An early look at 50 rental players

by James Mirtle on Jan 19, 2009 2:07 PM CST Comment 30 comments

The easiest way to look at the March 4 NHL trade deadline and players in play at this point is to start with the teams likely to be selling. Even with more than 40 per cent of the season left, we can put together a pretty solid list, starting with teams on pace to finish with fewer than 80 points: N.Y. Islanders, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, St. Louis, Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Assuming they can't pull off remarkable comebacks, here's a look at the top pending unrestricted free agents (or rental players) from those teams (sorted by cap hit):

	Player	Age	Team	Pos	Cap hit
1	Schneider, Mathieu	40	ATL	D	$5.63
2	Guerin, Bill	38	NYI	R	$4.50
3	Weight, Doug	38	NYI	C	$4.30
4	Comrie, Mike	28	NYI	C	$4.00
5	Tkachuk, Keith	37	STL	L	$4.00
6	Gerber, Martin	34	OTT	G	$3.70
7	McDonald, Andy	31	STL	C	$3.33
8	Sullivan, Steve	34	NAS	R	$3.20
9	Kuba, Filip	32	OTT	D	$3.00
10	Calder, Kyle	30	LAK	L	$2.70
11	Havelid, Niclas	36	ATL	D	$2.70
12	De Vries, Greg	36	NAS	D	$2.50
13	Kolzig, Olaf	39	TBL	G	$2.50
14	Sillinger, Mike	38	NYI	C	$2.20
15	Legace, Manny	36	STL	G	$2.15
16	Gauthier, Denis	32	LAK	D	$2.10
17	Roberts, Gary	43	TBL	L	$2.07
18	Antropov, Nik	29	TOR	C	$2.05
19	Armstrong, Derek	36	LAK	C	$1.50
20	Recchi, Mark	39	TBL	R	$1.50
21	Bonk, Radek	33	NAS	C	$1.48
22	Gratton, Chris	33	TBL	C	$1.25
23	Malik, Marek	34	TBL	D	$1.25
24	O'Donnell, Sean	37	LAK	D	$1.25
25	Neil, Chris	30	OTT	R	$1.10
26	Hinote, Dan	32	STL	R	$1.00
27	Reasoner, Marty	32	ATL	C	$1.00
28	Moore, Dominic	28	TOR	C	$0.90
29	McAmmond, Dean	36	OTT	L	$0.88
30	Fiddler, Vernon	29	NAS	C	$0.85
31	Nichol, Scott	34	NAS	C	$0.75
32	Ortmeyer, Jed	30	NAS	R	$0.75
33	Perrin, Eric	33	ATL	C	$0.75
34	Zanon, Greg	29	NAS	D	$0.73
35	Ersberg, Erik	27	LAK	G	$0.70
36	Joseph, Curtis	42	TOR	G	$0.70
37	Koistinen, Ville	27	NAS	D	$0.70
38	Weaver, Mike	31	STL	D	$0.70
39	Hilbert, Andy	28	NYI	C	$0.68
40	Ward, Jason	30	TBL	R	$0.68
41	Pock, Thomas	27	NYI	D	$0.67
42	Jackman, Tim	27	NYI	R	$0.60
43	May, Brad	37	TOR	L	$0.60
44	Winchester, Brad	28	STL	L	$0.60
45	Danis, Yann	28	NYI	G	$0.55
46	Pettinger, Matt	28	TBL	L	$0.50
47	Ward, Joel	28	NAS	R	$0.50
48	MacDonald, Joey	29	NYI	G	$0.49
49	Whitfield, Trent	32	STL	C	$0.49
50	Heward, Jamie	38	TBL	D	$0.48

Let me know if you see any mistakes in there.

No, it's not the sexiest list, but there are gems to be had here. Kuba and Havelid will interest a lot of teams looking for puck movers on the back end, while someone like Andy McDonald could get a lot of suitors if he's healthy and productive by the deadline. Antropov and Weight are also likely to be moved.

In terms of useful depth players, Malik, O'Donnell, Neil, Moore, Perrin, Zanon and Joel Ward fit the bill. There are also a number of goaltenders on this list should a team need a backup (ahem, Dallas) down the stretch: Kolzig, Legace, Ersberg and MacDonald.

It's been a quiet year on the trade front, but I think the deadline will be busy. And there are likely to be more sellers joining these eight teams by then.

Six weeks to go.

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Comments

Avs

I think a few Avalanche could make this list. Most likely would be Jordan Leopold.

