Gortons Liquidation Sale

Reports state that Ben Chiarot should return at least a 1st, and that Ken Holland is willing to part with futures for a defenseman. Chiarot is a playoff warrior who I can imagine Holland, a more traditional GM, highly valuing, so hence his return being a 1st and Raphael Lavioe, a former top-40 pick who may need a change of scenery. To me this is a highly reasonable trade for both sides.

Bruins get a player tailor-made for the way they like their power forwards. It was reported last year that the Bruins were one of the runners-up to the Habs for Anderson last offseason, so I think there is real interest there. He would be an upgrade on Craig Smith and with John Moore added it would be an almost cash-neutral trade. The Bruins recieve a fast goal scorer with size and many years of team control. The Canadiens recieve another first round pick to add to the cupboard and a former 1st rounder in Urho Vaakanainen who can step in and replace Ben Chiarot to 1) help with the tank and 2) allow the Canadiens to see if a change of scenery can revive Urho's career. I think that this is a trade both teams make.

The clock is ticking for Edmonton. They need to win a cup soon. Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith won't win McDavid and Drai a cup. Carey Price, on the other hand? That's someone who makes this team truly special. Yes, I know there are concerns. Price hasn't played yet, sure. But he is getting the help he needs and will likely be better off going forward. Smith and Skinner can hold down the fort. Price is also expensive, but I have added Koskinen and Duncan Keith (replaced by Price and Chiarot, respectively) to balance the money, giving Holland two years to figure out a fit for Price. And then the compensation for the two upgrades: Dmiri Samorukov and Tyler Benson are two prospects that are older and can play in the NHL now. MTL should be stacking the lineup with young players, seeing what value they can mine. These two guys help that, and for Edmonton it is a digestible and reasonable asking price to acquire a goalie who can backstop this team to a cup. I seriously think that this is the kind of win-now move Ken Holland would make.

Edmundson is a top-4 defenseman who excelled in the playoffs. He has the kind of traits GM's covet and will surely help Calgary play the kind of game Darryl Sutter likes to play. He is reasonably priced at $3.5MM with some term left, so I believe that the upgrade on Nikita Zadorov for CGY's PK and 2nd pairing, as well as adding Brett Kulak to be the high-quality #7 (and break-glass-in-case-of-emergency Kylington replacement) is worth the two seconds and a prospect I like in Emilio Pettersen.

The Islanders need scoring, and I don't think Lou is going to give up on this season. Here they add an Eberle replacement in Hoffman who can slide right in and boost Mat Barzal plus the sagging power play. They also get to dump Richard Panik, who cleared waivers and is a cap dump here. The cost for them is relatively light, a 3rd, 5th, and Robin Salo (who is the only real loss here as a young dman who is borderline NHL ready and isa a potential #5) and I think it's a deal both teams do without hesitation.

Consider this trade as two parts. The first is Tyler Toffoli to the Rangers. Their current top-6 right wingers are Kaapo Kakko and Dryden Hunt. I like Kakko, but for a team that has fancies itself a cup contender to-be, that won't cut it. Toffoli can't skate, but he can do nearly everything else, and has had a decent start to this season (15 in 23 on a team like MTL is nothing to scoff at) after an incredible season last year. At $4.25MM for the next 3 years, he is the kind of cheap top-6 option the Rangers, soon to be highly expensive, would covet. Toffoli is seriously valuable, and I therefore think that Zac Jones and a 2nd round pick would be a fair return for him. Jones is incredibly talented and tough to lose for NYR, but you have to give to get and Jones could end up redundant in NY with Nils and Fox anyway. For the Habs, this is the chance to get a young, dynamic defenseman just before he breaks out in the NHL, along with a good pick in case I'm wrong about Jones. The second part of the trade is the Rangers spending a 2nd to upgrade Alexandar Georgiev with Jake Allen. That part seems clear-cut and reasonable to me. Overall this is a trade I am DYING for both teams to make.

Anaheim is doing well and gives its locker room a boost by adding a physical, veteran defenseman on a simple rental deal at a cheap price. This is the type of light buying the Ducks should do and the Habs get to clear a contract slot and a late pick. (Maybe MTL retains a bit on Zadorov too to stay above cap floor)