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Deadline Primer 2022

Trade Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators

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As we stand on the eve of the trade deadline, moves are coming in faster and faster. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We finish our look around the league with the Nashville Predators. 

In 2020-21, after their season started disappointingly, many observers were clamoring for the Nashville Predators to begin a rebuild. But they went on an impressive stretch run and made the playoffs. Then, the Predators put up a valiant fight against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round before falling in six games, and this season they have built on that momentum. Coach Jon Hynes’ squad has battled hard since the start of this year’s campaign and is now in the thick of the Western Conference’s playoff race. Anchored by resurgent performances from the $8MM men in Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen, along with an otherwordly season from captain Roman Josi, the Predators are firmly in the Western Conference’s playoff race and set to steer clear of the “seller” status GM David Poile has worked so hard to avoid. But with Filip Forsberg (who is now the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer) a pending unrestricted free agent, the team has an intriguing trade deadline to navigate.

Record

36-22-4, 4th in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$49.65MM today, $50.8MM in full-season space, 0/3 retention slots used, 42/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, LAK 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 7th

2023: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th

Trade Chips

Given his importance to the team and his status as a pending unrestricted free agent, much of the conversation around the Predators’ trade deadline approach has centered around Forsberg. Many expect the team to pursue an extension with their talented winger, but the two camps are “not close” on extension talks, as a source told David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. As mentioned earlier, Forsberg has been brilliant this season. He’s been an offensive engine for the team and is one of the major reasons for their success. He has 58 points in 49 games, including 33 goals this year. Forsberg has been inconsistent in the past and also somewhat injury-prone, so it makes sense that there could be a divide between Poile and Forsberg. Forsberg could very well want to be compensated with a contract fitting for a player producing as he has been producing, and Poile could respond by pointing to Forsberg’s inability to have a season like this one in the past. It’s a very tricky situation, and it’s unlikely that Forsberg receives an extension he deems acceptable before the deadline. As a result, one has to wonder if Forsberg ends up traded. It would be a catastrophic blow to the Predators’ season, and a move that would be highly polarizing, but Poile has made bold moves before. If he’s sure that he cannot get Forsberg on a reasonable contract, and he isn’t confident that his team is a true Stanley Cup contender, could he move Forsberg for what would inevitably be a significant return package? It’s something to consider.

If the Predators choose to take a different approach to the deadline and decide to add a significant player to bolster their roster, one trade chip they could move to facilitate a deal is winger Eeli Tolvanen. Tolvanen, 22, is currently slotted in as the left winger on Mikael Granlund and Luke Kunin’s line, which is a prominent role, but his production this season has not been up to the level one would expect for a top-six winger, and especially one who was as touted of a prospect as Tolvanen was. He has nine goals and 20 points this season in 59 games and is on pace to finish with 13 goals and 28 points in 82 games. Tolvanen’s calling card is his shot, but his offensive tools have yet to translate into consistent production. If the Predators want to make a big trade before tomorrow’s deadline but don’t want to part with top prospects such as Yaroslav Askarov, Fedor Svechkov, or Luke Evangelista, maybe Tolvanen is the one that goes the other way. For an acquiring team, Tolvanen represents an NHL-ready upside play whose raw talent could finally be fully realized with a change of scenery.

One potential player who could be moved to help the Predators facilitate a trade is Philippe Myers. Nashville has mountains of cap space to work with at the deadline, so they aren’t in a situation where cap necessarily needs to move out if they want to make a deal. That being said, should Poile have designs on making big moves this offseason, trading Myers may become a priority, so they may get ahead of that now. Myers recently went unclaimed on waivers, so the Predators could need to attach a sweetener asset, maybe a draft pick or a prospect to be able to move him. Myers, 25, has a $2.55MM cap hit that extends into next season, and he has struggled to fit in on the Predators’ team after arriving in the Ryan Ellis trade this past offseason. Myers was a promising, smooth-skating young defenseman in his Philadelphia days, so maybe a team is willing to bet on that version of him re-appearing if Nashville is willing to retain some salary. Either way, it seems that Myers’ days in Nashville could be coming to an end before they ever really had a chance to get going.

Others to Watch For: D Ben Harpur, F Rocco Grimaldi, D Matt Benning

Team Needs:

1) Defensive Help

The Predators’ top pairing of Josi and Dante Fabbro has worked out very well for them this season, so no issues there. Their second pairing is anchored by Mattias Ekholm and features Alexandre Carrier who has had a bit of a breakout season. Their third pairing has been where they’ve had more trouble. As Mark Borowiecki and  Benning have battled injuries, players like Harpur, Jeremy Davies, and Matt Tennyson have all seen time on the bottom pairing. That’s not a group that inspires confidence, especially for a team currently looking like a playoff contender. If the Predators decide they want to buy some reinforcements at the deadline, expect adding a defenseman to be their top priority.

2) More Scoring

The engine of the Predators’ offensive attack is their Forsberg-Johansen-Duchene line. Forsberg and Duchene are above point-per-game and Johansen is close to that pace. Granlund has had a strong year as the team’s second-line center, but after him, the scoring gets thinner. Tanner Jeannot, Yakov Trenin, and Colton Sissons form the heart-and-soul line that the team relies on, but this is a team with two clearly defined lines to drive them, and then Granlund with some question marks surrounding him. They could use some more scoring punch to help Granlund out, but it’s not an absolute priority. The defense should be the focus, but if possible, adding a proven scoring winger to help reinforce Granlund’s line would ease the pressure on the two lines the team is currently heavily reliant on.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

 

Trade Deadline Primer: Minnesota Wild

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Minnesota Wild. 

