mollyfamwatWe are approaching the NHL trade deadline, which ends in three weeks on April 12 and is complicated this year by the fixed salary cap and COVID protocols. One can even assume that the trade deadline for Canadian teams is somehow a week, due to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period if they trade for a Team USA player.
Despite the challenges, teams are already making plans, as ESPN’s Greg Wyszynski reports. Let’s look at some of the players we talk about as trade bait from a fantasy perspective.
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Taylor Hall, W, Buffalo Sabres: Of course I’d love to see Hall easily find a spot with a contender, but an $8 million salary won’t be easy for any team. But it is possible, thanks to some teams with long-term injured players. It’s clear that Hall has struggled with the Sabres and would welcome the opportunity to improve his chances for a better contract next year. His 1.2 fantasy points per game (FPPG) this season is a far cry from the 1.8 FPPG he posted last year – not to mention the 2.48 and 2.74 he posted the previous two seasons. Every move for Hall could make him elite for fantasy again, so hiding him is not a bad idea. This should not hurt your list in any way, as there is also a chance that it will remain irrelevant to the rest of the campaign. He was demoted in about 20% of ESPN leagues.
Matthias Ekholm, D, Nashville Predators: While the Predators can’t be eliminated this season, they don’t need Ekholm to make it to the postseason, and they could be a seller this year. Ekholm is stable and steady, but not interesting to the imagination. He posted averages of 1.7, 1.6 and 1.6 FGCP in his previous three seasons and has 1.7 FGCP this season (thanks to a slight recovery from injuries to Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis). He’s a top-40 fantasy defender, but a trade probably won’t change that, as he’s likely to be far from the best defender and quarterback on the team.
Rickard Ruckell, W, Anaheim Ducks: Arguably one of the most lucrative players to switch teams from a fantasy standpoint, but Rakell has suffered from a lack of sparkle this season like the rest of the Ducks. Based on his FPPG and remaining games, Rakell would rank 256th among all NHL players in terms of remaining fantasy points. But that’s based on his 1.5 FPPG this season. Prior to the downward trend in offense in recent years, Rakell, 27, posted a career-high 2.1 FPPG during the 2017-18 season after previously playing a 1.9 FPPG season. He has a knack for scoring goals and can turn it around in the right situation.
Kyle Palmieri, Washington State, New Jersey Devils: In the spirit of rebuilding, the Devils could buy Palmieri for future assets. Over the past four seasons, the average was 1.9 GRP, but this season it’s 1.3 GRP. But that’s not his fault, because the Devils’ offense is not up to the task. He’s only 29 and has a reasonable cap hit ($4.65 million), making him an option for many prospects. His qualities in net could be a boon to teams like the New York Islanders or the Minnesota Wild, who lack a credible threat in their top-six for the future. Like Rakell, he is available in about half of ESPN’s leagues.
2 Connected
Eric Staal, C, Buffalo Sabres: To be a fantasy threat after a trade, Staal would really have to end up in the right place. Prior to this season, his approval rating was minimal with two seasons to go, and you can’t blame him for being a Sabre. His 1.5 FPPG over the past two seasons would have put him at a low in most fantasy leagues, while his current 0.8 makes him a completely useless commodity. But to get back to 1.5, or maybe even near that threshold, Staal will need a scoring line and power play time, which likely won’t be an affordable combination for a contender looking to add him for a veteran presence.
Jonathan Bernier, G, Detroit Red Wings: This is no easy task for goalies, and while Bernier may be the best available, the team that needs the most help has a sour history with him (Toronto Maple Leafs). I don’t know if we’ll see spectacular goaltending performances at the deadline, but Bernier, who was fantastic for a Red Wings team at the bottom of the rankings, could put up decent fantasy numbers if he could get a decent share of the cage in his new home. The problem is that it’s very unlikely he’ll get enough minutes if a team wants to put help on net. With the exception of injuries sustained before the age of 12. April, any team that adds Bernier or another goalie will do so to add depth, not to find a workhorse.
Progress
Tyler Motte, W, Vancouver Canucks (included in 200) : He came back from his ankle injury and picked up where he left off, throwing his body around. His scoring ability has allowed him to maintain a 2.0 FPPG average this season. He ranks in the top 25 in the league while playing in just 19 of the Canucks’ 36 games. In fact, he’d probably be much higher if the Canucks hadn’t played the fewest games in the NHL.
