It is crazy to believe but the NHL Trade Deadline is less than two weeks away. Yet, March 1st will come before anyone knows it. When fantasy hockey and trading collide, there is bound to be rumors and speculation.
The Detroit Red Wings are currently nine points out of a playoff spot. They have also played 56 games as of press time which means time is not on their side. The Red Wings are near .500. They rank in the bottom on the power play, have allowed over three goals a game on the road, and just have been mediocre in every fantasy way too. When a team is so injury prone (they lead the league in man games lost to injury). How much can Ken Holland sell is the real question?
Detroit is trying to be a seller but seems to be in a degree of denial. Let’s take a look at a few potential targets, probability, and potential fantasy impact.
NHL Trade Deadline Targets – Detroit Red Wings
Thomas Vanek – Winger
Vanek would be an excellent trade asset but his fantasy value exceeds the acquisition value for many reasons. For one, the forward plays on a team with a pedestrian power play and yet has a respectable ten man advantage points. Also, his salary cap hit is just $2.6 million and there are no additional years on the contract.
Stubbornly, Holland is going to want it all for this forward. That is always the tradition before the trade deadline. The added wrinkles as far as the draft and expansion draft do add windows to make trades, however. Vanek is very likely to be moved. It is only a question of where he will end up at this point. Some have talked about Columbus as a viable destination but do not sleep on Pittsburgh especially if they wind up going to a Plan B or Plan C.
Tomas Tatar – Center
Tatar has had an ugly season to say the least. He has 26 points in 56 games, including 12 goals. The pivot averages two shots per game now. That would project numbers close to his rookie year, which is not exactly progression.
The thing is the forward is now 26. Every so often, Tatar has shown bursts of that 56 point campaign and then he just regresses again. Over the last five games, the center has zero points and just seven shots on net. Fans and even management are growing frustrated.
On the bright side, the winger is in the final year of his current deal which makes trading easier (RFA in 2017 — $2.75 million cap hit). From a possession standpoint, Tatar has fared well (4% above Detroit’s relative). How would he do without Henrik Zetterberg? That is the question. His trade probability is moderate but rising. Some team will make a play for him and it may just be out west. Wings Nation has him going to St. Louis and that is plausible. Other teams like Los Angeles and Nashville might be possibilities.
Jimmy Howard — Goalie
There may be several better trade options for Detroit but Howard could be the ultimate wild card. The goalie started great then the injuries began to set in (groin and now knee). When he was healthy, he posted a .934 save percentage in just 17 games. The problem is that Howard has been out with groin issues since December 20th.
Red flags are several. The most obvious is when will the goaltender return? Unlike Gustav Nyquist, who may not get traded due to a malicious act, Jimmy Howard just has the misfortune of not being able to mend fully.
Chances are low to moderate. Howard did not practice on Tuesday and did not play on Wednesday against St. Louis. His salary at a $5.5 million cap hit is a tough one to take and has a couple years to go. A team may not have to offer Detroit much and the Red Wings might have to retain some salary. If he plays before the trade deadline, he may go to a destination out west.
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More columns are coming including more suitors, players to watch out for, and even some out in left field rumors.