NHL Trade Matchmaker: Predicting Where Top Targets Go at the Deadline, Part 1

The needs of NHL teams will certainly evolve in the more than two months remaining until the March 7 trade deadline, and likely which teams will be buyers and sellers.

But in a season that has already seen a lot of trades, it’s not too early to try to find some players that fit.

With that in mind and our latest NHL trade big board in mind, we’re playing matchmaker.

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Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: D
Recordings: Left
Age: 27
Contract term: 2025 UFA
AAV: $4.725 million

LeBrun: Colorado Avalanche

I recently quoted Provorov’s agent Mark Gandler as saying his client loves it in Columbus and is open to signing an extension there, so there will be a discussion between the club and agent soon to see if there is a longer-term one solution exists. In my opinion, they won’t be on the same level numerically, and Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell will ultimately think it’s wisest to trade Provorov for the biggest asset possible. The Avs need a blue line boost as only three D’s currently play more than 20 minutes per game: Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard. Colorado doesn’t have a first-round pick in 2025 after trading him to the Flyers at the Sean Walker deal deadline last year, but a 2026 first-round pick is probably a better fit for Columbus anyway, since the Blue Jackets already have two first-rounders -Picks have -round picks this year. I could see the Avs trying to find another way to get Provorov instead of spending another first-round pick, but I love the fit. Provorov to the Avs: Let’s do it.

Johnston: Tampa Bay Lightning

You really can’t go wrong by linking one of the best loan players to Julien BriseBois’ team before the deadline. Tampa Bay had a run at Noah Hanifin last season before landing in Las Vegas and has drafted just one player in the first round since 2019 because it has consistently used that pick to make improvements before the playoffs. Provorov is an all-around defenseman who typically plays the right side as a lefty and would easily fit into the Lightning’s top four. He would also give them insurance in case JJ Moser takes some time to get back on his feet after a serious lower-body injury. Moser has been given eight to 10 weeks of recovery time and may not play again until March.

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Team: New York Islanders
Position: F
Recordings: Left
Age: 33
Contract term: 2025 UFA
AAV: 6 million dollars

LeBrun: Dallas Stars

Once they place Tyler Seguin and his $9.85 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, the Stars will have plenty of cap room moving closer to the trade deadline. They haven’t done it yet; He’s still on IR and counts against their live cap. But that will change when they need it. And while the Stars have plenty of depth on offense, general manager Jim Nill has never been afraid to add more depth at the deadline if he seeks it. And this team remains in its go-for-it window. The fly in the ointment when it comes to Nelson’s actual availability is that Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello hasn’t always made a point of moving his pending UFAs, regardless of where his team sits in the standings. But I believe Nelson intends to test free agency on July 1, so one could assume that will influence Lamoriello’s decision depending on where the Isles are in the standings. Nelson to the stars. I like it. I like it very much.

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Johnston: Minnesota Wild

In his role as general manager of Team USA, Wild GM Bill Guerin has already named Nelson to the roster for the four-nation face-off in February. So you can be sure he would be happy to bring the Minnesotan home with him to bolster the Wild’s playoff push come the end of the tournament. Nelson would be an ideal fit for a team looking to get off to a better-than-expected start to a long spring. He is a big, powerful north-south skater who can operate as a second-line center or on the wing. He is a trusted veteran with 78 games of playoff experience. And he’s a pending unrestricted free agent who might choose to stay in his home state rather than test the open market. Acquiring Nelson would require some serious salary cap effort since the Wild are operating on long-term injured reserve, but what’s the old saying? Where there is a will, there’s a way.

Could Brock Nelson be on the same side as Kirill Kaprizov later this season? (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Team: Seattle Kraken
Position: F
Recordings: Left
Age: 33
Contract term: 2025 UFA
AAV: $5.167 million

LeBrun: Toronto Maple Leafs

It remains to be seen whether the Kraken will actually make Gourde available before the deadline. You may remember that a year ago at this point, Jordan Eberle’s name was being discussed quite a bit because he was an unrestricted free agent and the Kraken didn’t make the playoffs. But instead of moving him, the Kraken signed Eberle to a contract extension to get him off the trade market. Seattle must now make a decision on Gourde, and as of this writing there have been no contract negotiations. According to my matchmaking crystal ball, if Gourde is indeed moved, he ends up with Toronto because he meets the criteria for what the Leafs need in terms of an upgrade on the third center line. He won two Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning and plays the type of game that you can feel in the playoffs. He has a modified no-trade policy, but I understand he would have no problem going to the Leafs. And he’s the kind of player that general manager Brad Treliving values ​​- he doesn’t shy away from the rough hockey that’s played in the playoffs.

