Every NHL Team's Biggest Area of Need 1 Month Before the Trade Deadline
The NHL's trade deadline is only a month away. March 2 is coming fast, which means general managers across the league are getting sore earlobes from constant phone friction.
The playoff picture is still puzzling, with many clubs still in play. That will ultimately determine the actual number of guys on the open market and lead to a rash of late deals. Some teams are seeking scoring—OK, most are looking for more goals—but others could use some defensive depth or reliable goaltending options.
Click through to take a look at the biggest need for every NHL team as time ticks away and the deadline nears.
Anaheim Ducks
1 of 30
The need: Defensive depth, preferably a right-handed shot
The reason: The Ducks have balance on the back end with puck-movers Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm, who are backed up by the more rugged Francois Beauchemin, Ben Lovejoy and Clayton Stoner. But only Vatanen and Lovejoy shoot right, and both Stoner and Lovejoy would be much more appealing as a depth player in the seventh spot.
The candidates: Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Cody Franson is a pending unrestricted free agent who happens to shoot right and would give the Ducks another offensive weapon that might perk up the power play. He's rumored to be a target by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, via NicholsOnHockey.com. Others in similar situations include Washington's Mike Green and Edmonton's Jeff Petry.
Arizona Coyotes
2 of 30
The need: A young scoring forward prospect
The reason: The Coyotes have scored the third fewest goals per game on average this season and have a big gap in players aged 21-26 with only two established and offensively productive regulars—Mikkel Boedker and Sam Gagner—among the forward ranks in that range.
The candidates: Forward Antoine Vermette is a hot name on the trade rumor market because of his pending UFA status and likelihood of being peddled. Defenseman Keith Yandle has a big contract and would fetch a hefty return as well. Contenders Chicago, Anaheim, St. Louis, Montreal and the New York Rangers are interested in Vermette, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, via NicholsOnHockey.com.
Boston Bruins
3 of 30
The need: A top-six right winger
The reason: The Bruins are still struggling to fill the hole left by last year's top-line flanker Jarome Iginla after he left because of salary-cap restrictions. Reilly Smith has not taken the step forward they expected this season after a strong rookie showing last year, and rookie David Pastrnak has been forced into that spot now with Loui Eriksson fitting in better on the third line.
The candidates: According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Bruins and Vancouver Canucks may be talking a trade for Zack Kassian, who hasn't lived up to his potential and may need a fresh start as a power winger. The Bruins also made a pitch for Chris Stewart in Buffalo, but the asking price was too high and would have to come down, says The Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa.
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Buffalo Sabres
4 of 30
The need: Top prospects or draft picks
The reason: With no shot at making the playoffs, the Sabres need to continue to rebuild. They'll have a high pick at the draft, likely securing one of the top two franchise players available, but can restock the cupboards or add a prospect closer to playing a regular role by dumping more of their pending unrestricted free agents or guys they don't see as long-term fits.
The candidates: Pending UFAs include Chris Stewart, Drew Stafford and Torrey Mitchell up front, defensemen Andrej Meszaros and Andre Benoit, and goaltenders Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth. According to Ken Campbell of The Hockey News, there is still talk of blueliner Tyler Myers being available, but the Sabres claim he's a cornerstone.
Calgary Flames
5 of 30
The need: Scoring depth on the wing
The reason: Johnny Gaudreau and Jiri Hudler have been solid first-line wingers, but behind them is a cast that has been inconsistent and unreliable. If the Flames are going to make the playoffs, they'll need better secondary scoring and depth. Relying on the young call-ups is a risky venture, and veterans David Jones and Mason Raymond haven't been contributing with regularity.
The candidates: Chris Stewart has been on the radar, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman in this video link. Mike Richards is also someone they're talking about, although this rumor isn't based on Richards' potential contributions, via Eric Francis at the Calgary Sun—it's a Kings salary-dump attempt that would have to come with more in the package.
Carolina Hurricanes
6 of 30
The need: Scoring from anywhere, now or in the future
The reason: Alex Semin has been a massive disappointment this season, and the Hurricanes are scoring slightly more than two goals a game on average (2.11)—second worst in the league ahead of only the Buffalo Sabres. Only one player, captain Eric Staal, is on pace for 20 goals this year.
The candidates: There's no telling who they might look to bring in, but pending UFAs Andrej Sekera, Jiri Tlusty and Tim Gleason could be on their way out for picks and prospects. TheFourthPeriod.com suggests the Pittsburgh Penguins are interested in Sekera.
