Top NHL Rental Players Still Available on the Trade Market
Jan 29, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette (50) looks to pass as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul (19) and forward David Clarkson (71) defend at the Air Canada Centre. Arizona defeated Toronto 3-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NHL Trade Deadline is just 2 days away, and with many trades still to be made for pending unrestricted free agents, it is time to look at the best players still available.
To qualify as a rental player, the players must be a pending unrestricted free agent. Rental players tend to be players on bad teams out of the playoff race traded to good teams in the playoff hunt.
Without further ado, let’s look at the top rental players still available here on the NHL trade market with just a couple days till the March 2 NHL trade deadline.
Next: Antoine Vermette
Nov 4, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Antoine Vermette (50) and center
Tobias Rieder(8) celebrates after a goal in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
121. <strong>Stat Line: </strong>62 games, 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points, -22. C. Arizona Coyotes. Antoine Vermette. 1. player
Antoine Vermette of the Arizona Coyotes continues to be one of the most sought after players on the trade market here on this last day in February.
The 32-year-old is in the last year of a 5-year, $18.75 million contract and is bound to get payed very well in the open market this summer.
The numbers are not special with Vermette. With just 13 goals and 35 points, Vermette doesn’t seem to have the flash that a team would pay big money for, but when you consider he has been on a failing team in Arizona, you see that these numbers are actually pretty impressive.
He will slot in as a very good second line center on a playoff team in the coming days, if he is dealt. All signs are pointing to him being shipped on out of Arizona.
The Boston Bruins seem like a very possible fit for the veteran forward, as reported by ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
The loss of David Krejci for long term will hurt Boston, so they will likely have to go get Vermette in order to be a true contender in the Eastern Conference.
The Chicago Blackhawks have also been rumored to have interest, and with the loss of Patrick Kane, they need the offensive jolt.
Darren Dreger talked about the other day on TSN 690 in Montreal.
I’d be really surprised if the Chicago Blackhawks weren’t going to try to utilize the LTI cap space now created by Kane to add a piece. And say what you want about the players in play and who we believe to be available – Antoine Vermette is the best of the lot. “So if Chicago doesn’t find a way to get in there, then I’d be real surprised.”
The race is heating up for Vermette. This one will likely be a bidding war that runs all the way up to the March 2 deadline.
Next: Jeff Petry
Dec 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry (2) skates against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
148. <strong>Stat Line: </strong>59 games, 4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points, -25. D. Edmonton Oilers. Jeff Petry. 2. player
With Andrej Sekera off the market, Jeff Petry is now the most sought after rental defenseman, which is interesting.
Petry signed a 1-year, $3.075 million deal last summer with Edmonton, and he has been a trooper for a struggling Oilers team this season.
The 27-year-old defenseman has slotted in as a top pairing guy with the Oilers, but on a playoff team, he will be a 4th or 5th defenseman at best.
For that reason, his price will not be nearly as high as Andrej Sekera, who got a 1st round pick and a prospect back for Carolina on Wednesday.
According to reports, the Oilers will look to squeeze out a first round pick in a deal for Petry, but it is certainly not a forgone conclusion that they will, in fact, it is probably unlikely. That being said, some teams get very desperate at the deadline, so let’s not count it out.
There will be a plethora of teams looking for defensive help. The Lightning, Blackhawks, Canadiens, Red Wings, Bruins, Blues, and Capitals are all teams that were reportedly in on Sekera at some point, which means they will likely turn to Petry in Edmonton as their fall back guy.
Next: Zbynek Michalek
Nov 13, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN;Arizona Coyotes defenseman Zbynek Michalek (4) skates against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Zbynek Michalek. 3. player. 121. <strong>Stat Line: </strong>53 games, 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, -6. D. Arizona Coyotes
Behind Antoine Vermette, Zbynek Michalek is the best trading piece on the Arizona Coyotes.
The 32-year-old defenseman ranks behind Jeff Petry as the best rental d-man still on the market.
Michalek signed a 5-year, $20 million deal with the Penguins in the summer of 2010, and it is set to expire this summer.
The veteran defenseman is known for his strong physical and stay at home style of defense. It would be a great addition for any contending team’s bottom pairing and penalty kill.
What makes him a little bit less attractive than Petry is the fact that he carries quite a bit more salary for the rest of the season.
The Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues are amongst the teams showing interest in Zbynek Michalek. The price for him is expected to be lower than the price for Jeff Petry.
Next: Chris Stewart
Jan 9, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Chris Stewart (80) against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
<strong>Stat Line: </strong>60 games, 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points, -30. RW. Buffalo Sabres. Chris Stewart. 4. player. 12
Chris Stewart seems to be a guy that will definitely go before the deadline, and the team that he will go to seems pretty obvious too.
Stweart signed a 2-year, $8.3 million contract 2 summers ago, and with Buffalo ranking last in the league, there is no longer a need for Stewart on the team as he can get some good return in future assets for the Sabres.
This trade seems to have the Boston Bruins all over it at this point. There have been rumors buzzing about the big bodied forward and the Bruins all year, as Pierre LeBrun mentioned on Insider Trading.
They want a winger and do they ever. It’s been something Peter Chiarelli has been going after at least for a month now in a very serious manner, making a lot of calls. Chris Stewart – they’ve had that dance going all year with the Buffalo Sabres. They’re still in on him.”
If it does not happen with Boston, several other teams in the playoff hunt will be hunting ofter big winger in the coming days.
Nothing is ever 100% in the NHL, especially at the deadline, but it would be quite stunning if the 27-year-old forward is not dealt by 3:00 pm on March 2 considering his type of players being in high demand and Buffalo’s current status as the league’s worst team.
Next: Curtis Glencross
Feb 18, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Curtis Glencross (20) skates during the warmup period against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Saddledome. Minnesota Wild won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
112. <strong>Stat Line: </strong>53 games, 9 goals, 19 assists, 28 points, +3. LW. Calgary Flames. Curtis Glencross. 5. player
Curtis Glencross, a player who will likely pass the 500 NHL game mark later on in the year, is another winger that could be moved by the March 2 deadline.
Glencross signed a 4-year, $10.2 million contract in 2011, and it is set to expire this summer.
Though the Flames are still well in the playoff hunt, Glencross’s name has still been circulating quite a bit with other playoff contenders.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, who are both looking for forward help, have been two teams reportedly showing interest in the 32-year-old winger.
Two other teams that Elliotte Friedman suggested are the St. Louis Blue and New York Rangers.
It will be interesting to see if the Flames part ways with Curtis Glencross, a guy that could help them as they try to make a playoff run in April and beyond. The team currently sits in 9th in the West.