Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm and sniper Filip Forsberg will each become unrestricted free agents after next season, but general manager Dave Poile is keen on locking up the pair of blue-chip talents.
Ekholm - who was the subject of trade rumors leading up to Monday's deadline - has played all 10 of his NHL seasons with the Predators, and Poile said the door will be open for the blue-liner to ink an extension.
"His name got thrown out there a lot in trade baits and different things," Poile said Monday, according to The Athletic's Adam Vingan. "My next conversation with Mattias will be after this year about how he thinks he fits into the future of this hockey club and whether he would like to be here longer, not whether we want to trade him."
Ekholm, 30, has contributed five goals and 17 points while logging 22:44 of average ice over 36 games this season.
Poile also discussed the future of Forsberg - one of the Predators' perennial goalscorers - and the GM understands how critical it is to keep the talented Swede around.
"We should sit down and see what he thinks about his future here and see if there's an opportunity to extend him," Poile said Tuesday, according to NHL.com.
Forsberg has hit the 25-goal mark five times for the Predators and has amassed 376 points through 474 games with the club. He's been out of the lineup since March 25 with an upper-body injury.
"He'd be a very tough player to replace," Poile said. "I think he's just coming into his prime. These are his best years, and I still see the day when Filip is not just going to just score 30 goals, but he's going to score 40 goals."
The Predators have won 10 of their last 12 outings to catapult back into a playoff position after a sluggish start to the campaign.
New York was reportedly willing to terminate the 25-year-old's contract to allow him to sign with another team as a free agent. It's believed the Montreal Canadiens were interested, but DeAngelo did not accept, according to Dreger.
DeAngelo and the Rangers agreed to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4.8 million in October.
The club placed DeAngelo on waivers in January and general manager Jeff Gorton later said the blue-liner played his final game with the club.
DeAngelo, who has a history of poor behavior, was sour when scratched for a pair of games earlier this season. He was reportedly later involved in an incident with teammate Alexandar Georgiev, which appeared to be the final straw.
The New Jersey native finished fourth in scoring among defensemen in 2019-20 with 53 points through 68 games.
Mantha and the Red Wings agreed to a four-year deal in November with an average annual value of $5.7 million. The 26-year-old is under contract through 2023-24.
The 6-foot-5 winger tallied 11 goals and 21 points through 42 games with Detroit this season.
Washington already averages the second-most goals per game this year (3.43), and Mantha gives the club another top-six scoring threat. The Quebec native drives offense at a high level at five-on-five. He also put together a solid body of work in the defensive end for a rebuilding Red Wings team, according to Hockey Viz's isolated impact tool.
Mantha netted a career-best 25 goals in 2018-19 and played at a 30-goal pace over 82 games last season.
Vrana is in the final year of his current deal, which carries a $3.35-million cap hit. He'll become a restricted free agent in July.
The 25-year-old recorded a career-high 25 goals and 52 points in 69 contests in 2019-20 and has amassed 11 tallies and 14 assists in 39 games this season.
Panik, 30, has two years remaining on his current deal after this season with an annual cap hit of $2.75 million. The veteran winger has contributed nine points through 36 games this campaign.
General manager Kyle Dubas paid a steep price to land Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno and exercised some serious creativity to entice Columbus into moving one of its longtime talents.
Dubas used the San Jose Sharks to significantly circumvent Foligno's expiring $5.5-million cap hit, which cost him an additional fourth-round pick on top of the first and fourth-rounder he dealt to Columbus. The Leafs' Stanley Cup window is wide-open, and the gritty veteran brings invaluable attributes that could put the Leafs over the top in the playoffs.
Foligno checks all the boxes for Leafs
Foligno's days as a dangerous offensive player are behind him, but the 33-year-old is a unique two-way skater who can slot into the lineup virtually anywhere. He's capable of filling all three forward positions, can play on both special teams units, and is still skilled enough to play alongside the Maple Leafs' high-flying talent.
The 6-foot-1 grinder has put together a strong body of defensive work in recent years. Foligno's done a terrific job of nullifying his opponent's attack by limiting shot attempts at five-on-five, according to Hockey Viz's isolated impact. (Red or positive is good on offense, while blue or negative is good on defense).
Foligno also brings 51 games of postseason experience, and the Leafs witnessed firsthand how his feisty game translates come playoff time. During last season's five-game series loss to the Blue Jackets, Toronto was outscored 4-0 at five-on-five with Foligno patrolling the ice.
Potential line combinations
Foligno gives the Leafs plenty of different looks, but before we dive in, it's worth mentioning the club will need to make some difficult decisions deeper down the lineup with a pair of extra bodies in the mix.
