Plugging Each NHL Team's Hole so Far This Season
Not everyone can be the Stanley Cup champion.
Thirty teams duke it out every season to be crowned champion, but usually it's one player that could turn a depressing first-round exit into Stanley Cup glory.
This list offers the best way to fill holes for each team in the NHL with one thing in mind: winning the Stanley Cup.
Sometimes things are so broke they can't be fixed. In a lot of the lower-ranked teams, suggestions are looking ahead to the future, when they can compete.
Some teams with foolish ownership will likely never win the Stanley Cup, so any possible fix will be stated with the most generous amount of tact—and sarcasm—one can muster.
Though no team is perfect, some squads on this list are on the right path, and they simply need to either get healthy or perform to their expected level to reach success. That also will be reflected in this list.
Do you agree with the fix offered to your team in this slideshow? Post a comment to rant or agree with the unmistakable accuracy of facts presented!
Anaheim Ducks: A Top-Four Defenseman
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A boost in scoring should be expected with the return of forward Corey Perry from injury. Right now, this team is desperate for a top-four defenseman who is capable of chipping in on offense and logging a ton of minutes.
Pittsburgh seems like a potential suitor, as the team has probably 10 NHL-capable defensemen and more forwards with injuries than they can count with two hands.
Arizona Coyotes: A Favorable Lottery Ball in the McDavid Sweepstakes
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This Coyotes team has nothing really going for it, with most of its top performers approaching the twilight of their careers.
While Arizona has a lot of young, decent players who would be nice in top-nine roles, nobody really stands out as a star.
There isn't one particular hole this team could plug that would make much of a difference this season. Instead, shipping off some players to improve on a 13th-ranked prospect pool (according to Hockeysfuture.com) would seem like the best route.
Also, the worse the Coyotes perform as the season progresses, the more of a chance they have of landing top prospect Connor McDavid in next year's NHL draft. A player of McDavid's caliber would instantly bolster this fledgling team.
Boston Bruins: A Big-Time Point Producer
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The Bruins finally have premier defenseman Zdeno Chara and offensive force David Krejci back from injury and look poised to get back into the playoff fold.
One glaring need for the Bruins would be to improve on their 2.54 goals a game, which currently ranks 21st in the league.
Long-term cap issues would certainly holster any extensive plans for adding some offensive power, so Boston might have to get creative in finding a point producer via trade.
While Krejci will undoubtedly help this offense, adding another top-six forward would significantly enhance the Bruins moving forward.
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Buffalo Sabres: Let's Be Honest, They Need McDavid
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Like Arizona, the Sabres are a bad team that could stand to be better by preparing for the future.
Though the team has played better recently, piling up wins might not be the best tactic in regard to securing oft-discussed phenom Connor McDavid.
The Sabres' future seems promising, with the top-rated prospect pool according to Hockeysfuture.com. Adding McDavid to that mix would propel the team's future outlook even higher.
Calgary Flames: Scoring Forwards and Depth
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The Flames were a team that started out hot (big pun), led by defenseman Mark Giordano, who ranks 14th in the league heading into the Christmas break with 34 points.
Recently, Calgary has cooled off, going on an eight-game winless streak before returning to the win column in a 4-3 stunner over the Los Angeles Kings just before the break.
The Flames have a ton of holes across the board, but could stand to upgrade a forward unit that lacks point producers outside Jiri Hudler and rookie Johnny Gaudreau.
Some semblance of depth throughout the lineup would be welcome. This is a team that was desperate enough to overpay for the services of Deryk Engelland.
Deryk. Engelland.
Carolina Hurricanes: So...Connor McDavid?
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No thanks to the behemoth contract and below-the-line play of Alexander Semin, the Hurricanes find themselves deeply entrenched in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes.
At this point, the paper-thin depth and the albatross of contracts given to injured (Jordan Staal) or nonperforming (Semin) players has left hopes dashed for the rest of the season.
This offense is horrible. It's worse than horrible; it's anemic. A 31st-ranked 2.06 goals-per-game average bests only the Buffalo Sabres in offensive ineptitude.
With the second-worst record in the league, there really isn't much else to look forward to in Carolina.
Chicago Blackhawks: Nothing?
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Honestly, the Blackhawks are spoiled rotten with the amount of talent up and down the lineup. The team is in the top five in both goals for and against this season and sports an NHL-leading plus-35 goal differential.
Chicago's only "flaw" might be a 17th-ranked power play (17.7 percent), but the team obviously has the guns to pick that number up come playoff time.
Colorado Avalanche: A Boatload of Quality Defensemen
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The Avalanche have tons of offensive talent in their forward group and a solid goaltender (when he's healthy) in Semyon Varlamov.
Where the team has ultimately struggled this season is on the blue line, with a below-average unit that has contributed to the sixth-worst goals-against per game at 2.91.
There should be some decent, veteran defensemen on the trade market, and if Colorado is interested in getting back in the playoff hunt, it'd be advised to pick one up.
Nick Holden in particular has been putrid for the Avs this season, dealing with the sixth-worst plus/minus rating in the league at minus-16. So, finding a way to cycle him out of the lineup would be swell.
