CarterHud

       The Colorado Avalanche have acquired forward Brandon Saad and defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zadorov and defenseman Anton Lindholm. The Blackhawks retained $1 million of Saad\’s contract.

        With a lot of cap space and a want for more scoring, the Avalanche were rumored to be in the Taylor Hall sweepstakes. They could still make a push for him, but Saad is a solid middle-six winger. After Chicago retained some salary, Colorado faces a $5 million cap hit, with Saad becoming a UFA after 20-21. Saad has scored at least 20 goals in five of the past six seasons, and won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. Saad had two great seasons in Columbus (2015-16 and 2016-17), before returning to Chicago in a really bad trade for Artemi Panarin, but he has fallen off a little bit since. With the Avalanche, Saad will have a better team around him, which means a chance to score more goals. Zadorov is an RFA that the Avs don\’t need, with Sam Girard, Ian Cole, Ryan Graves and top prospect Bowen Byram on the left side, although they could use a right-handed defenseman (Cole can also play both sides). If they need depth, they get that in Gilbert, who played in over a quarter of Chicago\’s games last season.

         Saad, who will be 28 later this month, scored 21 goals with 12 assists for 33 points in 58 games for the Blackhawks in 2019-20. In his NHL career for Chicago and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Saad has 169 goals with 178 assists for 347 points in 588 games.

         Gilbert, 23 (who\’s birthday is just three days after Saad\’s), scored one goal with two assists for three points in 21 games for the Blackhawks in 2019-20, and has one extra NHL game, coming in 2018-19. For the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL last year, Gilbert had one goal with six assists for seven points in 30 games. 

        Even though they (somehow) made the playoffs in 2019-20, the Blackhawks don\’t look great going into 2020-21, especially with Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban in goal. In this trade, they clear some cap space, although not too much, as immediately afterwards the Blackhawks announced that Zadorov accepted his qualifying offer of one year, worth $3.2 million. The Blackhawks still have Duncan Keith, and Calvin de Haan is solid as well, but behind them the left side is weak, so Zadorov is an improvement over Nick Seeler. That being said, the Blackhawks could use a left winger, even before this trade. Dominik Kubalik is great, but now with Saad gone, there isn\’t much behind him. Alex DeBrincat could be on his off-side, but the next best pure left winger is either Brandon Pirri or John Quenneville. That is a position that I could see the Blackhawks look to upgrade with their remaining cap space, as well as in goal. Lindholm played in 48 games in 2017-18, but hasn\’t come close to that total since. He is older than Gilbert, and probably has a little bit less value.

         Zadorov, 25, scored four goals with nine assists for 13 points in 64 games for the Avalanche in 2019-20. In his NHL career for the Avs and Buffalo Sabres, Zadorov has 22 goals with 53 assists for 75 points in 356 games. 

         Lindholm, also 25, had one assist in four game for the Avalanche in 2019-20. In his NHL career, all in Colorado, the 2014 5th rounder has five points, all assists, in 66 games. In 45 games in 2019-20 for the AHL\’s Colorado Eagles, Lindholm had one goal with two assists for three points. 

 

       The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Austin Watson from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2021 4th round draft pick.

       On Halloween of last year, the Predators signed Watson to a three year extension with a cap hit of $1.5 million. Unfortunately, he will play in zero games for them under that deal, as it just has kicked in this season. The Predators essentially replaced Watson yesterday when they signed Nick Cousins to a two year deal with the same cap hit. Since the Predators lack in depth, having Cousins, a lefty, and Watson, a righty, on the same line could have helped, as Cousins can play left wing and center while Watson can play both sides. Trading Watson doesn\’t make much sense, unless the Predators have something big in mind. They do have $14.66 million in cap space, so they could go after Taylor Hall or Mike Hoffman. The return for Watson is about what you would expect.

         The Senators are having a pretty good offseason, and while Watson isn\’t anything special, he is a decent addition. A six-four winger who was a first rounder in 2010, Watson is now the 21st player from the first round of that draft to be traded. He is a physical player, eclipsing 100 hits in each of the last four seasons, including his 37 game 2018-19. 