Robbie Fabbri, W, Detroit Red Wings (ranked #216): Aside from his recent hat-trick, Fabbri is doing well with the minutes he’s gotten this season – and those minutes are increasing. Fabbri ranks 113th among NHL skaters in fantasy points per 60 minutes (FPP60). In January (February 16-March 17), he played an average of 15 minutes per game. He is currently lined up with Dylan Larkin and Anthony Manta.
Protection in motion
Jonas Brodin, D, Minnesota Wild (36 pitches, or 102): He makes a little bit of everything, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Brodin currently ranks 15th among defensemen in terms of fantasy points remaining (based on FPPG), he is criminally underrepresented on rosters in ESPN leagues at just 60%. He won’t beat you in points or even lead in blocked shots, but when you put it all together, you have fantasy relevance.
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Noah Hanifin, D, Calgary Flames (comes into the lineup at #233): Not surprisingly, new coach Darryl Sutter removed Rasmus Andersson from the power play quarterback role, but surprisingly, Mark Giordano did not return. Hanifin now has the chance to showcase his talents, and he certainly has the age and pedigree to break through. I’d wait and see, but the Flames will eventually find their niche under Sutter. If this happens while Hanifin is in the right place, he could benefit.
Shane Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers (nine spots remaining, 171): ESPN leagues don’t count plus/minus values by default, but defensive problems are still a big obstacle for Gostisbehere, as he needs to be in the lineup to score fantasy points. When he’s consistently there, he does everything that made him a fantasy favorite in 2017-18 (shoot, shoot and shoot again, on and off the power play). But he also sees a lot of press box, as coach Alain Vigneault doesn’t value defensive play. If he was consistent and based on his FPPG this season, he would be a top 120 fantasy skater projected for the future. But it’s hard to trust unless it’s a guaranteed identification.
Goalkeeper in motion
Jack Campbell, G, Toronto Maple Leafs (enters service with #220): Campbell has not been a problem at the net this season. And there is no doubt that Frederick Andersen did not. Among goalies with at least 10 percent possession on his team, Campbell ranks first in the PFF60 with a ridiculous 8.95 in 240 minutes (second in the league is Andrei Vasilevskiy with a reasonable 5.21). Andersen ranks 47th out of 67 qualified goalies – just behind Jonathan Quick and just ahead of Mikko Koskinen – with a 1.62 FPP60. We’ll see what Campbell does with fantasy chances now that he’s healthy and Andersen is injured, but four games isn’t enough to be super excited about. But it’s enough to make sure he’s not a free agent in your league, in case he stays drafted.
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New position on the ranking
Tyler Motte (#200), Robbie Fabbri (216), Jack Campbell (220), Wayne Simmonds (226), Alex Nedeljkovic (227), Mattias Ekholm (232), Noah Hanifin (233), Jason Dickinson (243).
just missed
Juus Saros, Brock Nelson, Calvin de Haan, Scott Mayfield, Nikita Zaitsev, James Reimer, Tyler Bertuzzi, Frank Watrano, Kevin Labank, Ryan Hartman, Alex Killorn, Robbie Fabbri, Kirby Dach, Tyler Seguin, Jonas Donsky
Abandonment
Eric Gustafsson, Jake Allen, Tyler Myers, Joshua Norris, Alexis Lafreniere, Nick Leddy, Nico Hischier, Andrew Mangiapane.