In the past two seasons, the Minnesota Wild have emerged from the mold of mediocrity thanks to the long-awaited arrival of Kirill Kaprizov. The team’s sights are now set on making it out of the First Round for the first time since 2015 and to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2003, although a recent skid evidenced by their 4-5-1 record in their past ten games has set them back on that path, seemingly. Third-year general manager Bill Guerin has already made one interesting swap this month, dealing Nico Sturm to Colorado for former top-ten pick Tyson Jost. With that cap-clearing move, many thought Guerin may be up to something bigger. They now have just two days left to capitalize on that open space, though, as March 21st’s deadline looms large.

Record

35-20-4, 3rd in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$10.526MM today, $11.053MM in full-season space, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: MIN 1st, MIN 2nd, MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, MIN 5th, SJS 5th, MIN 6th
2023: MIN 1st, MIN 2nd, MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, MIN 5th, MIN 6th, MIN 7th

Trade Chips

Eyebrows across all of the hockey world raised last summer when Guerin bought out the remaining four years of Zach Parise’s and Ryan Suter’s matching gigantic contracts, resulting in what could be crippling salary cap penalties in the next few seasons before the cost of the buyouts goes down. The penalty of those deals is set to increase by ~$8MM this offseason, so this deadline is likely the most flexibility to move the Wild will have for the next four years.

One position Minnesota will likely deal from to make a trade is defense. Skilled drafting in the past few seasons by Guerin and co. has resulted in an incredibly deep all-around pool, but at this point, the defense (especially left defense) is becoming overcrowded with what look like surefire NHLers. Seemingly, the most likely of these names to be dealt is one of Ryan O’Rourke and Daemon Hunt. A second-round and third-round selection by the team in 2020, respectively, O’Rourke and Hunt have continued their torrid upward development since Draft Day, with O’Rourke playing for Canada at the abruptly-cancelled 2021 World Junior Championships. With 21-year-old Calen Addison in the mix, as well as 2021 selections Carson Lambos and Jack Peart, the Wild can deal from this position comfortably.

While the team won’t be dealing top prospects like Marco Rossi and Jesper Wallstedt, a name at forward they could look at moving is Marat Khusnutdinov. A great budding two-way center, Khusnutdinov had 12 points in 32 KHL games this season and has two more seasons remaining on his contract there. He’d be a bit of a project, but still is at least a B-grade prospect and carries significant weight in a trade.

Other Names To Watch For: F Victor Rask ($4MM, pending UFA), top picks in 2022 and 2023

Team Needs

1) Another Center — It’s entirely feasible that the Wild won’t go big-game hunting on the wings due to the emergence of Matt Boldy and the success of Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno on the team’s third/checking line. But they could look to add another player who can slot in at center in the middle-six. While he hasn’t played center in quite a long time, the Wild are reported to have some amount of interest in Anaheim’s Rickard Rakell, who could shuffle around forward positions as need dictates. They could also look to acquire another winger for the fourth line (a Cal Clutterbuck reunion?), giving competition to Brandon Duhaime, Nick Bjugstad, and Connor Dewar.

2) Depth Defenseman — Calen Addison hasn’t managed to carve out a regular NHL role just quite yet, and Jordie Benn just hasn’t cut it as an NHL defenseman for this team. While their bottom pairing of Jon Merrill and Dmitry Kulikov is fine at worst, injuries happen and having one of those two as your seventh defenseman is a good place to be in. A name like Brett Kulak or Justin Braun makes a lot of sense, especially to help shore up their penalty kill, which has been in free-fall mode recently.

Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have been among the most successful teams in recent NHL history. They won three Stanley Cups with their core of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith, but their last win was in 2014-15, and times have gotten leaner since. Former GM Stan Bowman made a blockbuster trade last offseason to acquire defenseman Seth Jones, but the team has disappointed, and under new GM Kyle Davidson, the team looks set to begin a large-scale rebuild in order to return to proper contention. That rebuild began today, with the team’s trade of Brandon Hagel for a large haul of picks and prospects. With that move done, and Davidson’s issued statement on the trade, it is clear that big changes are coming to the Blackhawks sooner rather than later.

Record

22-30-9, 7th in the Central

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$2.26MM today, $2.26MM in full-season space, 1/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: CHI 1st (only receive pick if slotted #1 or #2), CHI 2nd, EDM 3rd,* TOR 3rd, VGK 3rd, CHI 6th, CBJ 6th, CHI 7th

2023: CHI 1st, TBL 1st,** CHI 2nd, TBL 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th

* If EDM makes it to the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and D Duncan Keith is inside the team’s top-four in terms of time-on-ice, CHI will receive EDM’s 2022 2nd

** 2023 TBL 1st is top-10 protected.

Trade Chips

Chicago’s recent trade of Brandon Hagel clearly shows that Davidson is serious about the Blackhawks’ rebuild. Hagel is only 23 years old, productive, and on a steal of a contract that costs $1.5MM against the cap until 2024-25, when he will be a restricted free agent. He’s the kind of player that most teams– even rebuilding ones– would want to keep. A player to build around, even. But for Davidson, a scorched-earth rebuild is in order, and his apparent goal is to stockpile as many picks and prospects as possible to build the Blackhawks into a mid-to-late 2020’s powerhouse. So in order to do so, it seems as though any player on the team’s roster is potentially available at the right price. Which means a “trade chips” section could be a bit wide open. That being said, there are a few likelier candidates.

One more likely candidate is defenseman Calvin de Haan. De Haan, 30, is a veteran defenseman on an expiring contract with a $4.55MM cap hit. He plays a style of hockey that is largely unremarkable, but also commendably steady. He has gotten into 55 games this year and posted only five points, so teams seeking offense should look elsewhere, but if a team wants a player who they can stick on their bottom-pairing and not have to worry about, De Haan fits the bill there. The asset cost for a team to acquire him should also be lower than many of the other defensemen on the market, although one does wonder if the asking price gets increased thanks to the aquisition cost the Florida Panthers paid to acquire Ben Chiarot. But regardless of what that prior trade may have done to his market, De Haan represents an attractive trade chip for contending teams who are in need of steady defensive reinforcements but leery of paying the high prices associated with the other available blueliners.

