We've already witnessed trades for numerous big-name NHL players in the weeks leading up to this season's NHL trade deadline, and there are still seven days to go.
Despite Bo Horvat, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Ryan O'Reilly already having been dealt, there are still a handful of potential moves that would elicit excitement. Not all of them are realistic, but that won't stop us from dreaming up our ideal scenarios.
Here are five swaps we'd love to see before the clock strikes 3 p.m. ET on March 3.
Sharks ship Erik Karlsson to Oilers
This is the move everybody wants - well, presumably everybody except NHL teams not named the Edmonton Oilers. Hopefully the San Jose Sharks eventually come around and put themselves in the "want to see it" category as well, because this absolutely needs to happen.
We got a taste of what it would look like earlier in February at the All-Star Game, when Pacific Division head coach Bruce Cassidy slotted Karlsson in alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to form a tantalizing three-on-three trio. No one who watched those three play together came away thinking that should be the only time it takes place.
There is of course the rather gargantuan obstacle of Karlsson's contract, which carries an $11.5-million cap hit through 2026-27. It obviously makes a deal difficult, but not impossible. The Oilers could throw together a package of future assets and current NHL players. Tyson Barrie and Jesse Puljujarvi would pretty much have to be involved because of their cap hits, as would at least a first-round pick and a youngster like Dylan Holloway or Philip Broberg. San Jose would need to retain a chunk of Karlsson's salary.
A third team might be required to make sure the Oilers are cap-compliant, but like the Minnesota Wild in the O'Reilly trade, the broker club could receive a prospect or a draft pick in exchange for easing the financial burden. Karlsson will turn 33 on May 31, and the Norris Trophy favorite's offense generally comes at the expense of his defensive responsibilities. He has a history of injuries, too, so that contract could bite whoever's paying it down the road. But the Oilers could use a shot in the arm, and with a little cap creativity, this would be the most entertaining move they could make.
Devils ensnare Meier
Chances are wherever Timo Meier ends up, it'll be a fun scenario, but we'd love to see the New Jersey Devils land the talented Sharks forward for a few reasons.
First, Meier would make an already aesthetically pleasing club even more fun to watch. The Devils rank near the top of the NHL in goals per game and trail only the Carolina Hurricanes in five-on-five expected goals percentage and scoring chances for percentage this season. New Jersey boasts three of the top 14 NHL forwards in terms of five-on-five xGF% among those with at least 500 minutes played in those situations, and Meier ranks 21st. The Devils have five of the top 35 forwards in SCF% using that criteria, and Meier slots in at 37th. So he'd fit right in.
The Canes would be another intriguing destination for Meier, but this brings us to the second reason we'd prefer to see New Jersey nab him. Carolina is already blessed with more established stars and has more experience as a team. Simply put, the Devils need Meier more than their Metropolitan Division counterparts.
Third, he'd be joining a club that already boasts a pair of players from Switzerland with a third one knocking on the door. Meier's countrymen, Devils captain Nico Hischier and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, have played key roles this season, and goaltender Akira Schmid has excelled in his limited NHL opportunities.
Meier's a pending restricted free agent, so the team that acquires him is more likely to sign him to an extension than let him walk in the summer. Since he probably won't be a rental, the Devils would have to pony up. But they could offer their top forward prospect, Alexander Holtz, along with a 2023 first-rounder and additional picks, plus a player like Miles Wood to balance the money.
'HurriKane' warning in effect
Carolina would certainly be better off adding Meier. But if the Canes miss out on the league's top deadline target, acquiring Patrick Kane would be a prudent maneuver - and not just because of all the wordplay possibilities.
The obstacles and the reasons for concern are well-known by now. Kane has a full no-trade clause and therefore must consent to the Blackhawks moving him. His cap hit is nearly on par with Karlsson's at $10.5 million. He's a liability on the defensive end, sitting near the bottom of the entire league in both wins above replacement and goals above replacement. He also supposedly has a bad hip, but based on his vintage play of late, that doesn't appear to be a major issue.
The 34-year-old - who has the Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe, and Calder trophies on his mantle - has proven this season that he can still contribute offensively. Also, some of the blame for his poor underlying numbers can be placed on his team, which has nosedived this season while shamelessly tanking.
To make a deal like this happen, the Blackhawks would need to retain a sizable portion of Kane's contract, but they have plenty of room to do that and wouldn't be burdened beyond this season because he's a pending UFA. If they keep 50% of it, the Hurricanes could absorb the $5.25-million hit because they're projected to have just over $10 million in deadline cap space. Carolina doesn't have many blue-chip prospects, but the Canes do have "the largest group of relevant prospects in the NHL," according to The Athletic's Corey Pronman. So they could offer Chicago a collection of prospects, picks, and NHLers to get it done.
Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is likely off limits considering the uncertain futures of Carolina's top two netminders, but either defenseman Alexander Nikishin - an emerging KHL star - or forward Jack Drury would be a good get for Chicago. The Hurricanes have first-round picks in each of the next three drafts and two second-rounders in 2024, so they could comfortably part with a first and a second. Throw in a young NHLer like Seth Jarvis, and the Blackhawks would be hard-pressed to say no if Kane is open to playing elsewhere.
Maple Leafs reunite with Schenn
Much like the Karlsson-to-Oilers dream, this one might not have a great chance of happening. But it would be pretty neat to see the Toronto Maple Leafs turn back the clock and reacquire Luke Schenn, who played his first four seasons with the Leafs after they drafted him fifth overall in 2008.
Toronto already addressed two other needs, reeling in new second-line center Ryan O'Reilly and fourth-liner Noel Acciari up front. But the team still has a bit of wiggle room to address its defense corps. Schenn is one of many blue-liners on the market and the Vancouver Canucks are now holding him out of games to protect their trade asset.
The 33-year-old appears to be fairly highly coveted. That's not surprising considering his status as a pending UFA, an affordable $850,000 cap hit, 15 years of experience, a championship pedigree (two rings with the Tampa Bay Lightning), and the value of right-shot rearguards. There are more talented options available, but they'll cost more in terms of what a team like the Leafs would have to part with in a swap.
Toronto likely wouldn't want to give up a first-rounder for a player of Schenn's ilk, and the club has no second-round picks through 2025. So again, this wouldn't be the most likely pairing of trade partners, but it's not completely far-fetched. The Leafs still have other assets - be it prospects or relatively young players with some value - they could package with a third-round selection. No matter how unlikely it is, there's no denying it would be a good story to see Schenn's career come full circle.
Boeser goes home to the Wild
Another compelling narrative would be a homecoming of a different sort. Canucks forward Brock Boeser is also on the market, and he's one of the best players available. The Wild have a dynamic top line led by Kirill Kaprizov, but they could use another playmaker.
While Boeser's goal-scoring has tapered off this season, he's playing for a lackluster Vancouver squad and has been in and out of the lineup, including as a healthy scratch. The Burnsville, Minnesota-born winger would surely welcome a deal that sends him to his home state, and the Wild could accommodate his contract's $6.65-million average annual value by sending Josh Greenway and his $3-million cap hit the other way along with a draft pick while getting a third "broker" team involved to help balance the books.
Boeser could benefit from a change of scenery, especially one that brings him closer to where he grew up. The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported that Boeser's agent, Ben Hankinson, has been "all over" Wild general manager Bill Guerin trying to make it happen, and for good reason. It would be the perfect fit from both a hockey perspective and for the heartwarming narrative.
(Contracts source: CapFriendly)
(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)
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