Recently acquired Riley Nash will also become an option once he's healthy, but it would be tough to see Wayne Simmonds or Joe Thornton draw out of the lineup. Alex Galchenyuk has earned his spot thus far, and Pierre Engvall has also established himself as a reliable depth player.
Option 1: Top-six buzzsaw
The Leafs could experiment by using Foligno in a Hyman-like role. Foligno may lack the offensive upside Hyman possesses, but he's an impactful forechecker and could play puck retriever alongside players with high-end talent like Tavares and Nylander. Icing two top units with a similar makeup would make the Leafs a nightmare to match up against.
Galchenyuk has brought a ton of energy since joining the club, and the chippy winger would complete an extremely fast trio alongside Kerfoot and Mikheyev in a bottom-six role. Envgall's speed on the fourth line is welcome and rounds out a nice look for the club.
Option 2: Put him with the big boys
It's unlikely Foligno gets extended top-line minutes, but why not let him take a spin with two of the NHL's top-five scoring leaders. Foligno's ability to play in the dirty areas could complement Matthews and Marner in the offensive zone, though he's not quite the passer Hyman is.
Another benefit here is dropping Hyman to the third line. The trio of Hyman, Engvall, and Mikheyev have dominated opponents with a 62.11% share of expected goals for over 91:10 at five-on-five, and having that kind of depth following the club's dynamic top six would be a coach's dream.
Option 3: Foligno up the middle
Foligno has played 14% of his shifts at center this season, and although he's likely better off on the wing, his defensive acumen and experience at the faceoff dot make him an option as a bottom-six pivot.
Plugging Foligno in as a third-line pivot allows the Leafs to roll with a top-six unit with proven chemistry and gives Spezza some well-deserved ice time. It may not be ideal to slot Kerfoot on the fourth line, but his speed would be beneficial in that spot and he also provides some scoring punch.
Option 4: Ultimate shutdown unit
Keeping Foligno up the middle here gives the Leafs a third line that would be an absolute headache to play against. Foligno's recorded 109 hits this season, and Hyman and Mikheyev rank one and two among Leafs forwards in that department, respectively. The potential shutdown trio would give the top six more favorable matchups as well.
Option 5: Let's get crazy
If the Leafs were ever in need of a spark, there really are no creative boundaries with Foligno in the mix. He gives them the ability to load the top line with talent without sacrificing deeper down the lineup.
The Leafs haven't played Nylander at center at all this season, and his defensive limitations do give room for pause. Foligno's presence could help cover up for some of Nylander's lapses, and Toronto could move Tavares to the top line as a result. The Leafs could also move Nylander up with Matthews and Marner instead, but the Swedish winger doesn't typically play on the left side.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Nick Foligno from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a first-round pick in 2021 and a fourth-round pick in 2022, the team announced Sunday.
Toronto also acquired forward Stefan Noesen from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2021 fourth-rounder as part of the three-team deal.
Nemeth, 29, is in the final season of his current deal and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. The Red Wings are retaining 50% of his expiring $3-million cap hit this season, per CapFriendly.
The Swedish blue-liner has contributed two goals and eight points while logging 18:24 of ice time through 39 games.
Nemeth played two seasons in Colorado before signing with the Red Wings ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Avalanche have been without blue-liner Erik Johnson since late January, and it's unclear if he'll return this season.
Nemeth, 29, is in the final season of his current deal and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. The Red Wings are retaining 50% of his expiring $3-million cap hit this season, per CapFriendly.
The Swedish blue-liner has contributed two goals and eight points while logging 18:24 of ice time through 39 games.
Nemeth played two seasons in Colorado before signing with the Red Wings ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Avalanche have been without blue-liner Erik Johnson since late January, and it's unclear if he'll return this season.
Many NHL players entered the season with high hopes but have failed to meet expectations for one reason or another. Others have been stuck in the same situation for years or have simply hit a wall in their development.
With the April 12 trade deadline fast approaching, we take a look at five players who have struggled so far this season and could benefit from a trade to a new team.
1. Taylor Hall, Sabres
Andy Marlin / National Hockey League / Getty
We'll start with the obvious: There's arguably no player in the league who needs a shakeup more than Hall. The former Hart Trophy winner has been a complete nonfactor for a historically poor Sabres team, and it's clear the club isn't close to being competitive in the near future.
Hall has just two goals in 37 games, which equates to $4 million per tally in terms of his $8-million cap hit. His confidence appears to be at an all-time low, and he hasn't played much meaningful hockey in his 11-year pro career. It's time for Hall to maximize his potential and join a contending team.
The 29-year-old winger doesn't have a lengthy postseason resume, but 12 points in 14 career playoff games is certainly noteworthy. With his combination of speed and skill, Hall would fit seamlessly into any contending team's top-six forward group. The pending unrestricted free agent's price tag will never be lower, and GMs shouldn't hesitate to strike.
