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NHL Trade Deadline: What We Learned

By Ryan Ritchie

Feb 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) carries the puck away from Detroit Red Wings right wing Tomas Jurco (26) in the first period of the Stadium Series hockey game at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) carries the puck away from Detroit Red Wings right wing Tomas Jurco (26) in the first period of the Stadium Series hockey game at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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NHL Trade Deadline: What We Learned

Overall, the NHL Trade Deadline was a dud. If you compare it to past years, it likely goes down as one of the worst in history. Fans and experts were left scratching their heads for most of the day.

Many of those questions were answered in post-deadline interviews with various General Managers around the league. They all expressed the same sentiment – the trade market had a very different feel this year. As some GM’s noted, much of it was due to uncertainty surrounding the cap in the near future.

As we read between the lines of everything that has transpired today, the picture begins to paint itself.

With fears the salary cap may not rise in 2016-17, teams are being cautious with their money for the time being. Couple that with 2016’s restricted free agent class (those still unsigned), which is full of talented players looking for big pay raises, it makes sense that teams wait until the offseason before making any significant financial obligations.

Why bring a player who may affect your ability to re-sign one of your talented RFA’s? Or worse, put you in a vulnerable position that forces another team to sign an offer sheet (rare yes, but still possible).

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Notable Pending Restricted Free Agents:

Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks
Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks
Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
Michael Stone, Arizona Coyotes
Tobias Rieder, Arizona Coyotes
Torey Krug, Boston Bruins
Colin Miller, Boston Bruins
Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres
Johhny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames
Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Mikhail Grigorenko, Colorado Avalanche

Feb 2, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Seth Jones (3) skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Seth Jones (3) skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets
Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars
Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings
Erik Gudbranson, Florida Panthers
Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers
Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils
Ryan Strome, New York Islanders
Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers
Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers
Justin Schultz, Pittsburgh Penguins
Cody Ceci, Ottawa Senators
Patrick Wiercioch, Ottawa Senators
Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators
Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
Jaden Schwartz, St.Louis Blues
Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nazem Kadri, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marcus Johansson, Washington Capitals
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

Next: NHL Trade Deadline Losers

So, while the players above would not have had any effect on a team’s ability to add rentals, they would hamper a team’s ability (unless you’re Toronto) to take on certain contracts with term involved. The most interesting takeaway from this year’s NHL trade deadline is that there are several players still needing new homes in the offseason. We’re likely in for a busy summer.

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