The NHL trade deadline is two months from today.
That may seem like a long time from now, and in some ways it is. There are teams that don’t even know if they are buyers or sellers, and the next two months will go a long way in answering those questions.
But this year is different than most. Trade activity could begin much sooner than usual—meaning a deadline of two months from now will bring deals, but some of the biggest moves could come in January or early February instead of the first week of March.
Why?
This year, an international tournament called the 4 Nations Face-Off will be held from February 12-20. This event will bring together the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden to determine which nation will win the championship.
Maybe you already know a lot about this, or maybe it’s new to you. The NHL has organized the event, which will be held in the host cities of Montreal and Boston, as it hopes to be an exciting replacement for this year’s All-Star game.
Believe it or not, Gary Bettman may have found something by now.
The All-Star Game generated as much excitement as cable TV reruns. Action meant nothing; players went through the show, and the game couldn’t grab the attention of casual fans no matter how many times the editors changed the format.
In the end, the reason the All-Star Game was so boring was that the players didn’t really care whether they won or lost. No one was losing sleep over the result.
This year, players will care. They will wear their country’s colors on their jerseys. They will all have a shot at the title, and will do whatever it takes to win.
No more All-Star Game cupcake shenanigans. This competition will involve a mixture of blood and sweat—tears, which must be cut.
So what does all this have to do with the trade deadline?
Because the players care about the 4 Nations Face-Off, and because they will be playing as hard as possible, there is a better chance of injury occurring.
Take New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, for example, who will be playing for Team USA.
Nelson could be one of the best players available on the trade market. The 33-year-old from Warroad, Minn., has 21 points (10 G, 11 A) in 40 games this season.
In 12 seasons, all with the Islanders, Nelson has compiled 285 goals and 267 assists for 552 points. He has never finished a season without scoring in double digits. He also has 78 playoff games under his belt, and has 50 points (27 G, 23 A) in those high-profile contests.
This has been a brutal season for the Islanders, who sit near the top of the Eastern Conference. Nelson is in the final season of his contract. All the ingredients are in place for New York to move him to a contender for prospects or picks.
However, come Feb. 12, Nelson will feel the rush to play for Team USA. There is more than zero chance of injury. Wouldn’t it be wise for the Islanders to move him before the tournament instead of waiting until the March 7 deadline.
Other groups may find themselves asking similar questions.
The New York Rangers may sign Chris Kreider, who will play for Team USA, and Mika Zibanejad, who will play for Team Sweden. Perhaps the Nashville Predators are looking to move Gustav Nyquist (Team Sweden). Can the San Jose Sharks sign Mikael Granlund (Swedish team).
There is still a lot to be done at the summit. Every trade season is different, and we don’t know the full picture yet about which teams will be the most aggressive and what types of players they will want to acquire.
We may start getting those answers soon. Not two months from now at the deadline, but in the next few weeks as the 4 Nations Face-Off approaches.