Another player on the team more likely to be moved is forward Ryan Carpenter. Carpenter is similar to De Haan in that he plays a bland-but-steady style of hockey, although perhaps that is more of a virtue for a defenseman than it is for a forward. Even so, Carpenter, 31, has carved out an NHL career nearing 300 games in length through his hard work, determination, and character. He hasn’t and probably never will cross the 25-point threshold, and he’s not an overwhelming defensive or physical presence, but he plays a reliable game of hockey that a coach might desire for his bottom-six. He has 26 games of playoff experience and a coach with a less established bottom-six could prefer Carpenter to a less proven, more inexperienced player once the rigors of playoff hockey truly set in. Like De Haan, Carpenter also should not cost very much to acquire, and his cap hit is only $1MM, so expect him to be one of the likelier Blackhawks to be dealt by monday.

While Carpenter and De Haan are both assets where an acquiring team knows what they are receiving, with a player like Dominik Kubalik, things are far less certain. Chicago is reportedly interested in trading Kubalik, and after the Hagel trade, it certainly seems more likely. Kubalik, 26, broke into the NHL in 2019-20, scoring 30 goals in his first season as a professional in North America. He followed that up with a decent 2020-21, with 17 goals and 38 points in 56 games. This season, though, as the Blackhawks team around him has struggled, Kubalik’s production has not improved as many may have expected. Through 61 games Kubalik has just 11 goals and 21 points, and his linemates are more frequently players like Philipp Kurashev and Henrik Borgstrom than they are Kane. As a pending RFA with arbitration rights, his situation in Chicago has gotten more dicey. Could a contending team, or even a team seeking to contend in the near future, take a leap of faith and trade for Kubalik, hoping that he re-gains the scoring touch he had in his first two seasons? A source indicated (subscription required) to Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic that the asking price on Kubalik could be just a 2nd round pick, so this is the kind of trade that could be a home run if a team gets it right.

Others To Watch For: G Marc-Andre Fleury, F Patrick Kane, F Dylan Strome

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks

As previously mentioned, it’s clear that Davidson’s vision for this team includes stockpiles of draft picks and prospects. So, in terms of what the Blackhawks need at this deadline, their number-one priority should be fulfilling that vision. That means that if there is a reasonable trade on offer that involves the Blackhawks receiving a beneficial amount of draft compensation in return, the teams should do it. They don’t have a ton of cap space available, but perhaps after moving veterans as expected Chicago could have enough room to function as a cap-space broker as well, in order to add a few more depth picks.

2) Reclamation Projects

One of the best ways a team can speed up their rebuild is by identifying and acquiring struggling players who can be developed into quality NHL players. As an example of this, the Rangers got a top-six center in Ryan Strome as part of their rebuild, and the Vancouver Canucks got a point-per-game force by trading for J.T. Miller, whose production was stagnant in Tampa Bay. The Blackhawks already have a history of doing this, with former top prospects like Strome  on their roster, but as more and more NHL ice-time gets freed up by rebuild-oriented trades, trying to find diamonds in the rough should be a goal for Davidson.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Winnipeg Jets

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Winnipeg Jets.

A revamped back end for Winnipeg over the summer provided some cause for optimism heading into the season.  After a quick exit in the second round to Montreal, the additions of Nate Schmidt and Brendan Dillon were supposed to steady the blueline and help the Jets take that next step forward.  They’ve certainly helped on that front but unfortunately for them, Connor Hellebuyck has struggled and the end result is that they find themselves right in the middle heading into next week’s deadline – too close to automatically give up but too far away to realistically spend assets to try to make a run.

Record

28-23-10, 6th in the Central

Deadline Status

Toss-up

Deadline Cap Space

$669K today, $669K in full-season space (using LTIR), 0/3 retention slots used, 40/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: WPG 1st, CBJ 3rd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th
2023: WPG 1st, WPG 3rd, WPG 4th, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th

Trade Chips

The good news for Winnipeg is that if they do decide to sell, they have two veterans at a position that will be in high demand.  One of those is Andrew Copp, whose specific case we looked at in some detail over the weekend.  He’s currently out with a head injury and while it’s not believed to be too serious, it could put a hold on talks for the time being.  While his production has tapered off in recent weeks, he’s a two-way player that can play all three positions and do so in both offensive and defensive roles.  Pretty much every contender would have a use for that type of versatile player although, with a $3.64MM AAV, not all of them will be able to afford him.

The other center that would be available if they sell is Paul Stastny.  The 36-year-old has actually improved his offensive numbers from last season with 17 goals and 13 assists in 50 games, giving him his best point per game average since the 2018-19 season.  Stastny has spent a lot of this season on the wing with Winnipeg having Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois on their top two lines but he was a full-time middleman as recently as last season.  He’d fit in well on the third line for several contenders with an ability to move up in a pinch although his price tag of $3.75MM will take some creativity for some of them to fit the veteran onto their roster.

Nathan Beaulieu is currently on LTIR and will be out until next month but if there’s a team looking to add a bit of depth, his $1.25MM cap hit isn’t overly high and the 29-year-old has held his own on the third pairing in the past although his role has been reduced this year.  The return would be minimal – a conditional draft pick based on games played at most – but there’s at least a small possibility that he’d move.

On the other side of the coin is David Gustafsson.  The 21-year-old pending RFA actually cracked Winnipeg’s lineup as a 19-year-old but had a very limited role that year and in the two seasons since then, his NHL time has been extremely limited, including just two appearances this season that totaled less than five minutes of action.  He has played well with AHL Manitoba with 20 points in 33 games but as someone that needs waivers next season and doesn’t appear to have the confidence of the NHL coaching staff right now, he’s someone that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff might be comfortable parting with in a smaller move if he decided to try to add a small piece to try to help get the Jets into the second Wild Card spot.

