If your team has already been removed from Stanley Cup consideration, the offseason is a little slice of Christmas morning. With 29 of 30 teams falling short of the ultimate goal, the journey back to the drawing board is shorter for some than others.
The NHL Entry Draft takes place in Philadelphia June 27-28 and with the number one draft pick already in play in trade discussions (allegedly) there are sure to be some big names on the move. Here are the five big-name players that will be wearing different colors next fall.
Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks
The run of the San Jose captain appears to be over as management realizes that it is time to get serious about where they are at as a franchise. Questions regarding “Jumbo” Joe’s leadership have been in play over the last decade, but there is no denying the talent of the soon-to-be 35-year old center. He has nine seasons in the books for the Sharks and is coming off a productive year where he finished second in the NHL with 65 assists, just three off the pace of leader Sidney Crosby. He may be on the downside of a productive career, but there is still a hungry trade market for Thornton’s services.
Alexander Edler, D, Vancouver Canucks
Edler’s name always seems to come up around the trade deadline but the trigger never gets pulled on the Swedish rearguard. At 6’4 and 220 pounds Edler is a small mountain of a man with a booming slapshot and smooth skating stride. He has come in to his own as a physical presence on the blue line using his size to separate players from the puck and often times their feet. A gifted puck mover and passer, it’s a bit of a curiosity why the Canucks’ defenseman isn’t more productive statistically. As a point man on the power play, Edler is a coveted entity for at least two-dozen teams.
James Neal, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
The changes in Pittsburgh will continue in the Steel City as their rugged left wing Neal gets moved out of town. The Penguins have a few players on their wish list and will most likely use Neal as the bait to upgrade. The 26-year old winger potted 27 goals for the Pens and plays a physical style that many teams would love to add to their roster. The next Pittsburgh GM will have plenty of options to move players and keep the salary cap in line. Moving Neal makes sense from a salary cap standpoint, while his disappearing act in the playoffs got him a ticket out of town.
Evander Kane, LW, Winnipeg Jets
The perpetually under-achieving left wing has been rumored to be on the move over the past two seasons, but could finally find a new home this summer. He has been linked with James Neal in a one-for-one swap and end up on Sid Crosby’s wing. While this could be a mutually beneficial maneuver for both parties, it is purely based on the speculation and hopes of Pittsburgh journalists drooling at the young starlet on Crosby’s wing.
Ryan Kesler, C, Vancouver Canucks
It seemed almost a virtual certainty that the Canuck center would be moved this past March at the trade deadline. While he finished the year in Vancouver, a new coach and new general manager won’t be enough to keep the Michigan native in the Pacific Division. Expect all of the same suitors from earlier in the season to come sniffing around as the draft nears to lure the productive center from the only team he has ever known.