Top 250 fantasy hockey rankings
1. Andrey Vasilevsky, G, TB (G1)
2. Austin Matthews, C, Goal (C1)
3. David Pastrnak, RW, Forest (RW1)
4. Connor McDavid, C, Edm (C2)
5. Brad Marchand, LW, Forest (LW1)
6. Victor Hedman, D, TB (D1)
7. Philip Grubauer, G., Colonel (G2)
8. Alexey Ovechkin, LW, Wsh (LW2)
9. Nathan McKinnon, C., Col. (C3)
10. Patrice Bergeron, C, Forest (C4)
11. Leon Draisaitl, LW, Edm (LW3)
12. Steven Stamkos, C, TB (C5)
13. Max Pacioretty, LW, Vgs (LW4)
14. Mikko Rantanen, RV, Colonel (RW2)
15. Patrick Kane, RW, Chi (RW3)
16. Anze Kopitar, C, LA (C6)
17. Mark Scheifele, C, Wpg (C7)
18. Alexander Barkov, C, Fla (C8)
19. Mitchell Marner, RW, But (RW4)
20. Joe Pavelski, RW, Dal (RW5)
21. Alex DeBrincat, LW, Chi (LW5)
22. Charlie McAvoy, D, Forest (D2)
23. Mark Stone, RW, Vgs (RW6)
24. Artemy Panarin, LW, NYR (LW6)
25. Jeff Petrie, D, Mon (D3)
26. Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles (D4)
27. Marc-André Flory, G., Vgs (G3)
28. John Carlson, D, Wsh (D5)
29. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vgs (D6)
30. Logan Couture, C, SJ (C9)
31. Sean Couturier, K, Fee (C10)32. Alec Martinez, D, Vgs (D7)
33. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Fla (LW7)
34. Nicklas Backstrom, C, Wsh (C11)
35. Ondřej Palát, LW, TB (LW8)
36. Sidney Crosby, C, Pit (C12)
37. Jakob Cichrun, D, Ari (D8)
38. Semyon Varlamov, G, NYI (G4)
39. Philip Forsberg, LW, Nsh (LW9)
40. Vincent Trocheck, C, Auto (C13)
41. Ivan Provorov, D, Phi (D9)
42. Evander Kane, LW, SJ (LW10)
43. Adam Fox, D, NYR (D10)
44. Chris Kreider, LW, NYR (LW11)
45. Connor Hellbake, G, Wpg (G5)
46. Kyle Connor, LW, Wpg (LW12)
47. James van Riemsdyk, LW, Phi (LW13)
48. John Klingberg, D, Dal (D11)
49. Darnell Nurse, D., Edmie (D12)
50. Alexander Radulov, RV, Dal (RW7)51. Brayden Point, C, TB (C14)
52. Jake Guentzel, LW, Pit (LW14)
53. Sebastian Aho, C, Automotive (C15)
54. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colonel (LW15)
55. Keil Makar, D, Col (D13)
56. Patrick Hornquist, RW, Fla (RW8)
57. Jack Eichel, C., Boothe (C16)
58. Hamilton Arc, D, Auto (D14)
59. Vladimir Tarasenko, RV, SVL (RW9)60. Nicholas Ehlers, LW, Wpg (LW16)
61. Chris Letang, D., Pete (D15)
62. Joel Farabee, LW, Phi (LW17)
63. Shea Theodore, D, Vgs (D16)
64. Roman Josi, D, Nsh (D17)
65. Anthony Cirelli, C, TB (C17)
66. Brayden Schenn, C, StL (C18)
67. John Tavares, C., door (C19)
68. Elias Lindholm, RW, Cgy (RW10)
69. Dustin Brown, RW, LA (RW11)
70. Brent Burns, D, SJ (D18)
71. Roope Hintz, C, Dal (C20)
72. Andrey Svechnikov, LW, Auto (LW18)
73. Blake Wheeler, RW, Wpg (RW12)
74. Mika Zibanejad, C, New York (C21)
75. Alex Tuch, RW, Vgs (RW13)
76. Aaron Ekblad, D, Fla. (D19)
77. Jacob Markstrom, G, Cgy (G6)
78. Seth Jones, D, Cls (D20)
79. Tyler Toffoli, RW, Mo (RW14)
80. Morgan Rilley, D, Goal (D21)
81. Sam Reinhart, RW, Buf (RW15)
82. Mikhail Sergachev, D, TB (D22)83. Igor Shesterkin, G, NYR (G7)
84. Josh Anderson, RW, Mo (RW16)
85. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Cgy (LW19)
86. Thatcher Demco, G., Van (G8)
