NHL trade deadline’s pressing questions: Could All-Star move again?
The Mikko Rantanen trade in January was one of the biggest deals this NHL season.
Could there be a Rantanen trade part 2 to rival it?
The Carolina Hurricanes sent Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two draft picks to the Colorado Avalanche to land Rantanen, a two-time 100-point scorer.
But he’s also a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Hurricanes were burned last season when they traded for Jake Guentzel only to have him leave in free agency.
If the Hurricanes decide they can’t re-sign Rantanen, do they move him?
Here are other big questions before the 3 p.m. ET Friday trade deadline:
What will the Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello do?
The New York Islanders have a key trade target in Brock Nelson. Kyle Palmieri is also a pending unrestricted free agent. Both scored their 20th goal on Tuesday, and Nelson topped 30 goals the previous three seasons. Nelson choked up a little in a postgame on-ice interview in what could have been his final Islanders home game. Does Lamoriello get them re-signed or move one or both? The answer always with Lamoriello is the public won’t know until the team makes its announcement.
Is the Penguins’ Kyle Dubas done dealing?
He has already moved Marcus Pettersson, Michael Bunting and recently acquired Vincent Desharnais. If he wants to continue retooling, Rickard Rakell would fetch a good price because the 29-goal scorer has three years left on his contract. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk and forward Anthony Beauvillier are pending UFAs.
How will the Devils react to injury news?
Leading scorer Jack Hughes (shoulder surgery) is out for the season and defenseman Dougie Hamilton left Tuesday’s game with an injury. The Devils were looking for scoring depth before the Hughes news. GM Tom Fitzgerald will be busy.
Will the Golden Knights surprise again?
The Golden Knights added Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl last season despite tight salary cap space. According to puckpedia.com, Vegas has a little more than $2.4 million in deadline cap space this season. William Karlsson is on long-term injured reserve. Defenseman Shea Theodore hasn’t played since being hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Golden Knights always seem to find a way to make a splash. Then again, they’re pretty solid as is.
Who else is available?
The Kraken, who dealt Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde on Wednesday, are selling. High-energy forward Brandon Tanev would draw interest. Others to watch: Chicago’s Ryan Donato, Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton, New York Rangers’ Reilly Smith, Vancouver’s Brock Boeser and Boston’s Brandon Carlo. Anaheim goalie John Gibson, who always seems to be in trade rumors, left Wednesday’s game after a collision in the crease.
