Welcome back my CapFriendlies! Anyone in for some trade speculation talk? This week I found myself making up different trade scenarios, which to be honest is par for the course for me, and with the deadline looming we're bound to see some movement here shortly. This deadline is either going to be a one with some real juice to it or we're all going to be watching NHL Network awkwardly try to fill dead air braking down a Travis Dermott trade. We can only hope that it is not the latter.

Toronto trades for a center. Again.

Of course, I have to get a Toronto trade in here again because I do think that there is a way this club goes quiet at the deadline. Last season the Leafs traded for Ryan O'Reilly in what I thought was a really good trade and honestly a player that I hadn't even considered being available. There's a pattern here, as two seasons prior Toronto traded for Nick Foligno and although I thought that trade was a gross overpay, I am 100% on board with more center depth come playoff time. I know lots of speculation surrounding this Leafs club is to grab a defenseman at the deadline and while that may be true, I want to zag here and go grab another center. So, let's call Columbus.

Toronto recieves – Boone Jenner
Columbus recieves – Fraser Minten, Matthew Knies, David Kampf, 2024 first round pick (TOR)

Let the spice commence! I don't care what Columbus wants to say about Jenner being unavailabe. In my fantasy group chat we tried to come up with ways to "fix" the Blue Jackets and went in circles for five minutes and came out palms up. I know the new interim GM there is new to the gig but if you're a new-hire GM that wants to remain in that position, then draft picks are your best friend. Plus, I can't see how this Jackets organization is content with going into this year's draft with just one first round pick, even the chances are that is going to be a higher selection.

For Toronto this is a move that is a big upgrade at center, I do lose Kampf in the deal, so I'll have to piece together a 4^th line C with maybe Max Domi but what this brings me is more scoring as well as a player who is going to really boost the PK up front. Along with that, I don't have to worry about coming to the negotiating table July 1^st as Jenner is under contract for two more seasons. If that first rounder really is my last bullet so-to-speak, then I think this is a spot where it could be well spent. On the Columbus side I get a first-round pick, two good young players to add to my heap of ELC's that I don't forsee any issues signing, plus the money works in this deal so that I don't have to retain any of Jenner's salary.

So, does this trade go through? I like to think if this was dynasty fantasy, and all things were similar that I'd at least have a meeting on it and likely both sides agree? There are likely some snags here and the first is that David Kampf would have to be willing to waive his no-trade off of a potential Cup contending team. I mean, maybe he's a really big Ohio State fan and would be cool with doing so, but I'm going to lean that he in fact would want to stay put. Possibly there's also the idea that Columbus really doesn't want to move Jenner at this time or for Toronto, that they don't want to move any young players like Knies in a trade.

Florida trades for defense

Noah Hanifin? In trade rumors? And in THIS economy? Like in most trades New Jersey is an obvious dance partner with Dougie Hamilton on IR, but why not Florida here? This Panthers club isn't one that was out of the playoff picture and getting hot right before deadline, this is a Panthers team that could very well find themselves in a deep playoff run all over again, and Hanifin could be the perfect fit.

Florida recieves – Noah Hanifin
Calgary recieves – Rasmus Asplund, Justin Sourdif, Niko Mikkola, 2025 second round pick (FLA)

Let's break this down, starting with Florida because that's an easy one here. They get another excellent defenseman that has played with Matthew Tkachuk so there's some familiarity. This helps the Florida special teams tremendously and can only help with insurance if there's an injury along the blueline. For the Flames I get a pick back in return, two prospects, and then a defenseman coming back.

Now, does go through? I'll give this a maybe…in the sense that possibly the deal is tweaked slightly. One roadblock here is that Florida does not have a first round pick this season or next so if a pick is going in the deal the "best" they could do would be a 2025 second rounder. Along with several clubs being able to likely offer up a first is tough but maybe the way this deal goes through is the prospects in question are changed from what we have above? I don't think Florida, or really any club, would be willing to trade a higher draft pick from a draft that took place a year ago, but when looking through Florida's prospect pool, maybe there's a player or two that Calgary asks about?

For the Flames they could have a club next season (or potentially the next two) comprised mostly of younger players that they'd have time to decide on which isn't a horrible approach. They have the pieces to move, and it might be a way to re-tool in real time instead of developing below the NHL level to wait and see.

*Salary Cap data from CapFriendly.com

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