Chicago Blackhawks
7 of 30
The need: Salary-cap relief
The reason: Forward depth took a hit with the long-term status of winger Kris Versteeg. The team is relying on Joakim Nordstrom and Teuvo Teravainen at the moment but would love for a healthy Versteeg to return in time for the playoff push. Their hands are tied in adding anyone because they have less than $1 million in space under the cap ceiling.
The candidates: The Hawks have tough decisions to make next year with UFAs Brad Richards, Johnny Oduya and Michal Rozsíval, and RFAs Brandon Saad, Marcus Kruger, Nordstrom and David Rundblad are among those who need new deals next year. GM Stan Bowman told ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers he'll likely do nothing by March 2, so moves could wait for the offseason.
Colorado Avalanche
8 of 30
The need: A top defenseman
The reason: Only the Buffalo Sabres have allowed more shots against per game on average this season, and a recent injury to Erik Johnson won't help the Avalanche improve on that stat. The defensive group is weak, especially when it comes to play inside their own blue line. And given their awful possession numbers via Puckalytics.com, they spend a lot of time there.
The candidates: Arizona Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle might be an attractive option, and the apparent willingness of the Avs to deal center Ryan O'Reilly could make that a possibility, via Stephen Burtch of Sportsnet. Burtch suggests the Maple Leafs should deal Dion Phaneuf for him. Another option might be Andrej Sekera from Carolina or Buffalo's Tyler Myers.
Columbus Blue Jackets
9 of 30
The need: A Costco-sized box of Band-Aids
The reason: Sergei Bobrovsky is the latest member of the Blue Jackets to go down, and the team is way ahead in man games lost this season.
The candidates: The Jackets will likely be completely out of the playoff running in another month and may look to make some deals for prospects or picks. Pending UFA Jordan Leopold may be attractive to a team that is looking for a playoff veteran.
Dallas Stars
10 of 30
The need: Their goaltending behind Kari Lehtonen is in need of an upgrade but not nearly as badly as the defensive group in front of him.
The reason: The Stars are scoring more than three goals a game (3.06), the fourth best average in the NHL. But they're also allowing 3.26 against—fourth worst in the league. Lehtonen is partially to blame with a .903 save percentage that is much lower than his career average, but he is facing nearly 31 shots per game. His defense is thin with David Schlemko, Jordie Benn and Jason Demers rounding out the bottom three.
The candidates: Dallas could go after any of the previously mentioned big-name blueliners like Cody Franson or Dion Phaneuf from the Maple Leafs, or perhaps Tyler Myers from the Sabres. But other upgrades are possible, such as the pending UFAs Zbynek Michalek (Arizona Coyotes) and Marc Methot (Ottawa Senators), according to Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News. The Stars' own pending free agents Erik Cole and Shawn Horcoff could be bait.
Detroit Red Wings
11 of 30
The need: A top-four defenseman with a right-handed shot
The reason: Niklas Kronwall has been a man on an island since Nicklas Lidstrom retired, and it seems the Wings' search for a right-hander has been going on for years without much success. Bumping Danny DeKeyser down to a bottom pairing would be ideal.
The candidates: According to Detroit Free Press scribe Helene St. James, the Red Wings might pursue Cody Franson (Toronto), Justin Faulk (Carolina), Jeff Petry (Edmonton), Eric Gryba (Ottawa) and Tyler Myers (Buffalo). But the cost could be too much for a team that is well ahead of its point pace from last season.
Edmonton Oilers
12 of 30
The need: A new culture
The reason: The kids in Edmonton seem to have grown accustomed to losing. GM Craig MacTavish promised big moves when he came in, and the city has yet to see anything change with the young core—which is where the problem lies. It may be a win-win if the Oilers cough up one of their former top picks-turned-big-money men for a legitimate top netminder or stud defenseman—or both.
The candidates: Derek Roy, Viktor Fasth and Jeff Petry are pending UFAs who could go as part of any deal. As far as bigger splashes, TheFourthPeriod.com suggests the most likely of the core group of youngsters to go would be Jordan Eberle or Nail Yakupov. Sportsnet's Mike Johnson lists the Oilers as one of five potential destinations for Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf, who grew up in Edmonton.
Florida Panthers
13 of 30
The need: Scoring
The reason: Only the Buffalo Sabres have scored fewer goals per game on average than the Panthers, who are hanging around in striking distance of the wild-card spots but could fall out of the picture by the deadline—which would drastically change their needs.
The candidates: If they end up selling pieces rather than adding, there are a few strong candidates to go thanks to their pending UFA status, including Sean Bergenheim, Tomas Kopecky, Scottie Upshall and Tomas Fleischmann.
