The Chicago Blackhawks stunned the NHL world Saturday by making left winger Taylor Corridor a wholesome scratch for his or her sport towards Vancouver.
The 33-year-old Corridor, who later told media he didn’t expect the move, has simply two objectives and 6 factors in 17 video games this season. Because the Blackhawks’ highest-paid ahead at $6 million per season, extra is predicted from the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, who’s within the last season of his present contract.
If the tip is close to for Corridor within the Windy Metropolis, where could the Hawks move him in a trade? Let’s take a look at 4 NHL groups who might or ought to be curious about touchdown Corridor in a commerce. In alphabetical order:
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been one of many NHL’s largest letdowns this season, and their offense is at the moment the fifth-worst within the league at a mean of two.47 goals-for per sport.
Groups will typically purchase a expertise who has performed for them earlier than, and Corridor performed two-and-a-half seasons with the Bruins from 2021 to 2023. Whereas he had 36 factors in 61 video games in 2022-23, he posted a really respectable 20 objectives and 61 factors in 81 video games in 2021-22.
The B’s presently have simply $28,869 in cap space, so Chicago must retain as much as half of Corridor’s wage and tackle a contract in a commerce to make it cap-compliant. However Boston has a third-round decide in 2025 and 2026 and a second-rounder in 2026 to select from when making a suggestion to the Hawks.
The Bruins clearly want a shot within the arm on offense, and Corridor would successfully be a pure rental who might earn a longer-term spot in Boston’s lineup if he performed effectively in a second stint with the Bruins. This looks like one of many higher matches for Corridor if he’s really performed in Chicago.
Related: The Hockey News Big Show: Will The Bruins Or Penguins Shake Things Up First?
New York Islanders
Just like the Bruins, the Islanders are struggling on offense, with the NHL’s eighth-worst goals-for common of two.61 per sport. The Isles at the moment have $8.08 million in cap house, which is greater than sufficient to cowl all of Corridor’s contract in the mean time. However Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair aren’t anticipated to be on long-term injured reserve for the remainder of the season, as they each had four-to-six-week restoration occasions, that means the Islanders would additionally want Chicago to retain wage.
Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has all of his 2025 draft picks to play with and all of his 2026 picks apart from his second-rounder to lure the Hawks right into a deal for Corridor. Even when Corridor is previous his prime, the Isles want all the assistance they’ll get to provide offense, and Corridor wouldn’t value them an arm and a leg to basically audition for a spot in Lengthy Island subsequent 12 months and past.
Corridor has performed within the higher New York Metropolis space after enjoying for the New Jersey Devils for components of 4 seasons, and the Islanders would give him each alternative to get his sport again to the state it was in a number of years in the past. The Isles are below intense strain to show their season round, and the identical goes for Corridor, making this commerce a superb match for all sides.
Related: Former KHLer Proving To Be A Diamond In The Rough For Islanders Early In Rookie Season
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are a mid-tier group within the NHL on offense, however they’ve already began making roster strikes by re-acquiring winger Daniel Sprong from Vancouver for future considerations final week. Seattle has $5.6 million in present cap house, which can change every time Vince Dunn comes off LTIR. Chicago wouldn’t should retain a lot of Corridor’s wage proper now if they’ll get again a good prospect and/or a mid-range draft decide in return, but when Seattle desires to be cap-compliant when Dunn returns, retaining some wage might sweeten the return.
Corridor could be an costly choice to in all probability begin on Seattle’s third line, however the associated fee by way of property wouldn’t be so excessive as to stop a deal from occurring. Corridor’s expertise could be very useful to this still-evolving Kraken group, however he’s solely below contract for this season – so if it doesn’t work out, it’s not going to hurt Seattle’s prospects within the lengthy haul.
If it does work out, Corridor can re-sign with the Kraken for cheaper and be a solid-enough secondary scoring possibility for them down the road. A Corridor acquisition may very well be a low-risk, decent-reward deal for Seattle, they usually may very well be motivated sufficient to make such a deal materialize.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues placed veteran right winger Kasperi Kapanen on waivers Monday, opening up a roster spot for star heart Robert Thomas, who will return from damage comparatively quickly. However provided that St. Louis is at the moment tied with Boston for the fifth-worst goals-for common, a expertise like Corridor will probably be enticing to the Blues. He’d get one other recent begin on a Central Division rival that is seeking to be aggressive now.
The Blues have about $4.49 million in cap house proper now, however that can change when Thomas returns. So there must be a great deal of Corridor’s wage retained by the Blackhawks, and that might drive up the associated fee the Blues must pay for him. Nevertheless it wouldn’t push the worth so excessive that it prevents a deal from being performed for Corridor. And the Hawks aren’t more likely to make the playoffs this 12 months, so shifting on from Corridor is sensible.
St. Louis has solely its first, fifth and sixth-round draft picks in 2025, so Chicago could have little alternative however to accept one of many Blues’ picks the next 12 months, when St. Louis has all its picks apart from its second-rounder.
The Blues need to make the playoffs now, and Corridor might get them in the fitting course on offense. It’s all concerning the property Chicago is searching for, and we don’t imagine Hawks GM Kyle Davidson would set the commerce bar sky-high to half methods with Corridor. It’s a deal that is sensible for each side, which is why we are able to see a commerce occurring for Corridor and the Blues.
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