NHL trade deadline 2024: Deals we want to see before March 8

The 2023-24 NHL trade season is well underway, kicked off by the Elias Lindholm trade on the eve of All-Star Weekend.

So who gets moved next, ahead of the March 8 deadline?

The Stanley Cup won’t be won at the deadline, but there are some gaps contending teams must fill. We’ve tapped ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski to devise two trades apiece — of benefit to both teams, and keeping in mind the relevant salary cap implications.

New York Rangers get:
C Adam Henrique (at 50% of salary), RW Frank Vatrano (at 75% of salary)

Anaheim Ducks get:
C Barclay Goodrow, LW Adam Sykora, C Noah Laba, 2024 first-round pick, 2026 third-round pick

Why it works: With season-ending injuries to Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler, the Rangers have needs at center and right wing. The Ducks have players who could fill those needs, but New York has to make the math work.

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Henrique, 34, is a veteran center on an expiring contract. Although it would break Devils’ fans hearts to see him in a blue shirt, Henrique fits well: He had 37 points in 56 games, plays on both special teams and wins over 53% of his faceoffs. Vatrano, 29, knows the Rangers, having played 22 games there in 2021-22. Most of all, he knows Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, having been a successful linemate with them on the right side. He has become a better player in Anaheim and is signed for an additional season.

How do the Rangers make the trade work? The easiest way might be to finally part ways with Kaapo Kakko, but he has settled into a depth forward role this season and I’m not convinced the Rangers want to punt on the No. 2 pick from 2019 yet.

So to make the trade work, the Ducks would have to retain 50% on Henrique and 25% on Vatrano, plus take on Goodrow’s contract: $3,641,667 average annual value through 2026-27. To entice them to do so, the Rangers ante up a first, a third and two good prospects: Sykora, a tenacious AHL winger who is only 19 and could have offensive…

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/39603974/nhl-trade-deadline-2024-predictions-contracts-players-playoffs

Author : ESPN staff

Publish date : 2024-02-27 11:11:11

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