THW Daily - Special Edition NHL Power Rankings & Ottawa Senators Trade Candidates
Also, why the Canadiens need to move David Savard at the deadline & more
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In today’s edition, we have special edition NHL power rankings, who the Ottawa Senators could move at the trade deadline, why the Canadiens need to move David Savard at the deadline, and much more.
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Check Out Some THW Premium Substack Content:
Buffalo Sabres: Sabres' Prospect Update: Feb. 1 by JP Gambatese
Arizona Coyotes: Kachina Corner Weekly Audio Report: A Rough Trip Down South by Chase Beardsley
Tampa Bay Lightning: Time to Bolt Audio Report: Kucherov First Pick in All-Star Game Draft by Harrison Smajovits
Florida Panthers: 10 Thoughts on the Panthers: All-Star Break Edition by Joey Ganzi
New Jersey Devils: Devils Sunday Brunch - 10 Thoughts on the Second Half by Josh Reinitz
St. Louis Blues: Blue Note Weekly Audio Report: Robert Thomas Has Big Week as All-Star in Toronto by Ethan Carter
Edmonton Oilers: Oilers Overtime: Winning or Buying... You Can't Have Both by Jim Parsons
Check Out THW’s Professional Women’s Hockey League Coverage
Yesterday’s Scores…
Canadiens Need to Trade David Savard to Maximize Value
February 5, 2024 by Blain Potvin
Between now and March 8, the NHL’s trade deadline, there will be many names from the Montreal Canadiens circling the rumour mill. General manager (GM) Kent Hughes has a busy few weeks ahead of him, while the team focuses on finding ways to compete with the loss of another centerman in Sean Monahan.
The trade deadline may be a quiet one for Hughes now that he has traded his most valuable trade chip, but he must now look at his roster and decide if it is worthwhile trading out more veterans. For a team in a rebuild, it is always an internal struggle to keep or trade those grizzled veterans who may fetch a good return on investment on the market or could be used to mentor the youth. With that in mind, what does David Savard provide the Canadiens on the ice and in the market, and what has the better value?
NHL 2023-24 Power Rankings: Special Edition
February 5, 2024 by Eugene Helfrick
The NHL world was supposed to be on vacation this week. With only six games on the schedule and the 2024 All-Star Weekend ahead, I expected to take this week’s Power Rankings off since there wouldn’t be enough games or news to cover. We would all just have fun watching the All-Star Draft, see some cool skills competitions, sit back with the silliness that is the All-Star Game, then get back to the regularly scheduled programming on February 12th after a full week of hockey.
With all of this in mind, I wanted to do a quicker update to my weekly article to avoid falling behind. So I hope you all enjoy this Special Edition of THWs 2023-24 NHL Power Rankings!
Red Wings vs. Expectations: Who’s Exceeding & Who’s Failing
February 5, 2024 by Tony Wolak
Before the season began, I put together scoring projections for each Detroit Red Wings player. And since we’re in the midst of a nine-day All-Star break, now is a good time to revisit those projections.
As a whole, the Red Wings are exceeding expectations offensively, but falling short defensively – at least when compared to last year’s team. But what about individual players? Which are outpacing my projections? And which are lagging behind? Let’s dive in and find out.
3 Trades the Islanders & Maple Leafs Can Make
February 5, 2024 by Mike Fink
The NHL season returns from the All-Star Break with the New York Islanders facing the team that hosted the 2024 All-Star Game, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Monday night. Both teams stumbled into the break and are middling in the standings, so they will be looking to improve their position in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders and Maple Leafs don’t seem like ideal trade partners, but recent history suggests otherwise. Last season, the Islanders acquired Pierre Engvall at the deadline in a move that gave them a reliable top-six scorer, while the Maple Leafs opened up salary cap space in the process. Engvall has struggled this season, but the move suggests that these two front offices are comfortable with each other. The Maple Leafs are good, but they’re fourth in the Atlantic and not set up to overpower their division rivals. That said, if the right offer is on the table that could benefit both teams, a trade with the Islanders could happen.
6 Senators Who Could Be Moved at the NHL Trade Deadline
February 5, 2024 by Paul Quinney
Rumours are rampant in Bytown that the Ottawa Senators could be making some big trades leading up to the March 8 NHL trade deadline. The team’s president of hockey operations and general manager (GM), Steve Staios promised as much early in the new year. Speaking to The Jason Gregor Show (Staios interview starts at 1:07:50) on Edmonton’s Sports 1440 on Jan. 5, Staios said he’d “like to add a veteran player if he could” before the trade deadline.
Let’s take a look at who could be on the trading block with the trade deadline less than five weeks away.
Devils’ Push for Playoffs Holds Future Implications
February 5, 2024 by Erica Rosenbaum
The New Jersey Devils have played 47 games in the 2023-24 season. Without sugarcoating the results of those 47 games, the season has been a huge disappointment. The team currently sits in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division and holds a record of 24-20-3. Quitely put, it’s not good enough. Heading into the season, New Jersey was considered a Stanley Cup Contender based on their +1000 odds, which was tied for second with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Only two teams had +900 odds, the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, as the team looks ahead to the remaining 35 games, the pending results of their playoff push could have serious implications for the organization. Missing the playoffs a year after breaking a franchise record for most wins in a season will substantially change the organization. Therefore, these next few months of Devils hockey hold heavy value.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
New York Rangers - Rangers Made Right Call Avoiding Monahan Trade With Canadiens
Winnipeg Jets - Jets Mailbag: Monahan, Trade Asset Options, & Heinola’s Return
Toronto Maple Leafs - Ilya Samsonov’s Improvements Since Maple Leafs Waived Him
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Flames, Wild, Rangers, Ducks
From TSN - NHL teams will receive cap relief for four players on leave due to sexual assault charges
From Sportsnet - Canadiens have much to play for despite Monahan trade further dashing playoff hopes
From ESPN - Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov to enter player assistance program
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