If anyone will take him, Tyler Arnason would be traded for a box of Wheaties.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 19, 2009 2:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i was going to note that as well. Leopold is definite rental fodder.

by thedoctor on Jan 19, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gopher: Good

Husky: Bad

by J. Michael Neal on Jan 19, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure the Oilers would trade him for Souray and a 1st round pick

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 20, 2009 8:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It would have to be a half-eaten box of Wheaties at least a year past its expiration date.

If Granato and/or Giguere really think that this is "up-tempo," I feel bad for their wives.

by JonHaven on Jan 20, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There’s already been rumblings (okay, Bruce Garrioch) that the Sabres would finally be able to dump Afinogenov (who’s not on your list, btw – $3.33m cap hit) for Schneider, especially considering the state of the Sabres’ defense right now.

by Afino on Jan 19, 2009 2:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I guess I misread the point of the list, with it being made up from teams out of contention.

by Afino on Jan 19, 2009 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh

Me too, whoops.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 19, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I also read that rumor, but I can’t imagine that any GM is ~~suicidal~~ crazy enough to take Max and his $ right now. In Max’s defense, Ruff’s system and the healthy scratches sure aren’t helping.

If Granato and/or Giguere really think that this is "up-tempo," I feel bad for their wives.

by JonHaven on Jan 20, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well at least in that case, both players are on expiring contracts.

While it’s Garrioch, it’s not as suicidal/crazy as you’d think.

by Afino on Jan 20, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol, this is true.

If Granato and/or Giguere really think that this is "up-tempo," I feel bad for their wives.

by JonHaven on Jan 20, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

These are only players from the eight teams I’ve deemed out of the playoff race.

by James Mirtle on Jan 19, 2009 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll keep it updated down the line. Maybe if it’s obvious, I throw in someone like Afinogenov, but I’m not sure that makes the Sabres ‘sellers.’

by James Mirtle on Jan 19, 2009 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Really, we don’t even know what Darcy Regier will do at the deadline.

by Afino on Jan 19, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, my gut reaction was “probably nothing,” but then I remembered the Zubrus deal, which was a great move. Really wish the Sabres had kept him around longer.

If Granato and/or Giguere really think that this is "up-tempo," I feel bad for their wives.

by JonHaven on Jan 20, 2009 2:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Zubrus struggled last year but has looked pretty good this season in New Jersey.

by James Mirtle on Jan 20, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But isn’t Max going to back to mother Russia next season? Is he even worth a rental when you KNOW he won’t be back?

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 20, 2009 4:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Based on the poor quality of this list, it’s no wonder these 8 teams are out of the playoffs.

I hope Steve Sullivan doesn’t get traded. He just seems like a guy that Nashville should keep after all he’s been through.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jan 19, 2009 2:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chiming in on Nashville, Nichol and de Vries are battling concussion symptoms, so I can’t imagine anyone picking them up even if they come back soon. Zanon is cheap and reliable on the PK, and I’d expect Nashville to try and keep him around.

If anyone wants to take Bonk and his salary off of Nashville’s books, though, I think David Poile would dance a jig.

More fun than a stick to the face!

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 19, 2009 3:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I want my hamGerber

I think Gerber is going to leave Ottawa. I like how two NYI goalies are on that list. I’m pretty sure new York should hold onto those guys.

Filip Kuba would look nice in a habs uniform. But then again, so would Jay Bouwmeester

~~~come visit my new blog~~~
~~~aroundthehabs.blogspot.com~~~

by gillis on Jan 19, 2009 3:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Would teams really view Kuba as a puck-mover? It’s not really his game, even though he’s had a decent year in terms of points.

Put it this way, most experts agree that the Sens #1 problem has been lack of a puck-moving blueliner. So would teams really turn to Ottawa to fill that spot?

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Jan 19, 2009 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if Kuba really classifies as a puck-moving defensemen (he’s not as fluid when playing 5 on 5), but on the PP he definitely can move that puck around and he’s a decent play-maker.
And he’s 6’4 225lbs.
I could see a few teams being interested, and I hope Gainey at least inquires.

by Habs on Jan 19, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just checked and he also leads the Sens in +/- with +11, one of only 2 defensemen not in the minus. On a team as terrible as the Sens, and considering he plays de PP a lot, that’s not so bad.

by Habs on Jan 19, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you’re right. I should have said power-play QB.

by James Mirtle on Jan 19, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That list resembles an expansion team roster: Guys several years over the hill, one-way jakes, overpaid hacks, and plugs.

I wouldn’t trade for a single one of them. Not one.

by Dr Van Nostrum on Jan 19, 2009 7:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not even Andy McDonald?

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 20, 2009 8:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Brad Winchester is a pretty good bargain

could be this year’s Matt Cooke; basically is a forechecker who can occasionally play with skill players. He’s and he was on the Oilers team that went to the finals.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jan 19, 2009 10:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs