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Deadline Primer 2025

Trade Deadline Primer: Winnipeg Jets

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. 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.

Our Trade Deadline Primer series has saved the best for last. The Winnipeg Jets are at the top of the league entering March, after spending much of the season fighting for the best record in the league. Winnipeg’s success has been driven by first-year head coach Scott Arniel pulling the best out of the team’s tenured veterans. The Jets also carry plenty of cap space and draft capital, giving them the rare mix of roster stability and trade assets needed to go in any direction this deadline. How experienced general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can use that ammunition to bolster the Jets lineup could define the team’s postseason aspirations.

Record

42-14-3, 1st in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$11.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 41/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: WPG 1st, WPG 3rd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th
2026: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 3rd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th

Trade Chips

Winger Nikolaj Ehlers has been among the most acknowledged trade chips as the deadline nears. The 28-year-old winger is having one of his best seasons yet, with 18 goals and 51 points in 50 games this season making him one of three Jets scoring above a point-per-game pace. But while Cheveldayoff understands that he’ll need to separate feelings from business this deadline, it’s hard to envision Winnipeg parting with such a core piece of the offense.

Alex Iafallo seems much more expendable, on the back of a measly 19 points in 59 games this season. Iafallo hasn’t had the same stride since joining the Jets in 2023. His scoring fell from 36 points in his final year with the Los Angeles Kings, to just 27 last year – a mark he’s on pace to fall short of this year. With little scoring and an expiring contract, the 28-year-old Iafallo isn’t likely to make much of a splash on the open market. But the hope for better days outside of Winnipeg could be enough to base a strong offer around.

Winnipeg also has 24-year-old Rasmus Kupari and 26-year-old Morgan Barron on expiring restricted free agent contracts. Neither has performed to expectations this year, with just seven and eight points respectively. That lack of production won’t draw much attention, but young depth options could quickly become a commodity in this year’s shallow market.

Defenders Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, and Haydn Fleury find themselves in a similarly expendable role. None of the three have found their groove on Winnipeg’s third-pair this year. Miller and Stanley boast a plus-11 and plus-10 respectively – serviceable enough behind a red-hot Jets offense. Fleury also has a plus-four, though a seventh-man role has only awarded him 29 games. Even with sparce stat lines, the trio of veteran defenders could each be lucrative buys for teams struggling with blue-line depth.

The Jets won’t be deterred despite a lack of trade assets. They’ve made multiple lucrative acquisitions over the last few deadlines using only draft capital. Winnipeg acquired Sean Monahan for a first and third round draft pick and Tyler Toffoli for a second-and-third round pick at last year’s deadline. They also landed Vladislav Namestnikov for a fourth-round pick and Nino Niederreiter for a second-round pick at 2023’s deadline. All four players went on to make a mark in their minutes with the Jets – emphasizing that the Winnipeg’s biggest chips at this year’s deadline will be their five selections in the top-three rounds of the 2025 and 2026 drafts.

Team Needs

1) A Fourth-Line Upgrade – The Winnipeg Jets rank second in total goals and third in goals-per-game this season – but their fourth line has struggled to post consistent scoring. Top prospect Nikita Chibrikov has shown strong flashes, with three points in his first four NHL games – but the Jets may want a more confident upgrade as they prepare for an extended post-season. The Montreal Canadiens seem set to part with power forward Jake Evans, who’s in the midst of a career year with 11 goals and 27 points in 58 games. A buying team will need to be wary of Evans’ sudden spike in scoring this year, but his physical presence and finishing ability in front would both be upgrades over Kupari or Iafallo on the bottom line. Winnipeg could also find a niche role player like Seattle’s Brandon Tanev or Boston’s Trent Frederic to boost their physical presence, with scoring upside no worse than the Jets’ current options. Winnipeg could likely acquire any of the three options with the right package of draft capital.

2) Reliable Bottom Pair Defense – With a President’s Trophy chase and long post-season run ahead of them, depth will be the focal point of Winnipeg’s deadline. Superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck helps the team put offense at front of mind, but their blue-line could use a boost with Miller and Stanley posting less-than-desirable results. Sharks defensive-defenseman Mario Ferraro could be the lucrative buy Winnipeg is after. He’s on the trade block once again as San Jose looks to sell high on an impactful player entering his prime well before their next peak. Winnipeg could find a slightly pricier, and more experienced, option in Montreal’s David Savard; or swing for closer fences with Vancouver’s Carson Soucy. All three players bring low scoring and a defensive focus, but could find a strong groove in moving from a struggling offense to Winnipeg’s world-class group. Like their potential forward buys – Winnipeg could likely buy many of the market’s defenders with only a few draft picks.

Trade Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Washington Capitals.

Hopes are as high as they could be in Washington as the Trade Deadline nears. The Capitals have been on top of the Metropolitan Division since mid-December with no signs of slowing down. Washington posted a 4-1-2 record and plus-11 goal-differential in February, with one game left in the month. Their success is spearheaded by captain Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record and backed by fantastic summer additions. After an incredibly fruitful off-season, this Deadline will be rookie general manager Chris Patrick’s first chance to carry the hot-hand into the season.

Record

38-12-8, 1st in the Metropolitan Division.

Deadline Status

Budget Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$3.65MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract slots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: WAS 1st, BOS 2nd, WAS 2nd, CAR 3rd, WAS 4th, WAS 5th
2026: WAS 1st, WAS 2nd, VGK 4th, WAS 4th, WAS 5th, WAS 6th, WAS 7th

Trade Chips

The Capitals have found fantastic chemistry at the top of their lineup, and will base their deadline around not stirring the pot too much because of it. Most of the Capitals trade assets sit down their depth chart. The group is headlined by former first-round draft pick Hendrix Lapierre, who landed in the minor-leagues at the start of the new year after recording just eight assists in 27 NHL games. He’s in the midst of a slumping season after posting 22 points in 51 games as an NHL rookie last year. But Lapierre has been routinely effective in the minor-leagues, with 17 points in 21 games last season and 13 points in 15 games this year. He was a top young prospect, and earned a first-round selection despite multiple injuries in his age-17 and age-18 seasons. Lapierre has untapped upside that could make him enticing enough to base a larger buy around.

