General Managers are having serious conversations about tweaking rosters and adding pieces // Credit: nhl.com
The start of the NHL preseason is just around the corner, but, unlike in past years, the situation is ripe for even more movement before the start of the season.
Usually, when teams come to training camps, Professional Try-Outs (PTOs) are handed out left and right, while most teams hover around 48-to-50 contracts on their roster.
And, due to the flat salary cap, cap space has also been a major impediment to making last-minute moves before the start of the season.
NHL Trade Flexibility: Mo Money, Mo Contracts
Those past limitations are not a problem at this junction, as only five teams appear to be over the salary cap. Making matters even more interesting is that only one team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, is close to a 50-contract limit with 49 contracts.
According to an NHL source who spoke under the condition of anonymity to RG.org, this newfound flexibility contributed to a relatively active August and likely a more exciting September.
“Teams are talking; not just chatter, but having a serious conversation about tweaking their rosters and adding pieces,” said the source on the situation in the NHL right now. “Plenty of youth coming into the league this year, over 11 teams with upwards of $5M in cap space and lots of contracts slots open. It’s likely to lead to more trades and waiver pickups than in past years.”
The rise of the salary cap has opened up a ton of possibilities on the trade front. A near $5M jump in fiscal flexibility (going from an $83.5M salary cap to $88M) for the first time in half a decade is significant and a major reason behind all the extra chatter so far.
Teams now have much more wiggle room than last year, where over half the NHL utilized LTIR at some point in the season. Now, not only can they stay under the cap, but they can still make some adds.
Given how wide-open each conference looks like this year, with parity at an all-time high, especially in the Eastern Conference, teams are itching to get an edge over their rivals.
Some teams, like the Colorado Avalanche, are waiting for some clarity on the Long-Term Injury Reserve (LTIR) front with captain Gabriel Landeskog. Having that kind of player flexibility now, where teams could add anywhere from 2 to 3 players to their roster in a pinch, will be useful for a contending club.
But contending teams aren’t the only ones who could stand to benefit from a more open market and waiver wire this summer.
“But it’s the rebuilding clubs like the Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames that may have the most to gain,” said the source regarding which teams could get involved in brokering trades or jumping on waiver claims.
NHL Waivers Hotter Than Usual
In fact, those three teams all rank in the top 10 of the current waiver priority order due to finishing in the bottom 10 of the 2023-2024 standings. There are some roster holes to plug, especially in Calgary and Anaheim, and a list of intriguing waiver-eligible players is available this fall.
Players like Justin Barron (MTL), Samuel Bolduc (NYI), Ville Heinola (WPG), Zac Jones (NYR), Raphael Lavoie (EDM) and Samuel Poulin (PIT) could all be available on waivers in the right situation.
For a rebuilding club looking to give an opportunity to a younger player, this year’s waiver pool could be one of the more interesting ones. And, let’s not forget that there usually is and likely will be a few surprises.
According to another NHL source familiar with the upcoming class of rookies this season, there is a strong contingent coming through the ranks this year that may push a few veterans out of the lineup.
Youngsters like Lane Hutson (MTL), Rutger McGroarty (PIT), Logan Stankoven (DAL), and Shane Wright (SEA) could push some players further down their respective teams' depth charts.
In doing so, it will create a domino effect where a trade or, in the worst case, a waiver submission will be required for that team to fit under the 23-man roster limit.
For example, Lane Hutson cracking the Montreal Canadiens’ roster could have a direct impact on what happens to Justin Barron; unless some roster maneuvering is done.
The same can be said in Pittsburgh, with McGroarty’s arrival possibly putting a couple of veterans in the Penguins’ bottom six at risk of finding themselves on the waiver wire.
That kind of chaos is exactly what is needed to make pre-season a tad more exciting than in years past. But, as always, expect the unexpected.
Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.