Then there are the blank spots on their roster.  Only one team (Seattle) has fewer players signed to NHL contracts and there are a dozen teams that are three or less away from the limit of 50.  Winnipeg is in a position where they could add some extra AHL depth and perhaps a late draft pick to take a contract from one of those teams that has to free up a slot to make a move.  It wouldn’t be worth much but the empty slots effectively are a trade chip for the Jets.

Others To Watch For: D Tyrel Bauer (unsigned prospect), F C.J. Suess ($725K, UFA)

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks – If Winnipeg sells, they need to stock up on picks.  They haven’t had a full set of draft choices since 2017 and have had just four selections in each of the last two seasons.  At the moment, they only have two choices in the first 140 spots which is hardly ideal.

2) Depth Forward Upgrades – As a result of keeping their top forwards intact from last year and adding to their back end, Cheveldayoff had to go really cheap at the bottom of the depth chart.  The results haven’t been great for the most part.  They need low-cost improvements both now and in the long term, making this a team need that needs to be addressed regardless of which direction they ultimately wind up taking over the next few days.  While there are other needs to fill, it’s unlikely they’ll be addressed here with the Jets either selling or basically standing pat

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: St. Louis Blues

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the St. Louis Blues.

While many before the season thought the writing was on the wall for an aging Blues team, a variety of breakout years have kept St. Louis on track this year. Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Ivan Barbashev are all having career-best years that are giving St. Louis some of the best forward depth in the league, and that’s not to mention a good rebound campaign from Vladimir Tarasenko. They’ve also gotten extraordinary goaltending from Ville Husso in recent weeks, keeping the team near the top of the Western Conference after a hot Jordan Binnington start cooled off. Now, they aim to create a roster that’s capable of giving the city of St. Louis its second Stanley Cup in four years.

Record

34-17-8 (.644), second in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$113,333 today, $133,333 in full-season space, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: STL 1st, STL 3rd, STL 4th, OTT 4th*,  STL 5th, STL 6th
2023: STL 1st, STL 2nd, STL 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, STL 6th, STL 7th

* – Blues receive Ottawa’s 2022 fourth-round selection if Logan Brown plays under 30 regular-season games for St. Louis in 2021-22. Brown has currently played 21 games.

Trade Chips

The St. Louis Blues have absolutely no salary cap flexibility at this stage to make a trade. While they are operating with a full 23-man roster, meaning they can send a player down and be okay (likely Alexei Toropchenko, who doesn’t require waivers), they’ll likely only have around $1MM to work with on Deadline day. With that in mind, any deal they make likely involves a roster player going the other way.

If they can offload him, the most obvious candidate here is defenseman Marco Scandella. Locked in for two more seasons after this with a cap hit of $3.275MM, his ice time has dwindled this year as injuries and age have limited his playing ability. It also doesn’t help that he plays the very position St. Louis is looking to upgrade the most — left defense. With him getting surpassed on the depth chart by Niko Mikkola, the fit for Scandella is simply no longer there.

In terms of the prospect pool that they have to deal from, Klim Kostin could be a piece desirable to other teams. He’s gotten into 40 NHL games this year but now finds himself back in AHL Springfield after just four goals and nine points, averaging nine minutes a game. The final pick of the first round in 2017 still carries significant trade value and would satisfy many teams’ want for an NHL-capable player without St. Louis having to deal from their active roster.

The Blues are also in an enviable position among contenders as they still have their first-round selection in each of the next two seasons. It’s a safe bet that the Blues will consider moving one of those picks, as their incredibly deep forward group and breakout year from Husso in net makes them a dark horse for a deep playoff run.

Team Needs

1) Top-Four Left Defenseman – Their top pairing of Torey Krug and Justin Faulk has been utterly dominant this season, but the team’s defense has been lacking behind that. Colton Parayko is still holding his own defensively, but the other half of the defense is plagued by inexperience and mediocrity. Finding a partner for Parayko has to be priority number one for St. Louis, and maybe Ben Chiarot or another defenseman fits that bill.

2) Depth Center – St. Louis could benefit from someone who can challenge Tyler Bozak and others for a spot in the lineup. Bozak’s age has caught up to him this year, and his -11 rating is the worst on the team. With just three goals on the season, a younger, cheap veteran option could be extremely beneficial.

Trade Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Dallas Stars.

The Dallas Stars’ ability to make a splash at the upcoming trade deadline is a question of both “can” and “should”, to which the answer is the same for both: no. The Stars are currently utilizing the Long-Term Injured Reserve and are not accruing any cap space. As of today, they have practically no cap space and any trade would have to be dollar-for-dollar in terms of full-year cap hit. While small roster tweaks like demoting third goalie Adam Scheel or young defenseman Thomas Harley or waiving recent claim Marian Studenic could open up marginal space for an acquisition, anything more than a low-salary addition will be impossible without sending a regular roster piece the other way. The Stars have put together a deep, diverse roster and should not be disassembling it this season, either as a seller or in a bid to to make a major move as a buyer. While the pursuit of a playoff spot is important (and the Stars currently hold the final wild card spot in the West), a first-round match-up with the Colorado Avalanche likely awaits. Dallas fans should not be fooled by an unlikely run to the Stanley Cup two years ago; the best move this season is to be cautious and conservative rather than overreact one way or the other. The Stars have already extended Joe Pavelski and seem likely to retain John Klingberg as an internal rental – that could very well be the extent of their deadline plans.