Young defenseman Alexander Alexeyev finds himself in a similar spot to Lapierre. He’s spent the year as Washington’s seventh-man, stepping into just five games and recording no scoring and a minus-four. Also a former first-round pick, Alexeyev punched into 71 games over the last two seasons – but hasn’t scored more than five points in a single year. He’s a six-foot-four, 213-pound defender with a long reach and stout control of the defensive end that, like Lapierre, could be just enough to garner the interest of a deadline seller.

Aside from the pair of youngsters on the lineup fringe, the Capitals may lack the assets to make a big move. Veteran centerman Lars Eller seems to be in the right rut for a move, with just 12 points in 39 games in Washington – but the Capitals aren’t likely to garner more than the third and fifth round draft picks they traded for him in November. Both third-line forward Andrew Mangiapane and third-pair defender Trevor van Riemsdyk have played strong enough to earn interest of their own, but the Capitals would likely be hard-pressed to move functioning cogs in the midst of another hot streak. Their deadline will be a balancing act between preparing for the playoffs, and not rocking the boat – as they try to maintain momentum that could very well land them the President’s Trophy.

Team Needs

1) Impactful Bottom-Six Center – Eller has averaged 12:28 in ice time this season, while holding a firm grip on third-line center and second-unit penalty killing duties. He’s performed well enough to stay put, but the lack of a driver on the third-line could be Washington’s downfall in the postseason. Finding a difference maker to couple with Eller and Nic Dowd in the bottom-six is an achievable and potentially defining move for Washington to pursue. They’ll have plenty of options on the open market. The New York Islanders finally seem poised to bank on Brock Nelson’s late-career performances. Nelson has 15 goals and 32 points in 52 games this season, and made Team USA’s starting lineup at the recent 4-Nations tournament. Should he prove too old or two slow, Washington could find a performer in the midst of his prime in Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato. Donato is having a career year, with 19 goals and 39 points in 56 games on one of the league’s lowest-scoring offenses. He’s a reasonable upside bet that shouldn’t come at a rich price – an ideal match for the asset-strapped Capitals. Other options could include Montreal power-forward Jake Evans, Boston enforcer Trent Frederic, or Colorado upside-bet Casey Mittelstadt.

2) Depth Wingers – The Capitals are receiving fantastic efforts from their depth wingers. Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, and Brandon Duhaime have performed well enough to hold onto their roles, and Jakub Vrana and Ethen Frank have shown flashes of scoring in their limited minutes. But the Capitals lack a truly binding piece down their flanks. Bruins winger Justin Brazeau could give the Capitals a bit more grit and well-rounded offense at a minimal acquisition cost. The Capitals could also find a reasonably priced upside bet in Toronto shooter Nicholas Robertson. Brazeau has 20 points, split evenly, in 54 games; while Robertson has 11 goals and 16 points in 50 games. Neither players would be particularly thrilling additions, but could give Washington helpful variety as they hope for an extended run to their season.

Trade Deadline Primer: Vegas Golden Knights

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are sitting in a position that has become all too familiar as they approach the NHL Trade Deadline. They are once again atop the Pacific Division and will be one of the favorites to come out of the Western Conference as they try to get back to the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas is always in the mix to make a big move and has never shied away from doing everything possible to make a splash. The Golden Knights have stumbled as of late (4-4-2 in their last 10) but will no doubt push to find reinforcements for another deep playoff run. It will not be easy for them to make changes as they don’t have a first-round pick in the next two drafts and have very little room under the NHL salary cap.

Record

34-18-6, 1st in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$2.422MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: VGK 2nd, SJ 3rd, WASH 3rd, VGK 4th, VGK 5th, VGK 6th, WASH 6th,
2026: VGK 2nd, VGK 3rd, VGK 5th, VGK 6th, VGK 7th,

Trade Chips

This is going to be a struggle for Vegas, years of making massive trades have left them with a prospects pool that is quite thin and ranked 22nd in the NHL (according to Scott Wheeler’s rankings in The Athletic). That isn’t to say the Golden Knights don’t have some good prospects, they do have a few that could be used as trade pieces, but not many that are on the level that they could land a Mikko Rantanen-type player.

Trevor Connelly is their top prospect and was drafted 19th overall last year. The playmaking winger has a ton of skill and could be a central piece of a big trade if Vegas entertains that idea. Connelly possesses quick skating, a terrific shot, and a great set of hands. He is on the smaller side, but as he adds muscle and strength, it’s easy to imagine his all-around game rounding into form. Vegas may not be keen on trading their top prospect, but if they want to go all in, it might start with Connelly.

Outside of Connelly, Vegas does have a few other noteworthy prospects. Mathieu Cataford is the reigning QMJHL MVP and just played for the Canadian World Junior team. Cataford can play all three forward spots and has a good hockey IQ as he reads the game well and can play off of his teammates and their decisions in real time.

Goaltender Carl Lindbom looks like he will be an NHL netminder. The 21-year-old is having a solid first season in the AHL with Henderson, posting a 12-9-1 record with a .913 save percentage. Lindbom has thrived at every level thus far in his short career,  winning HockeyAllsvenskan goalie of the year and rookie of the year a couple of seasons ago and eventually posting good numbers in the Swedish Hockey League last season. This year, as a rookie, Lindbom has outplayed the more experienced Akira Schmid, which has been a pleasant surprise for Vegas.

