The forthcoming 2023-24 NHL season seems to be ushering in a flurry of trade activities with teams avidly vying to enhance their rosters. Insider Elliotte Friedman has recently shed light on two Canadian teams that are in the thick of these trade talks.
Friedman Drops Major Bombshell
As the new NHL season is rapidly approaching, various teams are eager to strategize and reorganize their squads to ensure a competitive edge.
In the latest update from the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman pinpointed the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks as two teams that are at the forefront of these negotiations, actively seeking trades in the upcoming weeks.
On Elliote Friedmans 32 Thoughts Podcast, he says the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks are two significant players to watch in the coming days as NHL trade talks heat up across the league
It seems both the Canucks and the Senators are strategizing for similar reasons. While the Canucks are grappling with a cap space issue, amounting to nearly $5 million over the salary cap, the Senators are eyeing young talent Shane Pinto, necessitating significant cap space adjustments.
Potential Moves on the Horizon
Taking into consideration the current financial constraints of both teams, it's predicted that they might resort to a cap dump strategy, letting go of some of their assets to make room in their budget.
From the Canucks' side, players like Conor Garland and Tyler Myers are probable candidates for this, considering their existing cap hits. Anthony Beauvillier's trade is also in the conversation, although less likely, but has the potential to bring in a substantial return.
On the Senators' front, the choices are relatively limited. There is speculation around the potential movement of Mathieu Joseph or Dominik Kubalik to free up space for Shane Pinto's anticipated signing. Moving Kubalik might raise eyebrows given his prominent role in the Alex DeBrincat trade previously.
Moreover, an unexpected but feasible strategy could involve trading Shane Pinto himself for future assets, a move that depends heavily on the potential outcome.