Johnston: Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are certainly looking for another forward (and a top-four defenseman), just like they did last season when they acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames. In the end, that wasn’t the ideal solution. Gourde would arguably fit better into the Canucks’ lineup as a third-line center, the job he held during his most influential seasons with Tampa Bay. He can also play the wing if necessary. The veteran would bring a new element to Vancouver’s bottom six and is known for his strong presence in the locker room. You can never have enough winners in your lineup.

Team: Anaheim Ducks
Position: G
Age: 31
Contract term: 2027 UFA
AAV: $6.4 million

LeBrun: Carolina Hurricanes

For some teams, the conversation begins and ends with this reality: Gibson has two and a half years left on his contract with a significant cap hit. That’s the main reason he hasn’t been relocated yet. In my opinion, he won’t be sold unless Anaheim keeps half of his remaining salary. Or close to it. So there’s no guarantee that Gibson will be moved. But if he does, I think the Hurricanes would be the main contenders. First of all, we know that the Hurricanes and Ducks had trade talks about Gibson last summer. Those talks ultimately fell through, but both teams looked at it. And there is no doubt in my mind that these teams have re-engaged. But can they do it? There is a price point that I don’t think the Canes will be willing to go beyond. The 31-year-old is healthy, he’s obviously in great spirit (which has been a concern for teams in recent years) and I firmly believe Carolina will improve its Stanley Cup chances with a 1A-1B shot in goal would Pyotr Kochetkov and Gibson.

Johnston: Edmonton Oilers

This requires a bit of imagination. The Oilers fared well throughout December, with Stuart Skinner logging most of the starts, and there is no obvious need at the position. However, they are in the bottom 10 in save percentage and have no options beyond Skinner if they ever have to play without him for an extended period of time. While Gibson isn’t a priority signing, he could still be a sensible addition – especially in the scenario described above where he’s acquired with a $3.2 million cap hit. Edmonton is determined to win the Stanley Cup this season and in the years beyond when Gibson is under contract. The veteran is undoubtedly an improvement over what the Oilers currently have at No. 2 to back up Skinner.

David Savard could help the Leafs fill out their defensive depth. (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Team: Montreal Canadiens
Position: D
Recordings: Right
Age: 34
Contract term: 2025 UFA
AAV: 3.5 million dollars

LeBrun: Edmonton Oilers

The Habs’ acquisition of top-four right defenseman Alexandre Carrier is a tall order for the 34-year-old Savard, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent and is aware he could be moved at the deadline entering this season . All things being equal, he would prefer to stay in Montreal this year to finish it out, but that’s out of his control. His performance has declined this season, but in the context of a Habs team that wasn’t very good defensively, I could imagine Cup contenders looking at Savard’s body of work and concluding that it would be well received if he were in the right role would be played. Enter the Oilers. There will certainly be more attractive trade targets on the market, but I think he’s a reasonable one as a sixth or seventh defenseman who can help kill penalties and who won a Cup with the Lightning – and is also a right-shot D Idea is Edmonton. Especially considering I don’t think Savard would cost a fortune. That will be tempting for an Oilers team that doesn’t have a first-round pick this year.

Johnston: Toronto Maple Leafs

Trades between two of the NHL’s oldest rivals are extremely rare, but this one could make sense. Although the Leafs have made significant progress on the defensive side of the puck this season, they still have some question marks. Summer signing Jani Hakanpää has only been healthy enough to play in two NHL games this season due to ongoing knee problems, and as good as the story of Conor Timmins’ resurgence has been, he may not be ideal for what the team wants comes out of the third pairing in the playoffs. As an added bonus, Savard has playoff pedigree and would give Toronto the depth at the position that is typically needed to compete long-term. He could even slide alongside Morgan Rielly and give them better top-down balance.

(Top photos of Ivan Provorov and John Gibson: Jason Mowry and Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)