Los Angeles Kings
14 of 30
The need: Cap space and rest
The reason: Demoting Mike Richards to the AHL saved the Kings less than $1 million in cap space, and they still need to figure out a way to re-sign Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll in the offseason, with youngsters Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli due big raises as RFAs. They'd like to add some depth on defense as well with Slava Voynov still out indefinitely due to suspension, but their hands are tied.
The candidates: Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman points to Andrej Sekera as a possible target, while TSN's Bob McKenzie suggests Marc Methot.
Minnesota Wild
15 of 30
The need: A veteran scoring winger
The reason: With Devan Dubnyk playing well following his trade from the Arizona Coyotes, goaltending might now be a secondary concern on the trade market depending on what's available. Meanwhile, Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press suggests a stabilizing locker-room presence could be the best thing to boost the Wild forward.
The candidates: Powers puts Jaromir Jagr down as a top target, while TheFourthPeriod.com suggests goalies Cam Ward and James Reimer as possibilities.
Montreal Canadiens
16 of 30
The need: A top winger
The reason: Dale Weise is playing on the top line. That's enough of a reason right there for the Canadiens to bring in some more offensive talent to bolster their spot in the Eastern Conference standings and to get an edge for the playoffs. Moving Alex Galchenyuk to the middle gave them better depth at center, but the flanks could use an upgrade, especially with the injury to P.A. Parenteau.
The candidates: TheFourthPeriod.com says talks are taking place between the Habs and Coyotes, with Antoine Vermette a prime target. Jaromir Jagr could be another option, while a defenseman like Cody Franson would boost a bland defense behind the elite top pairing of P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov.
Nashville Predators
17 of 30
The need: A backup upgrade
The reason: The biggest concern could be in goal despite the fact the Predators have Hart Trophy candidate Pekka Rinne. The knee injury to the top goaltender in the league has left Carter Hutton in charge of the crease, at least temporarily. He's 2-4-4 in starts this season, which brings up the question of what this team would look like if Rinne doesn't recover as hoped or gets hurt again.
The candidates: There aren't a lot of teams with quality goaltenders to spare, but the Calgary Flames liked what they saw in Joni Ortio and could part with Karri Ramo. James Reimer in Toronto and Cam Ward in Carolina, along with Viktor Fasth (Edmonton) and Buffalo duo Michal Neuvirth and Jhonas Enroth, could be targets.
New Jersey Devils
18 of 30
The need: A youth movement
The reason: The Devils are the oldest team in the league with an average age over 30. They could peddle plenty of soon-to-be UFAs for picks and prospects. They're way out of the playoff race and need to get some return for those who are not part of their short or long-term future.
The candidates: Jaromir Jagr, Michael Ryder, Martin Havlat, Scott Gomez and Marek Zidlicky could all have value to contenders.
New York Islanders
19 of 30
The need: A backup goalie
The reason: Chad Johnson had some success as a backup in Boston last season but is way off the mark this year with an .870 save percentage and 3.38 goals-against average. Jaroslav Halak has been solid as the starter, but the team could be one injury away from looking like the Tampa Bay Lightning last year when Ben Bishop went down.
The candidates: Along with the usual suspects such as Cam Ward, James Reimer and the Buffalo tandem, a name to consider is Ray Emery out of Philadelphia.
New York Rangers
20 of 30
The need: Center depth
The reason: Behind Derek Stepan and Derrick Brassard, the Rangers do not have much in the way of depth. An injury to either of those guys would put Dominic Moore as their No. 2 middle man.
The candidates: Antoine Vermette would be a great fit since he can take key faceoffs but also slide over to the wing because of his versatility. They could probably pick up a cheaper player like Boyd Gordon from the Edmonton Oilers or Jay McClement of the Carolina Hurricanes, however, and be satisfied with their performance on the faceoff dots and whatever bonus offense they can add.
Ottawa Senators
21 of 30
The need: A top-six scoring winger
The reason: Because GM Bryan Murray says so, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Ken Warren. Murray wants to add a top forward but admits it's a difficult thing to do.
The candidates: Realistically, the Senators will probably become sellers by the deadline and have some attractive pieces in defensemen Chris Phillips and Marc Methot and winger Chris Neil.
Philadelphia Flyers
22 of 30
The need: A top blueliner
The reason: The back end has suffered ever since Chris Pronger's concussion issues forced him out of the lineup. The Flyers are allowing nearly three goals against per game and more than 30 shots per contest.
