Potential Dubas trade targets around the NHL

[FLPensFan]

I spent the past few days going through every team to see what potential young players Dubas could potentially go after in a trade. For each team, I tried to name one forward and one defenseman to target. For some teams, I only found one or the other. For several teams, I just didn't see a player that I liked, thought was available, or thought was a fit.

I know a lot of the prospects around the NHL, but I certainly don't know them all. It's very possible I overlooked some players on some of the teams that I thought had nothing to offer. My main goal was finding young players that could step into an NHL role this year or next year. There are a few candidates outside that criteria that I listed for a few teams. I was also looking typically (but not always) for higher end players...not bottom 6 or bottom pair type players. Just because I listed a player for Dubas to target doesn't mean I think they are available...I know there are several on this list that either aren't going to be available, or would take an exceptional amount of assets that we don't have.

Finally, I'm not going to get into what a potential trade would look like, but I may make a suggested range...for example, to acquire this player, this is the type of deal you may need to give up a McGroarty or Koivunen to get.

With that, I'm going to start in this post by listing the 6 teams that I thought had nothing really to offer at forward or defense:

Edmonton, Montreal, Nashville, Philly, San Jose, and St. Louis. I just didn't find any players here that fit what I would want, or a younger player that I wanted that I thought any of those teams would even give up.

Next post in the next hour reviews Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo and Calgary.

[FLPensFan]

Anaheim:
--Forward, Mason McTavish
--Defense, Pavel Mintyukov

I wouldn't put either of these guys in the "highly available" category. Both are former 1st round picks, Mintyukov is 21 and McTavish is 22. McTavish seemed to clash at times with former coach Greg Cronin. Now that Cronin is out, maybe that changes. He is an RFA this summer. If Anaheim wasn't happy and wanted to move his rights, they have plenty of other candidates to play center....Zegras could slide back over to mainly center, or 1st round prospect Nathan Gaucher could make a push to make the NHL club this year. Mintyukov has good upside, but he was also a healthy scratch 13 times last season. He would be a nice, young add to our LD corps. He still needs some work defensively, but he's only 21. Penguins have time to let him develop at the NHL level if he was acquired. If Dubas were able to make a move for either player, expect a 1st and or a good prospect to be involved.

Boston
--Forward, NONE
--Defense, Henri Jokiharju

Didn't see a younger forward that had enough upside to want to go after. Jokiharju is one of the players outside that 25 and under range I was targeting. He turns 26 this summer and is an RFA after being acquired by Boston. He would only be an option if Karlsson was moved, or Timmins wasn't re-signed, or if Brunicke doesn't make the big club....or some combination of those. Boston gave up a 4th rounder at the deadline to secure his rights for the season plus future rights as an RFA. I can't imagine it would take much more than a 3rd to acquire him. He would be a 4/5 type of defenseman, more likely a 5 on the right side.

Buffalo
--Forward, JJ Peterka
--Defense, Bowen Byram

In a nutshell, we know Byram is being shopped. I really don't see it possible for Buffalo to sign both Byram and Peterka. I don't think Peterka is going to be available, but if he was....he is a guy you are probably looking to give up something like a 1st and a Koivunen type to get him. 23 years old 12 goals in season one, 28 goals season 2, 27 goals last year. Byram would plug a glaring hole on LD. Removing any other interested teams from the picture for argument's sake, I think Byram is probably the LD on my list who is most likely to be targeted by Dubas. A 1st or good prospect is likely in the mix to acquire.

Calgary
--Forward, Conor Zary
--Defense, Kevin Bahl

I doubt Zary is available, but he's battled some injuries and hasn't really hit his potential yet. If Calgary is looking to shake things up, maybe he gets moved. Similar with Bahl...not sure if Calgary is looking to move him. He is an RFA this summer, acquired in the Jakob Markstrom trade. Bahl could add some size and toughness to the backend and help improve our LD, as he is 6'6". Not going to list a cost to acquire either of these 2, as not sure what the price would be and don't really think either are available.

[Pens4Life]

Byram is on my wish list for LD.. I hope KD can trade for him, I wouldnt mind parting ways with NYR 1st rounder

[dark_forces]

Byram is on my wish list for LD.. I hope KD can trade for him, I wouldnt mind parting ways with NYR 1st rounder

I can see why there would be interest in Byram. He would help solidify our weakest position—left side defense. I would consider giving up Pickering and maybe a 3rd round pick for him. I think that's the neighborhood we're looking at for Buffalo to send him out. Assuming Graves can improve at least minimally, it puts that side of the defense in a better position. Byram would immediately become our best defenseman, which is either saying a lot about Bowen or less about the defense corps as a whole.
At this point, I'm assuming POJ isn't qualified, opening yet another potential spot for a lower tier free agent or younger player.