          Watson, 28, scored six goals with eight assists for 14 points in 53 games for the Predators in 2019-20. In his NHL career, all in Nashville, Watson has 36 goals with 41 assists for 77 points in 306 games. 

 

       It is October 9th, which is 2020 means that it is the start of NHL free agency. Here is the official Carterhud.com free agency tracker, starting with October 9 signings, and updating when new deals are announced. 

       Anaheim Ducks

F Derek Grant, three years, $1.5 million (AAV)

D Kevin Shattenkirk, three years, $3.9 million

F Vinni Lettieri (two-way), one year, $750k

F Andrew Poturalaki (two-way), one year, $700k

D Andy Welinski, one year, $750k

      Arizona Coyotes

F Tyler Pitlick, two years, $1.75 million

F John Hayden, one year, $750k

F Johan Larsson, two years, $1.4 million

F Dryden Hunt (two-way), one year, $700k

D Jordan Gross (two-way), one year, $750k

F Christian Fischer (RFA), two years, $1 million

       Boston Bruins

D Kevan Miller, one year, $1.25 million

F Craig Smith, three years, $3.1 million

F Greg McKegg (two-way), one year, $700k

G Callum Booth (two-way), one year, $700k

D Jakub Zboril (RFA), two years, $725k

D Matt Grzelcyk (RFA), four years, $3.69 million

F Karson Kuhlman (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F Zach Senyshyn (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

       Buffalo Sabres

F Tobias Rieder, one year, $700k

D Matt Irwin, one year, $700k

D Brandon Davidson, one year, $700k

F Cody Eakin, two years, $2.25 million

D Brandon Montour (RFA), one year, $3.85

F Taylor Hall, one year, $8 million

F Steven Fogarty (two-way), one year, $700k

D Casey Nelson, one year, $700k

F Sam Reinhart (RFA), one year, $5.2 million

G Linus Ullmark (RFA), one year, $2.6 million

       Calgary Flames

F Buddy Robinson, one year, $700k

D Alex Petrovic, one year, $700k

G Jacob Markstrom, six years, $6 million

F Zac Rinaldo (two-way), one year, $700k

F Byron Froese (two-way), one year, $725k

D Chris Tanev, four years, $4.5 million

G Louis Domingue (two-way), one year, $700k

F Glenn Gawdin (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

G Tyler Parsons (RFA, two-way), one year, $735k

F Andrew Mangiapane (RFA), two years, $2.43 million

F Joakim Nordstrom, one year, $700k

F Dominik Simon, one year, $700k

D Nikita Nesterov, one year, $700k

F Josh Leivo, one year, $875k

       Carolina Hurricanes

F Jesper Fast, three years, $2 million

D Joakim Ryan (two-way), one year, $700k

F Clark Bishop (two-way), one year, $700k

F Vasili Ponomarev (entry level), three years, $818k

F Spencer Smallman (two-way), one year, $700k

F Steven Lorentz (two-way), two years, $725k

F Jeremy Bracco (two-way), one year, $700k

F David Gust (two-way), one year, $700k

F Sheldon Rempal (two-way), one year, $700k

F Drew Shore (two-way), one year, $700k

G Antoine Bibeau (two-way), one year, $700k

D Gustav Forsling (two-way), one year, $700k

D Haydn Fleury (RFA), two years, $1.3 million

       Chicago Blackhawks

F Dominik Kubalik (RFA), two years, $3.7 million

G Malcolm Subban, two years, $850k

D Nikita Zadorov (RFA), one year, $3.2 million

F Mattis Janmark, one year, $2.25 million

F Lucas Wallmark, one year, $950k

       Colorado Avalanche

F Miikka Salomaki (two-way), one year, $700k

F Mike Vecchione (two-way), one year, $700k

F Sheldon Dries (two-way), one year, $771,750 

F Kiefer Sherwood (two-way), one year, $700k

F Andre Burakovsky (RFA), two years, $4.9 million

F Jayson Megna (two-way), one year, $700k 

F Valeri Nichuskin (RFA), two years, $2.5 million

D Ryan Graves (RFA), three years, $3.16 million

F Tyson Jost (RFA), one year, $874k

G Hunter Miska (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

D Devon Toews (RFA), four years, $4.1 million

       Columbus Blue Jackets

D Gavin Bayreuther (two-way), one year, $710k 

F Mikko Koivu, one year, $1.5 million

D Gabriel Carlson (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F Calvin Thurkauf (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

