Peterka, Robertson and more: Evaluating your mock NHL trades ahead of free agency
With just over a week away until free agency opens up across the NHL, trade rumors have been circulating.
On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Servalli and Tyler Yaremchuk break down a few fan-submitted mock trades and which ones actually make sense.
Tyler Yaremchuk: [Utah Mammoth] gets J.J. Peterka. [The Buffalo Sabres] gets fourth overall and Matias Maccelli. Do you think this is in the right ballpark when it comes to value for Peterka?
Frank Seravalli: No. I believe one of the teams that’s put on a significant push with the Buffalo Sabres is the Chicago Blackhawks. I think they’ve let them know they’re willing to talk about [pick No. 3] and it really hasn’t gone anywhere. If that’s not getting it done, I don’t think No. 4 is. They need roster players back and they’re looking for a right-shot defenseman overall as one of their overarching things. So, the Sabres aren’t looking for futures. They’re looking for current help to end a 14-year playoff drought.
Tyler: If you’re the Sabres, though, you’re getting offered a top-five pick…Shouldn’t you just maybe take that, then dangle your own first-round pick to go get the right-shot defenseman you need? And isn’t that a way to maybe get the best of both worlds here?
Frank: It is, but it’s not going to be Macceilli for me. It’s not going to be an undersized guy. So, I get what you’re saying, but I want someone that’s going to be way more impactful if I’m doing it.
Tyler: We talked last week that maybe the Jason Robertson trade talks have quieted down, but that has not stopped fans from all over the league from throwing together ways that their favorite team could get their hands on Jason Robertson. We got two. This one has Robertson and Matt Dumba’s salary going to Detroit. To [the Dallas Stars], it’s Jonatan Berggren, Michael Rasmussen, and Nate Danielson, the former first-rounder, and then another first-round pick, 13th overall this year, and a second. Do you think Dallas would be interested in a futures-based package for Robertson?
Frank: I think they could be, but…this feels like a lot to give up if you’re the Detroit Red Wings, doesn’t it? Berggren’s pretty good. I like how Rasmussen has taken a bit of a step forward. Danielson and the 13th pick. I mean, Dallas has drafted so well. This would be like a get-out-of-jail-free card, and I know that the Wings would be adding a really talented winger, but Dumba doesn’t really help them defensively with what they need. Who says no to this one? I would say that the Detroit Red Wings would say no.
Tyler: It is a lot. I think once you get into the five-piece territory for a guy who I know he’s an RFA for a few more years, but if I’m Detroit, the only way I even take a second to think about this one is I go, “Oh, I need Jason Robertson signed to an eight-year extension, and I need to know what that number looks like,” because, you’re right, to just give up all this and cross your fingers and hope you come to a good deal with Robertson is probably a bit much.
How about this Jason Robertson one? It has him going to the New York Rangers along with Lian Bichsel, with Alexis Lafreniere, Braden Schneider, Brennan Othmann, and a second-round pick. It’s a mind-boggling one to even just try to be like, okay, where about these values line up?
Frank: The Stars are saying no to this. Lafreniere, I don’t think ever becomes what Robertson already is. He’s already earning a similar AAV. Schneider is a really good defenseman, but we haven’t even seen Bichsel scratch the surface yet for being a big, punishing, menacing threat on the back end. My guess would be that Dallas would say no to this, but it would definitely make you think, because Othmann’s pretty good, and a second. … I think the Stars in the end probably trade quality for quantity.
Tyler: My case for Dallas saying yes to this, if I had to make one, would be that Lafreniere is cost-controlled now for a number of years. You get that, is the cap shooting up if you’re buying on some potential? If the Stars, after getting Mikko Rantanen are sitting there going, “Oh, man, are we maybe a little bit top-heavy?” This helps you in that sense, because you could be getting Brendan Othmann slid into your top nine, top six eventually. Lafreniere’s in your top six. Schneider helps on the blue line as well. I can see the itches that it scratches from a Stars’ perspective. … I think Dallas and New York could be really interesting trade partners.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…