Record

32-22-3 (.588), fifth in Central Division

Deadline Status

Stand Pat

Deadline Cap Space

$50,000 today (LTIR), $50,000 in full-season space, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th
2023: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th

Trade Chips

The most talked-about trade chip in Dallas will of course be Klingberg. However, recent reports suggest that he may not be on the move after all. While Klingberg seems destined to play elsewhere next season, the Stars’ playoff position combined with Miro Heiskanen’s recent mononucleosis diagnosis makes Klingberg far more likely to stay on as an internal rental rather than be dealt. The Stars are able to largely stand pat because their current group has put them in playoff position. If Klingberg was traded, Dallas would have to replace him if they hoped to hold on to that position, likely making retaining Klingberg more valuable than the return they would receive for him.

As for other roster players that could be on the move, it is hard to say who Dallas could move. They would probably like to move Alexander Radulov or Radek Faksa, both of whom have had very poor years relative to their lofty contracts. However, for that same reason neither is likely to move at the deadline. The up-and-down play of Denis Gurianov can be frustrating, but the Stars are unlikely to move him just yet. The same can be said for Joel Kiviranta, who has fallen very short of expectations this season but still has upside. Barring a godfather offer, the two young forwards are likely safe for now.

The roster position to watch is likely in net. Jake Oettinger has established himself as the proven, long-term starter this season. If the Stars are willing to bet on the young keeper to lead them through the stretch run and into the postseason, they could move on from impending UFA Braden Holtby, who has drawn interest from other contenders. Holtby’s current injury situation complicates the matter, but shouldn’t rule out a trade completely. If Holtby is dealt, the team would look to Anton Khudobin to return to the NHL roster as backup. If Holtby stays, the Stars will continue to look for a new home for Khudobin.

Assuming that the Stars keep things quiet at the deadline, it is likely that none of these aforementioned players are traded. It also would imply that their top picks and prospects are safe. Dallas is more likely to peddle mid- to late-round draft picks, older prospects, or lower-level prospects in order as a means to add depth players. Members of AHL Texas who have yet to carve out an NHL role in Dallas but could contribute more to a seller include forwards Riley Tufte and Nicholas Caamano and defensemen Ben Gleason and Ryan Shea.

Others To Watch For: F Jordan Kawaguchi, F Fredrik Karlstrom, D Samuel Sjolund, G Colton Point

Team Needs

1)  Affordable Secondary Scoring – On paper, it would seem that the Stars are well off at forward. The team has skill on every line, with at least one recognizable (and well-paid) anchor, not to mention a blend of experience and youth. Yet, it hasn’t gone as planned this season. Dallas is in the lower half of the league in scoring despite their considerable talent and depth, as many players have struggled with inconsistency and underperformance in general. While it may not be clear exactly where in the lineup an additional forward may fit, there is room to improve. If the Stars felt that the unproven Studenic could help, then there is a need. Of course, the problem is that the Stars will have no more than $1.75MM or so to add – and that is if they budget for only one acquisition. Dallas will have to target affordable contracts given their cap space.

2) Defensive Depth – Even if Klingberg stays and Heiskanen is healthy sooner rather than later, an extra body on defense certainty wouldn’t hurt the Stars chances. The Dallas top four is strong, but the depth falls off after that. Jani Hakanpaa is one-dimensional, Andrej Sekera is well past his prime, Joel Hanley plays a limited role, and the capable Harley is nonetheless an inexperienced rookie. Again, this will have to be a bargain addition, but there are options available that could prove to be an upgrade

Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Colorado Avalanche.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic is widely heralded as one of the best in the league, and it’s easy to see why. His squad is once again in contention for a President’s Trophy and/or deep Stanley Cup Playoffs run despite some tough injury luck throughout the season. He truly hit it out of the park again this offseason, signing franchise cornerstones Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar to cap-friendly long-term contracts (and, while the cost of acquisition was steep, the Darcy Kuemper trade is starting to pay off). With a tad more salary-cap flexibility than some other contenders, Sakic has the chance now to add another player to the mix to push the squad over the top. After that point, though, it’s up to head coach Jared Bednar and the players to ensure the Avalanche get past the second round for the first time in 20 years.

Record

41-13-5, 1st in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$3.17MM today, $3.89MM in full-season space by the deadline, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: COL 3rd, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
2023: COL 1st, COL 2nd, COL 3rd, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th

Trade Chips

Building an elite team doesn’t come cheap. That’s evidenced by an empty cupboard of upcoming draft picks, especially in the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft with just four selections. The asset pool Colorado has to deal from likely revolves mainly around their prospect pool in order to keep their active roster intact.

That doesn’t mean the team couldn’t look to deal from their 2023 cupboard, however. Their 2023 first-round selection could absolutely be on the trade block, especially if the organization decides to go all-in on a big-name acquisition. While the organization is certainly about to feel the effects of a lack of draft picks in recent seasons, the time to win in Denver is now. Only three forwards (Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Logan O’Connor) are under contract past 2023, and the team is likely in the most favorable salary-cap position they’ll see for quite some time. Despite a deep class in 2023, the team shouldn’t have too much hesitation about moving their first-round choice at this year’s Deadline.

Contenders don’t love to deal players off their active roster if they can help it, and since Colorado has some salary-cap flexibility, they likely won’t need to. That means that top youngsters Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram are unlikely to depart the organization this month. That doesn’t mean, though, that there aren’t some other players in the Avs organization of interest to other teams.

For trade partners looking to add to their defense pool, there’s Justin Barron. The skilled two-way defenseman was selected 25th overall in 2020 and made his NHL debut this season, getting two games with the big club in his first full professional season. After captaining the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads and representing Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships last season, he’s notched five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 40 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles. A safe bet to grow into a dependable top-four defenseman, he likely carries the most trade value of any Avalanche prospect heading into the Deadline.