Outside of a handful of prospects, Vegas doesn’t have much on their current roster they could move out. The players with value they will want to keep, and the players who have struggled would be difficult to move until the summer. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon could get creative with his draft picks, but he doesn’t exactly have a full slate of them. As mentioned earlier, Vegas doesn’t have a first-round pick until 2027, but they do have eight second and third-round picks combined between now and 2028.

Despite the limited assets, Vegas will still have options to improve its team. They still have a decent prospect pipeline for a team that has traded away so much of its future and they have a handful of draft picks that they can put in play.

Team Needs

1) Depth Goaltender – Vegas doesn’t have any glaring holes in their lineup, but one cause for concern could be their goaltending. Both Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov had a tough stretch in January which led the Golden Knights to flip-flop back and forth on their starts. Both men have played better as of late, but outside of Hill and Samsonov, Vegas doesn’t have another option, which could be problematic if either man suffers an injury or goes into another slump. Schmid has posted brutal numbers in the AHL and doesn’t appear to be an option should an emergency arise in net. There are plenty of goaltenders who could be had, but many of them carry cap hits far too rich (and too long) for Vegas’ tastes. John Gibson and Tristan Jarry come to mind, but both players carry too much term and are too expensive. Anton Forsberg out of Ottawa might be an option, as could Alexandar Georgiev of the San Jose Sharks, with Forsberg likely being the better fit due to cap hit and play as of late. Vegas may take a look at the market and take their chances with what they have, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make a move.

2) A Top 9 Forward – It’s tough to envision Vegas making a splash here, but that’s likely what people said last year before McCrimmon swung a last-minute deal for Tomas Hertl. Vegas needs some help at forward, not a ton, but using Raphael Lavoie in the top nine as of late is less than ideal. If economics didn’t come into play, the Golden Knights would have interest in Brock Nelson or Brayden Schenn. But with price tags north of $6MM, it’s tough to imagine Vegas getting involved unless they move salary out. A more affordable option for Vegas could be a player like Anthony Beauvillier out of Pittsburgh or Ryan Donato of Chicago. Both players are on inexpensive cap hits and could slide into different places within Vegas’ current forward group. While the trade for a depth option is more likely, you almost have to expect the unexpected when it comes to Vegas.

Trade Deadline Primer: Vancouver Canucks

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. 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.

The Vancouver Canucks have had a tumultuous season, to say the least, as the J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson issue derailed a team that had Stanley Cup aspirations coming into the season. Despite everything that has gone on, the Canucks still find themselves in a playoff spot at the moment and appear likely to do everything they can to get into the postseason. The Canucks have re-signed several pending unrestricted free agents in recent weeks, which signals that they do intend to make a go of it and are likely to be buying as they approach the deadline. The team has played better as of late (6-3-1 in their last ten), and if their new additions can settle in, they should be able to perform better than they have to this point in the season.

Record

26-20-11, 4th in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Cautious Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$10.41MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention spots used, 46/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, OTT 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th,
2026: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th

Trade Chips

Whether Canucks fans like it or not, the talk on an Elias Pettersson trade is probably not going away anytime soon. Vancouver would be hard-pressed to move their star forward at this time, given his poor play this season and the remaining seven years on his contract at $11.6MM per. Pettersson’s play has fallen off a cliff this season with just 11 goals and 24 assists in 51 games. Some folks believed that Pettersson’s play might pick up when he escaped the Vancouver bubble and played for Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but the 26-year-old was largely unimpressive tallying no points in three games. Now, it does appear he was dealing with an injury during the tournament, but his play did not help his trade value. TSN Hockey removed Pettersson from their trade bait board, but they did leave the door open to him being traded in the summer.

The Canucks have already moved on from their biggest trade chip in Miller but could have another big name to move out if they elect to trade forward Brock Boeser. Now, it’s not commonplace for teams to move on from top players when they are in the thick of the playoff race, but nothing about Vancouver has been common this season. It’s also worth noting that the Canucks can’t score (25th in the NHL) with Boeser in the lineup, and they would be unlikely to replace his offense in a 1 for 1 trade. The one move that Vancouver could make is not unlike what they did with Miller and flip Boeser to one team, then use those assets in another deal for an impact player with term remaining on their contract. Boeser’s time in Vancouver has been a rollercoaster, and with him being just four months away from free agency, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him moved. Another note on Boeser is that he has a ten-team modified no-trade clause, but there will be interest from other teams not on his list.

If Vancouver wanted to push into the trade market, they do have some future assets to move despite having a below-average prospects pool (21st in the NHL, as per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic). Vancouver has their first two picks in each of the next two NHL Entry Drafts, which could always be made available, or if they wanted to move out prospects, Jonathan Lekkerimäki would be an intriguing player for most teams who are looking towards the future. The 15th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft hasn’t found NHL success yet but is nearly a point-a-game player in the AHL (26 points in 30 games) this season and is just 20 years old. His skill level is extremely high and could be of interest to a team that is looking for prospects who are close to NHL-ready.

Team Needs

1) Top Six Center – The Canucks were a win away from the Western Conference Finals last year and their top two centers from that club are no longer in Vancouver (Elias Lindholm and Miller). Now, Vancouver is rolling out Filip Chytil and Pettersson as their top two centers, and no disrespect to either player but that isn’t good enough to compete with the likes of Edmonton or Vegas in the Western Conference. Vancouver needs a top-six center who can push everyone down the depth chart, including Pius Suter who is pivoting the third line at the moment and is better suited for fourth-line duties. The idea of a center is easier said than done as there aren’t many names available who would be capable of taking on top six minutes. Brock Nelson of the Islanders is an option, but he would be expensive and a rental at this point. Brayden Schenn is another option, but with three years left at $6.5MM and declining production, he probably isn’t the best candidate either. If the Canucks wanted to gamble, Dylan Cozens out of Buffalo is a name that would be of interest, Cozens has struggled this season with just 11 goals and 16 assists in 55 games, but he is just two years removed from a 68-point season and at 24 years of age, could be a bounce back candidate that the Canucks buy low on.

