It's been an odd NHL season thus far. The combination of the limited rise in the salary cap, the sagging Canadian dollar - meaning another likely limited, potentially nonexistent salary cap increase for next season - and the closely packed positioning in the West, but really each of the league's four divisions, have combined to create a stagnant marketplace wherein only a few major deals, albeit, pretty major - looking at you Bryan - have managed to sneak through. But with the NHL trade deadline fast approaching at the end of this month, trade chatter on several teams - teams like the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers - has begun to pick up.
And the latest report, from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, suggests that each of the aforementioned organizations will be looking to unload assets before the calendar flips to March.
Philadelphia Flyers: Flyers GM Ron Hextall has already done well to reposition the franchise for the future by his trades last season of Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen and Nicklas Grossmann. But there remains work to be done. And while neither Hextall nor first-year Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol will come out and admit it, it sounds like their approach to the deadline will tell fans everything they need to know about how ready the two top men in Philly believe the team is to contribute.
Per Garrioch, Hextall "wants to be active at the deadline by freeing up some of the team's commitment on defense." With Shayne Gostisbehere's emergence and a pipeline full of blueline talent, that probably means names like Mark Streit, Nick Schultz and, maybe if another team loses their minds, Andrew MacDonald. Really, even if Hextall and Co. weren't ready to become sellers, the injury to Michael Del Zotto combined with the team's recent stretch of poor play may force their hand anyway.
Boston Bruins: For new Bruins GM Don Sweeney, this deadline is probably all about one guy - Loui Eriksson. Eriksson has been playing well this season after a couple of down years following the trade from Dallas and a devastating head injury. Unfortunately, that also means that the Bruins are in the always awkward position of either locking Eriksson up, or shipping him out in return for whatever picks and/or prospects they can get.
Eriksson, per Garrioch, is "likely" to be moved by Sweeney ahead of the deadline. It's a tough call with the Bruins chasing a playoff spot, but the transition to a new era of hockey in Boston means an older, soon-to-be unrestricted free agent like Eriksson probably just doesn't fit in the salary cap picture, long-term.
Edmonton Oilers: There are all kinds of reasons for optimism in Edmonton, finally, after too many years of abhorrent play and frustrating personnel decisions. Connor McDavid has been everything he was purported to be and more and the rapid ascension of Leon Draisaitl and the continuing development of Taylor Hall means there are building blocks in place, but GM Peter Chiarelli knows work remains to be done.
Defenseman Justin Schultz has failed to mature into the player many hoped he could be, though that's not entirely his fault, and could do well in a new hockey home. He and winger Teddy Purcell are both drawing interest, according to Garrioch.
Jordan Eberle has long been considered a potential trade piece as well, but his strong connection with McDavid could certainly give Chiarelli pause. Then again, if a team with a defensive upgrade to offer comes calling, Chiarelli may be hard pressed to say no.
