This article is part of our NHL Trade Tips series.
Happy New Year and may all your trades be good ones. It's a busy week in the NHL with Olympic rosters being named. There will be plenty of disappointments as Canada and the United States can carry only 26 roster spots, and there are a lot more candidates than spots available. This should make it a very interesting rest of the season for players who perceive to be snubbed by their respective country.
Best of luck with your trades this week.
TRADE FOR
Jack Hughes, C, Devils (98 percent rostered)
Hughes returned to action Dec. 21 after missing 18 games due to a freak dinner accident when he cut his finger, an injury that required surgery. Hughes had a goal the first game back and has gone without a point in the last three games. Hughes had 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 games before the injury and had 99 points as a 21-year-old in the 2022-23 campaign. While injuries have taken a toll on his point total the last three seasons, the now 24-year-old is still one of the top scorers in the NHL when healthy. He should be back in game shape at this time and is definitely someone you should target in your fantasy league.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Hughes, Nico Hischier and Seth Jarvis for Zach Werenski and Wyatt Johnston. (This is quite a big trade. Werenski is a top-three defenseman and Johnston is a tad below Hughes, leaving Hischier and the injured Seth Jarvis to equal the currently injured Werenski. It's an even trade if everyone is healthy, depending on what categories are played in the pool).
Mark Scheifele, C, Jets (98 percent rostered)
I'm writing this Tuesday night, anticipating that Scheifele will not make the Team Canada squad for the upcoming Olympics. That is going to light a fire under him, and watch out the remainder of the season. Scheifele has 18 goals and 45 points in 37 games, tied for 10th in NHL scoring, and he is on pace for a career high in points. Should he not make the team Dec. 31, there is still a chance at being an injury-replacement, so there is added incentive for the Canadian to perform well.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Scheifele and a fifth-round pick for Roope Hintz and a fourth-round pick. (Scheifele is a better player than Hintz. He has outpointed Hintz in six of the eight seasons both have played and even when Hintz was the better scorer, it was only by seven points and two points respectively).
Brock Faber, D, Wild (84 percent rostered)
Faber has really flourished since Quinn Hughes was dealt to the Wild just eight games ago. Faber has eight goals and 13 assists in 40 games with two goals and four assists taking place since Hughes entered the lineup. Faber is now quarterbacking the season power play and has three of his seven assists with the man advantage.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Faber and a 21st and 22nd round pick for Nick Schmaltz and an 11th and 18th round pick. (Schmaltz is having a nice season with 12 goals and 33 points in 40 games, but getting a defenseman who can also score is more beneficial to your fantasy team.)
TRADE AWAY
Filip Forsberg, LW, Predators (99 percent rostered)
Forsberg has played well of late with seven goals and 13 points in his last 11 games, boosting his season totals to 16 goals and 30 points in 38 games. Forsberg has 296 points in 283 games in his prior four seasons in the NHL, and his slowdown this season at the age of 31, does not bode well for the future. Add in that the Predators are likely to be sellers at some point this season and he will likely lose Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly as linemates, which does not help his value.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Forsberg for Brandon Hagel. (While Forsberg has been the better offensive play during his career, Hagel overtook him last season and is a tad better this campaign.)
Ryan O'Reilly, C, Predators, (36 percent rostered)
O'Reilly is slotted in as the Predators' first line center. He has 21 points in his last 16 games, giving him 34 points in 38 appearances this season. The problem is that O'Reilly's name is being bandied about in trade rumors, and if he is dealt to a contender, the likelihood of O'Reilly playing on either of the top two lines is reduced significantly. He is likely a third-line player on any team with Stanley Cup aspirations. O'Reilly is also on the top power play with Nashville and will have his playing time with the man advantage curtailed in any new situation.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: O'Reilly and a first- and fifth-round pick for Jason Robertson and a sixth and seventh-round pick. (Jason Robertson is a superior fantasy player, and if O'Reilly is dealt, he'll lose a lot of value.)
Brock Boeser, RW, Canucks, (25 percent rostered)
Boeser has only one assist in his last 14 games as he seems lost without J.T. Miller (dealt last season) and Quinn Hughes (traded earlier this season). Boeser remains on the first line as well as the first power play, but with only nine goals and 17 points in 36 games – by far his worst stats since the start of his career in 2016-17 – Boeser certainly isn't fantasy-worthy on any team at this time.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Boeser and a fourth-round pick for Nick Schmaltz and a seventh-round pick. (That someone would give up Schmaltz for Boeser is troubling, as Boeser is just a run-of-the-mill forward at this time.)