The candidates: With plenty of forward prospects to part with, the team could aim big and go for Coyote Keith Yandle or settle for more depth with Andrej Sekera of the Hurricanes. If the Washington Capitals find themselves out of the playoff picture, they could also part with pending UFA Mike Green.
Pittsburgh Penguins
23 of 30
The need: Depth players
The reason: The Penguins addressed one of their big needs with the deal for David Perron earlier this year but would benefit from another scorer to play on the second line and allow the Beau Bennett/Brandon Sutter duo to move to the third line when Evgeni Malkin is healthy. They could also use another defenseman for depth with Olli Maatta out for the year.
The candidates: Could a reunion with Jaromir Jagr finally play out after he was courted upon his return to the NHL a couple of years ago but went elsewhere? It would make a great story. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun suggested they were interested in Chris Stewart in December.
San Jose Sharks
24 of 30
The need: A top-four defenseman
The reason: The Sharks are in a dogfight for a playoff spot, so don't expect a fire sale as GM Doug Wilson tries to right the ship one more time. He tried to address the gaps on the back end earlier this season by picking up Brenden Dillon from the Dallas Stars, but he hasn't played much better for the Sharks. They could really use more stability behind Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns.
The candidates: Andrej Sekera (Carolina), if the Hurricanes can't sign him, is going to be a hot commodity. San Jose could pry plenty of top-four-caliber guys away from teams out of the race.
St. Louis Blues
25 of 30
The need: Depth defenseman
The reason: It's not a glaring need, but having another serviceable defenseman would allow the Blues the kind of depth that keeps teams going when injuries mount down the stretch or into the playoffs. They have it at every other position.
The candidates: If they could pry away Andrew Ference from Edmonton or Chris Phillips from Ottawa, the Blues would have a nice fit of experience and effort. Their big moves to shave cap space are more likely to come this summer.
Tampa Bay Lightning
26 of 30
The need: A Ben Bishop emergency plan
The reason: The Lightning thought they took care of this last summer when they picked up Evgeni Nabokov and jettisoned Anders Lindback. Things went south in the playoffs when Bishop went down late in the season, and it looks as if Andrei Vasilevskiy is the better backup option despite his inexperience.
The candidates: Adding the Flames' Karri Ramo, who started his career in Tampa years back, could provide the depth needed to feel more confident. One of the Buffalo Sabres' pending free-agent netminders would also work, although Cam Ward (Carolina) or James Reimer (Toronto) might be most ideal.
Toronto Maple Leafs
27 of 30
The need: A responsible defenseman
The reason: Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and Cody Franson are fairly one-dimensional. Roman Polak is the only true rearguard in the bunch when it comes to responsible defensive play. The Leafs have allowed the third worst average of shots against per game this season.
The candidates: Unless the Leafs start climbing in the standings quickly, there is too much ground to make up to add a rental player, in which case you could see a number of Leafs leaving town. If they get close, guys like Zbynek Michalek and Jan Hejda would fit nicely.
Vancouver Canucks
28 of 30
The need: A top-four defenseman
The reason: Losing Kevin Bieksa to a broken finger that requires surgery is a big blow at this point of the season when few points separate sixth and 12th in the standings.
The candidates: Chris Phillips (Ottawa) or Marek Zidlicky might not break the bank for a team that is unwilling to mortgage the future for the present.
Washington Capitals
29 of 30
The need: Scoring depth up front
The reason: The Capitals are still looking for consistency on the second line and a good fit at right wing for the Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom duo. To do damage in the playoffs, they need to add another key piece to improve that secondary scoring.
The candidates: Their biggest chip to trade is defenseman Mike Green, a pending UFA who might be expendable in Washington thanks to a strong group of blueliners. But they may want to hang onto him for depth down the stretch and into the postseason. Adding a player like Antoine Vermette from Arizona (or even Erik Cole from the Dallas Stars or Jaromir Jagr or Michael Ryder from the New Jersey Devils) could provide what they need.
Winnipeg Jets
30 of 30
The need: One more scoring forward
The reason: The Jets got through a rough stretch of injuries on defense and are relatively healthy there now. They could look to add there, too, for depth, but having a top-nine forward with versatility would make them even more potent down the stretch.
The candidates: Mike Richards, a Kenora product who might be motivated by a move close to home, could be had from the Kings following his demotion. It's a risk, though. They could look to snap up a guy like the Maple Leafs' Daniel Winnik. Ken Weibe of the Winnipeg Sun also suggests the Leafs' Mike Santorelli, the Sabres' Torrey Mitchell and the Oilers' Matt Hendricks.
All stats via NHL.com unless otherwise indicated.
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