NHL Rumors: Could Unfinished Deadline Deals Revive at the Draft?

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period weighed in on whether trade discussions that failed to materialize before the NHL Trade Deadline might be rekindled as the NHL Draft or July 1st approaches.

The host of the show posed a question about general managers potentially continuing these types of talks, revisiting player transaction ideas that were previously "left on the table" during the deadline period.

Pagnotta explained, "In terms of rekindling those discussions that were there leading into the deadline, you start to hear a little bit more of what kind of transpired. And you start to hear more names that were bandied about, especially the week of the deadline." He cited defensemen Darnell Nurse from Edmonton and Morgan Rielly from Toronto as examples of names circulating during that period.

However, Pagnotta clarified that while rumors often surface, serious negotiations are typically deferred until later in the offseason. "In terms of teams getting back to those discussions, it seems like that’s probably going to be tabled in terms of getting to negotiations until later on in the offseason." He detailed the typical process: after general manager meetings, teams focus on scouting meetings and preparing for the draft. Only then do they begin to "map out how things are going to look going into the summer," which for many teams, will involve revisiting previous trade discussions.

He added that while there might be occasional check-ins, the "nitty-gritty and the meat and potatoes" of negotiations are more likely to be served closer to late May, throughout June, and leading into the Draft.

Pagnotta expressed his hope for a busy offseason, stating, "Which guys I hope we were expecting a busy offseason. Last offseason, we didn’t get it. With the way that the free agent pool is looking right now, you got to imagine they’re going to be more teams itching to fill holes via trade." He concluded by hoping for "fireworks" in the form of significant trade activity around the Draft and July 1st.