The trade deadline for most Yahoo pools is Wednesday, so this week’s NHL trade tips is out early to help you make your final moves.
The NHL is back after a tremendously successful 4 Nations Face-Off, but the tourney took its toll on some players who went all-out trying to win for their respective countries. Matthew Tkachuk, for one, is likely out long-term as he is thought to be dealing with a groin injury that caused him to miss the third period and overtime in Canada’s 3-2 win over the United States.
TRADE FOR
Mikko Rantanen, W, Hurricanes (100% rostered)
Rantanen is off to a very slow start in Carolina with only one goal and two assists in seven games. He was a force with Colorado before the trade, garnering 25 goals and 39 assists in only 49 appearances. While Sebastian Aho is not Nathan MacKinnon, Aho is still a top-20 center in the NHL and the two Finns should eventually click.
I think that Rantanen and the Hurricanes are in negotiations on a long-term contract and that could be hurting him on the ice. You likely will need Rantanen at playoff time in head-to-head leagues and the contract should be resolved (one way or another) by then. There is also a possibility, albeit slim, that Rantanen is traded by the March 7 deadline if no deal can be agreed upon. In that case, he will more than likely be traded to a top playoff team, probably one in the Western Conference, as the Hurricanes don’t want him in the East where they could potentially meet up with him early in the postseason.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Rantanen and Artemi Panarin for Dougie Hamilton and J.T. Miller.
Kevin Lankinen, G, Canucks, (61% rostered)
Lankinen gets a huge boost in fantasy value as Thatcher Demko is once again on the sidelines, this time with a lower-body injury. Lankinen will handle most of the goaltending for the Canucks down the stretch as the Canucks are currently the second wild card in the West and are being chased by four teams within six points of them.
Lankinen inked a five-year contract extension last week, based on his 19-7-4 record. He has four shutouts as well as a 2.52 GAA and .907 save percentage, much better than Demko and current backup, Arturs Silovs.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Lankinen and a 14th-round pick for Chris Kreider and a 10th-round pick.