Identifying All 30 NHL Teams as Buyers or Sellers Post All-Star Break
With the 2015 NHL All-Star Game now history, the focus shifts to determining which teams become buyers or sellers leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 2.
Deciding a buyer or seller depends upon a team's roster needs and position in the standings. Playoff contenders could bolster their lineups with short-term additions. Non-playoff clubs could consider significant moves in preparation for offseason rebuilding.
Here's a look at which NHL teams are buyers or sellers, their respective roster needs and their potential trade candidates. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section.
Anaheim Ducks
1 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Anaheim Ducks will be buyers. They entered the All-Star break atop the Western Conference and the league's overall standings. They could tweak their roster for a Stanley Cup run.
Roster needs: The Ducks could use another defenseman with a right-handed shot. Only Sami Vatanen and Ben Lovejoy shoot right. They could also use an experienced second-line winger.
Possible trade candidates: Left wing Emerson Etem, currently in the minors, could be available. The Ducks could offer up their first-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft. Should they finish atop the standings, that pick will be near the bottom of the first round.
Arizona Coyotes
2 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Arizona Coyotes will be sellers. They are among this season's worst teams. TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes the club will make several moves before the March trade deadline.
Roster needs: Depth at forward, especially at center, and an experienced backup goaltender. The Coyotes are rebuilding and could seek affordable young talent, prospects and draft picks.
Possible trade candidates: Unrestricted free agents like center Antoine Vermette, left wing Martin Erat and defenseman Zbynek Michalek. Puck-moving blueliner Keith Yandle (above right) is a year away from free agency and could become a trade chip.
Boston Bruins
3 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: Expect the Boston Bruins to be buyers. Though their play has improved of late, they must bolster their depth to ensure a playoff berth.
Roster needs: A skilled and experienced top-line right wing, as they're currently using rookie David Pastrnak in that role. NBC Sports' Jason Brough lists the Bruins among possible trade destinations for Arizona Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle.
Possible trade candidates: The Bruins have limited cap space and can't afford to take on much salary. They could move a potential free agent like Adam McQuaid or Carl Soderberg, but they'll be needed to secure a playoff spot. The team could offer up a young player, draft picks or prospects.
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Buffalo Sabres
4 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Buffalo Sabres are big-time sellers. They are in the midst of a roster rebuild. Like most rebuilding clubs, they'll be shedding veteran free agents in exchange for young players, draft picks and prospects.
Roster needs: The Sabres are among this season's worst teams. They need skilled depth at every position.
Possible trade candidates: Pending unrestricted free-agent wingers Chris Stewart and Drew Stafford. Goalies Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth are also unrestricted, and one of them could hit the trade block. Unless the Sabres receive a mind-blowing offer, defenseman Tyler Myers is unavailable.
Calgary Flames
5 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Calgary Flames could be buyers, but only at the right price. Sportsnet's Luke Fox reports that Flames general manager Brad Treliving told the Hockey Central panel he won't move young assets to boost his team's playoff hopes.
Roster needs: A skilled left winger, especially if currently sidelined Curtis Glencross misses any significant time.
Possible trade candidates: Pending free-agent veterans like Devin Setoguchi and Brian McGrattan. Minor league forward Sven Baertschi could also be available.
Carolina Hurricanes
6 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: Definitely sellers. The Carolina Hurricanes are among this season's worst teams and are poised to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. They could go into rebuild mode and ship out several potential free agents.
Roster needs: The Hurricanes are among the NHL's lowest-scoring teams. Acquiring offensive depth is a must. Their focus could be on young forwards with affordable contracts.
Possible trade candidates: Defensemen Andrej Sekera and Tim Gleason, as well as forwards Jiri Tlusty and Jay McClement. All are free agents this summer and could be dealt if unsigned by the trade deadline.
Chicago Blackhawks
7 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Chicago Blackhawks will stand pat for now. ESPN.com's Scott Power reports general manager Stan Bowman doesn't expect to be busy at the March trade deadline.
