The free agent class has taken a big hit, and that could lead to increased trade talk this offseason
The Chris Johnston Show: Johnston and Julian McKenzie on the Decent Deadline or Disappointment episode, on what is next for some of the players who didn’t get traded at the deadline. Free agency may have died, but there could be teams revisiting trade talk. It’s been an interesting year for trades.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
McKenzie: “Can you give a little bit of insight on what’s next for guys like Robert Thomas, Colton Parayko, even Simon Nemec, who whose name was floated around, around the deadline. Guys who were not moved ahead of the deadline? What could be next for those guys?
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Johnston: “I think that’s, maybe the reason I’m so bullish on the deadline period is a lot of this stuff will be picked up.
You know, the top names on the board, you had a Vinnie Trocheck. Like, clearly the Rangers, going to try to move him in the offseason. You know, I think Ryan O’Reilly, as much as he likes Nashville, probably revisiting those conversations in the offseason.
Simon Nemec, you know, he’s 22 right-shot D, but he needs a new contract, and he’s he needs a raise. And I’m not saying 100% he’s going to be traded, but the reason they were listening is that to see if (A) does that bring out an offer we can’t refuse, or does it, does it maybe introduce a different dynamic to our team. but (B) is it could save them from a future problem. That problem is negotiating his next contract. So that’s at least going to be a situation where they have to navigate some things.
So, you know, I think the groundwork has been laid for pretty interesting summer. You know, no news flash here, free agency is dead.
McKenzie: “Yeah.
Johnston: “I mean,
McKenzie: “I saw that. I saw that floating around the last couple of days.
Johnston: “It’s actually dead. And I mean this with respect to these guys, but look at some of the extensions that were just signed the last few days. Like even J-G Pageua, like, they’re, they’re, I’m not saying there’s no useful players, but it’s going to be…
McKenzie: “Dry.
Johnston: “Dry. It’s tough. But, you know, I will say that I think trades will then take on a greater importance. Lots of teams have lots of cap space now. There’s this, you know, I don’t, I don’t think player movement in the league is dead, but the it’s going to be, the way this was a different deadline. I think it’s going to be different free agency.
So basically, we’re, we’re going to revisit all this. What does St Louis do? Alex Steen going into the main chair. Do they visit Robert Thomas? Jordan Kyrou? Jordan Binnington, maybe.
What’s Florida going to do? They ultimately held on to Bobrosky. Do they sign him? He’d be interesting if you hit free agency. Would anyone roll out a big deal for a 38 year old Sergei Bobrovsky? Maybe, I don’t know.
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Anyway, it’s been a really interesting year for trades. At the end of the day, the fact we had Quinn Hughes dealt, and Rasmus Andersson dealt early. And I think it’s maybe the day itself, the deadline day, might have disappointed you, but I don’t think the season, this season has been so compelling and different than what we’ve seen before. It that I can’t wait for these next 42 days till the Stanley Cup playoffs get going.
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