       Dallas Stars

G Anton Khudobin, three years, $3.33 million

D Mark Pysyk, one year, $750k

F Joel L\’Esperance (two-way), two years, $725k

F Radek Faksa (RFA), five years, $3.25 million

F Denis Gurianov (RFA), two years, $2.55 million

G Landon Bow (two-way), one year, $700k

       Detroit Red Wings

F Bobby Ryan, one year, $1 million

D Jon Merrill, one year, $925k

F Riley Barber (two-way), two years, $725k

G Kevin Boyle (two-way), one year, $700k

F Kyle Criscuolo (two-way), one year, $700k

G Thomas Greiss, two years, $3.6 million

D Troy Stetcher, two years, $1.7 million

F Vladislav Namestnikov, two years, $2 million

F Tyler Bertuzzi (RFA), one year, $3.5 million

       Edmonton Oilers

F Kyle Turris, two years, $1.65 million

F Alan Quine, one year, $750k

F Tyler Ennis, one year, $1 million

G Anton Forsberg (two-way), one year, $700k

F Seth Griffith (two-way), two years, $725k

D Tyson Barrie, one year, $3.75 million

G Mike Smith, one year, $2 million

D Kris Russell (extension), one year, $1.25 million

         Florida Panthers

D Radko Gudas, three years, $2.5 million

F Carter Verhaeghe, two years, $1 million

F Alex Wennberg, one year, $2.25 million

F Ryan Lomberg, two years, $725k

F Vinnie Hinostroza, one year, $1 million

G Philippe Desrosiers (two-way), one year, $700k

F Scott Wilson (two-way), one year, $700k

           Los Angeles Kings

D Mark Alt (two-way), one year, $700k

G Troy Grosenick (two-way), one year, $700k

D Austin Strand (two-way), two years, $725k

F Bokondji Imama (RFA, two-way), one year, $735k

F Quinton Byfield (entry level), three years, $925k

          Minnesota Wild

G Cam Talbot, three years, $3.66 million

F Joseph Cramarossa (two-way), one year, $700k

D Dakota Mermis (two-way), one year, $700k

F Jordan Greenway (RFA), two years, $2.1 million

G Kaapo Kahkonen (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

D Ian McCoshen (two-way), one year, $700k

D Louis Belpedio (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

F Marcus Rossi (entry level), three years, $925k

           Montreal Canadiens

D Victor Mete (RFA), one year, $735k

F Brandon Baddock (two-way), one year, $700k

D Xavier Ouellet (two-way), 2 years, $737.5k

F Tyler Toffoli, four years, $4.25 million

G Jake Allen (extension), two years, $2.875 million

F Brendan Gallagher (extension), six years, $6.5 million

D Kaiden Guhle (entry level), three years, $925k

          Nashville Predators

D Matt Benning, two years, $1 million

D Mark Borowiecki, two years, $2 million

F Nick Cousins, two years, $1.5 million

F Brad Richardson, one year, $1 million

G Kasimir Kaskisuo (two-way), one year, $700k

D Tyler Lewington (two-way), one year, $700k

F Rem Pitlick (RFA, two-way), one year, $874k

          New Jersey Devils

G Corey Crawford, two years, $3.9 million

G Scott Wedgewood (two-way), one year, $700k

F Nick Merkley (RFA, two-way), one year, $874k

D Dmitry Kulikov, one year, $1.15 million

          New York Islanders

D Grant Hutton (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F Austin Czarnik (two-way), two years, $725k

