This is the time of year where media outlets will be posting their NHL Trade Bait boards. TSN’s is one that is eagerly anticipated by fans (we’ll post our response to that later today) and names come on and off the board with regularity as players get dealt or situations change throughout the marketplace. The Athletic recently published their list and, to say the least, it’s interesting.
Related: Boston Bruins Will Be All Over Jack Eichel Trade, Says Inside Source
You can tell both Craig Custance and Eric Duhatschek put a lot of time and effort into this list. The two scribes spoke to general managers and NHL executives and got a feel for the marketplace, including financial situations for teams and their desire to improve their roster. All of that was taken into account. When you read the authors says, “Few teams have permission to add salary. Many teams have orders to cut. It makes things complicated,” you know this isn’t just a list created to spark a reaction.
So, to see Jack Eichel’s name in the second spot of this list is something. It’s suggests there’s a lot more than smoke to the rumors circulating that he might be on the move.
The list consists of 28 players, the top three spots going to defenseman Mattias Ekholm, Eichel is in second and Chris Driedger of the Florida Panthers sits in third. Beyond that, the list includes mostly players from struggling NHL clubs, with a few exceptions.
Sabres Have Four
The Buffalo Sabres are the most well represented on this list. Names include the previously mentioned Eichel, but also includes Brandon Montour (14), Casey Mittelstadt (20), and Taylor Hall (24).
Hall is low on the list because he’s expensive and it’s not totally clear he wants to leave Buffalo.
Red Wings Have Three
Luke Glendening (13), Jonathan Bernier (15) and Bobby Ryan (16) made the list. These are not surprises as the Red Wings were considered a rebuilding club at the start of the season and it was believed the team would be shipping out pieces come this NHL Trade Deadline.
It’s likely all of these players are moved in the next couple of weeks.
Predators Have Three Names on the Board
Outside of Ekholm, Filip Forsberg, and Mikael Granlund both also made the list. They called Ekholm “the most attractive all-around player available right now” but added that Forsberg could be available if the Predators are slipping into a rebuild. Granlund is a player who might be attractive as a low-cost depth option and it was reported the Maple Leafs had interest in the summer and may circle back here.
Canucks Names Include Virtanen, Sutter and Pearson
That the Canucks are well represented on this list isn’t shocking either. They have Brandon Sutter (8), Jake Virtanen (17) and Tanner Pearson (18) all on the board.
The bigger story to watch out Vancouver is what happens in the management and coaching positions. That entire scene is fluctuating daily.
Other Notable Names
The Ducks have a couple of bigger-name forwards in Rickard Rakell (5) and Adam Henrique (27) available, and the New Jersey Devils made the list with Kyle Palmieri (10), and Ryan Murray (26). A couple of LA Kings made the list in Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick and surprisingly, only Ryan Dzingel made the board from the Ottawa Senators.
Next: Maple Leafs Weighing NHL Expansion Draft Options on Hyman, Andersen
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