TSN's Trade Bait in the Draft

The countdown is getting closer and closer, dwindling down to the trade deadline in the NHL and there is a lot of potential for movement, but isn't there always potential each year?  As always, I'll be watching TSN's coverage of the deadline, mostly because I think it is the most thorough and least flamboyant of the two networks, as they just get down to business.

This season, they have their list of the top 10 players they believe are most likely to get dealt at the deadline, their Trade Bait, and I want to see how it stacks up in the draft, since that's why some of us are watching.

First up on the list is Arizona's Antoine Vermette, who fits the bill as the biggest prize for a playoff contending team.  He plays centre, decent in the faceoff circle and in his own zone, has a bit of flair for the offensive side of the game and doesn't carry the biggest cap hit into his new side.  Vermette is definitely the kind of player that a team that picks him up, may want to keep him around past the end of the playoffs, so I fully expect that team to give up a conditional draft pick for his services, beyond the 2015 playoffs.

Vermette also belongs to Cam in the pool this year, a team that has some potential of their own for some prizes at the end of the year, so he is one of the biggest names to move on this blog.  Today, Cam sits in 5th place, only 13 points out of 3rd and the stretch run could see that gap shrink, if Vermette heads to an offensive team.

Teams that fit the bill for Vermette's services, I believe Tampa Bay could really make a big pitch for him.  They have the space, the desire and the young talent in the wings that they could use as bait to get him out of the desert.

The top defenseman on the list is Carolina's Andrej Sekera, who could fetch a club like the Hurricanes some valuable future assets, as the team looks to retool their side in the Eastern Conference.  Sekera broke through with some upside last season and hasn't quite found the same amount of 'wow' that the team needed to really compete, but he at least gave the club a reasonable piece to move, since he is an unrestricted free agent in the Summer.

The 28-year old Slovak doesn't quite have the same pool value that Vermette has, as he belongs to Wyllie, who continues to fight to stay out of last place.  A move for Sekera could definitely help that cause, as any offense would be good offense at the bottom of the table.

There are lots of teams that could bid for Sekera's services, as offensive defensemen are hard to come by and even harder to keep.  With the way the Montreal Canadiens play, I could see them make a push on Sekera, trying to shore up the blueline behind a known injury-prone defender like Andrei Markov.

The Buffalo Sabres continue to be in the market of selling their moveable assets and in there is forward Chris Stewart, who has been hanging on by a thread in the lineup of late, likely more for showcasing than anything else.  His numbers have dwindled of late, but his size certainly hasn't, which still makes him an attractive piece to a team that wants a little bit more size and grit for the dirty games down the stretch and in the playoffs.  Maybe elsewhere, he can also find his scoring touch again.

Stuart decided to pick up the 27-year old forward, in hopes of a big spark from a deal at the deadline, but it has yet to happen.  Stuart doesn't exactly have a line on the prize money at the end of the year, but he does have a side bet, involving his Week Eighteen pick-up, so there is some money involved there.

The Boston Bruins have undoubtedly been the team most associated with Stewart during the deadline rumour chats, but as they continue to fall out of contention, barely hanging on to the last wild card spot, their desire to part with pieces for the future for a Cup run seems more and more unlikely.  Stewart's annual cap hit of over $4 million does make him difficult to move to some contenders and I'm sure Buffalo's asking price will scare off the uncertain as well.  However, I could see Nashville make a play for him, even though they've already made some deals, possibly waiting for the asking price to go down.

Can you tell that Carolina is in a selling mode?  Their second player on the pool list is Jiri Tlusty, who certainly can provide some offensive flair to a team, possibly in a third line role for his new club.  The Czech winger has 13 goals this season and skates pretty well, so he should be attractive to teams that are decent down the middle and just need a bit more help from the boards.

Tlusty has been the least effective player on Kristy & Don's team this season, but that really isn't saying a lot, given that their team is filled with players that have been off-the-charts this year.  If Tlusty can find himself in a spot where he gets more offensive chances, it just makes their pool-winning team that much better.

I don't see Tlusty going anywhere within the division in the East, since there are more teams there that could use him on that side, but I can see him finding a fit with the Winnipeg Jets in the West.  The Jets have assets, they have picks and they have a decent chance at the playoffs.  Adding a little bit more of an offensive punch, especially with the injury to Mathieu Perreault, this move does make a lot of sense.

Finally, the Calgary Flames are in the mix for the playoffs, but they are still a young team, where expectation isn't very high and the need to win in these playoffs, hasn't been deemed as necessary.  The team could still potentially make the playoffs, even with selling off some assets and the top player that comes to the forefront is Curtis Glencross, a potential UFA in July, and a versatile player that can give any contending team a boost.  Glencross has reportedly given his list to the Flames, so it sounds like just a matter of time before the deal gets done.

In the pool, Glencross has only been a marginal player for Mike, accounting for only 6.7% of his total points at 27 tallies to the good in 50 games.  Mike is in the bottom half of the standings and doesn't stand to make much out of a deal for Glencross at this time.

Where does he go?  Well, he's the perfect compliment to a Chicago Blackhawks team, both in grit and in skill.  His fairly low cap hit could definitely fit in at the Madhouse on Madison and the Blackhawks have plenty of future assets to move.  The Flames don't have to move him, but they likely will, the combination suggesting that they could get quite a bit for him in the end.

Other pool players were watching at the deadline include: Erik Cole of the Stars, Jaromir Jagr of the Devils, Karri Ramo of the Flames and Marek Zidlicky of the Devils.