Detroit Red Wings trade possibilities for Nick Leddy
Nick Leddy is the one trade chip that Detroit Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman must trade. Leddy was acquired from the New York Islanders last summer for a 2nd round pick and Yzerman doesn’t trade draft picks very often. In order for Yzerman to deal Leddy, the return will likely match what Yzerman dealt for the veteran defenseman.
The trade deadline is just over one week away and Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman has started to make his mark. Last week, Yzerman acquired Olli Juolevi off waivers from Florida. Before activing Jakub Vrana, the Red Wings had to open a roster spot and quickly placed Danny DeKeyser on waivers. When DeKeyser went unclaimed, Detroit placed him on the IR.
Yzerman will likely be quite busy leading up to the deadline. One of the benefits that Yzerman has is that each of these teams have very little or no cap space left, so they will each pay a premium for Detroit to retain salary.
Just to provide an example, Nick Leddy has a cap hit of $5.5M annually. This contract makes it virtually impossible to trade without retaining salary. The more the Red Wings retain, the steeper the price it will be to make a deal happen.
Here is a look at the six teams who have defenseman on the IR and could use Leddy’s services.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are currently at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. After 58 games, the Hurricanes have a record of 41-12-5. The Hurricanes should have a long playoff run and have only lost four games at home in regulation all season.
Carolina currently have Tony DeAngelo on the IR, but only have seven healthy defensemen on the active NHL roster. Similar to many of the top teams in the NHL, the Hurricanes are pressed against the cap and according to capfriendly.com, currently do not have any cap space. The Red Wings would have to retain a large portion of Leddy’s contract in order to make this trade happen. Another possibility would be for the two teams to make a contract for contract trade.
If Carolina goes after Leddy to add depth, the Red Wings will likely make them pay dearly. It would probably cost the Hurricanes a 2nd round pick and possibly a prospect. Everything will depend on how much of Leddy’s contract the Red Wings will be asked to retain.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently third in the Atlantic Division. After 58 games, the Leafs have a record of 37-16-5. The Leafs are hoping to have a long playoff run and have only lost seven games at home in regulation all season.
Toronto currently have Jake Muzzin on IR, but only have seven healthy defensemen on the active NHL roster. According to capfriendly.com, Toronto currently have less than $100,000 in cap space. In order to make any deals before the deadline, the Leafs have to either make a swap of salaries or make their trade partner retain a significant amount of the remaining contract.
If Toronto trades for Nick Leddy, the Red Wings will ask for a 2nd round pick and possibly a forward on the Leafs current roster. This will be a difficult trade for the Leafs to make mainly because of Leddy’s cap hit of $5.5M.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are currently second in the Pacific Division. After 60 games, the Kings have a record of 32-20-8. The Kings are hoping to have a long playoff run in the Western Conference and have only lost eight games on the road in regulation all season.
Los Angeles currently have three regular defensemen on IR. Kings defensemen Mikey Anderson, Alexander Edler, and Sean Walker are all currently nursing injuries. According to capfriendly.com, the Kings have just over $600,000 of their cap space remaining. Los Angeles will most likely make a trade for a defenseman before the deadline. They currently only have six defensemen on their active NHL roster.
Nick Leddy would add the much needed depth that the KIngs will require during the grind of the NHL playoffs. The Red Wings would have to absorb a large portion of Leddy’s contract in order to make a trade work with Los Angeles. Similar to other trade scenarios, the more Detroit retains, the higher the cost for Los Angeles.
Yzerman will once again be asking for a second round pick from the Kings. It could be plausible for Detroit to accept one of the Kings talented forward prospects in return for taking on a significant portion of Leddy’s cap hit.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently third in the Metropolitan Division. After 59 games, the Penguins have a record of 35-15-9. With veterans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang nearing the end of their careers, the Penguins are running out of chances to make a long playoff push.
Pittsburgh currently have Mike Matheson on IR, but the Penguins still have eight defensemen on their active NHL roster. According to capfriendly.com, the Penguins do not have any cap space open to take on any more contracts.
The Penguins will probably stand pat with their current team and hope that Matheson returns for the playoffs. Any trade for Leddy would require an equal trade for salary.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are currently third in the Wild Card standings in the Western Conference. After 57 games, the Stars have a record of 32-22-3. The Stars are just trying to make the playoffs. The Stars are on a 6-3-1 roll in their last 10 games. If they have a good week before the deadline, they will likely be buyers at the deadline. If they fall out of the playoff picture, they will like be sellers.
The Stars currently have defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Andrej Sekera on IR, leaving them with only six healthy defensemen on the active NHL roster. According to capfriendly.com, Dallas do not currently have any room to add any more contracts. If the Stars do make a move to add depth to the defense position, they will have to shed a salary from their active roster.
If Dallas trades for Nick Leddy, the Red Wings will ask for a 2nd round pick. Even though Dallas general manager Jill Nill and Steve Yzerman know each other well, a 2nd round pick for a rental on a team that may not even make the playoffs, will be a difficult transaction to make.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are currently third in the Pacific Division. After 59 games, the Oilers have a record of 32-23-4. The Oilers have two of the best players in the game in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and must make a serious run at the playoffs.
Edmonton currently have Kris Russell and Tyson Barrie on IR. This leaves the Oilers with only six healthy defensemen on the active NHL roster. According to capfriendly.com, Edmonton are right against the cap and don’t currently have any cap room available to add players.
In order for the Oilers to add depth on defense, they will have to part with a forward contract and possibly a draft pick. While anything is possibly with Kenny Holland making the trades for Edmonton, with little cap space remaining, it will be difficult for the OIlers to do anything at the deadline. Holland has once again cash-strapped a franchise at the deadline.
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