2) Scoring – Vancouver can’t score and desperately need help on the wings and down the middle. The Canucks have been trying out recently acquired Drew O’Connor on the top line, but with two goals in six games, he isn’t a long-term fit and is better suited for a third-line role. If Vancouver wanted to make a bigger splash, they could take a run at Rickard Rakell out of Pittsburgh, who is having a terrific season with 25 goals and 24 assists in 58 games. Rakell can play on both wings and even center in a pinch, but it would be costly as he does have term left on his deal (three years at $5MM per season), and the Penguins are in no rush to move him. If Vancouver wanted to jump into the rental market, Kyle Palmieri of the Islanders or Montreal’s Joel Armia might be cheaper options who can provide depth offense. None of the available options are particularly great for Vancouver, who are tasked with looking for scoring in a seller’s market. The Canucks do have significant cap space available to them and might be able to land a higher-priced pending unrestricted free agent (like Palmieri) who isn’t performing up to their cap hit. This happened last season with Jason Zucker, who was dealt from Arizona to Nashville for a sixth-round pick last deadline because Arizona couldn’t retain his $5.3MM cap hit, which drove down the price as Nashville was willing to take on the entire cap hit.

Trade Deadline Primer: Utah Hockey Club

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is just a few weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Utah Hockey Club.

The Utah Hockey Club find themselves in an awkward spot with the Trade Deadline approaching. They’ve posted a perfectly .500 season – just good enough to stay within grasp of the Western Conference Wild Cards but not good enough to be planning for travel come May. Adding to the confusion is the return of Sean Durzi from an October injury. Durzi played in four games as a top-pair defenseman before falling to injury, and his return stands as a substantial, free addition to the Utah lineup at the perfect time. With the deadline just around the corner, Utah will need to quickly gauge where their lineup sits – with Durzi’s return, Clayton Keller’s top scoring, and Logan Cooley’s injury all complicating the matter.

Record

24-24-9, 5th in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Tepid Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$27.07MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: UTA 1st, UTA 2nd, UTA 3rd, UTA 4th, UTA 5th, UTA 6th
2026: UTA 1st, UTA 2nd, OTT 2nd, NYR 2nd, UTA 3rd, CAR 3rd, UTA 4th, UTA 5th, UTA 6th, UTA 7th

Trade Chips

On the heels of an up-and-down year, the Trade Deadline will be Utah’s chance to stake their claim. Are they a hopeful on the fringe of the playoffs, led by a clear top-scorer and strong goaltending? Or are they an up-and-comer, driven by succeeding top prospects and emerging structure? Their fate certainly seems in the latter camp, but Utah seems too close to the Western Conference wild cards – six points out, with one game lost – to take a full stride towards the future. The 26-year-old Clayton Keller – who leads the team with 61 points – or the 28-year-old Nick Schmaltz – right behind him with 48 – may be at their peak sale value this year. But much of the Utah success has been built around those veterans, and would leave major lineup holes by shipping them out.

That likely leaves Utah’s biggest bargaining chips in their lineup depth. Undersized winger Matias Maccelli has fallen to just 18 points in 52 games this season, after posting a career-high 40 assists and 57 points last year. He has been healthy scratched at multiple points this season, including in Utah’s first game back from the 4-Nations Face-Off break. That’s a dismal fall from grace for a player that averaged north of 16 minutes of ice time last season – and could be the signs of a looming separation. Maccelli is still only 24 years old, and proved the extent of his playmaking upside with 78 assists in 146 games between 2022 and 2024 – his first two full seasons in the NHL. This down year seems to be more a fluke, or clash of minds, than it is indicative of any decline – and a young scorer will always be a hot commodity on the open market. Even better, Maccelli carries a comfortable $3.43MM cap hit through the end of next season. Utah could be in store for plenty of attention by gauging Maccelli’s price on the open market.

Utah has also built up a small surplus in net. Connor Ingram started the year in the starter’s net, but lost it to Karel Vejmelka during a two-month absence to injury. Vejmelka now sits with a .909 save percentage, 2.57 goals-against-average, and a 13-15-4 record on the year. That’s a clear step up over Ingram’s .882 Sv%, 3.27 GAA, and 9-8-4 record. Utah also received a strong four games from Jaxson Stauber, who posted a 2-1-1 record and .925 Sv% during Ingram’s absence. Stauber also has an 8-5-1 record and .901 Sv% in 14 AHL games, where he backs up Matthew Villalta’s 12-17-3 record and .904 Sv%. That heap of well-performing netminders could land Ingram on the outside looking in.

Ingram posted a .907 in each of the last two seasons, playing in 27 and 50 games respectively. He’s a long-tenured pro who has worked his way into a cushy platoon role with Utah. Even better, Ingram carries an affordable $1.95MM cap hit through the end of next season. Those facts will keep Ingram an affordable depth option an open market with very few goalies.

If not Maccelli or Ingram, the sight of Utah’s trades will quickly turn towards their veterans. Each of Lawson Crouse, Alexander Kerfoot, and Nick Bjugstad have found reasonable footing in the Utah lineup, and could be cheap bets for deadline buyers looking for a specific style. Juuso Valimaki and Nick DeSimone offer similar low-upside but reliable styles on the back-end, though they likely couldn’t command the same asking price as other positions. That short list of bargaining pieces may set Utah up for a quiet spring, but strategic use of their 2026 draft picks could still make for notable additions.

Team Needs

1) Spark Plugs – Utah is coming into their own this season through the success of their young stars. Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley are both rivaling point-per-game scoring, while Josh Doan and Artyom Duda are rising through the minor ranks. It’s clear to see the core pieces that Utah’s future will be built around – meaning they can turn their attention towards finding exciting complementary pieces. A winger that can bring added finesse and finishing ability to Cooley’s side, or a heavy passer to set up Guenther, could go far towards solidifying Utah’s next steps. Anaheim Ducks winger Trevor Zegras stands as the beacon of high-skill upside bets at this year’s deadline, but his asking price could quickly run Utah’s wallet dry. A more realistic bet may be aging Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who has long been rumored to move and could carry a cheap asking price in the midst of a down year. Boeser has just 35 points this season, less than half of the 73 points he posted last year – helped along by his first 40-goal season. At 27, he may be a bit old for Utah’s young core – but for the right acquisition cost, Boeser could also be the big splash this year that ripples out through the next few seasons. Boeser carries a $6.65MM cap hit and a modified no-trade clause through the end of this season.

2) Younger Depth – For a team built around up-and-coming youngsters, finding the middle ground between youth and impact in the depths is incredibly important. Utah won’t be able to sustain their reliance on Bjugstad or Crouse to play the hard minutes. They need to cycle out their aged vets for a core that can better support the likes of Cooley and Guenther in the years to come. The open market could offer plenty of players that fit that mold, including shoot-first winger Nicholas Robertson in Toronto and heavy-hitter Trent Frederic in Boston. Even acquiring a player closer to their prime, like Boston’s Justin Brazeau or Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier, could stabilize a Utah bottom-six comprised largely of 30-year-olds. There will be a lot of options Utah can push in to build up their bottom pieces – but doing so without paying lavishly will have to be the priority.

Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is just a few weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 2024-25 campaign marks the ninth year in a row the Maple Leafs are vying for a Stanley Cup championship since their competitive window re-opened in 2016-17. Toronto is in the 58th year of their Stanley Cup drought and they’ll have as good an opportunity as any to break that this season. Although it’s still the most competitive division in the NHL, the Eastern Conference feels more open than in years past which should motivate the Maple Leafs to be aggressive at this year’s deadline.

Record

33-20-2, 2nd in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$2.201MM on deadline day + $3.570MM LTIR pool, 0/3 retention spots used, 48/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: FLA 2nd, EDM 3rd, TOR 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th
2026: TOR 1st, TOR 3rd, TOR 5th, SJ 6th

Trade Chips

This is where things get interesting for Toronto. The only draft pick worth meaningful value is their 2026 first-round pick but recent history may dissuade them from moving it. The Maple Leafs traded a boatload of first-round picks during the Kyle Dubas administration with only one Round Two appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Toronto was again engaged in some of the market’s top names last season but ultimately played around the edges. The Maple Leafs acquired Joel Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Connor Dewar near last year’s deadline. The highest-valued asset general manager Brad Treliving parted with is a 2024 third-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick.

The Maple Leafs have legitimate prospects such as Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, and Ben Danford with whom they could part ways to land an impact player. Although Treliving didn’t appear interested in moving big-name prospects in his first year at the helm of the Maple Leafs, he’s no stranger to big moves. During his time as general manager of the Calgary Flames, Treliving brought in the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Nikita Zadorov via trade. If Treliving warms to moving a first-round pick or top prospect, Toronto has the pieces to put themselves in a good spot for the deadline.

Team Needs

1)  Third-Line Center: Assuming Auston Matthews and John Tavares remain healthy the rest of the way, the Maple Leafs would have difficulty improving their top-six centers. Still, Max Domi’s 46.9% success rate in the faceoff dot hasn’t done much to inspire confidence in his abilities down the middle. Toronto could move Domi to the left wing alongside Tavares and William Nylander on the second if they acquire an above-average third-line center at the deadline. This strategy rests on what they’re willing to move. The Maple Leafs have plenty of options such as Ryan O’Reilly, Brock Nelson, Brayden Schenn, Jake Evans, and Scott Laughton but it’ll ultimately depend on how aggressive they’re willing to be.

2)  Top-Four Right-Handed Defenseman: Potentially a more pressing need is Toronto’s lack of options on the right side of their defense in the top four. Chris Tanev has been exactly what they’ve needed him to be but the only right-handed options behind him are Conor Timmins and Philippe Myers. No offense to that duo but neither are expected to strike fear in opposing teams come postseason play. Again, the solution depends on the pieces the Maple Leafs put in play. Toronto should be involved in the markets for Colton Parayko, David Savard, or Rasmus Ristolainen, with any of the three being realistic additions.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Tampa Bay Lightning

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is just a few weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After a significant roster overhaul last offseason, the Tampa Bay Lightning are chasing their fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance in six years. Whether they reclaim the Atlantic Division title or settle for the Eastern Conference’s top wild-card spot, they are poised for a tough first-round matchup against the Florida Panthers or Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams have eliminated Tampa Bay in consecutive postseasons, fueling the Lightning’s quest to reassert their dominance in the league’s most competitive division.

Record

31-20-4, 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$6.122MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 43/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: LA 2nd, TOR 2nd, EDM 4th, TB 4th, TB 5th, TB 6th, MIN 7th, SJ 7th, TB 7th, UTA 7th
2026: TB 1st, TB 2nd, TB 3rd, TB 4th, TB 5th, TB 6th, TB 7th

Trade Chips

What Tampa Bay lacks in draft capital quality, they make up for in quantity. The Lightning won’t have their 2025 first-round pick thanks to the Tanner Jeannot trade with the Nashville Predators a few years ago and the two second-round picks they have are expected to fall in the back half of the round. Still, having 17 draft selections over two years is enough to add a few sweeteners to proposed deals while retaining their ability to boost their organizational depth.

Tampa Bay’s prospect depth may be enough to stave off dealing roster players. Although he was recently reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, it’s highly unlikely the Lightning will include forward Conor Geekie in any trade negotiations during deadline season. However, there are a few more forward prospects they could move.

