Prospect Ramblings – Prospects to target at your trade deadline
Pat Quinn
2019-02-21
Prospects to target at the trade deadline.
Alright these ramblings will be tough to write as I have no idea how your league works and what prospect limits your league can have. I will list a bunch of higher level prospects you should target if you are rebuilding and selling off your vets for young players, and potential “throw ins” that may be great additions down the line.
Sure Bets (that you can get as some are likely un-moveable like Quinn Hughes to a Canucks fan):
Eeli Tolvanen – With his AHL production lower than most anticipate, plus Nashville wanting players who grind instead of score in their bottom nine, ET could be a prime target for a GM that is giving up on him.
Henrik Borgstrom – Playing in the Panthers bottom six, and the Panthers being perpetually mediocre, makes people forget how good Borgstrom is. Only obtain him if you can wait, also Tallon may trade him to a team he can flourish because he is Dale Tallon.
Robert Thomas – Production isn’t there but the talent is. He will take a bit to break through. If you can get him and sit on him do it.
Erik Brannstrom – His post-WJC production is way down, now is your time to pounce.
Adam Boqvist – Lost of people are not talking about him, so get him while he is forgotten.
Igor Shestyorkin – He can come over to the Rangers this off-season, take the risk.
Jordan Kyrou – Kills the AHL when he is down there, gets no minutes in the NHL. When given a chance he will do great.
Martin Necas – No one is paying attention to him, his AHL production is ok, go get him.
Drake Batherson – Before he starts to produce in the NHL after the trade deadline with Dzingle and Duchene gone he will be in the AHL. You have a week to grab him before he becomes expensive.
Filip Zadina – Lots of talk about how Montreal and Ottawa made the right picks, while he is in the AHL playing great for a first year under 20 player the production isn’t there. He is ripe for the picking.
Sam Steel – Great young player who is really flying under the radar.
Morgan Frost – Sitting second in the OHL in points and had a great tournament for Canada (when allowed on the ice). Kid will be a top six player soon.
Kirill Kaprizov – Fantasy GMs can be weary he will not come over, but he will, and he will be a star in Minnesota.
Vitali Kravtsov – Thankfully his KHL stats do not show how great he has been, if you can get him in a deal he will be a Ranger in 2019-2020.
Kristain Vesalainen – The Jets had no room for him to put up points but if he is given an opportunity he will produce. He is doing great in the KHL right now.
Nick Suzuki – His OHL stats are down a bit and he did not stand out in the WJC, grab him if you can.
Barrett Hayton – Hayton has been fantastic for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Many forget he was selected fifth overall and he fell in a lot of drafts. Take a chance.
Filip Chytil – Currently not producing and getting low ice time, Chytil has too much skill to not get points forever. He is just getting used to the NHL. Do not wait too long to trade for Chytil.
Grigori Denisenko – So much skill, he will become a top six NHLer. Plus with Tallon as GM if he has a bad +/- and doesn’t produce right away he will be traded to a spot where he can flourish.
Ty Smith – Huge pick for New Jersey in 2018 and is running over the WHL. If you can get him do it.
Throw Ins (boom/bust targets):
Joshua Ho-Sang – The skill is there but he needs a team to trust him.
Sasha Chmelevski – Somehow the Sharks got him in the sixth round and he is playing fantastic AGAIN in the OHL. The difference is now people are paying attention. Grab him if you can.
Alex Barre-Boulet – Small, skilled, over-looked by other teams. Likely a first line player because Tampa Bay.
Evgeny Svechnikov – Injuries may ruin his upside but if you can take the risk on him why not.
Adam Fox – Some fantasy GMs do not pay attention to NCAA players, get him if one is in your league.
Sammy Blais – His NHL time has been spent on the 4th line. If he can get a top nine spot and consistent ice time he will score. He hits as well so he is a perfect candidate for 2019-2020 sneaky production.
Ville Husso – Has been forgotten now in St. Louis with Binnington tearing it up, and on top of that he is hurt in the AHL for a bad San Antonio team. Long term he is still better but now will there be a spot for him.
Klim Kostin – His production is low in the AHL but he is too good to not develop into an NHLer. He may spend a year in Russia instead of the AHL for 2019-2020 but that will not turn him into the next Val Nichushkin.
Connor Ingram – Leads the AHL in save percentage for a strong Syracuse team. The talent is there and who knows how Tampa does it.
Elvis Merzlikins – The Latvian is coming to the Blue Jackets and may have an opportunity to start in the next two seasons.
Maxim Letunov – San Jose is a huge fan of the lanky Russian. He is developing slowly but San Jose will get him in to the line-up eventually.
Dominik Bokk – No one is talking about him and this could be the time to grab him if a GM is souring on his current production.
Nikita Gusev – People are worried he will not come to the NHL. Word is he is signing for 2019-2020 (at least) in Vegas. He should produce as soon as he gets in to the lineup.
Dmitry Sokolov – Long-shot goal-scorer for Minnesota in a few seasons.
Alexandre Texier – Keeps producing in the Liiga but people are still unaware of him. Get him before someone else does.
Jonatan Berggren – Forgotten second round pick (who should have been a first round pick) by Detroit in 2018. The skill is there for him to produce but it may take a while.
Philipp Kurashev – Great WJC tournament for the Swiss and is playing well in the QMJHL. I cannot believe he went in round four.
Kyle Capobianco – Was producing very well in the AHL gets called up and drinks the Arizona injury water and is out for the rest of the year. Keep him in mind for the future.
Akil Thomas – I hear no one talking about him and GMs are not valuing him as high as his ceiling can be.
Jesper Boqvist – Is not getting hurt this season so he is producing in the SHL. Was a great pick for the Devils and over time he could produce in the NHL.
Thanks for reading. Good luck on the deadline! Remember real production > perceived production even if you lose in the long run. Follow my twitter: @FHPQuinn