Another name to watch, and perhaps the most likely to be dealt, is forward Martin Kaut. The 22-year-old, who Colorado drafted 16th overall in 2018, has seen NHL action in each of the past three seasons, especially looking promising with three points in nine games back in 2019-20. In 11 NHL games since then, though, he’s been held pointless, and his production at the AHL level this season has somewhat stagnated with 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games. While he most definitely still has top-nine upside, it’s possible that his value to the organization’s likelihood of winning a Stanley Cup is higher in a trade than in keeping him around.

Others To Watch For: F Shane Bowers, F Sampo Ranta, F Oskar Olausson, F Alex Beaucage, G Justus Annunen

Team Needs

1) Bottom-Six Forward — The Avalanche would love a little more offensive production out of their bottom-six forward group. How they go about getting that at the Deadline, though, could either be through simply a depth acquisition or a trickle-down effect from a bigger name. If Colorado does go out and acquire Claude Giroux, as has been rumored for weeks now, then a fully healthy Avalanche squad would likely see Valeri Nichushkin, who has 31 points in 41 games, pushed back down to a bottom-six role. One of the most underrated two-way wingers in the game, he’d help create matchup nightmares for opposing coaches in the playoffs.

2) Depth Defenseman — Concussion symptoms have likely taken the young Byram out of the picture for the remainder of the year, and with Samuel Girard struggling at times this season, Colorado has had to rely on players like Jack Johnson and Kurtis MacDermid probably more than they’d like to. While Erik Johnson has been a huge boost this year, overcoming past health issues to play in all 59 of the team’s games this season, his luck with injuries (especially in the playoffs) is also a concern. A high-end third-pair defenseman would be the ideal security blanket for this Colorado defense in case of injury or poor play.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

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As we enter the middle of March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Arizona Coyotes.

Bill Armstrong has been general manager of the Coyotes for one year, five months, and 22 days. In that time, he has already made 15 trades, changing the look of his roster dramatically. Derek Stepan, Adin Hill, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland, Darcy Kuemper, Christian Dvorak, Ryan Dzingel, Ilya Lyubushkin–all out. Andrew Ladd, Shayne Gostisbehere, Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Anton Stralman, Nick Ritchie–all in. It’s easy to spot the way that Armstrong is approaching his full-scale rebuild, by sending out anyone that carries value, and bringing back contracts that teams don’t want. It’ll be the exact same strategy at this deadline, which opens up a whole number of possibilities for the suddenly-hot Coyotes.

Record

18-35-4, 8th in the Central

Deadline Status

Seller/Broker

Deadline Cap Space

$26.02MM today, $32.53MM in full-season space by the deadline, 2/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: ARI 1st, MON/CAR 1st*, COL 1st^, ARI 2nd, NYI 2nd, PHI 2nd, SJS 2nd, VAN 2nd, ARI 3rd, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th
2023: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, ARI 3rd, NYI 3rd**, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, VAN 7th

*As per the terms of the offseason Dvorak trade, Montreal will give Arizona the better of Montreal/Carolina’s first-round picks, unless either or both are inside the top-10, in which case Montreal will receive the better of the two picks. 

^If Colorado’s pick is in the top-10, the Avalanche will send their 2023 pick instead.

**Pick not transferred if Ladd plays in any professional games in 2022-23 while under his current contract, or retires prior to the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season. 

Trade Chips

If the Coyotes wanted to, they have the draft capital to acquire just about any player on the market. Their three first-round picks and five second-round picks will make them a frequent flyer to the podium in Montreal this summer, adding a huge amount of talent to the prospect pool. Giving up those draft picks at this point isn’t the strategy though, as Arizona is still in tear-down mode wherever possible.

No one represents that strategy more than Jakob Chychrun, who has been on the market all season despite being just 23 and under a relatively inexpensive contract for another three years. If the Coyotes are willing to trade Chychrun, they’re not even considering a quick rebuild with the assets they’ve already acquired. Among those things they could move at the deadline, the young defenseman is obviously the most attractive and could bring back a package that includes multiple high-end assets. Still, they likely will be targeting prospects that still have years left on their entry-level contracts (or perhaps those who haven’t even signed yet) instead of struggling first-round picks that are already around Chychrun’s age, meaning this is a hard trade for many teams in the league to actually accomplish. If he is moved before the deadline, it will be a blockbuster deal.

Beyond Chychrun there is still lots left on the Coyotes’ roster that could be of interest. Phil Kessel, finally in the last season of that eight-year, $64MM contract signed with Toronto in 2013, is a potential target for teams looking to upgrade their second or third line. Whatever you think of Kessel, he’s still an incredibly dangerous forward off the rush and has 78 points in 113 games since the beginning of last season, while playing on a bad Coyotes team. Kessel’s contract already has some salary retention from when the Maple Leafs traded it, meaning it couldn’t go through the double-retention that some other big names will this spring. A single contract can only be retained on twice, meaning the lowest his cap hit can go from this point is $3.4MM.

Speaking of salary retention, that would normally be a perfect option for the Coyotes, but they’ve already used two of their three slots. They’ll have to be quite picky about where that last one is used at the deadline in order to maximize the return. Gostisbehere, for instance, could be an option after he has rediscovered his game in the desert. The 28-year-old defenseman cost Philadelphia two draft picks to get rid of in the summer, but after 36 points in 57 games perhaps there will be another team interested–especially if he comes at just a $2.25MM cap hit through next season, should Arizona retain 50 percent.

Karel Vejmelka is another one of the interesting names to watch, should the goaltending market continue to improve in the next ten days. The 25-year-old netminder has been a revelation this season but is also just a year away from unrestricted free agency. Just yesterday his name was brought up by Chris Johnston of TSN, who opined that if the two sides couldn’t work out an extension, the Coyotes could potentially move on from the goaltender before the deadline.

