How Much Player Movement Will There Actually Be?
Jim Biringer joined TSN Radio in Montreal earlier in the week and was asked if we could see less player movement than many expected, given how tight the standings are.
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Host: “Jim, you look at the National Hockey League, and it’s ridiculously tight, and you stick with the Eastern Conference, here’s a second—the Devils by points (42) and the Maple Leafs (39). So, from the bottom to (tied for) the second wild card spot is a good week. That’s the difference. Does it still mean the difference between this week but I still expect a lot of teams to expire, and I expect that. This pattern so we can continue, we should, as fans are here, we expect less movement of players than we expected a few weeks ago or a month ago?”
Jim Biringer: “Yeah. I mean, I would expect less player movement than we originally thought. I still think the work will continue because we still have that second deadline in the Olympic Break. And again, I believe there’s still a debate about whether you can move players during the break, and unlike the roster freeze we have now, where nothing happens and during that trade period?
But I expect other things to take over. Do I expect a lot of movement? No, but I expect a trade, especially if the teams, especially in the West, start to continue to deteriorate. The East is just tough, isn’t it? For one week you may be sitting on one section. The next week, look outside, look inside. Look at the Panthers. They have been near the bottom of the standings all season, except for an early extension. Here they come, and they get assurances back.
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And maybe that’s the ultimate movement we’re seeing. That’s what we’re seeing, acquisitions, leases, players coming back from injury, and finding ways to clear space. New Jersey must do that to get Johnathan Kovacevic back on the roster. They tried to get Quinn Hughes, but they just don’t have the space. They have to open up cap space to bring back their players, and you just look again.
Brayden Schenn’s name is there. Jordan Kyrou’s name is there. Ryan O’Reilly, but again, he’s going to want to go, he has to go. Same with Nazem Kadri in Calgary. Obviously, you’re moving around, Seattle. What other move will they have? Jamie Oleksiak, are you fired? Is Jordan Eberle removed? UFA guys?
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I think some players are gone. But again, now if you are Buffalo, we will bring you back to them. Make these conversations with Alex Tuch a little easier. Or he said, ‘Well, you know, maybe I’ll still go free, even though we’re on this.’
The tie in Mpumalanga, because of all the extra time games, makes me wonder if the move we all thought would happen may have to wait until the first season. “
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