks can get really good value for Thornton who is still a world class player and change the face of their franchise. I don’t think they SHOULD trade him, but I think he will be moved. The organization wanted to make changes but they haven’t really done much except make the team seamstress sew on letters to different sweaters. Every team with an ounce of sense rolling around between their ears needs a player like Thornton and that means giving up good assets to get him. If the Sharks struggle then I feel strongly that the button will be pushed. I expect he would go back East unless San Jose does something incredibly foolish or is offered the moon for him. How much would the Leafs love to get him? What would it take? Reimer+Kadri+?
Ryan Wilson: Evander Kane Let me preface this by saying it absolutely should NOT happen. He is part of the solution, not part of the problem. But here is how I see the year playing out: Winnipeg is done in again by crappy goaltending, they are in a super tough division on the outside looking in, and Kane will probably express frustration publicly and boom, mistake is made by trading him. He makes an easy scapegoat for the dinosaur media folks up in Canada and the team can sell it as an appropriate measure because Kane is "immature. Tyler Seguin was "immature" too. Whoops.
James Tanner: Joe Thornton In my opinion, the player who is most likely to be traded before the trade deadline is Joe Thornton.
The reason I think this is that I beleive the problems on the Sharks go deeper than just losing 4 games in a row to end last season. The core of this team - whether or not it's warranted - now has a reputation for being chokers. For being a good regular season team only. Add in an aging team - Marleau, Thornton, Niemi, and Pavelski are all over 30 - a team with an average at best goalie, a team who's defensman are not great, who's great off season addition was John Scott and a team who have twice stripped their captain of his C, who have only narrowly avoided fireing their GM, Coach, and then best players and you have a fairly good recipe for a potential disaster.
I don't think the Sharks will make the playoffs. And, as such, I think Joe Thornton will more than willing to move his NTC to go to a new team come March.
Tim Chiasson: Evander Kane It’s hard to tell if Winnipeg even likes him, and if he even likes Winnipeg. Kane has been a constant in the rumor mill and I’m not convinced that Winnipeg is dead set on keeping the young winger. Kane is an attractive trade piece to a lot of teams; he’s got a great cap hit if he can hit 30 goals again and he’s locked up for the next four seasons. There would be no shortage of phone calls to Kevin Cheveldayoff should he make it known Kane is officially on the block. I think this is the year that both sides decide it’s time to move on.
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