NHL Trade Deadline: 7 Playoff Contenders That Need to Add an Elite Scorer

The NHL trade deadline is lurking, and these teams need to add an elite scorer to put them over the top. With just 47 days before the deadline clock strikes midnight, teams are beginning to realize that it's now or never for a run at the Stanley Cup. 

This year promises to yield one of the strongest playoff fields in recent memory. 

Some of these teams are currently sitting pretty in the standings but may have their fans on edge. Other teams are just underachieving in the scoring department and need a shot in the arm. Regardless of anything else, these teams need to make a move if they are to be considered Cup contenders.

Here are seven teams that need to add an elite goal scorer by the trade deadline. 

Honorable Mention: The Downright Disappointing

These four teams were thought to be headed to the promised land before the season began. Instead, they're towards the back of the back.

Columbus Blue Jackets: With offseason additions of James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter, the Columbus Blue Jackets were thought finally be on their way to prominence in the NHL. 

Wrong.

The Blue Jackets are going nowhere, and with the recent firing of their coach, Scott Arniel, they appear to have started over. Fans hope new head coach Todd Richards can make an immediate impact, or they may begin to get the feeling that they never belonged. 

Buffalo Sabres: So much for making a run at the Stanley Cup this year. Right now it appears that the Buffalo Sabres are just trying to tread water.

All-world goaltender Ryan Miller doesn't look right as he continuously gets shelled game-in and game-out. In their defense, the Sabres have been hit hard by the injury bug, although no opponent feels sorry for them. 

There's still plenty of season to be played, and the Sabres could easily turn things around. Only time will tell if the Sabres will make anything of themselves this season.

Anaheim Ducks: Wow. With a returning MVP and a solid lineup from top to bottom, no one thought that Anaheim would be sitting near the basement of the Western Conference.

Their defense has been terrible, and their offense barely has a pulse. They are 3-10-5 on the road and don't appear to be getting any better.

Expect the Ducks to be major sellers at the trade deadline. 

Tampa Bay Lightning: Despite having the NHL's leading scorer in Steven Stamkos, the Tampa Bay Lightning struggle with lighting the lamp. Stamkos has 29-of-113 goals for the Lightning this year.

This team made a deep run in the playoffs last year, and don't think GM Steve Yzerman plans on being stagnant. 

Expect the Lightning to make a few moves before the deadline, including a goaltender. Sometimes defense is the best offense.

7. Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are about where they expected to be at this point during the season, but that doesn't mean they can't be better. 

The Jets are now comfortable in their "new" home and need to make a serious push toward the playoffs.

If one remembers last season, the then-Atlanta Trashers had a solid start before stumbling toward the finish line and missing the playoffs.

The Jets want to avoid that empty feeling again. To do so they'll need to make a trade for a scorer. Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler are tied for the team lead with 31 points apiece, but that's not enough. Kane leads the team with 18 goals, but he's one of only three Jets to tally 10-plus goals thus far.

The Jets know they have to impress their fans and the NHL. Expect them to make some noise come late February. 

6. Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have one of the best goaltenders in the NHL in Pekka Rinne to go along with arguably the best blue line tandem in the league defensemen in Ryan Suter and Shea Weber.

The problem the Predators have is scoring.

While they are well-balanced in the scoring department, they don't have a player with that killer instinct. Weber leads the team with 30 points. It's not necessarily the best thing if a teams' leader in points plays defense.

The team only has two players with 10-plus goals, which won't cut it in the high-powered Central Division of the Western Conference. If they are to make a valid attempt at the Stanley Cup, they need to acquire an elite scoring threat. 

Expect to see this sooner rather than later. 

5. Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are the surprising leaders of the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division right now with 50 points. Because of this, they sit in third in the Eastern Conference standings.

This is true despite being outscored to this point of the season. Good thing for the Panthers, every team in their division has negative goal differential.

Although the Panthers have four players with 30-plus points right now, they only have eight players with 10-plus points. This leads one to believe that they need a solid second scoring line.

If the Panthers want to be taken seriously, they'll be buyers at the trade deadline.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the best teams in the NHL, but there is room for improvement.

The Blackhawks have a fearsome foursome in Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp, but that doesn't mean they are content.

Having won the Stanley Cup in 2010, the Blackhawks are primed to win another and begin a dynasty in Chicago.

One better believe that the Blackhawks will find another threat to add to their already dangerous lineup. A scoring defenseman would speak volumes toward their Cup run. 

3. Washington Capitals

To say that the Washington Capitals are underachieving would be an understatement. The Capitals currently sit in 10th in the Eastern Conference standings.

Fans have to be frustrated and beginning to wonder if their time has passed as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. 

Having fired Bruce Boudreau early in the season, the Dale Hunter experiment hasn't produced desired results so far. Sensing that their bubble may burst, the Capitals must make major moves by the scoring deadline. 

Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom need help now. The team is only 7-12-1 on the road, and they must find an answer soon. 

Expect the Capitals to go "all-in" at the deadline. Another year of mediocrity would lead to a complete facelift of the Capitals.

2. St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues have been one of the NHL's best teams since being taken over by Ken Hitchcock. Since Hitchcock has taken the reins, the Blues are 19-5-5. Needless to say, Hitchcock gets the most out of his men. 

Despite scoring only 110 goals to date, the Blues sit in second place in the Western Conference. The team has six men with 10-plus goals so far, but David Backes leads the team with only 14. He also leads the team with 31 points, which isn't an outpouring of production. 

The Blues have a strong defense but could really use a sniper. Hitchcock knows how to win and will be shopping for a scorer until he finds one. The time for the team is now. 

This Blues team will really turn some heads and win respect by season's end

1. Detroit Red Wings

Sure, the Detroit Red Wings are a stellar franchise, but they're not playing their best hockey right now.

The team is amazing at home but below average on the road. One week they look like contenders, the next they look like pretenders.

They have solid scoring throughout their lineup but could use another sure thing to put the puck in the back of the net. 

The Red Wings have made the playoffs for two straight decades and will do so again this year. With captain Nicklas Lidstrom nearing retirement, there's nothing this team wants more than another hoist of the Stanley Cup.

If there's a sure thing, it's that the Wings will make any move necessary to win. Expect them to make a splash before the deadline. 

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