87. Matt Dumba, D, Min (D23)
88. Jacob Trouba, D, New York (D24)
89. Jamie Benn, LW, Dal (LW20)
90. Ryan O’Reilly, C, StL (C22)
91. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Cgy (LW21)
92. Patrick Lane, RW, Cls (RW17)
93. Devon Toews, D, Col (D25)
94. Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ott (LW22)
95. Tom Wilson, RW, Wsh (RW18)
96. Thomas Hertl, C., S.J. (C23)
97. Tyson Barry, D, Edm (D26)
98. Sergey Bobrovsky, G, Fla (G9)
99. Jordan Staal, C, Auto (C24)
100. J.T. Miller, C., Wang (C25)
101. Jean-Gabriel Pago, C, New York (C26)
102. Jonas Brodin, D, Min (D27)
,103. David Perron, RW, StL (RW19)
104. T.J. Oshie, RW, Wsh (RW20)
105. Thomas Chabot, D., Ott (D28)
.106. Kaapo Kahkonen, G, Min (G10)
107. Timo Meyer, RW, SJ (RW21)
108. Travis Ultimate, RV, Phi (RW22)
109. Mark Giordano, D, Cgy (D29)
110. Shea Weber, D, Mo (D30)
111. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Min (LW23)
112. Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Boothe (D31)
113. Jaroslav Halak, G, Bos (G11)
114. Robin Lehner, G, Vgs (G12)
115. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edm (C27)
116. Neil Pionk, D, Wpg (D32)
,117. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Wpg (C28)
118. Samuel Girard, D, Colonel (D33)
119. Mats Zuccarello, RV, Min (RW23)
120. Victor Olofsson, RW, Buf (RW24)
121. Brian Rast, RW, Pit (RW25)
.122. Tristan Jarry, G., Pete (G13)
,123. Frederik Andersen, G., Thor (G14)
124. Kevin Lankinen, G., Chi (G15)
125. Brock Boeser, RW, Van (RW26)
126. Kyler Yamamoto, RW, Edm (RW27)
127. Adrian Kempe, C, LA (C29)
128. Ryan Strom, C, NYR (C30)
129. Matthew Barzal, C, NYI (C31)
130. Nazem Kadri, C, Col (C32)
131. Ilya Samsonov, G, Wsh (G16)
132. Nick Ritchie, LW, Forest (LW24)
133. William Nylander, RW, But (RW28)
134. Ryan McDonagh, D, TB (D34)
135. Joel Eriksson Eck, C, Min (C33)
136. Jordan Binnington, G, StL (G17)
137. Mike Smith, G, Edmar (G18)
138. Petr Mrazek, G, Automotive (G19)
139. Nick Suzuki, C, Mon (C34)
140. Brendan Gallagher, RW, Mon (RW29)
141. Adam Larsson, D, Edm (D35)
,142. William Karlsson, C, Vgs (C35)
,143. Elias Pettersson, C, Van (C36)
144. Dominic Kubalik, LW, Chi (LW25)
145. Pavel Buchnevich, RW, New York (RW30)
146. Kyle Palmieri, RW, NJ (RW31)
.147. Ryan Pulock, D, New York (D36)
,148. Tuukka Rask, G, Bos (G20)
149. Jake Muzzin, D, Gate (D37)
150. Justin Falk, D, StL (D38)
,151. Josh Morrissey, D, Wpg (D39)
,152. Martin Necas, C, Auto (C37)
153. Evgeny Malkin, C, Pit (C38)
154. Taylor Hall, Los Angeles, booth (LW26)
155. Cam Atkinson, RW, Cls (RW32)
156. Keith Yandle, D., Fla. (D40)
157. Boone Jenner, C, Cls (C39)
158. Chandler Stephenson, C, Vgs (C40)
159. Quinn Hughes, D, Wang (D41)
160. Kevin Hayes, C., F. (C41)161. Teuvo Teravainen, RW, Auto (RW33)
162. Anton Khudobin, G., Dahl (G21)
163. Nino Niederreiter, RW, Auto (RW34)
164. Carter Verhege, C, Fla (C42)
165. Oliver Björkstrand, RW, Cls (RW35)
166. Jack Hughes, C, NJ (C43)
167. Max Comtois, LW, Ana (LW27)
.168. Kevin Fiala, C., Min (C44)169. Denis Gurianov, LW, Dal (LW28)
170. P.C. Subban, D., NJ (D42)
171. Shane Gostisbehere, D, Fi (D43)
172. Conor Garland, RW, Ari (RW36)
173. Jakub Voracek, RW, Phi (RW37)
174. Claude Giroux, LW, Phi (LW29)
175. Bo Horvath, C., Wang (C45)
176. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Wsh (C46)
177. Miro Heiskanen, D, Dal (D44)
178. Jonathan Marchessault, LW, Vgs (LW30)
179. Christian Dvorak, LW, Ari (LW31)
180. Erik Karlsson, D, SJ (D45)
181. Witek Vanecek, G, Wsh (G22)
182. Drake Batterson, C, Ott (C47)
183. Sean Monahan, C, Cgy (C48)
184. Eli Tolvanen, LW, Nsh (LW32)
185. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Ari (D46)
186. Ilya Sorokin, G, New York (G23)
,187. Mike Hoffman, LW, StL (LW33)
188. Andrey Burakovsky, LW, Colonel (LW34)
Torey Circle, D, StL (D47)
190. Rasmus Andersson, D, Cgy (D48)
191. Cary Price, G., ma (G24)
192. Elvis Merzlikins, G, Cls (G25)
193. Matt Grzelcyk, D, Forest (D49)194. Dylan Larkin, C., Detective (C49)
195. Brandon Tanev, LW, Pit (LW35)
196. Clayton Keller, C, Ari (C50)
197. Scott Laughton, LW, PHI (LW36)
198. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Boothe (D50)
199. Ryan Graves, D, Colonel (D51)200. Tyler Motte, LW, from (LW37)
201. Zach Werenski, D, Cls (D52)
202. Jared Spurgeon, D, Min (D53)203. Jakub Vrana, C, Wsh (C51)
204. Chunas Korpisalo, G, Cls (G26)
205. Jordan Eberle, RW, NYI (RW38)
,206. Zach Hyman, LW, Target (LW38)
.207. Brian Elliott, G., Fi (G27)
208. Antti Raanta, G., Ari (G28)
209. Thomas Tatar, LW, Mon (LW39)
210. Alex Iafallo, LA (LW40)
211. Calvin Petersen, G, Los Angeles (G29)
.212. Jack Roslovic, C, Cls (C52)
213. Esa Lindell, D, Dahl (D54)
214. David Savard, D, Cls (D55)
215. Colton Parayko, D, StL (D56)
216. Robbie Fabbri, C, Det (C53)
217. Jordan Kiru, C, StL (C54)
218. Adam Boquist, D, Chi (D57)
.219. Connor Murphy, D, Chi (D58)
.220. Jack Campbell, G., Thor (G30)
221. Phil Kessel, RW, Ari (RW39)
.222. Nick Schmalz, K, Ari (C55)
223. Duncan Keith, D., Chi (D59)
224. Chris Dreiger, G., Fla. (G31)
.225. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, NYI (RW40)
226. Wayne Simmonds, RW, Target (RW41)
227. Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Automotive (G32)
228. Jordan Greenway, LW, Min (LW41)
.229. Rickard Ruckell, C., Ana (C56)
230. John Gibson, G., Ana (G33)
231. Brett Pesce, D, Auto (D60)
232. Matthias Ekholm, D, Nsh (D61)
233. Noah Hanifin, D, Cgy (D62)
234. Cam Talbot, G., Min (G34)
235. Yanni Gurd, LW, TB (LW42)
236. Jonathan Bernier, G., Detective (G35)
237. Jeff Carter, C, Los Angeles (C57)
238. Jakob Slavin, D, automotive (D63)
239. Andrew Kopp, C, Wpg (C58)
240. Mikael Granlund, LW, Nsh (LW43)
241. Carter Hart, G., F. (G36)
242. Justin Schultz, D, Wsh (D64)
243. Jason Dickinson, C, Dal (C59)
244. Ty Smith, D, NJ (D65)
245. Miles Wood, LW, NJ (LW44)
246. Nick Foligno, LW, Cls (LW45)
247. Kasperi Kapanin, RV, pit (RW42)
248. Darcy Coomper, G., Ari (G37)
249. Anthony Manta, RW, Det (RW43)
.250. Pavel Zaha, C, NJ (C60)
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