[Daniel]

Byram is on my wish list for LD.. I hope KD can trade for him, I wouldnt mind parting ways with NYR 1st rounder

I can see why there would be interest in Byram. He would help solidify our weakest position—left side defense. I would consider giving up Pickering and maybe a 3rd round pick for him. I think that's the neighborhood we're looking at for Buffalo to send him out. Assuming Graves can improve at least minimally, it puts that side of the defense in a better position. Byram would immediately become our best defenseman, which is either saying a lot about Bowen or less about the defense corps as a whole.
At this point, I'm assuming POJ isn't qualified, opening yet another potential spot for a lower tier free agent or younger player.

I wouldn't trade Pickering for him, too risky because of the concussions plus robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[Victor]

Trading for Byram is tricky. I guess there would be interest around the league. I was looking at his underlying numbers and they are bad - which could be a Buffalo thing - but they were already questionable, to say the least, in Colorado after they won the Cup 3 years ago. He was fantastic in that run, but had a concussion after it and did not play at that level since. Not knowing how much he wants for his next contract is risky.

It still feels he could thrive in the right environment. Not willing to give a 1st + young player for him. Buffalo is going to want to sell him high though.

[100565]

Nice lists. Thanks for taking the time.

It is such a bizarre offseason with cap rising giving teams money after years of most teams having little money. I'd think in a typical offseason, most players listed I would not want at the prices I'd expect to pay. However, I don't know. It is just a strange offseason. It is difficult to gauge trade prices.

[FLPensFan]

Next 4 teams in the list: Carolina, Chicago Colorado & Columbus

Carolina
--Forward, Bradly Nadeau
--Defense, Alex Nikishin

Both of these players would be great to have, however, I expect that neither of these players is available. Nikishin has come over from Russia. He's only played in one playoff game to date, but I can understand not wanting to thrust a 23 year old rookie into the playoffs, even if he was touted as the best defensemen in the world not in the NHL. He has the potential to be a #1 d-man from the left side. Nadeau has played a few games at the NHL level, and had an extremely strong season in the AHL this year. He should be pushing for an NHL job this season. Nikishin is the type of player you potentially give up a 1st and someone like Brunicke...but there simply isn't any justification for Carolina to do that. He should be their future anchor d-man.

A quick side note here in that, Taylor Haase said today in the DK Friday Insider piece that the Penguins had several potential trade options with Carolina. She said they could have gotten a 1st for Guentzel, but that would have either removed one or two of the prospects received, and, they could have gotten a better prospect for Guentzel, but that would have lowered the pick and likely removed a different prospect. Sounds like there were multiple options discussed, but Dubas took quantity over quality. It's ok though, the 2nd we got is what turned into Harrison Brunicke.

Chicago
--Forward, Oliver Moore
--Defense, Sam Rinzel

Both of these players are late first round draft picks, both guys are 20 years old, and both are currently playing for the University of Minnesota. Moore is a good middle 6 type forward/center, and Rinzel is a bigger d-man who is probably more of a shutdown type than a big scorer. I don't think either of them would be off limits. Rinzel might be more obtainable because Detroit has Korchinski, Levshunov and Vlasic in the mix on their defense, all younger guys.

Colorado
--Forward, None
--Defense, Ryan Lindgren

Colorado's forward system is barren. Only player I may have wanted from Colorado was Callum Ritchie, and he now plays for the Islanders after the Brock Nelson trade. Lindgren is a LD UFA this summer. He's 27, so another that is above the age range. But, depending on what other moves and draft picks Dubas can or can't make, Lindgren could be an option to add on the LD side.

Columbus
--Forward, Cole Sillinger
--Defense, Dante Fabbro

I doubt Sillinger is available, but then again, the 12th overall has 4 seasons under his belt, hasn't topped 16 goals or 33 points. He hasn't taken his game to the next level. On defense, Provorov is there as a UFA, but he's older, and if Letang and Karlsson are on the roster, you can't have Provorov. Those 3 would spend so much time giving the puck to the opponent we'd never have the puck. Fabbro turns 27 this summer and is a RD. He could be an under the radar 3rd pairing add if Karlsson is traded or Timmins doesn't sign here (and if Brunicke can't force his way onto the roster).

[Pens4Life]

I mentioned Lindgren before as among top LD free agency targets.. I think he is one of more realistic options and shouldnt cost more than 4.5-5M per.