First off, I want to commend the general managers of the NHL for at least trying to make this an eventful offseason. Staring down the barrel of probably the worst free agent class of all time, with Alex Tuch and Rasmus Andersson as the only two real difference makers on the market, the hockey world seemed prepared for a lengthy offseason.
But for the last week, that hasn’t been the case. There have been seven trades in the past five days, all being fairly big moves. It’s been a level of player movement we haven’t seen in the NHL in quite a while, and with Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck on the market, it doesn’t show signs of stopping.
So, before things get even crazier as we approach the draft, I figured it’s a good time to grade the big moves from the last week for both sides.
Toronto Acquires Darren Raddysh
Former Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh | Photo Credit: Mark Humphrey – Associated Press
Toronto Maple Leafs: B
Tampa Bay Lightning: C–
This is on here as a bit of a formality. The Maple Leafs sent a 5th round pick to the Lightning to fulfill a sign and trade for Darren Raddysh at 8 years costing $8.5M. The acquisition cost was practically nothing for the Maple Leafs, so any slight on them for this deal certainly won’t come from calling this an overpay. Though trading for Raddysh after signing that extension, given his track record, doesn’t inspire much confidence.
While yes, on paper, Raddysh was excellent last season, recording 22 goals and 70 points, it’s not like that has been his M.O. to this point in his career. Even with the 70 point season, it takes his career point total to just 143. At age 29, this season certainly feels more like a flash in the pan as opposed to a late breakout.
Tampa Bay certainly won’t be happy to lose Raddysh. But there’s a reason they let him walk; carving out that much cap space for an already solid blue line isn’t the best use of their cap space. At the very least, they get a late-round pick to try and make some magic happen. Anything more than a C- would be overly generous though.
Admittedly, Tampa Bay should have had a read on this sooner. Had they known they couldn’t keep Raddysh, he could’ve been a key part of a deal for a middle-six, right-winger at the deadline. Hindsight is 20/20, though, and at the end of the day, their chances for one more Stanley Cup surge probably didn’t depend on a 29-year-old defenceman in a career year.
The Maple Leafs were certainly going to be feeling some pressure to make a splash, and with limited assets (and market options), this is the best they could do on the blue line. Raddysh probably won’t replicate his past season; he shot nearly double his career high in both shooting percentage and shots on goal. Though he’s still probably the closest thing the Maple Leafs have had to a number one in this window. It’s certainly a vote of confidence from John Chayka, who seems keen on being aggressive with this core.
Time will tell if this grade improves for the Maple Leafs. There’s a lot that goes into it, though. Can they overcome a stacked division? Will Raddysh continue to play like a number one? Will the cap rise enough to make it worth it? For now, a B seems to be fair.
Seattle Acquires Mackie Samoskevich
Samoskevich skates against Montour. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Kraken: C
Florida Panthers: A-
Obviously, it’s hard to look at this trade in a vacuum. Knowing that this deal was essentially the precursor that brought Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers. Knowing that, it’s easy to say Florida made out like bandits after this one. Even in the brief moment this deal was at the forefront, it was an overpay by Seattle.
I like Samoskevich as a player. He’s a gritty winger who can grow into a 50-point player in a top-six role. Though he’s due a new deal, Seattle isn’t sure what he’s going to look like away from Florida’s system. Giving up a first-round pick plus an early second-rounder next season is a package that should have landed the Kraken a little more than it did.
Bill Zito continues to breathe different air than other general managers in the NHL right now. It’s a savvy move that nets great value for a replaceable player in the Panthers lineup (and boy, did they ever replace him). The Panthers were going to be tight against the cap regardless of their moves this offseason, and getting first-round value for any of their fringe pieces bodes well for them. Even the move in a vacuum was in the A-range, no matter how high you are on Samoskevich.
For the Kraken, I unfortunately think this is a waste of an asset. Seattle has built a team that has essentially 12 middle-six forwards, and Samoskevich blends right in with them. The team didn’t have a 60-point or 30-goal scorer in the lineup. To me, this reads as committing assets to get another player you already have in spades. While an extension isn’t finalized and a discount might make this sting less for Seattle, it certainly doesn’t look good for them to this point.
Florida Acquires Brady Tkachuk
Bill Zito with Brady Tkachuk at his introductory press conference. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers: A
Ottawa Senators: B–
Certainly not the Atlantic division captain I thought would have been traded this week. Though the extensive podcast recruiting and team U.S.A. rhetoric should have made this move a little more predictable than it seemed. The return for the Senators was hefty, netting them the 9th overall pick, the 25th overall pick, and a future first and second.
Again, taking the trade in a vacuum isn’t easy, seeing as Ottawa would make a move soon after, but my initial reaction was a little underwhelming. It’s no doubt a slew of good assets, but the Senators are looking to remain in the early stages of their contention window, and not securing any NHL talent as part of a return seems like a misstep.
The draft capital can (and did) result in a move for an NHL talent that fits their timeline, but again, ideally you want to be bringing back someone to help sooner rather than later in this deal. Especially given one of the first rounders is in 2029, meaning Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson will both be 27 when the pick is made, much less playing for the team.
On the other side of this, Florida is yet again on the winning end of a major deal. Getting Brady Tkachuk not only adds a perfect player into their system, but also extends their window, keeps Matthew Tkachuk happy, and makes Florida a destination number one for American players. It’s been a perfect fit for years. It would appear that tanking for one season has extended their cup window another handful of years, a tradeoff the Panthers are happy to take.
Ottawa could certainly make enough moves to salvage the value of this trade. Though that comes down to making a series of fantastic moves. Which is certainly a lot harder than just making one great one. Unfortunately, Bill Zito remains sharp as ever in that department.