One year after being a point-per-game player with the NCAA’s Michigan State University Spartans, Isaac Howard is going for the Hobey Baker Award. The former 31st overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft has scored 22 goals and 43 points in 30 games for the Spartans this season good for second in points among college players. Given his exceptional play in East Lansing, Howard would be a commanding centerpiece if the Lightning go big-game hunting.

Other prospects include Ethan Gauthier, Dylan Duke, and Niko Huuhtanen for various reasons. There’s a dramatic drop-off in quality beyond Huuhtanen but the former two offer appeal in varying ways. Gauthier was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2021 QMJHL Draft and has developed into an above-average playmaker for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Duke is a high-motor forward who’s become an annoying pest in front of the net although he’s undersized for his playstyle.

Given their team needs, the Lightning will likely keep all five of their top prospects. Still, each of Tampa Bay’s core forwards (aside from Nikita Kucherov) is signed beyond the 2027-28 season, making the Lightning well-positioned to mortgage their future on offense for more immediate needs.

Team Needs

1)  Bottom-Six Forwards: Although the Lightning should already be considered one of the few true Stanley Cup contenders, they still need a few bottom-six forwards. The combination of Michael Eyssimont, Cam Atkinson, Gage Goncalves, Luke Glendening, and Zemgus Girgensons has averaged approximately two goals and six points in 46 games with a -3 rating. The easiest pathway for Tampa Bay to improve this area of their roster is by contacting the Seattle Kraken. If the Kraken retained 50% of both players’ salaries, the Lightning could afford forwards Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde at the deadline. Gourde is familiar with the organization and should come off the LTIR near the end of March. Tanev is another defensive-minded forward who would add explosive speed to Tampa Bay’s bottom six.

2)  A Backup Goaltender: The Lightning could also use a more capable backup netminder. Jonas Johansson has been less than average in his role, earning a .890 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against average in 39 games for Tampa Bay. Thankfully, the Lightning have one of the world’s best goaltenders in Andrei Vasilevskiy who can play between 55 and 60 games of the regular season. Still, when recovering from back surgery at the beginning of last season, Tampa Bay went 9-6-5 without Vasilevskiy before going 36-23-3 upon his return. Either Alexandar Georgiev or Vitek Vanecek of the San Jose Sharks would be affordable backup options for the rest of the season as injury insurance for Vasilevskiy.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: St. Louis Blues

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is just a few weeks away. 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.

The St. Louis Blues find themselves in a similar position to the last two seasons. They aren’t good enough to make the playoffs, but they are too good to bottom out and collect a top draft pick. It’s a position not unlike the one the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in. Both teams are recent Stanley Cup Champions that haven’t moved into a full rebuild yet. St. Louis is currently eight points out of a playoff spot and would need to leapfrog three teams to land the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Given their position in the West, it’s fair to assume that they will be looking toward the future at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.

Record

25-26-5, 6th in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Sellers

Deadline Cap Space

$6.025MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 45/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: STL 1st, STL 5th, STL 6th
2026: STL 1st, STL 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, PIT 5th, NYI 5th, STL 6th, STL 7th

Trade Chips

St. Louis doesn’t have many pending unrestricted free agents of note but will try to move the handful they do have.

Veteran defenseman Ryan Suter could be traded to a team looking for a depth defenseman, but wouldn’t fetch much of a return at this point. The 40-year-old is a shell of the player he once was, but for a team looking for a veteran presence on the backend, they could do worse. Suter has remained healthy for almost all of his late 30s, and while he isn’t the minute eater he used to be, he could certainly fill the role of a seventh defenseman.

Forward Radek Faksa is another name the Blues could look to ship out. The 31-year-old would bring a strong defensive presence to any acquiring team but wouldn’t provide much in the way of offense. He does have a modified five-team no-trade clause, but it’s hard to see that being an issue at this point. Faksa is a free agent on July 1st and with a $3.25MM cap hit, he should be moveable if St. Louis is willing to retain. Trading Faksa won’t recoup all the draft pick capital St. Louis has moved away this year, but it should allow them to bring in a mid-round pick. Faksa has just three goals and seven assists in 44 games this season, but he has garnered Selke Trophy consideration in four of the last seven seasons.

Outside of Suter and Faksa, the Blues don’t have any remaining UFAs but do have some veterans with term left on their contracts who could be moved. Brayden Schenn’s name has popped up in trade rumors for weeks now, and given his resume it’s no surprise that there has been interest in the 33-year-old forward. There is no doubt that there has been a regression in Schenn’s game the past two seasons and with three more years at $6.5MM per season his market at the deadline will be limited. There is also the concern that Schenn’s defensive game has fallen off, which could scare off some teams who view him as more of a third-line option. St. Louis might wait until the summer to move Schenn if they don’t find an offer to their liking but given that it is a seller’s market right now, they could be able to convince a desperate team to overpay in the next two weeks.

St. Louis has some other veterans on expensive long-term deals who have underperformed the past few seasons, which could make significant moves difficult. Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou have both had their names mentioned as potential trade candidates and the Blues would probably be more than happy to move on from some of their veteran defensemen as well but will likely be handcuffed by varying trade protections. Nick Leddy, Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler all make north of $4MM per season and have at least one year left on their current contracts. Couple that with the no-trade clauses and the Blues are in tough to make substantial changes if that is the direction they want to go.

Team Needs

1) Offensive Forwards – St. Louis has top forwards who can score (Kyrou, Buchnevich, and Robert Thomas). However, their depth scoring has been a huge issue this season (25th in the NHL in goals). If the Blues elect to retool this summer, getting offensive depth forwards should be at the top of their shopping list. St. Louis has not received much offense from their bottom six forwards, and it has allowed teams to focus more attention on the top six and prohibit them from scoring at their usual rates. Buchnevich, Kyrou and Thomas are all having down years and insulating them with more depth might force teams to divide their attention more when defending the Blues’ best forwards. At the very least, more offensive options should provide some help to the top six by taking the pressure off of them to chase the game when the Blues find themselves behind on the scoreboard.

