Page 102 of The Trade Deadline
The “buyers” are the playoff-bound teams. They’ll want to plug holes in their roster or replace injured players. They’re willing to pay a lot to better their chances of making and succeeding in the playoffs, and don’t mind picking up free agents to do so. If the postseason goes well, those players could see lucrative contracts with the team that picks them up.
Are the Crabs Buyers or Sellers?
Typically, the Crabs are outside of the playoff bubble. It’s been five years since they’ve seen the postseason, twelve since they’ve made it past the first round. They’ve been in the Sellers column for longer than I’ve covered them, or they’ve ignored the trade deadline altogether. Things might change this year.
They’re two points out of a wild card position and have been steadily winning games. At this pace, they might very well earn a playoff spot. That makes them potential Buyers. The question is: what are they looking for? Goaltending has been solid, but defensively they’ve struggled. The top two forward lines are scoring consistently, but the team seems to lack depth: the bottom six haven’t scored in the last ten games and in the same span have given up fifteen goals.
Who are the Free Agents on the Crabs?
Whether they’re traded in March or not, these players will be free agents come July. The Crabs will have to make a decision sooner rather than later about their future on the team.
Forwards: Johnny Carr, Ivan Petrovich, RJ Russell
Defense: Connor Carter
Both goaltenders are signed through the end of next season.
Granted, a team can trade anyone. As long as a player doesn’t have a no-trade clause, a team could elect to trade them and the other team takes up the rest of their contract. Teams will do what they can to either push for the Cup this year or attempt to put pieces in place for next year.
Fan Poll:Who do you think the Crabs are most likely to trade this season?
Johnny Carr: 32%
Ivan Petrovich: 13%
RJ Russell: 15%
Connor Carter: 17%
Someone else: 3%
No one: 20%
Chapter30
Ryan
They wereat Lars’s condo, their usual on the day after a home game. His place was closer to the arena and the practice facility, while Ryan’s was closer to the airport, and to the rink where they’d volunteered again in mid-February. It was a pragmatic way to share the time, to fill otherwise lonely nights and empty spaces with someone who brightened the space. Definitely not about anything other than convenient logistics.
It was perfect, honestly. Ryan couldn’t remember being so content. It was helping him play better, and he was hopeful about negotiating a new contract at the end of the season. Especially if they could get their foot in the door for the playoffs. He wasn’t by nature optimistic, but he’d been doing well. He didn’t dare consider the team going all the way—he wouldn’t be able to get through a single game with that kind of pressure riding on him—but he trained with the hopes of putting up a fight.
He should’ve known things were looking too good, that he’d been too happy for things to last.
His mistake was ignoring the date. He’d been so focused on the game schedule, he’d forgotten it was March. When had he ever been able to forget March? He’d been terrified of it since his rookie year when he’d seen more of the AHL than the NHL. This year of all years, he should’ve been wary and known not to take anything for granted.
And yet when he was called into the GM’s office before practice on March 5, he hadn’t realized what was happening until the door shut behind him and he saw Monroe’s grim face.
Time froze for a moment, the knowledge of what was to come weighing him down with the understanding that it wouldn’t just disrupt his career, his life. It would fucking ruin everything.
Not seeing any point from running from it, he decided to dive on the grenade.
“Where you sending me?” he asked and didn’t bother masking the accusation in his tone.
Monroe looked briefly surprised, then apologetic. “Cincinnati. I’m sorry, Ryan.”
He gulped. How many years had he spent trying to put on a brave face and not burn any bridges? God, that felt so stupid now when it was always someone else hacking it to bits. “Why?” he asked quietly. “I’ve been playing well. Really well. I’ve got career highs across the board?—”
“Which is why this move is happening,” Monroe explained gently. “Youhavebeen doing an exceptional job. I’ve had a lot of teams interested in you for months. Some of their offers were quite honestly too tempting to ignore. You’ve done a lot for us over the past couple years, but when I get offered two picks and two players for one guy who’s going into free agency and will be asking more than I can afford to give him, well…” He shrugged, some of his sympathy gone.