Columbus Blue Jackets: A Veteran Defenseman
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It's difficult to evaluate a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets, as they've been crushed by injuries throughout the season.
Boone Jenner, Artem Anisimov, Scott Hartnell, Mark Letestu, Nathan Horton and Ryan Murray are the major names on the shelf for Columbus currently.
Despite this, the Jackets have come on as of late, recording an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games.
Nick Foglino and Ryan Johansen (30 points each this season) are picking up the offensive slack in the team's most recent run.
If there might be an area of concern, it's on defense, where the Jackets have been awful in the third period, surrendering 47 goals in the frame, according to NHL.com. They might be in the market for a veteran defenseman to replace prospect Alexander Wennberg, who could definitely use some seasoning in the lower levels.
When at least some of these injured players return, it's likely the team will return to the playoff contender it was one season ago.
Dallas Stars: Secondary Scoring and Defense
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Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin might be the two best offensive partners in the league this season, combining for an impressive 35 goals and 72 points.
From there, things get a bit murky, as the rest of the roster has combined for just 60 goals.
When so much of a team's production is locked into two players on the same line, it'll be rather easy to handle that team when things tighten up in the playoffs.
The Stars would be wise to pickup a top-six winger to pair with Jason Spezza on the second line.
Dallas also has a huge need on defense, as the team has surrendered the second-most goals in the league at 113. The Stars should be in the market for one of the top defenders on the trade block at the very least, while taking a look at some of the better two-way forwards also being an advisable move.
It's hard to assess what players will likely be available during the trade deadline this year, but a player like defenseman Paul Martin (Pittsburgh) or, if he's available, defenseman Johnny Oduya (Chicago) would make good fits.
Detroit Red Wings: A Defenseman
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There seem to be two categories of teams so far on this list: those who need a defenseman and those who should seek lottery-ball action for Connor McDavid.
Detroit falls on the former end in this regard, needing a veteran defender to chew up minutes and provide some quality help on the back end.
The Red Wings are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, trailing the Atlantic-leading Montreal Canadiens by just one point.
Edmonton Oilers: A Second-Line Center, Defense
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The Edmonton Oilers have cornered the market on young forwards they've ruined, but the club could still use some help in that regard, especially on the second line at center.
With seemingly every player on the team involved in trade rumors at one point or another, and sporting a league-low 21 points this season, the Oilers might as well blow things up and throw their hat into the McDavid ring with the rest of the NHL's loveable losers.
Florida Panthers: A Sniper
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The Florida Panthers are surprisingly decent this season, contending for the Eastern Conference Wild Card with 38 points.
Florida is a solid possession team with the seventh-most shots per game in the league to boot.
Despite this, the back of the net is a scarce place for those shots to end up, as the Panthers have the fourth-worst goals per game at 2.12.
Jussi Jokinen is a poor-man's sniper and has just four goals this season. Florida will need to scour the trade market for a legitimate one in order to contend for a playoff berth.
Los Angeles Kings: A Defenseman
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Defenseman Slava Voynov disrupted the Los Angeles Kings with his issues off the ice and left a void in the team's defensive corps.
That void will need to be filled with any defender that has a touch of offensive production in him. A rental could work for the defending Stanley Cup champions, or the team may elect to go with something more long term during the trade deadline.
Either way, a defender would certainly bolster a group that already gives up the seventh-fewest number of goals per game.
Something in the way of offense also would be a welcome addition, with the team averaging just 2.74 markers a game. Though, forward Anze Kopitar heating up offensively could be just what the doctor ordered.
Minnesota Wild: A Starting Goaltender
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The Wild have had awful play from the goaltender position, as both Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom have save percentages barely over .900.
A case could be made for poor defensive play by the Wild, but the team allows the least shots against per game at 26.6. What better way is there to insulate a goaltender?
Unfortunately, quality starting goaltenders aren't as readily available as most other assets on the trade market. If they were, then Philadelphia has a lot of explaining to do over the past few decades.
Montreal Canadiens: A Power-Play Specialist
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This is the point I'd recommend Sergei Gonchar as a cheap solution to the Montreal Canadiens' power-play woes. Apparently Montreal was thinking the same thing, trading for Gonchar in early November.
It doesn't seem to be doing much, as Gonchar's limited time on the unit has only yielded one power-play assist.
The Canadiens rank 23rd (15.3 percent) in the league on the power play. That will need to be addressed schematically or personnel-wise moving forward.
Nashville Predators: Bottom-Six Scoring
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Similar to the Dallas Stars, a few forwards encompass nearly all the goal scoring on the Nashville Predators.
There isn't too much to complain about in Nashville these days, but secondary scoring is one thing that would make this team much better.
Olli Jokinen has been a huge disappointment on the third line from a scoring standpoint, and the team would probably be better off making a move there.
James Neal has cooled down and gotten into some trouble recently with diving, but he remains the club's only legitimate sniper.
This is where third- or even fourth-line production could help this team. The Predators are not getting it right now.
