Late final week, we checked out gamers who might be worth buys on the commerce market. In the present day, we’ll take a look at gamers NHL groups ought to keep away from in the event that they’re available on the market forward of the March 7 commerce deadline. Who may carry essentially the most danger?
Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Ristolainen was a punching bag for his poor play on the ice, however that isn’t the case anymore. He’s turned his recreation round since becoming a member of the Philadelphia Flyers and enjoying below John Tortorella. So why ought to groups keep away from attempting to amass him on the commerce deadline?
Associated: NHL Commerce Bait Checklist for 2025 Commerce Deadline
Match issues, and he appears to be an excellent match for the Flyers. Plus, there’s the Tortorella Impact since he at all times appears to get essentially the most out of his gamers. Ristolainen is below contract via the 2026-27 season at a cap hit of $5 million, so there’s danger in giving up property for him and he reverts nearer to how he appeared with the Buffalo Sabres. Even with the wage cap rising, that’d be a problematic contract to have on the books if he regresses.
Yanni Gourde
Yanni Gourde will probably be out of motion till the commerce deadline at a minimal and even perhaps a bit longer after present process surgical procedure for a sports activities hernia at the start of this month. Well being is essentially the most vital motive groups ought to keep away from him on the commerce deadline, as he’s solely appeared in 35 video games this season.
Gourde can nonetheless play and would doubtless improve a staff’s third line in the event that they acquired him. Accidents might have lowered his commerce worth too, however there’s no assure he’ll keep wholesome for any staff that acquires him. There are different choices with much less danger if groups wish to add a third-line heart for the stretch run and the playoffs.
Ryan Lindgren
The New York Rangers are on the cusp of a wild-card spot within the Jap Convention, so what they do on the commerce deadline stays to be seen. They already acquired J.T. Miller earlier than the 4 Nations Break, however that commerce was about extra than simply the 2024-25 season, given the time period Miller has left on his contract.
If the Rangers do promote, Ryan Lindgren might be a participant they resolve to maneuver. He might solely be 27, however he’s already proven dramatic indicators of decline. His defensive impacts have fallen off a cliff, and his model of play suggests that it’ll solely worsen over time. Granted, he’d be a rental for any staff buying him, however he’s not the participant he was even a few seasons in the past. The protection market doesn’t look notably spectacular this season, however groups ought to nonetheless keep away from Lindgren in the event that they want an improve on protection.
Carson Soucy
The Vancouver Canucks have already made a few strikes, buying Marcus Pettersson and transferring out Miller in separate trades a couple of hours aside. Subsequent on their listing might be Carson Soucy, who’s popped on commerce boards in latest weeks. It’s been a battle for him in his two seasons with the Canucks, and it may be time for a change of surroundings.
Nonetheless, groups ought to most likely avoid Soucy. His two-way impacts have been effectively within the pink this season, and he nonetheless has an additional yr left on his contract at a cap hit of $3.25 million. Lots of the arguments in opposition to buying him are much like Lindgren’s, however add the additional yr on his contract, and there appears to be an excessive amount of danger in giving up property for him.
Seth Jones
Seth Jones is definitely higher than he was earlier than signing his mega contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in free company in the summertime of 2021, however he nonetheless isn’t well worth the $9.5 million cap hit that he has. Granted, the Blackhawks are usually not an excellent staff, however his market worth is simply $4.4 million (per The Athletic).
Jones is 30 and turns 31 at first of subsequent season. His contract runs via the 2030-31 season, and he’s solely prone to maintain declining as he ages. The Blackhawks might need to throw in a sweetener for a staff to tackle his contract, but it surely wouldn’t shock me if some NHL groups suppose extra extremely of Jones than they need to and are prepared to surrender property for him. A commerce for Jones could also be extra doubtless within the offseason due to his contract, however that doesn’t change the truth that groups ought to steer clear of him. There’s not a lot upside to buying him.
Trent Frederic
The Boston Bruins would most likely be greatest off promoting. They’ve a objective differential of minus-25, and historical past means that’s a poor place to be in (until you’re the 2023-24 Washington Capitals). They don’t have many tradeable property, however Trent Frederic could also be one.
Frederic will not be having an excellent season, totaling simply eight targets and 15 factors in 55 video games. That’s a comparatively vital decline from final season, when he recorded 18 targets and 40 factors in 82 video games. Nonetheless, Frederic will most likely garner loads of consideration on the commerce market due to the bodily model of hockey he performs that groups love so as to add for the playoffs. He isn’t prone to price a staff their high property to amass, however he might not transfer the needle a lot with how his season has gone.
Dylan Cozens
Dylan Cozens is a tricky one to incorporate right here due to the Sabres Impact. Gamers like Ristolainen, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart have gone on to play the perfect hockey of their careers since leaving the Sabres, so there’s at all times the danger that Cozens thrives in a brand new surroundings. Given his age, it’s not arduous to suppose that would occur with him.
Cozens has regressed since his breakout season in 2022-23, when he posted 31 targets and 68 factors in 81 video games. He completed with simply 47 factors final season and is barely on tempo for 41 this season. That’s effectively under the worth of his $7.1 million cap hit, and that contract runs for an additional six years after this season.
It’s greater than potential Cozens is the product of a poor surroundings in Buffalo, however he can also not be the participant he was in 2022-23. Whereas he did play effectively that season, he shot almost 15 %, virtually 5 % above his profession common. I can see why Cozens would attraction to groups, however there’s loads of danger that he gained’t be the participant he confirmed in 2022-23. And with the contract he has, groups ought to proceed with warning in the event that they’re trying to purchase him.
It’s Time period That Can Be the Killer
There’s not as a lot danger in leases since there’s no long-term dedication, however gamers like Cozens, Jones, and so on. provide essentially the most danger in the event that they get dealt on the deadline as a result of their prolonged and expensive contracts. These are usually the kinds of offers groups ought to look to keep away from.
