The NHL’s free company season begins in only a few weeks, however the wheeling and dealing between groups has already begun. Look no additional than the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals doing a swap with Pierre-Luc Dubois heading to the American capital and goalie Darcy Kuemper being despatched to the Metropolis of Angels. On Wednesday it was revealed that the Ottawa Senators have engaged the Seattle Kraken in talks about Brandon Tanev. What may such a commerce entail?
Tanev’s Time in Seattle
Tanev has been with the Kraken for the reason that membership’s inaugural 2021-22 season, acquired through the growth draft in July 2021. He’s by no means been a high liner, logging on common 13:46 of ice time all through his profession. Even so, he’s helped no fewer than three franchises attain the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He did so twice with the Winnipeg Jets, then twice once more with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and for the 2022-23 Kraken that went to the second spherical of the playoffs.
His most efficient marketing campaign was that very same 2022-23, when he partook in all 82 of the membership’s common season dates, tallying 35 factors within the course of through 16 objectives and 19 helpers. Sadly, 2023-24 was marred by accidents, particularly through the first few months, thus his participation in solely 66 contests.
The timing of a cope with the Senators is sensible. He’s 32 years previous, was banged up for a piece of the season, and has one yr left on his present deal paying him $3.5 million earlier than turning into an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in July 2025. Might the Kraken hold him round as they slowly insert numerous Coachella Valley Firebirds prospects into the lineup? Completely. Might they try to avoid wasting cap house by dealing a participant that’s strong however most likely not a part of their long-term future? Sure to that as effectively.
Tanev for Who?
Naturally with the league calendar set to start quickly, any discussions, debates, and rumors about trades will gravitate in direction of the notion of cap house. That is when franchise bookkeepers have the clearest image of how a lot cash they really have of their coffers.
As specified, Tanev comes with a $3.5 million price ticket for the upcoming 2024-25 marketing campaign, and the Kraken have $23.4 million of projected cap house (with none of their looming free brokers signed).
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The Senators run a a lot tighter ship. Their pending cap room has been established at $12.4 million. As one would think about, Ottawa gained’t wish to merely deal away a draft decide or a participant on an entry-level deal. If they’re prepared to select up Tanev for $3.5 million with $12.4 million of cap house accessible, they’ll wish to offload any person expensive within the course of. To that time, the identical report mentioning that the Senators are speaking with the Kraken about Tanev signifies that the Ontario-based franchise is purchasing Mathieu Joseph round.
Professionals and Cons of Buying and selling for Joseph
This carrot would and may strike common supervisor Ron Francis’ curiosity. There are a number of the explanation why. First, Joseph is minimize from an analogous material as Tanev. He’s a strong participant who can contribute on one of many decrease traces however isn’t anybody’s definition of an unmissable ingredient for a championship run. Stick in him there, see what occurs, and odds are the outcomes will likely be largely passable, if not unspectacular. The fact is all groups want a Mathieu Joseph. Third are fourth traces are not often the speak of the city, however they’ve their function and serve their objective.
Two different parts make this an alluring proposition. At 27, Joseph is way youthful than Tanev. Ought to he slot in and be a reasonably constant contributor, the Kraken can get loads of mileage out of the Laval native. It’s much less clear if the identical may be stated of Tanev. Not inconceivable, simply not as clear. Even their numbers once they play most of a daily season are related. Joseph has had a 25-point season (2018-19), a 35-point season (2023-24), and a trio throughout which he flirted with 20 (19 in 2020-21, 18 in 2021-22, and 18 in 2022-23). Tanev, who has been round for 2 extra years, has had a 29-point marketing campaign (2018-19), a 25-point marketing campaign (2019-20), the aforementioned 35-point season, and an 18-point tally in 2017-18.
To make the accountants at Local weather Pledge Enviornment comfortable, Joseph has two years left on a deal that pays him $2.95 million. He’s youthful than Tanev, places up eerily related numbers, is an effective third or fourth-liner, and prices much less.
Does this imply the commerce is a shoo-in? No. It’s good that he would price about $550,000 lower than an older participant, however does Seattle wish to exchange a purple apple with a inexperienced apple? It’s nonetheless an apple. Perhaps the Kraken need draft picks. They’ve a ton to work with this summer time (5 within the first three rounds). To place the thought additional into context, the staff additionally took a step backward this season and is about to be led by a head coach – Dan Bylsma – who is aware of a factor or two about participant growth since he’s the one who coached the Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals.
Until one is buying and selling for Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Igor Shesterkin, there are going to be execs and cons to any potential deal. Upon reflection, a Joseph-for-Tanev swap does make sense for the Kraken. It permits them to plug in an analogous participant because the one who’s strolling out the door however at a decrease price and with much less mileage.
