The Biggest Need for Every Playoff Bubble Team Ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL stretch drive is on, and the 2015-16 trade deadline is Feb. 29, giving teams looking to improve little time to determine their ultimate needs.

The bubble teams are those still in contention—either holding down playoff positions or close to the pack—and most likely to make some additions at the deadline in order to make a more serious run at a postseason berth.

There's a reason these clubs are on the playoff bubble. Each has a hole or two to fill to have any reasonable chance of competing with the top clubs. And while it's possible one of the teams below those listed here could also make a play for one of the wild-card spots, the chosen ones here each has at least 60 points in the standings and a minimum 20 percent chance of qualifying, according to Sports Club Stats.

These conditions disqualify the likes of the free-falling Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Arizona Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks. They look like potential sellers at this point of the NHL season.

For those on the bubble, we take a look at what each team needs most ahead of the trade deadline.

New Jersey Devils

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Status: 58 games played, 29-22-7 record, 65 points, fourth in the Metropolitan Division, seventh in the Eastern Conference

Need: A healthy Michael Cammalleri

Analysis: The New Jersey Devils are sitting in a playoff spot, but general manager Ray Shero recently told The Power Play (h/t NHL.com) he is unlikely to trade any draft picks in order to load up for a potential playoff run. The club has a stud in goal in Cory Schneider, and he makes up for a lack of elite defensive players.

But scoring gets tougher down the stretch, and Cammalleri has been the Devils' best weapon all year long. If help isn't coming from the outside, they need Cammalleri back as soon as possible. But there's still no target date for his return from injury, according to Tom Gulitti of the New Jersey Record.

PIttsburgh Penguins

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Status: 55 games played, 28-19-8 record, 64 points, fifth in Metropolitan Division, eighth in Eastern Conference

Need: A top-six forward

Analysis: When a team has Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, scoring shouldn't be a problem. But Malkin is hurt, Kessel has been a disappointment given his track record and Crosby has been hot and cold for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.

The team is still looking for some chemistry and consistency up front, and although some blue-line depth is also needed, the Pens are uncharacteristically in the bottom half of the NHL scoring chart. ESPN's Pierre LeBrun suggested the team should look at the Arizona Coyotes' Mikkel Boedker.

Colorado Avalanche

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Status: 60 games played, 30-26-4 record, 64 points, fourth in the Central Division, seventh in the Western Conference

Need: A top-four defenseman

Analysis: The need for a defensive upgrade is a continuous one for the Colorado Avalanche, which added Francois Beauchemin in the offseason to help solidify the group. But the team is still among the worst defensively in the league. The Avs are allowing the third-most shots against in the NHL and have the eighth-worst goals-against average.

Nashville Predators

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Status: 57 games played, 26-21-10 record, 62 points, fifth in Central Division, eighth in Western Conference

Need: A goaltender to push Pekka Rinne

Analysis: Goaltending woes are not helping the Nashville Predators' playoff cause. Many point to the scoring, which hasn't improved to the degree many hoped after the addition of the top center they've coveted for years in Ryan Johansen. However, the Preds have an identical goals-per-game average as last season but own the second-worst save percentage in the NHL, according to SportingCharts.com.

Rinne is playing well below his career average (.902 GAA this season compared to .917), and he hasn't had a goalie to push him in the crease since Dan Ellis back in 2010. He might benefit from a little competition—or at least a lighter load down the stretch.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Status: 56 games played, 30-22-4 record, 64 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference

Need: A top-four defenseman

Analysis: The Tampa Bay Lightning has lost four of its last five games and finds itself outside the playoff picture in the standings.

The biggest problem for the defending Eastern Conference champion has been a porous defense, which has seen the decline of veteran Matt Carle's game, detailed by Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, and is dealing with an injury to Jason Garrison that will keep him out for several weeks. The team has plenty of talent up front but a real hole on the blue line.

Carolina Hurricanes

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Status: 57 games played, 26-21-10 record, 62 points, sixth in Metropolitan Division, 10th in Eastern Conference

Need: A top-pairing defenseman

Analysis: Realistically, the Carolina Hurricanes are looking likely to be more of a seller at the trade deadline with a big fish to dangle in captain Eric Staal. But they have been surprisingly decent all season and are still in the battle for a wild-card spot. Up front, there is enough offensive talent to get them by if the goal is qualifying for the postseason.

On the back end, the team has been buoyed by strong performances from young players such as Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Noah Hanifin. They could use some help to relieve some of the pressure on goaltenders Eddie Lack and Cam Ward, who aren't the best duo between the pipes.

Philadelphia Flyers

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Status: 56 games played, 25-21-10 record, 60 points, seventh in the Metropolitan Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference

Need: A top-six forward

Analysis: The Philadelphia Flyers are hurting on the back end, recently having to end Andrew MacDonald's exile in the minors and dealing with an injury to Michael Del Zotto. They are inconsistent in goal as well but are unlikely to upgrade on Steve Mason in the trade market.

Up front, though, the team is too reliant on the top line, and with center Sean Couturier out until March, the Flyers are in desperate need of some scoring help and forward balance. The team is among the bottom six in scoring this season.

Minnesota Wild

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Status: 57 games played, 25-22-10 record, 60 points, sixth in Central Division, ninth in Western Conference

Need: A top-six forward

Analysis: One area the Minnesota Wild are lacking is the power play. They are the ninth worst in the league with a 17.8 percent success rate. It's a symptom of the overall offensive struggles of a team that could use another surefire top-line winger to make a jump from the 19th spot with 2.54 goals per game this season.

Although the Wild have some nice potential among their many forwards in their early 20s, only the 31-year-old Zach Parise is a legitimate top-tier forward at this stage of his career.

All stats via NHL.com unless otherwise noted.