New Jersey Devils: Too Old for Anything Good? It's McDavid Time!
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This team is too old. It needs to be new again.
The simple solution to this is to take the NHL '94 all-star team of players the club has now and trade them to other teams who might need them at the deadline.
It's a quick fix to infuse youth into a club hanging with the bottom-feeders of the league.
Hey, they'll get a shot at Connor McDavid, too.
Also, Jaromir Jagr is still the man.
New York Islanders: What Holes?
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Let me take a moment to give myself a pat on the back.
At the beginning of the season, I predicted the apparent rise of the New York Islanders. So far, my Miss Cleo skills are coming to fruition.
The New York Islanders aren't where they need to be at defensively, but the young blue line, which includes two veteran additions in Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, will use this time to gel.
New York Rangers: They Got This
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After a slow start, the New York Rangers are settling into the title contender we all thought they were.
Winners of seven straight, New York has seen outstanding play from Rick Nash, who trails only Tyler Seguin in goals with 23.
Henrik Lundqvist is still one of only a few elite goaltenders in the league, while the defense around him appears to be rounding into form.
With Nash producing at his current rate, solid scoring throughout the lineup and Lundqvist in net, the Rangers are on the rise.
Ottawa Senators: A Premier Scorer
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The Ottawa Senators have failed to replace the production of Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson since the two departed.
While the Senators have balance in scoring this year, they need a legitimate premier forward to pair with Kyle Turris on the first line.
Heck, they might need two.
Philadelphia Flyers: Find a Defenseman or Two
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The Philadelphia Flyers seem like they still might be waiting for a retired Chris Pronger to return.
There can be no other logical explanation for the lack of movement this season to secure defensive depth in Philadelphia.
Braydon Coburn is a turnover machine. Coaches apparently like Michael Del Zotto in the press box more than on the ice. Luke Schenn has been horrible and Andrew MacDonald hasn't been much better.
Goaltender Steve Mason is doing what he can in net, but in order to fix this team, it needs to plug the major hole on defense.
Pittsburgh Penguins: A Top-Six Winger
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Looking past the fact that any top-sixer the Penguins would get would instantly get mumps, break his arm in the pregame warm-up and somehow fall out of a 20-story building, Pittsburgh could still use one.
After some experimenting, it seems the first line is set with Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist.
From there, Geno Malkin will need a skilled goal scorer to go with Blake Comeau on the second line.
This is assuming the Penguins get healthy. They won't. It's impossible.
San Jose Sharks: A Supporting Cast
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After a bit of a slump, the San Jose Sharks are being their typical, strong selves in the regular season.
Before things go terribly wrong in the playoffs, the Sharks should bolster their lineup with a strong player or two for the stretch run.
One possible option is a top-four defenseman, who could come in and log big minutes and help a team that is average in the goal-scoring department.
Another piece could be a top-six forward, who would also add the same benefits.
It could go either way, in honesty. The main problem is the emotional hurdle the team needs to get over to advance far in the playoffs.
St. Louis Blues: Penalty-Killing Specialist
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The St. Louis Blues are ranked among the best in the league in nearly every category, except penalty-killing.
In that mucho importante category, the Blues rank 24th in the league at 78.3 percent.
A forward or defenseman who is especially skilled on the penalty kill would be a welcome addition in solving the Blues' penalty blues.
Tampa Bay Lightning: A Backup Goalie
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While there might be more pressing holes on the Tampa Bay roster, Lightning fans would swiftly demand the position that needs an upgrade is that of the backup goaltender.
That spot is currently occupied by the immortal Evgeni Nabokov, who sports a save percentage below .900 despite playing in the NHL in the year 2014.
The fact that Nabokov has played nine games for starter Ben Bishop is about nine games too many for Tampa Bay.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Uhhh...
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It's hard to peg what the Toronto Maple Leafs need or what could solve their issues when the team that shows up one night looks completely different from the one that shows up the next night.
Is there a player or players out there that can make a team as a whole play consistently?
Vancouver Canucks: A Quality Starting Goaltender
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The thought process in Vancouver must be that if they throw Ryan Miller out there enough he'll turn into the old Ryan Miller.
Eddie Lack's been outperforming him as the team's backup.
He's not the old Ryan Miller.
Elite goaltenders barely exist. Good luck with that in the playoffs, Vancouver.
An upgrade is needed here, but sadly, the Canucks might have too much invested in the position already. Hey, they're still paying Roberto Luongo, too. Fun.
Washington Capitals: A Second-Line Center
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Excuse the fact that there's no possible way the Capitals are getting anywhere with Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen taking up a fool's ransom in salary-cap space. The team is in the market for a second-line center.
Everyone seems to want one of those.
St. Louis might be the best place to look, as it's so stacked at the spot, it has centers playing wing positions.
A second-line center would add much-needed balance to Washington's offensive unit.
Winnipeg Jets: Defensive Depth
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The Winnipeg Jets have suffered injuries on defense and could use some depth at the position.
Four current starters are out with injuries in Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian, Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart.
That's enough to field two solid defensive pairings. Ouch.
All statistics courtesy of NHL.com.
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