Roster needs: No specific ones at the moment. That could change if injuries strike the roster leading up to the trade deadline.
Possible trade candidates: If the need arises, Bowman could draw upon his farm team for trade options. Goalie Scott Darling and center Peter Regin, both currently in the minors, could be available.
Colorado Avalanche
8 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Colorado Avalanche could be buyers by moving a key roster piece. They're presently outside the Western Conference playoff picture and might shake things up.
Roster needs: The Avalanche are among the NHL's worst defensive teams. They lack experienced top-four defensemen.
Possible trade candidates: Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos claims the Avalanche have put out trade feelers on winger Ryan O'Reilly in their quest for help on defense. Aging winger Daniel Briere could also be available.
Columbus Blue Jackets
9 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Columbus Blue Jackets could be sellers. Though possessing lots of promising talent, injuries crippled their playoff chances this season.
Roster needs: Apart from a healthier lineup, they could use an offensive right winger for center Ryan Johansen's line. Young players with term remaining on their contracts could be their targets.
Possible trade candidates: The Hockey News' Matt Larkin suggests forwards Artem Anisimov, Matt Calvert, Cam Atkinson or even Scott Hartnell as possible trade chips.
Dallas Stars
10 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Dallas Stars are a playoff bubble team. Their status depends upon their performance leading up to the March trade deadline.
Roster needs: They require offensive depth, another right-handed defenseman and a reliable backup goaltender.
Possible trade candidates: If they become sellers, pending free agents Erik Cole and Shawn Horcoff (pictured above) could hit the trade block. If they're buyers, they could offer up prospects or draft picks.
Detroit Red Wings
11 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Detroit Red Wings could be buyers, but only at the right price. ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reports Wings general manager Ken Holland won't overpay for trade deadline acquisitions this season.
Roster needs: LeBrun speculates the Wings could seek a defenseman. They lack depth in top-four defensemen with right-handed shots.
Possible trade candidates: If Holland is unwilling to overpay, he could offer up lower-round draft picks. Prospects, other than Dylan Larkin, Teemu Pulkkinen and Anthony Mantha, could be in play.
Edmonton Oilers
12 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: About to miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season, the Edmonton Oilers will be sellers.
Roster needs: The Oilers need help throughout their roster. They lack a proven starting goaltender, a top-two defenseman and skilled centers.
Possible trade candidates: Pending unrestricted free agents like defenseman Jeff Petry, center Derek Roy and goalie Viktor Fasth could hit the trade block. The team could gauge trade interest in struggling right wing Nail Yakupov.
Florida Panthers
13 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Florida Panthers are a playoff bubble team and could be buyers. They must improve their roster depth if they hope to gain ground in the standings.
Roster needs: The Panthers desperately need offense. They're among this season's lowest-scoring teams. Only Nick Bjugstad and Jimmy Hayes have reached double digits in goals.
Possible trade candidates: If general manager Dale Tallon is a buyer, he could draw upon his depth in blue-line prospects for trade bait. If he goes into sell mode, free agents like Tomas Fleischmann, Scottie Upshall, Sean Bergenheim and Tomas Kopecky could be dealt.
Los Angeles Kings
14 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Los Angeles Kings could be buyers if they can find a bargain. The defending Stanley Cup champions currently have limited cap space and can't take on much salary.
Roster needs: With blueliner Slava Voynov suspended while awaiting trial for domestic violence, the Kings are missing a key piece of their top-four defense.
Possible trade candidates: The Kings could try to move center Mike Richards, as they must also free up cap space this summer to re-sign their key free agents. His $5.75 million per season contract (which runs through 2019-20) and his declining stats are a tough sell.
Minnesota Wild
15 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: A playoff bubble team, the Minnesota Wild's status depends upon their performance leading up to the March trade deadline. They recently acquired Devan Dubnyk to stabilize their shaky goaltending.