2) Young Defensemen– The Blues backend is one of the oldest in the NHL, with just two defensemen under the age of 31. Philip Broberg looks like he should be a top-four defenseman for St. Louis, but outside of him, their top prospects Adam Jiricek, Theo Lindstein and Lukas Fischer are still probably two or more years away from making an NHL impact. The direction the Blues decide to go in will ultimately determine the urgency with which they will try to find young defensemen, but it is very clear at this stage that the team needs to get younger. The Blues aren’t a bad defensive team (20th in the NHL), but having a more mobile unit will help the forwards get the puck in more advantageous positions and open them up to focus more on the offensive side of the game.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Seattle Kraken

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Seattle Kraken.

The Seattle Kraken season has been far from ideal. They find themselves near the bottom of the division with little time to fix it. With an average age above 28 years old and menial draft capital, Seattle seems perfectly set up for a fire sale of their aging veterans. They offer value from the top to the bottom of the lineup, with a wide variety of roles and price tags attached. A strategic Trade Deadline could help the Kraken lean into their burgeoning top prospects and build a lineup that can be competitive for years to come.

Record

24-29-4, 7th in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Sellers

Deadline Cap Space

$4.65MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 46/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: SEA 1st, SEA 2nd, SEA 4th, DAL 4th, SEA 5th, SEA 7th
2026: SEA 1st, SEA 2nd, SEA 3rd, ANA 4th, SEA 4th, SEA 5th, SEA 6th, SEA 7th

Trade Chips

They have an absolute wealth of forward talent rumored to be on their chopping block, headlined by leading scorer Jared McCann. McCann has posted 14 goals and 42 points in 57 games this year, putting him on pace for 20 goals and 60 points through a full 82 games. That’d be a small step down from the 29 goals and 62 points he scored last year, but McCann’s role with the Kraken has only increased. His average ice time is up to 17:28 this season, the highest its been in his four years in Seattle. That includes the mere 16:20 he averaged while posting 40 goals and 70 points, both career-highs, in 79 games of the 2022-23 campaign. McCann has come into his own since Seattle selected him in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He’s averaged 28 goals and 56 points a season in four years with the Kraken – a 17-goal and 30-point improvement over what he averaged in his first six NHL seasons.

Prying that caliber of player away from a low-scoring Kraken offense will take some convincing, especially given McCann’s incredibly affordable $5MM cap hit and 10-team no-trade clause. He could be a high-upside bet for a team with a role in mind, though McCann’s mere three points in eight games of Seattle’s 2023 playoff run might make a high price too rich for playoff hopefuls.

Should that be the case, the Kraken will have plenty of middling forwards to offer instead. Yanni Gourde has been at the top of trade rumors for much of his time in Seattle. He offers diligent, two-way reliability – backed by 16 points and 36 penalty minutes in just 35 games this season. Gourde also won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 21. He contributed 21 points in 48 games from Tampa Bay’s middle-six over the two postseason runs. Gourde was also an expansion draft pick and he stayed consistent through his first two years in Seattle – netting 48 points both seasons. Those numbers have fallen a bit since – with 33 points last year and a 38-point pace this year – but Gourde has nonetheless stayed a popular depth option.

But for all of his hard-nosed drive, Gourde’s five-foot-nine frame may not be as physical as a playoff team would like. Luckily, Seattle parallels their feisty, undersized center with bulky and gritty winger Brandon Tanev. Tanev is one of just three Kraken forwards with over 100 hits this season – with 114 hits in 55 games. He’s added 17 points, a poised eight penalty minutes, and a minus-11 to his stat-line – holding true to his role of third-line bruiser. Tanev is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, carrying a modest $3.5MM cap hit until then. That could make him a cheap rental option for playoff teams looking for more heft, with little detriment to the Seattle lineup.

Seattle’s ability to match the buyer’s need drags on. Fast-paced left-winger Jaden Schwartz and scoring right-winger Oliver Bjorkstrand are both past their prime, and likely wouldn’t carry a tremendous acquisition cost. Among the defense, Josh Mahura seems the most expendable. He’s the cheapest of the bunch with a league-minimum, $775K cap hit – and has just six assists in 45 games this season. But Mahura has added a plus-six and 58 hits – creating a moldable style for teams in need of more depth. For those looking for a more true lineup piece, the Kraken could also expend 32-year-old Jamie Oleksiak, who plays hard minutes on Seattle’s second pair but has 13 points and a minus-seven on the year. Moving either defender would give Seattle more room to lean on promising youngster Ryker Evans on the left-side, or recall hefty, right-shot prospect Ty Nelson from the minor leagues.

Team Needs

1) Young Defensemen – The Kraken have build a prospect pool worth admiring on offense. They’re led by Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus, Jani Nyman, and Logan Morrison – who all look capable of contributing to the top flight for years to come. But their defensive depth isn’t nearly as fleshed out. Nelson leads the bunch, and has managed an encouraging 21 points in 50 AHL games. But the trio of Caden Price, Lukas Dragicevic, and Ville Ottovainen haven’t inspired much behind Nelson – leaving questions as to how Seattle can build around Evans. Bringing in another top, young, left-handed defender would be a great start. The Kraken certainly have the assets to shoot for the moon by acquiring top Buffalo Sabres defender Bowen Byram, who’s managed 29 points and a plus-nine in 54 games next to Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin. Byram has had his lulls, but he’s also 23-years-old with five years of partial NHL experience and one Stanley Cup to his name – rare esteem to find on the open market.