D Mitch Vande Sompel (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

D Parker Wotherspoon (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F AJ Greer (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

F Josh Ho-Sang (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

          New York Rangers

F Kevin Rooney, two years, $750k

F Colin Blackwell (two-way), two years, $725k

G Keith Kinkaid, two years, $875k

D Jack Johnson, one year, $1.15 million

D Anthony Bitetto (two-way), two years, $737.5k

F Jonny Brodzinski (two-way), one year, $700k

D Brandon Crawley (two-way), one year, $700k

F Anthony Greco (two-way), two years, $737.5k

F Alex Lafreniere (entry level), three years, $925k

F Philip Di Giuseppe (two-way), one year, $700k

G Alex Georgiev (RFA), two years, $2.43 million

D Tony DeAngelo (RFA), two years, $4.8 million

F Gabriel Fontaine (two-way), one year, $700k

D Darren Raddish (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

           Ottawa Senators

G Matt Murray (RFA), four years, $6.25 million

F Logan Shaw (two-way), two years, $725k

F Matthew Peca (two-way), one year, $700k

F Nicholas Paul (RFA), two years, $1.35 million

F Evgenii Dadonov, three years, $5 million

F Rudolfs Balcers (RFA, two-way), one year, $735k

G Joey Daccord (RFA, two-way), three years, $750k

F JC Beaudin (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

F Connor Brown (RFA), three years, $3.6 million

F Chris Tierney (RFA), two years, $3.5 million

F Filip Chlapik (RFA, two-way), one year, $735k

           Philadelphia Flyers

D Derrick Pouliot (two-way), one year, $700k

F Zayde Wisdom (entry level), three years, $825k

D Erik Gustafsson, one year, $3 million

F Tyson Foerster (entry level), three years, $925k

F Nolan Patrick (RFA), one year, $874k

           Pittsburgh Penguins

F Evan Rodrigues, one year, $700k

F Mark Jankowski, one year, $700k

F Josh Currie (two-way), one year, $700k

F Frederick Gaudreau (two-way), one year, $700k

G Maxime Lagace (two-way), one year, $700k

F Anthony Angello (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F Sam Miletic (2-way), one year, $700k