Roster needs: The Wild could use another experienced second-line winger. Another second-pairing defenseman could also be helpful.
Possible trade candidates: Pending free-agent center Kyle Brodziak could be available. Another possibility could be winger Erik Haula.
Montreal Canadiens
16 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: Perched among the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, the Montreal Canadiens could be buyers. General manager Marc Bergevin has shown a willingness to swing deadline deals.
Roster needs: TSN's Darren Dreger believes the Canadiens would love to add another top-six forward or a defenseman. NBC Sports' Jason Brough suggests the Habs could be among the suitors for Colorado Avalanche winger Ryan O'Reilly.
Possible trade candidates: Versatile forward Lars Eller (pictured right) has bounced around the Canadiens' lineup. He could be packaged with a draft pick or prospect if Bergevin decides to seek a big fish at the deadline.
Nashville Predators
17 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Nashville Predators could be buyers, though they're not under any pressure to do so. They are among this season's top teams and won't need to do much to boost their lineup.
Roster needs: The Predators could use a second-line winger to add depth to their offense. Sportsnet's Damien Cox claims the Predators are among those interested in Buffalo Sabres winger Chris Stewart.
Possible trade candidates: Pending free agents Matt Cullen and Olli Jokinen could be peddled at the trade deadline. Recently demoted winger Viktor Stalberg could also be available.
New Jersey Devils
18 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The New Jersey Devils will be sellers. Entering the All-Star break, they were 15 points out of playoff contention. It's time for general manager Lou Lamoriello to go into sell mode.
Roster needs: The aging Devils are among this season's worst teams in goals-against and scoring. They need to get younger and faster. Acquiring scoring forwards and a reliable backup goalie should be their priorities.
Possible trade candidates: Pending unrestricted free agents Jaromir Jagr, Michael Ryder, Martin Havlat, Marek Zidlicky and Bryce Salvador could all hit the trade block leading up to deadline day.
New York Islanders
19 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The New York Islanders could be buyers. Among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, they only need to tweak their lineup for the playoffs.
Roster needs: The Islanders' biggest weakness is their woeful penalty kill. They should also consider upgrading their backup goaltender, as Chad Johnson is not playing well this season.
Possible trade candidates: If they wish, the Islanders have depth in defensive prospects to use as trade bait. Demoted winger Cory Conacher is also available.
New York Rangers
20 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The New York Rangers could be buyers to bolster their depth. After a slow start, they've surged in the Eastern Conference standings. They could load up for another long playoff run.
Roster needs: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reports the Rangers seek a bottom-six forward who can play wing or center and perhaps some blue-line depth.
Possible trade candidates: They could move pending free-agent winger Mats Zuccarello, whose numbers are down compared to last season. Little-used forward J.T. Miller could also be available.
Ottawa Senators
21 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Ottawa Senators are buyers. They return from the All-Star break 10 points out of playoff contention and must do something to gain ground in the standings.
Roster needs: The Senators are among this season's lowest-scoring teams. They need to add a top-six forward.
Possible trade candidates: The Ottawa Citizen's Wayne Scanlan reports longtime Senators Chris Phillips and Chris Neil, as well as pending free-agent defenseman Marc Methot, could be dealt. The team is also trying to move forward Colin Greening.
Philadelphia Flyers
22 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Philadelphia Flyers should be sellers by the deadline. They return from the All-Star break 12 points out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
Roster needs: The Flyers must upgrade their blue line. They've lacked a true top-two defenseman since injuries forced Chris Pronger into retirement. They're also carrying too much salary.
Possible trade candidates: SI.com's Allan Muir speculates blueliners Luke Schenn, Andrew MacDonald, Nicklas Grossman and Braydon Coburn could be dealt. Winger Matt Read could be another option. Forward Vincent Lecavalier is also available.
Pittsburgh Penguins
23 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Pittsburgh Penguins could be buyers. Though they recently acquired winger David Perron to add scoring punch, management could consider addressing other needs.