Calgary Acquires Nemec and Tsyplakov
Devils defenceman Simon Nemec | AP Photo/Nick Wass
Calgary Flames: A
New Jersey Devils: B+
I know I’m in the minority here, but I actually think this is one of the better trades to come out of this week for both sides. New Jersey takes home two first-round picks and an early second to acquire some help up front, and Calgary gets Nemec to continue building an elite defense core.
For the Flames, I actually really like this move, and this is what I want to see rebuilding teams do more often. Sure, two late first-round picks could become an elite young talent, but why not take the evil you know? Nemec could easily be a top-four guy as early as next season. The only problem I could foresee here is a bit of a logjam on the right side between Parekh, Mews, and Brzustewicz.
I also like the gamble on Tsyplakov for the Flames, who seriously struggled up front the past two seasons. Sure, he wasn’t any good in New Jersey, but it’s possible a change of scenery could bring him back to his 30-point form, and again, Calgary needs all the help they can get upfront right now. If your only downside with this trade is having too many great right-defenceman prospects, you made a good deal.
As for New Jersey, moving Dougie Hamilton simply isn’t feasible for a fair return. Despite the $9M cap hit seeming like a burden, he was very sound defensively last season while still chipping in on offense. Nobody coughed up a fair return, so I’m sure New Jersey is comfortable holding onto him.
Unfortunately, Nemec is the casualty of all of this. All signs point to him becoming a really solid NHL defenceman. Though Jersey needs to make itself an attractive destination for one final bid at Quinn Hughes. Having some draft capital to throw around gives them a chance to make that happen by adding talent up front.
This move looks good for the Devils, depending on the trade tree long term and who they can acquire with the picks. Like the Tkachuk trade, it comes down to multiple good moves being a lot tougher to execute than one great one. So for now, Calgary comes out as the winner here.
Senators Acquire William Eklund
William Eklund for the San Jose Sharks | NHL.com
Ottawa Senators: A
San Jose Sharks: A
Talk about an even deal. Frankly, this is the exact kind of player Ottawa needed to pick up in a deal for the 9th overall pick, and they also get a pair of prospects as sweeteners. In return, the Sharks can stop debating their move at second and take the best player available while getting a defenceman a little later on.
The Senators lost a top-line, point-per-game winger and replaced him with someone who could fit that same mold one day. Frankly, William Eklund is also a stylistic fit I like for the Senators, who have plenty of big bodies and could use a pure-skill guy. Simply slap him next to Tim Stutzle next season and don’t be surprised if he eclipses that 70-point mark right away. Getting a top-line winger isn’t always a sure thing from a top-10 pick, and the certainty is worth it for the Senators here.
On the other end, the Sharks have been on the record considering passing up on the elite Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg at number two. They need a franchise defenceman, and as the team improves, they might not have another top pick to do it. By getting the 9th pick, the get both add Stenberg and get an elite defender. Alberts Smits, Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, or Daxon Rudolph could be ripe for the taking at the spot.
Both San Jose and Ottawa can check some boxes in their lineup. It’s rare that both teams are better for a move in both the short and long term, but these two struck a balance here.
Capitals Acquire Jordan Kyrou
Jordan Kyrou for the St. Louis Blues | Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP
St. Louis Blues: A
Washing Capitals: A-
You know what? Hell yeah. Washington makes a trade that nets them a legit top of the lineup winger who could easily be a 70-point guy next season, and they give up a good middle-six center and a lottery pick. It’s hard to imagine that both fan bases aren’t at least optimistic about what this could mean for them next season.
Starting with the Blues, the grade is in flux until a deal is done. If Connor McMichael signs a reasonable extension for the next 8 years, it only gets better. If, for some reason, it’s a huge extension, I like it marginally less. Even aside from that, though, this gives the Blues three picks in the lottery, and with plenty of top-of-the-lineup players, they should have no problem filling out their roster here. Not to mention, Kyrou had a down year at 28 with only 46 points, and McMichael had the same in his age-25 season. So, possibly a lateral move there.
The Blues have been smart with their moves, and this offseason continues the motto they’ve run with all season; they don’t see themselves as true contenders, so they are looking to re-tool. With Neighbors, Snuggerud, Holloway, and Broberg leading this team, and Thomas still having massive trade value. All looks well in St. Louis.
As for the Capitals, the focus should have been on the blue line this offseason, but this move certainly doesn’t make them any worse. With Leonard, Cristall, and Miroschnichenko looking poised to run the show in the future, Jordan Kyrou will help them reach their potential by giving them someone to grow with. It’s a savvy move from the Capitals, who have such a talented farm system that there truly is no need for futures at this point.
Chicago Acquires Bowen Byram
Buffalo Sabres’ Bowen Byram plays during an NHL game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Buffalo Sabres: A
Chicago Blackhawks: D+
Remember everything I’ve been saying about a player you know to be good being more valuable than a draft pick? Yeah, throw that all out here because I have no idea what Davidson and the Blackhawks were thinking here. As solid as Byram is, he and Greenway are not enough for the 4th overall pick, a 2nd rounder, and Crevier.
Buffalo would like to keep Alex Tuch, though, as I’m writing this, there is news of a sign-and-trade potentially being worked. Clearing up cap space from Byram, who wanted over $10.5M on his next deal, is a solid way to do that. You also get off the last year of Jordan Greenway’s deal. In return, Buffalo gets the 4th overall pick
This move shocks me from Chicago. They have multiple guys, I think, who have a chance to become that franchise defenceman. Between Rinzel and Levshunov, I trust the future of the Blackhawks blueline.
I don’t see the right cast of supporting forwards. Besides Nazar and Frondell, I don’t think the team has the elite forward prospects to surround Bédard. Not to mention the looming Byram extension that I doubt will drop in cost.
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