Others To Watch For: F Johan Larsson (IR), G Scott Wedgewood

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks: It’s simple, the Coyotes are trying to build through the draft. A 22-year-old player that’s headed for restricted free agency soon might be attractive to most teams, but for one that’s about to slash revenues by moving into a tiny building and isn’t expected to really compete for the playoffs in the next few years, a prospect that will head back to junior, college, or overseas is actually the better route. The Coyotes have a ton for this season and for 2024 but note that they have only two selections in the first two rounds of 2023–a draft that has some exceptional talent. Don’t be surprised to see them add to their 2023 collection so that the wave of prospects doesn’t have a gap.

2) Flippable Contracts: It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Coyotes flip players like Gostisbehere and Ritchie after building them back up with prime deployment. It’s a great strategy for a team that doesn’t really care about wins and losses, and one that has worked well for other franchises in the past. Just yesterday, the idea of acquiring Andreas Johnsson was brought up by Darren Dreger of TSN because of how front-loaded his contract is. The Coyotes could nab a player like that, pay him for 12 months (while giving him powerplay and top-six time) and then flip him for even more next deadline when every team in the league can afford the decreased cap hit. While some might say that the New Jersey Devils aren’t the team to target with that kind of a strategy, there are plenty of other opportunities just like it out there.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Vancouver Canucks

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As the calendar turns to March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Vancouver Canucks.

A lot has changed in Vancouver over the course of this season. The team entered with Jim Benning as the general manager and Travis Green as the head coach. After a dismal run of results to start the season, both were fired from their roles. Veteran head coach Bruce Boudreau was brought in to man the team’s bench, and Jim Rutherford, the architect of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, was brought in to oversee hockey operations. Rutherford then hired Patrik Allvin, the former interim GM of the Penguins after Rutherford’s departure, to be the GM of the Canucks.  Since those changes occurred, the Canucks’ play has drastically improved and they now find themselves playing meaningful hockey as they attempt to gain ground in the Western Conference playoff race. But despite that run of success, there have been many whispers of the Canucks’ new brain trust potentially making big changes at the trade deadline. Only time will tell what course Rutherford and Allvin will chart for the franchise, but at the bare minimum, we know at least something is likely to happen in Vancouver.

Record

29-23-6, 5th in the Pacific

Deadline Status

It’s complicated.

Deadline Cap Space

$2.4MM today, $2.4MM in full-season space, 47/50 contracts used, 0/3 retention slots used, per CapFriendly. 

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: VAN 1st, WPG 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th

2023: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, VAN 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th

Trade Chips

The most talked-about trade chip on the Canucks’ roster has to be forward J.T. Miller. Ever since he arrived from the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2019-20 season, Miller has been an exceptionally productive, extremely valuable player. He had 18 points in the Canucks’ surprising run to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2019-20, and has posted 189 points in 178 games for the Canucks overall. Miller adds a quality defensive game to his dynamic offensive ability, and has been a steal for the Canucks at a cap number of $5.25MM. But Miller only has this season and next remaining on his deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent, which is why many are debating the possibility of the Canucks dealing him in order to maximize the long-term value they can extract over that final season-and-a-half. If they do decide to deal Miller, it will likely take a significant haul to pry him loose. But given his offensive talent, positional versatility, and extra year of team control, Miller is among the NHL’s most talented players to be realistically available at the deadline.

Another talented player who could be traded is Brock Boeser, a 2018 Calder Trophy Finalist. It has been previously reported that Boeser is the “most likely” Canucks player to be traded among the trio of Miller, Boeser, and Conor Garland, and a major part of the reasoning for that is Boeser’s contract situation. Thanks to his $7.5MM base salary, Boeser is due a significant qualifying offer from the Canucks should they wish to retain his rights as a restricted free agent, and his production this season (34 points in 52 games) hasn’t been quite enough to warrant that cost on its own. That production is 53 point pace, and despite posting a very solid 49 points in 56 games last season, it is possible that the new leaders in the Canucks front office don’t view Boeser as the same kind of franchise cornerstone many believe him to be. Given his scoring pedigree and youth (he only just turned 25 years old) it’s possible that Boeser could be part of a significant trade for the Canucks, and could net them the high-end young defenseman they reportedly covet. Trading Boeser would certainly be a polarizing move for a new front office to pursue as it makes its first mark on the team, but if Rutherford and Allvin believe it’s the right thing for the team to pursue then it’s most definitely going to be something they legitimately consider.

Pivoting from the star players, one lower-importance trade chip the Canucks could offer is forward Tyler Motte. Motte is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $1.225MM cap hit, and at 27 years old could be an in-demand bottom-six rental player. Motte has seven goals and 14 points in 43 games this season and has a career-high of 16 points, which he scored in 74 games in 2018-19. But despite that pedestrian production, Motte has been able to find his place as an NHL regular, providing energy, versatility, and sporadic scoring touch to the Canucks’ lineup. It’s unclear if Motte is in the team’s long-term plans, and if the Canucks decide that winning this season isn’t an absolute priority, they could receive offers for Motte strong enough to make him worth trading.

Others to watch for: D Luke Schenn, F Conor Garland, F Nils Hoglander

Team Needs

1) Cap Flexibility

This might seem like an odd need for a team currently in the middle of a playoff race, but take one look at the Canucks’ cap sheet and the issue will be apparent. The Canucks have a lot of talented players. It is incredibly difficult to win in the NHL without a top center, top goalie, and top defenseman, and the Canucks have top players at each of those positions who are 26 years old or younger. But as a whole the Canucks’ team is flawed, and the roster boasts many players who aren’t bad on their own but a touch too expensive for what they provide. Take Jason Dickinson, for example. The Canucks gave up a third-round pick this past offseason to acquire him, and he currently has six points in 49 games. He’s a solid defensive center and natural centers are hard to come by at the NHL level, but for $2.65MM through 2023-2024, the Canucks need a bit more than six points from him. So while subtracting players on marginally overpaid contracts could make the Canucks a bit worse in the short-term, if Rutherford and Allvin want to shape this team into a true contender they need to clean up the cap situation from where it is now. A contender needs to be able to maximize every dollar the cap allows them to spend, and right now the wasted dollars on the Canucks’ books are hurting their ability to build the best team they possibly can.

