Looking at NHL’s biggest buyers, sellers ahead of trade deadline

The NHL commerce deadline (March 7) is a bit more than a month away and groups are already beginning to place themselves as patrons and sellers.  

So let’s check out 4 groups that might be positioned to be essentially the most aggressive patrons, and 4 groups that might be seeking to promote essentially the most. 

Patrons

Toronto Maple Leafs

There is no such thing as a staff within the NHL beneath extra stress to go on a deep playoff run than the Maple Leafs, and they’ll little question be busy forward of the deadline. They’ve misplaced within the first spherical in seven of the previous eight seasons and have two huge pending unrestricted free brokers in Mitch Marner and John Tavares. 

Merely making the playoffs and shedding is now not acceptable, and there’s no assure Marner or Tavares return subsequent season. The time to win is now, and the Maple Leafs have some large wants. They might use a third-line middle and a few complementary scoring.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina is probably not dealing with the stress that Toronto is, however it isn’t far behind. The Hurricanes have been one of many NHL’s finest groups the previous six years however have been unable to interrupt by the ceiling that’s the Japanese Convention Last. The Hurricanes have been related with the Vancouver Canucks in the case of veteran middle J.T. Miller, and whether or not it’s him or any person else they need to be out there for one more impression scorer. Offense has been a continuing thorn for them deeper within the playoffs. 

Edmonton Oilers

After going to Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Last a yr in the past the Oilers are positively in a win-now scenario. Particularly with two of the league’s finest gamers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However for pretty much as good as that duo is, they nonetheless have some large wants within the decrease half of their lineup. Defensive depth might use an improve, goaltending depth remains to be a query relying on how a lot they belief Stuart Skinner and depth scoring is at all times a priority right here. So long as McDavid and Draisaitl are of their prime each season needs to be an “all-in” sort of yr. 

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are a mix of all three groups above — They’ve star gamers of their prime, one among them (Mikko Rantanen) is a free agent after this season and so they have some large wants to deal with. The most important of these wants is likely to be a second-line middle as Casey Mittelstadt has struggled to fill that function. 

Sellers

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are nonetheless deep of their rebuild and stay on the backside of the league standings. They’ve a number of veteran gamers that would — and will — be moved. Ahead Taylor Corridor, a pending free agent, figures to be on the prime of that checklist, and they might virtually definitely prefer to discover a taker for defenseman Seth Jones and his huge contract. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

This is not going to be a complete sell-off as stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren’t going wherever. However they’ve a number of pending free brokers that needs to be moved, together with defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Matt Grzelyck and forwards Drew O’Connor and Anthony Beauvillier. 

New York Islanders

Basic supervisor Lou Lamoriello hates to surrender on a season, however he must be sensible right here and turn into a vendor. The Islanders are close to the underside of the Japanese Convention standings and have two important pending UFA’s in forwards Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. On condition that each gamers are over the age of 33 and have doubtless already performed their finest hockey, buying and selling them needs to be a prime precedence. 

Buffalo Sabres

That is acquainted territory for the Sabres as they head for a 14th consecutive non-playoff season. Veteran free brokers Jason Zucker and Jordan Greenway appear more likely to transfer, whereas youthful gamers like bowen Byram and and Dylan Cozens might additionally discover themselves on the transfer because the Sabres look to re-tool but once more.