Should a proven NHLer be too rich of a price to pay, Seattle could try to convince a fringe playoff team to part with a top defense prospect in exchange for their solidifying lineup piece. The Columbus Blue Jackets are well within grasp of the second Eastern Conference wild card, and could part with the well-rounded Stanislav Svozil without jeporadizing the future of their blue-line. Svozil has 24 points in 43 AHL games this season – his second pro season.

2) Young, Middle-Six Forwards – The Kraken are in a great Deadline position because of their overabundance of forward talent – but many of their options are in or past their prime. With a dismal record on the year, it’s clear Seattle’s positives lie in the future. Top prospects will soon be coming up, and finding the right role players to support them could go far in returning the Kraken to the postseason sooner rather than later. They may be able to sway the New York Rangers to part with an effective youngster like William Cuylle in the name of a playoff upgrade. Or perhaps expendable Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson could find his scoring groove in the same slow, shoot-first style that’s supported Bjorkstrand. Both options likely wouldn’t come at a major price, especially for a Kraken team with the roster spots and draft picks to make an addition.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break now almost over, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the San Jose Sharks.

San Jose remains deep in a rebuild and is currently dead last in the NHL in points. As you would expect, they have already begun their trade deadline sell-off by moving out the likes of Mikael Granlund, Cody Ceci, and Mackenzie Blackwood. The Sharks are unlikely to make any big moves heading into the deadline since they’ve moved on from their more notable UFAs, though they do have a few depth pieces remaining on expiring contracts who could be of interest to buyers. One issue that could plague San Jose at the deadline is their inability to retain salary thanks to the trades of Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl. However, Sharks’ general manager Mike Grier has shown an ability to get creative when he needs to and will likely do more of the same as he tries to maximize the assets he does have.

Record

15-35-7, 8th in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$32.86MM on deadline day, 3/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: SJS 1st, DAL 1st, SJS 2nd, COL 3rd, SJS 4th, WPG 4th, COL 5th, NJ 7th
2026: SJS 1st, SJS 2nd, COL 2nd, SJ 4th, SJS 7th,

Trade Chips

As mentioned, San Jose has been busy this year moving out some of their more desirable assets. However, they do have some remaining veterans on expiring deals who could help teams.

Luke Kunin is a depth center who has had poor possession numbers for much of his professional career. He is physical and can score in a fourth-line role, hitting double digits in goals five times in his career. The 27-year-old is overpaid at $2.75MM. However, the acquiring team would only need to fit him under the cap for the remainder of this season. Physical players are always in demand for the playoffs, so Kunin will likely find a new home before the deadline, though it’s unlikely that an acquiring team will give up more than a late-round draft pick. San Jose also can’t retain on any trades, so the team trading for Kunin would need to pick up the full freight of his contract.

Another depth forward the Sharks could dangle is Nico Sturm. The 29-year-old is also in the final year of his deal and is counting $2MM against the salary cap. Sturm is similar to Kunin in a lot of ways but is less physical, although he has a big body and probably has more utility. Sturm’s possession numbers aren’t terrible, and he does offer more of a two-way presence than Kunin. Sturm could thrive in a sheltered fourth-line role on a solid team but won’t break the bank for any team looking to acquire him. Much like Kunin, any team that does trade for Sturm will need to pick up the full tab on the remainder of his contract, which will limit suitors and the cost to acquire.

Jan Rutta was a salary dump by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Erik Karlsson trade and has struggled in San Jose. The 34-year-old is on pace to commit more turnovers this season than the past six years combined. Rutta was never the fleetest of foot, but he can thrive in a sheltered third pairing role with a mobile defensive partner. Rutta is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with Tampa Bay and was good during those runs, but he did benefit greatly from playing with Victor Hedman. Rutta will have suitors because he is a right shot defenseman, but at $2.75MM for the rest of the season, it is hard to see teams giving up much more than a mid-round pick for him.

The final two trade chips that San Jose could dangle are goaltenders Vítek Vaněček and Alexandar Georgiev, both of whom are UFAs this summer. The difficulty with moving either man is that neither one is a starter at this point in their careers, and without retention, they would make for an expensive and possibly ineffective backup. Vaněček has posted a goals against north of 4.00 this season, and his goals saved above expected is -9.1, which is the seventh worst in the NHL. Georgiev has posted even worse numbers, tallying a goals saved above expected of -12.1, which is the second worst in the entire NHL (as per Money Puck).

Team Needs

1) Young Roster Players: The Sharks have the NHL’s best prospect pool, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, and while they have an embarrassment of riches in the pipeline, they are going to need to start getting contributions at the NHL level sooner than later. The Sharks could be in line for another down year next season, and with that being said, the team will likely start to convert notable prospects and draft picks into roster players as they look to surround the young players already in the NHL with better talent. The Sharks can ill afford to leave their young NHL stars in a similar position to the one the Edmonton Oilers did with their top draft picks during the 2010s. Mike Grier has already started this process with the move for goaltender Yaroslav Askarov and could do so again as he pinpoints which part of the roster he is going to need to address.

2) Young Defensemen: The Sharks have some solid defensive prospects such as Luca Cagnoni, as well as highly touted prospect Sam Dickinson. They also have youngster Jack Thompson at the pro level, who looks promising, and Shakir Mukhamadullin, who has played in 13 games this season. Both Thompson and Mukhamadullin look like NHL defensemen, but it remains to be seen what their ceiling will be. The Sharks’ prospect cupboard is forward-heavy, and at some point, they will need to be sure that they have NHL-caliber defensemen to play with their skilled forward group. Finding a right shot defensemen is especially hard in the NHL, and Grier might opt to make his swings at it now rather than later when the cost could be higher. San Jose likely won’t rush to make this move before the deadline, but they will be taking a hard look at what their best course of action is going forward. Given that they have a deep prospect pool and good draft capital, they could jump-start their rebuild with some young defensemen who can elevate their forwards and make life easier for the goaltender of the future, Askarov.

Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.

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