2. Sam Bennett, Flames
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There are probably a few Flames players who would benefit from a clean slate, but Bennett's need for a new home is most glaring. The 24-year-old, who previously requested a trade, is set to become a restricted free agent after this season, and his days with Calgary are likely coming to an end.
Bennett hasn't come close to matching his career-best 36-point rookie campaign, and he's highly unlikely to blossom into an offensive threat at this point in his career. The native of Ontario is incredibly scrappy, though, and he can play a unique depth role for a team in need of grit.
Bennett is on pace to hit the 100-hit mark for the sixth consecutive season and is always willing to drop the mitts. His feisty game has served him well come playoff time, too, as the 24-year-old winger has 11 goals and 19 points over 30 postseason appearances.
3. Jake Gardiner, Hurricanes
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty
Remember Gardiner? The Hurricanes defenseman has been buried on the club's taxi squad and has appeared in just 17 games this season. Carolina boasts one of the league's best blue lines, and it's hard to see Gardiner being a future regular on the club's back end.
The Hurricanes have reportedly shopped the smooth-skating rearguard in the past, but his contract has made him difficult to move. Gardiner is signed for two more years beyond this season at $4.05 million per - a steep price considering his status as a depth defenseman at this point in his career.
It's unlikely Gardiner lands with a contender, but the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are two teams reportedly willing to take on salary in exchange for assets. Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell could dump Gardiner and his contract to one of those clubs while the opportunity is available.
As for Gardiner, playing for a retooling club could be beneficial. The 30-year-old will be looking to rebuild his value in hopes of one last payday down the road, and he could seize an opportunity to do so with a team featuring less defensive talent.
4. Rasmus Ristolainen, Sabres
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It's been eight years since the Sabres selected Ristolainen eighth overall in the 2013 draft, but it's hard to say exactly how much the 26-year-old has grown since then. He shouldn't be written off just yet, and playing in a winning environment for the first time could help him turn his career around.
The towering blue-liner was playing some of the best hockey of his career before COVID-19 sidelined him at the start of February, and his 6-foot-4 frame and right-handed shot could both prove valuable to a team on the cusp of a deep playoff run.
Ristolainen is under contract until the end of next season at a cap hit of $5.4 million, so the Sabres would likely need to take on money in a potential deal. Maybe a team in need of defensive help like the Winnipeg Jets or Philadelphia Flyers would take a chance on the Finnish rearguard.
5. Mikael Granlund, Predators
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Granlund hasn't quite found his game with the Predators, and both he and Nashville would be better off parting ways ahead of the deadline. He still has plenty of offensive upside, though, and it's possible a change of scenery can revitalize his game.
The 29-year-old forward has a proven track record of driving play at both ends of the ice, according to Hockey Viz's isolated-impact tool. (Red - positive - is good on offense, while blue - negative - is good on defense.)
Granlund's offensive impact dipped in 2019-20 - his first full campaign with the Predators - but he's improved in that regard this season, which should help attract potential suitors. His ability to kill penalties and contribute on the power play also makes him a versatile addition to any contending team's top nine.
Alex Galchenyuk has made life a little bit easier for his new general manager.
The Toronto Maple Leafs winger has gelled nicely with the club, and GM Kyle Dubas says Galchenyuk's strong play is easing the team's need to add another top-six forward ahead of the April 12 trade deadline.
"I think the emergence of Galchenyuk playing with John and William, both in terms of the fact he's produced a little bit but in terms of how hard he's playing and the effectiveness that he's brought to the group, I think certainly reduces the urgency," Dubas said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Galchenyuk, who's playing for his fifth team since the start of the 2018-19 campaign, has tallied four points through nine games since being acquired by the Leafs on Feb. 15.
The trio of Galchenyuk, Tavares, and Nylander own a 64% share of scoring chances and 73.53% share of high-danger chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Dubas said in March he was keen on acquiring another forward ahead of the deadline and was willing to part with top prospects to improve the club. Though the addition of Galchenyuk has been a big boost, Dubas is still keeping his options open as the deadline approaches.
"But with all that said, if we can do something that we think is going to be a good fit in the locker room and on the ice, I think we would still very openly explore that," he said.
The Leafs have won seven of their last eight outings and have a six-point cushion on the top spot in the North Division entering Tuesday's slate of games.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is in the lineup Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights after missing the club's previous 21 games due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.
Parayko, 27, last played on Feb. 15 against the Arizona Coyotes. He's contributed one goal and eight points and ranks third on the club in average ice time (22:08) through 16 games.
The Blues own a 7-10-4 record without Parayko in the lineup this season and have allowed 3.28 goals against per game in those outings.
St. Louis has lost six straight contests and sits fifth in the West Division entering Monday's tilt.
