Day 1 of the draft was a dud for trades. Yet Day 2 had some action, with three notable players changing teams.

Was there a team out there that had a better weekend than the New Jersey Devils? They followed up their first overall pick of Jack Hughes with a trade for P.K. Subban. Sure, they’re picking up all of Subban’s $9 million salary, but the cost for the player didn’t seem all that high. In addition, the Hughes and Subban acquisitions legitimize New Jersey as a place to stay for Taylor Hall, who has one year left on his contracts. As for Nashville, they achieved their objective of a salary dump, but now they need to put that cap space to good use on July 1.

In case you’re reading the Subban take from earlier and wondering how his own fantasy value will be affected, I would say not so much by the deal. It might improve a little, based on the fact he will be going to a slightly (although not drastically) better power play. However, any bounceback from Subban will have less to do with the team and more to do with the player. I don’t think the projections are going to be a whole lot different. In my opinion his point total (barring injury) will vary from anywhere between about 45 to 65 points, regardless of the team he plays for.

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Then there was the J.T. Miller trade to Vancouver. Canucks’ fans are obviously screaming mad about losing a non-lottery-protected first-round pick, so Jim Benning must feel confident about the Canucks’ chances of making the playoffs over the next two years. Or perhaps even this year, so that he’ll be able to save his job (he has one year left on his contract). But as a Canucks’ fan, yes, this trade makes me nervous. Even if they’ve added the top-6 winger that they set out to acquire and are now focusing on adding a top-4 defenseman. As I start to think about the deal and what could follow, though, I’m having an easier time with it. Teams can’t be in perpetual rebuild mode forward. Eventually, they have to try to take a step forward.

Anyway, you can have a look at the fantasy take here. On Twitter I was asked about the effect on Adam Erne.
 

How do you think it impacts Adam Erne?

— Lucas Main (@LAM1926) June 22, 2019

In the fantasy take, I didn’t get into Ryan Callahan’s situation either, which could also affect Erne. Since Callahan will likely be forced to retire (or nowadays go on LTIR) because of a degenerative disc, the Bolts seem more likely to sign Erne, who is listed as an RFA. Danick Martel and Cedric Paquette are also RFAs who could fill out the bottom six, so all of their chances of re-signing with the Bolts improve with Callahan and Miller now out of the picture.  

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Another trade on Saturday morning saw the Leafs finally part ways with Patrick Marleau and his $6.25 million cap hit, sending him to the Carolina Hurricanes with a conditional first-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft. Good on the Canes, who have become proficient at weaponizing cap space to acquire assets (eg. Teuvo Teravainen). If the Hurricanes buyout Marleau’s contract, that will clear the way for a possible return to San Jose for perhaps one last run at the Stanley Cup.

But before you assume that the Canes will buyout Marleau’s contract…
 

Canes GM Don Waddell confirms they hope to sell Patrick Marleau on playing in Carolina. Obviously if that doesn’t succeed then they will buy him out.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2019

I’m sure the Storm Surge will be used in the sales pitch. Especially if he brings his kids to the presentation.

The Leafs, of course, need the cap space in their plan to sign RFAs Mitch Marner, Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen – especially Marner, who stands to be earning over $10 million per season once all is said and done. The chances of signing all three obviously improved with the Marleau deal, although parting with Nikita Zaitsev’s contract will make the job even easier. Fellow left wing Johnsson could gain the most from Marleau’s departure, as his icetime was nearly three minutes less than that of Marleau’s. And it looks like Johnsson will be staying in Toronto, according to Darren Dreger:
 

Leafs closing in on 4 year extension with Andreas Johnsson. Likely between $3.25 mil and $3.5 AAV.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 22, 2019

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An under-the-radar trade on Saturday that you might not have heard: The Devils also acquired John Hayden from the Blackhawks for John Quenneville. The big (6’3”, 215 lb.) Hayden scored just five points (3g-2a) in 54 games with the Hawks last season. Quenneville, meanwhile, scored 39 points (18g-21a) in 37 games in the AHL last season, but just one point in 19 games with the Devils over the last month of the season.

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Since the 2019 draft is now in the books, here is a breakdown by country. 
 

217 players from 13 countries were selected in the 2019 #NHLDraft. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/cISNrW5lTZ

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Canada led the way again, but do we soon see a day in which more players are drafted out of the US than Canada?

And a look at all the picks from Rounds 1 through 7:
 

Round 1 of the 2019 #NHLDraft presented by adidas: https://t.co/eSv0XYQ2ep #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/CPeyAu4FIX

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Round 2 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/eizukyY15m pic.twitter.com/3qlRizzjN1

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

📢 advertisement:

Round 3 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/yG9rGACXbG pic.twitter.com/x42YW9Jk40

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Round 4 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/m91fbwZ6DU pic.twitter.com/h52vtbeGQE

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Round 5 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/iojvdIHsAS pic.twitter.com/7SM3FyYGe1

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Round 6 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/eJKRBRIiPq pic.twitter.com/tJ8NEY19DA

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

Round 7 of the 2019 #NHLDraft: https://t.co/Y0wolpz6dy pic.twitter.com/6FJM69wNhJ

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2019

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With the free agency UFA wine-and-dine period set to begin, here is a list of some free agents who are set to meet with other teams, along with teams believed to be meeting with them. Probably not a full list, but I thought you’d be interested anyway.

Sergei Bobrovsky – Florida

Artemi Panarin – Florida
 

NHL UFA speaking period opens Sunday. Coveted free agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and winger Artemi Panarin will be in FLA to meet with the Panthers on Monday. FLA would like to sign both but need a goalie more than a forward so the priority may be Bob.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2019

Matt Duchene – Nashville

Tyler Myers – Vancouver, Winnipeg

Wayne Simmonds – not returning to Nashville

Mats Zuccarello

Anders Lee

Also, there is an RFA interview period (in case you didn’t know) starting Wednesday, and Mitch Marner is expected to hear from other teams then.
 

The expectation is that the Marner camp will hear from teams when the RFA speaking period opens Wednesday.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2019

Of course, be sure to check back with Dobber Hockey on July 1 for a list of the free agent signings, as well as our usual fantasy impact pieces. It’ll be a busy one.

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For more fantasy hockey information, or to reach out to me directly, you can follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.