Top Five Trade Destinations for P-A Parenteau

When you look at P-A Parenteau and where he might end up at the trade deadline, the easiest fits are obviously the top contenders who are looking for a pure rental to round out their roster for a Cup run. Think Winnik last year in Pittsburgh or, as a more expensive example, Antoine Vermette in Chicago. Of course these are all very different players, but the point stands that every season teams looking at their championship window make these types of depth moves to load up. 

As of now, Parenteau brings with him a 0.5 point-per-game pace on the season and a $1.5-million cap tag that’s off the books in July. He’s showcased himself well this year as the team’s third-highest goal scorer, and is arguably the person on the Leafs’ roster who’s the easiest to see moved by end-of-month. Here are a few places where he could be heading.

Easily the best team in the conference, the Capitals are in “going for it” mode as much as they’ve ever been. While they already score at a top-of-the-league clip, landing Parenteau to round out their forward group gives them some additional lineup options and likely allows them to have a decent scoring threat on every line. 

As a true rental on the cheap, there’s absolutely no long-term risk here for the Capitals. As a team holding all but one of their own picks over the next few drafts, they can pony up the second or third rounders that would make this happen.

Potential trade pieces: Capitals’ 2nd round pick (2016), Capitals’ 2nd round pick (2017), Capitals’ 3rd round pick (2017), D Jonas Siegenthaler 

Potential salary dumps: N/A

It’s tough to argue the Wings as real contenders, but they are a team who obviously still wants to win now with a number of key veterans still in the fold.

Detroit currently operates in the bottom third of the league in terms of goals-scored, so they could use any amount of offensive help they can get, and Parenteau has produced consistently for years. Again, like the rest of the teams on this list, there’s no real risk here for the Wings outside of the magic bean draft pick they’d have to give up.

When Parenteau was signed by the Leafs, the key factor was Babcock, and I’m sure he’d have plenty of good things to say to P-A about the Wings and how they do things.

Potential trade pieces: Wings’ 2nd round pick (2016), Wings’ 2nd round pick (2017), Wings’ third round pick (2017)

Potential salary dumps: F Darren Helm (2.125M until this summer), D Kyle Quincey (4.25M until this summer), F Dan Cleary (950K in AHL until this summer), F Drew Miller (IR, 1.35M until this summer)

No doubt Florida has been a nice story this season, and it looks like they should be able to coast into the postseason from here on, but they’re a team that obviously needs reinforcements if they’re going to make any noise in the playoffs. 

The Panthers are weak down the wing, and while they’ve done a good job scoring this season, they’ve clipped along as a bottom-third possession team league-wide. They’ve obviously done their share of riding the percentages, but nabbing a player like Parenteau could help soften the blow if their offense starts to dwindle. They also have some salary dumps the Leafs could look at in order to make this sort of swap even easier on their wallets, which is good news for a budget team.

Potential trade pieces: Panthers’ 2nd round pick (2016), Panthers’ 2nd round pick (2017), F Rocco Grimaldi

Potential salary dumps: F Shawn Thornton (1.2M until this summer), D Willie Mitchell (IR, 4.25M until this summer), and if you want to get more creative, F Marc Savard (IR, 4.027M until 2017)

Toronto and Pittsburgh have linked up for two trades over the last year, and if the Pens decide to be buyers again at this deadline, they could make it three. 

Pittsburgh should probably be looking for help on the blue-line, but since they continue to be so top heavy, they likely want to add cheap depth everywhere. 

When these teams got together for a deal last deadline, the Pens gave up a 2nd-rounder, 4th-rounder, and roster spot dump Zach Sill for Daniel Winnik. While I don’t think they’ll go that far again on a pure rental and send multiple picks, they still have second and third round selections they could ship out on their own.

Potential trade pieces: Ducks’ 2nd round pick (2016), Penguins’ 3rd round pick (2016), Penguins’ 3rd round pick (2017)

Potential salary dumps: F Matt Cullen (800K until this summer), D Ben Lovejoy (1.1M until this summer)

Yes I realize we’ve kept this thing all in the east, and mostly within the division, but if this week has taught us anything, the Leafs don’t care about that at all. And with shipping out a rental in a year where they aren’t even close to being competitive, why would they?

Boston, sort of like Detroit, is at the end of their line for being competitive and they’ll probably stock up a little for another attempt at a run. It isn’t worth paying a heavy price for, but like the rest of the teams mentioned here, they wouldn’t have to for Parenteau. 

Perhaps it’s in the Bruins’ best interest to look for blue-line help more than anything, but you can never really be too deep along the wings and Parenteau could be a nice fit around the middle of the lineup. 

Potential trade pieces: G Daniel Vladar, Isles’ 2nd round pick (2016), Bruins’ 2nd round pick (2016), Bruins’ third round pick (2017)

Potential salary dumps: F Max Talbot (900K until this summer), D Kevan Miller (800K until this summer), D Matt Irwin (800K in AHL until this summer)