2) A Blue-Chip Young Defenseman

Much has been reported about the Canucks’ desire to acquire a high-end young defenseman, and it’s easy to see why. Young defensemen are among the most coveted assets in the NHL and quality ones are exceptionally difficult to come by. The Canucks already have a star in Hughes, but the rest of their defense is staffed by older, pricier veterans like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tyler Myers, Travis Hamonic, and (when healthy) Tucker Poolman. The Canucks could use another young defenseman to build their defense around, perhaps one that offers more of a two-way game than the offensively-minded Hughes, and it looks like the Canucks’ trade interests are trending in that direction.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Kings

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As the calendar turns to March, the trade deadline is inching closer. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Los Angeles Kings.

After three straight seasons languishing at the bottom of the NHL’s Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Kings’ long-term plan under GM Rob Blake seems to be finally starting to bear fruit. The Kings are currently sitting second in the Pacific, ahead of the rival Vegas Golden Knights, and have been a surprisingly competitive team this season, with many of their players either having resurgent seasons or reaching new heights in terms of production. This has led to a shift in approach towards the trade deadline for the Kings. Whereas most observers probably would not have expected the team to be too active beyond some light selling, the team’s performance this year has vaulted them into definite buyer status. They’re probably not going to go big-game hunting and be mortgaging their future for an expensive rental, but fans should expect the team to at the very least be engaged in the conversation surrounding potential reinforcements for their squad.

Record

32-19-7, 2nd in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Buyer (but not an all-in buyer)

Deadline Cap Space

$6.3MM today, $6.3MM in full-season space, 47/50 contracts used, 1/3 retention slots used

Upcoming Draft Picks

2022: LAK 1st, LAK 2nd, PIT 3rd, LAK 4th, LAK 5th, LAK 6th, LAK 7th

2023: LAK 1st, LAK 2nd, LAK 3rd, PIT 3rd, LAK 4th, LAK 5th, LAK 6th, LAK 7th

Trade Chips

Despite having scored three goals in the past two games, Andreas Athanasiou is a potential candidate to be traded at this deadline. After a moderately successful season last year where he posted 10 goals and 23 points in 47 games, Athanasiou has filtered in and out of the lineup and been unable to show any consistency. His raw numbers of 12 points (including eight goals) in 21 games aren’t bad, but it’s clear coach Todd McLellan doesn’t trust him to be a lineup staple, and his current slot as the left winger on the Phillip Danault line is a spot he’s set to lose once Viktor Arvidsson returns from injury. The whole situation, combined with Athanasiou’s expiring $2.7MM cap hit, makes him the perfect candidate to be traded at this deadline, and he would specifically fit as a means of balancing salary if the Kings pursue an expensive veteran addition. Athanasiou on the ice offers blazing speed and potential 30 goal upside (he scored 30 in 2018-19) but his inability to put together his rare tools into a consistent complete package means his days in Los Angeles are likely numbered.

Should the Kings pursue a major player at the deadline, one of the likelier pieces for the selling club to receive from Los Angeles is 2017 11th overall pick Gabriel Vilardi. Vilardi, 22, is a big center who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, both as a professional and when he played in the OHL. Vilardi has been productive this year with the AHL’s Ontario Reign. He has 15 goals and 37 points in 37 games, and he flashed that skill at the NHL level last season when he had 10 goals and 23 points in 54 games. Vilardi profiles as a potential top-6 center and should be able to help the Kings acquire a valuable veteran player should the team choose to go down that route.

If the Kings want to go a cheaper route when acquiring reinforcements for their squad, they could potentially trade a less important young player such as Carl Grundstrom. Grundstrom, 24, came to Los Angeles as part of the Kings’ trade of Jake Muzzin and has been a regular member of their bottom-six for the past two seasons. Offensively he doesn’t jump off the page, with 11 points in 34 games this year and 11 points in 47 last year, but he was once a highly-regarded two-way prospect and perhaps another team could view him as a piece with more upside to be unlocked. He’s the kind of player who may fit as in player-plus-pick deal for a less in-demand veteran due to him being a capable NHL player under the age of 25 with some pedigree as a former well-regarded prospect.

Others to watch for: F Lias Andersson, D Olli Maatta, F Alex Turcotte

Team Needs:

1) Scoring/Power Play Help

Beyond Anze Kopitar’s 51 points in 58 games, the Kings are missing a slam-dunk scorer and instead rely on a more offense-by-committee approach. That has worked for them pretty well so far this year, especially as the Arvidsson-Danault-Trevor Moore line has emerged as an absolute force, but there is still room for improvement. The Kings’ power play ranks 5th-worst in the NHL, at 16.4%, the lowest mark for any team currently sitting in playoff position. For the team to be truly considered a playoff contender they need to improve their scoring, and to do that they can add a proven scorer or even a powerplay specialist, like the Arizona Coyotes’ Phil Kessel, for example. But regardless of what direction Blake chooses to go at the deadline, it’s clear that improving the power play should be a priority.

2) Defensive reinforcements

Just as the Kings’ power play has struggled, their penalty kill has been similarly bad. The team currently kills off 75.8% of opposing power plays, 8th-worst in the NHL. The Kings’ defense has a star in Drew Doughty and veterans such as Maatta and Alexander Edler, but beyond that trio, their defense is missing pieces with much NHL experience or an accomplished defensive resume. Playoff hockey is extraordinarily difficult and physically intense, and the Kings’ defense might not be equipped to hold up to that pressure. Adding a veteran defenseman or two to take the load off of young players like Sean Durzi and Tobias Bjornfot could be a very helpful move as the Kings look to cement their status as a playoff team down the stretch.

Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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