Morning Cuppa Hockey · The Nation Network

Conversation With David Pagnotta Part 6

·34 min·3 clips

Why the St. Louis Blues might trade Jordan Binnington now while his stock is sky-high after the Olympics.

This episode features hosts Johnny and Colby interviewing NHL insider David Pagnotta about trade deadline scenarios. Pagnotta shares insights from his recent reporting as the deadline approaches. He analyzes the market for St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, noting the Edmonton Oilers' interest and financial complications. Pagnotta also mentions the Carolina Hurricanes as a potential suitor for Binnington due to questions about their current goalies. He discusses the Philadelphia Flyers' perpetual search for goaltending but doubts they will act before the summer. The conversation shifts to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have accumulated draft picks and face decisions with Sidney Crosby injured and Evgeni Malkin a pending free agent. Pagnotta highlights Anthony Mantha as a valuable trade target due to his cap hit and resurgent play. He examines the Montreal Canadiens' desire to trade forward Jonathan Drouin and acquire a winger for their top line. Pagnotta details the New York Rangers' strategy to sell assets, with Vincent Trocheck being a prime candidate to bring a significant return. He states the Rangers are listening on offers for most players except a few core pieces. The insider also covers the Tampa Bay Lightning's search for a right-shot defenseman with term and their willingness to trade prospect Sam O'Reilly. He expects the New York Islanders to add a top-nine forward to capitalize on the Penguins' injury situation. Regarding the Florida Panthers, Pagnotta is skeptical about a Sergei Bobrovsky trade and mentions A.J. Greer as a potential depth pickup. He concludes with the Carolina Hurricanes, who have cap space and are looking to add a top-six forward and a depth defenseman. A surprising claim is that Jordan Binnington's Olympic performance reminded teams of his capability in high-pressure situations, potentially affecting his trade value. Pagnotta reveals an expectation within the industry that Jonathan Drouin will be traded by Montreal before the deadline. He notes that Rangers management is reportedly willing to listen to trade offers for Mika Zibanejad, despite the player's previously stated desire to stay in New York. The insider suggests Tampa Bay specifically wants a defenseman signed beyond this season, not a rental. He shares that Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour has significant input on identifying the type of player needed for the team's system. The tone is casual and conversational, with hosts and guest exchanging personal anecdotes alongside hockey analysis. The style is insider-driven and speculative, focused on rumors and potential team strategies. This episode is ideal for NHL fans who enjoy trade speculation and team-building discussions. Listeners seeking deep tactical breakdowns of on-ice play might find it less relevant.

As heard by us

A relaxed Jamaica check-in leads into a focused, roster-minded trade deadline discussion.

The episode starts with a relaxed Jamaica check-in before turning to deadline talk with David Pagnotta. From there, it keeps its footing in roster logic, moving through retention slots, long-term fit, and the sort of player teams target when they make a move.

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Want trade-deadline talk that sounds like a real hockey group chat?

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