On March 3, 2023 (at 9 p.m. CET) the transition period in the NHL ends for this season. Traditionally, numerous spectacular player changes will take place around the NHL Trade Deadline. As in previous years, NHL.com/de will again report extensively and in detail on what is happening in the league this year. Now that there are still six weeks until this date, we would like to take this opportunity to recall what happened last year and name the most prominent names who are generally considered to be the most likely candidates for a change of club.
In the pre-season, the deadline of March 21 had long passed by several hours when reports of completion were still pouring in and deals were officially announced at the last second. In the end there were 33 trades involving 54 players. In the run-up, there was speculation for months about whether there were goalkeepers Marc-Andre Fleury and striker Claude Giroux would agree to a change. Both said the chance of winning the Stanley Cup played a big part in their decision.
Fleury ended up being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Minnesota Wild. Giroux moved from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Florida Panthers. The New York Rangers added to their roster by adding the forward Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets, Attackers Tyler Motte by the Vancouver Canucks and the defensemen Justin Braun from the Philadelphia Flyers without losing a player from their active roster. The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand, have defenseman PK Subban and the Arizona Coyotes have forward Phil Kessel not submitted by the end of the 2022 transition period, which also became a major topic of discussion in both cases.
Video: OTT@LAK: Giroux hand Senators an OT win
But as always, the focus was on the transfers of the later Stanley Cup winners Colorado Avalanche. This is how it developed Artturi Lehkonen, coming from the Montreal Canadiens, was the winning scorer in the deciding Game 6 of the Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The German striker Nico Sturm also moved from the Wild to the Avalanche. Sturm, who has been with the San Jose Sharks since the start of the 2022-23 season, had three assists in 21 regular-season games in Denver before adding two more assists in 13 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and eventually scoring the was allowed to raise the trophy.
Many of the transfer candidates are hoping for a similarly happy ending as Sturm had back then this year.
Probably the most discussed name these days is von Bo Horvat, who is playing for the Vancouver Canucks. So far, he has not been able to agree on a long-term contract extension with his club and is therefore considered a hot candidate for a change. Horvat, one of the top strikers in the league, would be an interesting choice for many title aspirants. The Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes are considered potential buyers.
Video: VAN@EDM: Horvat scores his 23rd goal of the season in the 3rd
Speculations are also rife Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes. He still has a contract term of two years after this season. However, the Coyotes are said to be quite willing to give him up if they receive compensation that suits their needs in return.
With the Chicago Blackhawks, the veterans could Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to be about to say goodbye. The reorganization of the squad in Chicago still needs time. Time that the two of them could possibly no longer have in the further course of their careers. A change to a title aspirant would therefore be an option for both attackers. And the Blackhawks can certainly use more young talent for their rebuilding. It will be interesting to follow developments in these cases.
The Swiss could play the role of Sturm a year later Timo Meier hatch from the Sharks. Meier, who is in the last year of his four-year contract in California, is considered a possible change candidate this spring. The striker is said to be still in contract negotiations in San Jose, so further developments in his case have to be awaited.
Video: DAL@SJS: Meier scores a PPG in the 2nd third
The Anaheim Ducks could have some veterans on the verge of dropping again this year. One of the most traded names is that of John Klingberg. The defender could become UFA in the summer and his experience makes him an attractive target for all title contenders, as his signing would be one without great risk.
Also in the case of Ryan O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues recently got stuck in negotiations regarding an intended contract extension. General manager Doug Armstrong and O’Reilly’s agent have yet to come to an agreement, making a move by early March an increasingly likely option for the player. The 2019 playoff MVP would certainly be of interest to many teams.
Also Matt Dumba (Wild), Brock Boeser (Canucks), Vladislav Gavrikov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Shayne Gostisbehere (Coyotes), Sean Monahan (Montreal Canadiens), James van Riemsdyk (Flyers), Ivan Barbashev (Blues), Joel Edmundson (Canadiens), Tyler Bertuzzi (Detroit Red Wings), Jordan Greenway (Wild), Gustav Nyquist (Blue Jackets) und Nick Bjugstad (Coyotes) are often mentioned when it comes to a possible upcoming change to the trade deadline this year.
We still have to wait a few weeks to see which of the candidates will ultimately result in a change and where it might lead them to. It takes even longer to find out which hopes associated with the trade will actually be fulfilled for everyone involved. It will be exciting again, that much is already certain.