The Stars’ acquisition of Chris Tanev from the Flames on Wednesday marked a significant pre-deadline move involving a defenseman. This triggered a flurry of reporting over the past 36 hours, shedding light on the events leading up to the trade and its potential implications on the defense market leading to the trade deadline.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Avalanche, Canucks, Maple Leafs, and Oilers were among the finalists for Tanev. Toronto remained in discussions until the eleventh hour, with Leafs GM Brad Treliving engaging in talks with the Flames’ management shortly before Tanev was ultimately traded to Dallas.
LeBrun revealed that Calgary’s reluctance to part with a first-round draft pick was a key factor in their decision not to accept Toronto’s offer. However, the Stars’ inclusion of defense prospect Artyom Grushnikov in their offer tipped the scales in their favor. Despite having another first-round pick offer from a different team, the Flames were unwilling to accept it due to the condition of taking an NHL roster player in return, a condition Calgary GM Craig Conroy rejected.
Reports suggest that Edmonton likely offered a first-round pick along with a roster player, possibly Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak, in their bid for Tanev. They continue to explore trade options to bolster their defense, as indicated by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
Calgary’s decision regarding the first-round pick could influence other teams in the market, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston. The Flyers and Coyotes are both seeking first-round picks for their defensemen Nick Seeler, Sean Walker, and Matt Dumba, respectively. Johnston suggests the Flyers might retain Seeler and Walker if they don’t receive satisfactory offers, while the Coyotes are more inclined to trade Dumba regardless of whether a first-rounder is included.
On the “32 Thoughts” episode of Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman reported that Conroy made a last attempt to sign Tanev to an extension before the trade to Dallas. However, Tanev felt the negotiations had gone too far, preferring a move to a contender before reassessing his options in the summer.
Friedman speculated whether the Flames might seek a low-cost NHL-ready defenseman to fill the void left by Tanev’s departure. However, their ability to make significant trades is limited after earlier deals involving Tanev, Elias Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov. They might consider using mid- or late-round picks to avoid overburdening depth defenders like Dennis Gilbert, Jordan Oesterle, and Brayden Pachal.
While the Flames are still in contention for a playoff spot, they face a tough challenge with a seven-point gap behind the Predators in the Western Conference standings, making it difficult to catch up with less than two months left in the season.