Roster needs: The Penguins could seek blue-line depth. Defenseman Olli Maatta (shoulder surgery) is out for the season. Sportsnet's John Shannon reports Kris Letang is out indefinitely following a hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers winger Zac Rinaldo.
Possible trade candidates: The Penguins don't have much cap space so they must move out a salaried player to add a decent blueliner. A pending free agent like Blake Comeau (once he returns from injury) could be a trade option.
San Jose Sharks
24 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The San Jose Mercury News' Mark Purdy believes the San Jose Sharks' performance in the coming weeks will decide if they're buyers or sellers.
Roster needs: The Sharks need depth on right wing and among their bottom-six forwards. Their third-pairing defense needs improvement.
Possible trade candidates: Pending free agents like goalie Antti Niemi and forwards Tyler Kennedy and James Sheppard could hit the trade block. General manager Doug Wilson tells Purdy he's not interested in rental players and won't part with high draft picks.
St. Louis Blues
25 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The St. Louis Blues could be buyers but only for an affordable return. They're among the top teams in the Western Conference and have limited cap space. They don't need to add very much.
Roster needs: The Blues could use a bottom-six right wing. They could also pursue a sixth defenseman.
Possible trade candidates: Versatile forward Patrik Berglund could be available if the Blues wish to shed some salary in a return.
Tampa Bay Lightning
26 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman may have been content to stand pat. A recent injury to a key player, however, could make him a buyer.
Roster needs: The Lightning could use blue-line depth. Defenseman Matt Carle is out six to eight weeks following abdominal surgery. Rugged blueliner Radko Gudas is out for the season with a knee injury.
Possible trade candidates: The Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson speculates winger Brett Connolly might be used as bait to add a rearguard.
Toronto Maple Leafs
27 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently 10 points out of contention. Their performance over the next four weeks will determine if they're buyers or sellers.
Roster needs: The Leafs must find the right balance between improved defense without sacrificing their scoring. They lack a top-line center, skilled shutdown defensemen and checking-line depth.
Possible trade candidates: If they're buyers, pending free-agent rearguard Cody Franson or young blueliner Jake Gardiner could become trade bait. If they're sellers, all their pending unrestricted free agents could hit the block, along with Gardiner and backup goalie James Reimer.
Vancouver Canucks
28 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Vancouver Canucks could be cautious buyers. The Vancouver Sun's Iain MacIntyre reports team president Trevor Linden claims the Canucks won't sacrifice the future for a quick fix.
Roster needs: TSN's Darren Dreger reports the Canucks could seek a top-six forward with term on his contract. Though veteran blueliner Kevin Bieksa is sidelined by a hand injury, MacIntyre reports general manager Jim Benning will replace him with Frank Corrado.
Possible trade candidates: Little-used right wing Zack Kassian (pictured above) could become trade bait for a scoring winger. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom could be available.
Washington Capitals
29 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Washington Capitals could be in the market for an affordable deal. The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt reports general manager Brian MacLellan said the next month will determine if they should add depth at forward.
Roster needs: The Capitals lack a top-six right wing who can play on the first line with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. They could also use a proven second-line center.
Possible trade candidates: Pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Mike Green (above, right) could attract interest from clubs seeking a top-four defenseman with a right-handed shot.
Winnipeg Jets
30 of 30
Buyers or sellers?: The Winnipeg Jets could be buyers. They entered the All-Star break sitting fifth in the Western Conference. For the first time since their relocation from Atlanta, they seem poised to make the playoffs.
Roster needs: The Jets could use a reliable second-line winger. They could also use some depth on their checking lines.
Possible trade candidates: As their defense corps gets healthier, the Jets could draw from it to address their needs. Possible options include Grant Clitsome, Adam Pardy or Jay Harrison. If they want a scoring forward, they could consider a bolder option like Tobias Enstrom or Zach Bogosian.
Player stats via NHL.com. Salary information via NHLNumbers.com.
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