Everything is Happening! Hall, Subban, Weber and More!

Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson. PK Subban for Shea Weber. Steven Stamkos re-signed. And it’s not even trade deadline day. 

Some NHL GMs got into the sauce today apparently. Two of the league’s biggest and most, err, confusing one-for-one trades in recent memory were executed today. Then the league’s most coveted pending free agent in probably a decade decided to take himself off the market. 

Make no mistake, this is a terrible trade for the Oilers. Whatever you think of Hall, he is a top-10 scorer in the league and only 24 years old. Larsson, however, is a middling, defensive defensemen. The difference in value between these two players is a chasm. 

The Oilers definitely needed to improve their blueline. Larsson might do that – marginally – but it’s steep, steep price to pay for such a modest upgrade.

With the deal, Chiarelli becomes the NHL GM to trade both Hall (first overall) and Tyler Sequin (second overall) for underwhelming returns. 

This is almost as lopsided a trade in Nashville’s direction. Shea Weber’s defensive capabilities have fallen off a cliff the last few years and his contract is an absolute albatross. Subban scores as much as Weber, but has vastly superior defensive numbers. Oh, and he’s much younger.

We can’t be sure what motivated the Habs here. It might be one of those “intangibles” deals, but I’m certain they will live to regret it. 

A fairly reasonable contract relative to the numbers that were being kicked around during the season ($10M+ over eight years). There’s an outside chance this is a move by Yzerman to execute a sign and trade given Tampa’s cap situation (lots of kids to sign, not much money). Why would Stamos sign a deal only to be traded? Because under the new CBA the longest deal a UFA can sign with a new team is seven years. Only the Lightning can give him eight.

If this is a sign-and-trade deal, he will likely be headed to the Maple Leafs. 

Nothing nearly as big in Flames Nation, of course. Aside from Mason Raymond preparing to get bought out, Pat Steinberg recently noted that Lance Bouma is likely being shopped. Moving Bouma is the right move for Calgary if they can make it happen. He had a really poor season last year and is a bad bet to provide value for his dollars moving forward. 

Discuss below! More news if/when it breaks…