D Cody Ceci, one year, $1.25 million

            San Jose Sharks

F Stefan Noesen, one year, $925k

F Kevin LaBanc, four years, $4.725 million

F Matt Nieto (two-way), one year, $700k

F Patrick Marleau (two-way), one year, $700k

F Ozzy Wiesblatt (entry level), three years, $898k

            St. Louis Blues

G Jon Gillies (two-way), one year $700k

D Torey Krug, seven years, $6.5 million

D Steven Santini (two-way), one year, $700k

F Curtis McKenzie (two-way), one year, $700k

F Sam Anas (two-way), two years, $725k

F Kyle Clifford, two years, $1 million

F Jake Neigbbours (entry level), three years, $898k

D Mitch Reinke (RFA, two-way), one year, $750k

F Austin Poganski (two-way), one year, $700k

            Tampa Bay Lightning

F Patrick Maroon, two years, $900k

D Luke Schenn, one year, $800k

G Chris Gibson (two-way), one year, $700k

D Andreas Borgman (two-way), one year, $700k

F Ross Colton (two-way), one year, $700k

D Ben Thomas (two-way), one year, $700k

             Toronto Maple Leafs

F Wayne Simmonds, one year, $1.5 million

D TJ Brodie, four years, $5 million

F Travis Boyd, one year, $700k

D Zach Bogosian, one year, $1 million

F Jimmy Vesey, one year, $900k

G Aaron Dell, one year, $800k

F Joe Thornton, one year, $700k

F Ilya Mikehev (RFA), two years, $1.645 million

D Travis Dermott (RFA), one year, $874k

             Vancouver Canucks

G Braden Holtby, two years, $4.3 million

F Tyler Motte (RFA), two years, $1.225 million

D Ashton Sautner (two-way), one year, $700k

G Jake Kielly (two-way), one year, $700k

F Jayce Hawryluk (two-way), one year, $800k

F Adam Gaudette (RFA), one year, $950k

F Jake Virtanen (RFA), two years, $2.55 million

             Vegas Golden Knights

F Tomas Nosek, one year, $1.25 million

F Tomas Jurco, one year, $700k

F Danny O\’Regan (two-way), one year, $700k

D Alex Pietrangelo, seven years, $8.8 million

F Keegan Kolesar (RFA), two years, $725k

             Washington Capitals

G Henrik Lundqvist, one year, $1.5 million

D Justin Schultz, two years, $4 million

D Cameron Schilling (two-way), one year, $700k

D Trevor van Riemsdyk, one year, $800k

D Paul LaDue, one year, $700k

F Dan Carr (two-way), one year, $700k

F Shane Gersich (RFA, two-way), one year, $700k

D Jonas Siegenthaler (RFA), one year, $800k

F Hendrix Lapierre (entry-level), three years, $925k

             Winnipeg Jets

D Nathan Beaulieu, two years, $1.25 million

D Luca Sbisa, one year, $800k

F Mason Appleton (RFA), two years, $900k

F Nate Thompson, one year, $750k

F CJ Suess (two-way), two years, $725k

F Dominic Toninato (two-way), one year, $700k

D Derek Forbort, one year, $1 million

D Nelson Nogier (RFA, two-way), two years, $725k

F Jansen Harkins (RFA), two years, $725k

 

       The New Jersey Devils have acquired defenseman Ryan Murray from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2021 5th round draft pick. 

       Even though this trade can be seen as a salary dump, the Devils get really good value here for Murray.  The 2nd overall pick in 2012, Murray has always been hampered by injuries, as the last time he played in more than 60 games in a season was 2015-16. In a 59 game season in 2018-19, Murray showed promise as a defensive defenseman, and earned himself a two year extension with an AAV of $4.6 million. The Blue Jackets have been shedding salary all day, clearing up $11.8 million in cap space by trading away Murray and Markus Nutivaara, and buying-out Alex Wennberg. Even if it is a dump, Murray is worth more than a 5th round pick with just one year left and a somewhat reasonable salary if he is healthy. Erik Gudbranson, who has a cap hit just $600k less than Murray, got the same return in a trade to Ottawa today, while Murray is a much more valuable player. If Murray is healthy (a really big if), then the Devils might have found themselves a partner for PK Subban and a steal. 

        Murray, 27, scored two goals with seven assists for nine points in 27 games for the Blue Jackets in 2019-20. In his NHL career, all in Columbus, Murray has 15 goals with 95 assists for 110 points in 347 games. 

 

       The Florida Panthers have acquired defenseman Marcus Nutivaara from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Cliff Pu. 

        For the past four seasons Nutivaara has been a big part of the Blue Jackets defense. But 2019-20 was his weakest, as he dealt with injuries and was frequently a healthy scratch, including in some playoff games. As the Blue Jackets look to clear up cap space to sign Pierre-Luc Dubois and get more improvements, trading Nutivaara is something that probably needed to happen, along with buying-out Alex Wennberg, which they did just before the trade. Florida gets a solid bottom pairing defenseman, and new GM Bill Zito just came from Columbus, so he obviously likes Nutivaara. Since they only have six NHL forwards signed for next year, it is a little odd that they would take on Nutivaara\’s $2.7 million cap hit for two seasons, but that is a manageable number. They give up almost nothing in return, because Pu, a 2016 3rd rounder, is a fringe AHL player who they acquired for future considerations in 2019. 

         Nutivaara, 26, scored three goals with six assists for nine points in 37 games played for the Blue Jackets in 2019-20. In his NHL career, all in Columbus, Nutivaara has 17 goals with 43 assists for 60 points in 244 games. 

         Pu, 22, had two points (both assists) in 10 games for the AHL\’s Springfield Thunderbirds last year. He also had one goal with five assists for six points in four games for the ECHL\’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits.