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Minor Transactions: 02/09/2019

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It’s a busy Saturday slate for the NHL, with 28 teams set to square off today. All seven Canadian clubs are set to play, as the nation celebrates Hockey Day in Canada, while in the U.S. ten teams will get an early start with 1:00pm ET puck drops. With several other games in the late afternoon, evening, and late night, it’s a true all-day affair for the league. While you enjoy all the action, keep up with what should be a busy day for transactions as well:

  • Attached to the trade yesterday that saw Laurent Dauphin and Adam Helewka head to the Nashville Predators from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Emil Petterson was an AHL exchange as well. The Tuscon Roadrunners, affiliate of the ’Yotes, announced that they have acquired forward Jeremy Gregoire from the Preds’ affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for future considerations. Gregoire, a former Montreal Canadiens prospect, was not qualified by the team after last season and signed with the Admirals as a free agent. The 23-year-old center has 12 points in 42 AHL games this year. Arizona GM John Chayka has shown in the past that he values a postseason run for his minor league team, adding pieces at each of the past few trade deadlines to help his top prospects experience the postseason even if the Coyotes don’t qualify.
  • CapFriendly reports that the Anaheim Ducks have recalled goaltender Kevin Boyle from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. This is not a positive sign for the status of starter John Gibson, who left Thursday night’s game with an injury and did not practice yesterday. It seems likely that Boyle will back up Chad Johnson today when the Ducks visit the Philadelphia Flyers. Boyle, 26, has been with the Ducks organization for the past three seasons after signing as a free agent out of UMass – Lowell, but is still looking for his first NHL appearance.
  • The Ottawa Senators have called up veteran grinder Darren Archibald, the team announced. Archibald, who turns 29 years old today, was acquired alongside Anders Nilsson from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season. The big winger has two points in ten NHL games this year, but was held scoreless in his Ottawa debut early last month and then sent back down. Yet, as Archibald continues to quietly put together a productive AHL campaign and brings a heavy, physical presence to any lineup, he has earned another shot with the Senators. The impending UFA is trying to prove to possible suitors this off-season that he is more than just a minimum salary, two-way player.
  • After their victory over Winnipeg earlier today, the Ottawa Senators announced they have returned Archibald to Belleville. He did not appear in today’s win.
  • The New Jersey Devils have made a flurry of moves, according to CapFriendly. They report that the team has officially placed forward Miles Wood on the injured reserve and activated rookie winger Joey Anderson. Wood left the Devils’ last game with an arm injury, but his injury status had been unclear. Obviously, this is an injury that will keep Wood sidelined for some time. Hopefully Anderson can make up for his absence; the collegiate product had two points through eleven games this season before breaking his ankle in November. New Jersey has called up additional reinforcements from AHL Binghamton as well in forward Nick Lappin and recently-acquired defenseman Ryan Murphy. Lappin has yet to play in the NHL this season after suiting up for 49 games with the Devils over the past two years, but brings some added experience to the table among the options to replace Wood. Murphy, who came over from the Minnesota Wild last week, will hope to show that he can still produce at the NHL level. The 2011 twelfth overall pick has failed to live up to his draft position so far in his pro career.
  • CapFriendly also notes that the St. Louis Blues have called up defenseman Chris Butler from the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. The 32-year-old veteran has over 400 NHL games to his credit, but only 12 this season and 24 total over the past four seasons with St. Louis. However, Butler – the Rampage captain – has continued to be effective in the minors. With the Blues suddenly surging toward a playoff berth, a recent report indicated that they might prefer to hold on to one or both of their impending free agent defenseman on the roster, Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson. If that is the case, the team could be using this opportunity to showcase Butler for a potential trade to a contender so that they might walk away with some kind of return at the deadline without moving an established NHLer.
  • Haydn Fleury’s recent stretch of bouncing back and forth between the NHL and the minors continues.  The Hurricanes announced that they have sent the defenseman back to AHL Charlotte.  It’s the third time in less than three weeks that they’ve done so with recalls coming shortly after each time, something that will likely be the case again this time.   Fleury isn’t getting much playing time in Carolina so this is allowing him to at least get some game action in to stay ready in case he’s called upon by the big club.
  • It didn’t take long for the Pittsburgh Penguins to get their starting goaltender back as Matt Murray is expected to back up Casey DeSmith Saturday. Therefore the Penguins announced they have returned Tristan Jarry to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. Jarry was recalled Thursday on an emergency basis while Murray was out, Jarry’s trip didn’t last long and he didn’t see any action with the club either.
  • With Travis Hamonic officially back, the Calgary Flames opted to make a roster move with eight defenseman on their roster. The Flames announced they have assigned defenseman Rinat Valiev to the Stockton Heat of the AHL. The 23-year-old was recalled last Saturday as an emergency defenseman, but never saw the ice.

Kyle Capobianco Suffers Season-Ending Injury

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The Arizona Coyotes appear to be cursed. The team announced today that young defenseman Kyle Capobianco suffered a lower-body injury last night and will be out for the remainder of the season. The Coyotes have suffered almost countless long-term injuries this season, including season-ending ones to Antti Raanta, Jason Demers and Nick Schmaltz. Michael Grabner, Christian Dvorak and Jakob Chychrun, three others who have seen huge parts of the season taken away (or in Dvorak’s case the whole thing so far), were back at practice today in one form or another.

Capobianco, 21, won’t be as lucky after suffering what looked like a knee injury last night. Originally selected in the third round in 2015, Capobianco has been extremely effective at the minor league level and earned himself a pair of games this season. That’s all he’ll end the year with, meaning he now heads into the final season of his entry-level contract with just three NHL contests under his belt.

The Coyotes meanwhile are just trying to stay competitive during their injury-riddled season, but have now lost five consecutive games and are within a point of last place in the Western Conference. That means they’re still within four of a playoff spot, but things have not gone well for the team over the past few weeks. If they can get some of their ailing forwards back before long there might be a chance they can go on a run and secure one of the wildcard spots, but it’s looking like another lost year for GM John Chayka and the rest of the organization at the moment.

Nashville Predators Acquire Laurent Dauphin

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The Nashville Predators have traded Emil Pettersson to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Laurent Dauphin and Adam Helewka. This move will free up a contract spot for the Coyotes, who were sitting at the 50-contract limit. Pettersson is the older brother of Vancouver Canucks star rookie Elias Pettersson.

Dauphin, the only one of the three to spend any time in the NHL, is also likely the most interesting part of the deal. The 23-year old forward was selected 39th overall in 2013 and has suited up 35 times for the Coyotes over the last few seasons. While he hasn’t been able to find much offensive success at the NHL level—four points in those 35 career games—he’s at least been a consistent enough producer at the minor league level and still has time to develop into a depth option for the Predators. Unfortunately he is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the summer, and is no longer waiver-exempt. That very well could leave him without a qualifying offer if Nashville doesn’t see enough from him over the next few months.

Pettersson, 25, has all the same traits as his younger brother if a little less polished. A skilled, undersized forward he has 79 points in 121 AHL games since coming over from Sweden in 2017. There’s little chance that Pettersson is going to be a big NHL contributor, but the Coyotes at least got some minor league depth out of a trade that was more about creating deadline flexibility than anything else.

That flexibility is important, given the trade deadline and college free agency over the next few months. The Coyotes couldn’t have added another player without opening up a spot, something they may have to do again before long. Remember that trades can still actually happen after the deadline, those players are just no longer eligible for playoff hockey.

Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue to examine the Pacific Division, here is a look at the Arizona Coyotes.

Team A is in a four-way tie for eleventh place is their conference. Team B has a points percentage only marginally less than the final wild card team in their conference. Most would say that Team A should be a seller at the deadline, while Team B should be a buyer. Well, Team A is the Arizona Coyotes and Team B is also the Arizona Coyotes.

At 51 points through 53 games, Arizona is tied with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference wild card race, though technically they lead the group. One game in hand separates them from the Ducks and Hawks, while a single regulation/overtime win currently gives them an edge over the Oilers. At the same time, the Coyotes’ .481 points percentage only narrowly trails the 8th-place Vancouver Canucks and 10th-place Colorado Avalanche, who are both .500 teams. The truth of the matter is that six points separate all eight teams in pursuit of the second wild card berth in the West and Arizona is right in the middle of a race that gets more complicated with each day.

So which way do GM John Chayka and the Coyotes go? The St. Louis Blues currently look like the team to beat for the final postseason spot, but the Avalanche have been in the playoff picture all year and the Blackhawks are winners of five straight. Can Arizona really compete with those teams? Despite the proximity of the teams in the Western Conference playoff race, the ’Yotes still lack great odds of making the playoffs and, even if they did sneak in, would be severe underdogs without much of a chance in the first round. Between a rash of injuries and inconsistent scoring, this just doesn’t seem like the year for Arizona’s triumphant return to the postseason. There are many good pieces in place, both veterans and young contributors, but the Coyotes would be better served simply entertaining offers for their impending free agents and expendable parts and keeping their sights set on next season.

Record

23-25-5, fifth in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Moderate Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$30.54MM in full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 50/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, ARI 3rd, CHI 3rd, ARI 4th, CLB 6th, PIT 6th
2020: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, ARI 3rd, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th

Trade Chips

Derek Stepan? Alex Goligoski? Niklas Hjalmarsson? These names just aren’t out there on the rumor mill, as the Coyotes seem happy with their veterans and aren’t willing to move them while term remains on their contracts. There is a lot to like about the core that Chayka and company have put together, but it simply hasn’t had the opportunity to shine this season due to injury issues with the likes of Nick Schmaltz, Michael Grabner, Jakob Chychrun, Christian Dvorak, Antti Raanta, and more. Looking ahead to next year, the Coyotes on paper have a top-notch goalie tandem, a deep and diverse defense, and a mix of skill and experience on offense that could help to solve this season’s scoring issues. The team seems unlikely to want to interfere with the potential they see in next season’s squad, which will eliminate many of the names that buyers are most interested in.

However, there are more than a few impending UFA’s or spare parts that the Coyotes should be willing to move. At the top of that list is forward Richard Panik. Panik, 27, is on pace to match his 35 points from last season when he came over to the Coyotes from the Chicago Blackhawks at mid-season. Yet, he has been less effective and less efficient at both ends this season despite more play time than his second-half stint last year. A fit in Arizona that once looked ideal for Panik is now unlikely to be a long-term home and the Coyotes should be more than willing to move the upcoming free agent. Panik will be an affordable, versatile depth addition for a contender and should draw ample attention. The only other Coyotes forwards approaching unrestricted free agency are Jordan Weal – who has disappointed since coming over from the Philadelphia Flyers – and Mario Kempe, neither of whom are likely to attract much interest. There are others up front who Arizona will listen on, though. Nick Cousins, an RFA this summer, has failed to make the most of opportunities throughout the lineup this season and should be a player that the Coyotes are open to move on from at the right price. Josh Archibald, another RFA, is already 26 and may not be a player that Arizona sees as a long-term piece. He would be another affordable depth addition for a playoff-bound team.

On the back end, Jordan Oesterle has played admirably for the Coyotes this season, but the 26-year-old UFA-to-be is likely nothing more than an extra man if he stays in Arizona moving forward. He would probably prefer to begin that role early this season for a contender than stay in the desert. Oesterle has proven this season that he can step in and be an effective defender and he seems very likely to move if any playoff team comes calling. The more difficult decision for the Coyotes is in regards to Kevin Connauton. At full strength, Arizona does not need Connauton as a top-four defenseman next season and, like Oesterle, he may even become the seventh defender on that blue line. Yet, he is signed through the end of next year at a great price, even as a depth option. Even though his offense has fallen off this season after an impressive 2017-18 campaign, Connauton and his team-friendly $1.375MM cap hit could be appealing to any number of teams if the Coyotes are willing to give him up. AHLers Dakota Mermis, Robbie Russo, and Dysin Mayo are all likely up for grabs as well if any team wants to really deepen their options on the blue line.

Five Players To Watch For: F Richard Panik, D Jordan Oesterle, F Nick Cousins, D Kevin Connauton, D Robbie Russo

Team Needs

1) NHL-Ready Forward Prospects: It’s hard to truly gauge what the Coyotes needs are moving forward since their performance this season is so skewed by injuries and an ever-changing lineup. Their 28th-ranked offense should improve next season with full seasons from Schmaltz, Dvorak, and Grabner and the chemistry impact that consistent lines will have. Nevertheless, 2.60 goals per game is a bad mark and adding some more young scoring options to the mix certainly won’t hurt. The Coyotes aren’t exactly selling elite talent at this deadline, but if they can land some pro-ready forwards in lieu of draft picks, that would be ideal. Barrett Hayton cannot be the only impact forward in the Arizona pipeline, but there aren’t any other apparent options who could step in next season. Center depth is a clear need, but any capable, young forward will help.

2) Draft Picks: The Coyotes are not the same rebuilding team they were just a couple of years ago, but that doesn’t make building for the future any less important. Chayka and company seem content to move forward with their current core, but need to establish the next wave behind them. Hayton is leader of that prospect core, but his supporting cast right now is unspectacular. If pro-ready prospects aren’t being offered up by sellers, adding draft picks this season can help add to the pipeline. It is a deep draft and even third- and fourth-rounders could yield impact players in June.

Minor Transactions: 02/06/19

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The NHL is almost entirely quiet tonight, with just two games on the schedule for this evening. The battle of Ontario rages between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, while some original six foes do battle as the Boston Bruins travel to face the New York Rangers. With most of the league off we’ve already seen some trades go down, and we’ll keep track of all the other minor moves right here.

  • The Arizona Coyotes have sent Adin Hill and Dakota Mermis back to the minor leagues for now, as they assess their injury situation and prepare for tomorrow night’s action. The Coyotes have been destroyed by injury this season, but it has at least allowed them to see what they have in some of their young prospects. Hill for instance has shown he could be in the running as a backup option moving forward, or at least as an injury fill-in should Darcy Kuemper or Antti Raanta continue to struggle with their health.
  • After trading Cody McLeod away to the Nashville Predators, the New York Rangers have recalled Vinni Lettieri from the AHL. Lettieri has dominated for the Hartford Wolf Pack this season with 27 points in 29 games, but amazingly is scoreless in 16 contests with the Rangers. The 24-year old will look to change that if given the opportunity down the stretch.
  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled both Jack Rodewald and Cody Goloubef from the AHL, giving them 22 players for tonight’s game against Toronto. Rodewald is an inspiring story, given that he played nearly a full season in the ECHL just a few years ago and is now playing big minutes for the Belleville Senators or spending time in the NHL.

Minor Transactions: 02/05/2019

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You know it’s been a slow day across the NHL when it’s late at night before multiple minor transactions have occurred. Apart from the historic Auston Matthews extension, it seems as if most front offices have taken the day off today. Nevertheless, there have been a couple notable moves, including a flurry of activity out of Arizona and an injury placement in Colorado:

  • The Arizona Coyotes have shuffled their roster slightly, sending one player down and calling up two. The team announced that goaltender Adin Hill and defenseman Dakota Mermis are on their way up to the ’Yotes, while forward Michael Bunting has been reassigned to the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. All three have suited up for Arizona this season, but it is Hill who has had the greatest impact and thus unsurprising that he is on his way back up. Hill’s 13 games played is second among the five keepers to appear for the Coyotes this season. However, veteran backup Calvin Pickard played well in his one showing with Arizona thus far and it is curious that the team has refrained from giving him more opportunity behind Darcy Kuemper. Mermis has only skated in one game for the ’Yotes this year, but could see a start on this recall for a blue line that is without Jakob Chychrun. On the flip side, Bunting scored in his NHL debut earlier this season, but was scoreless in the following three games and has not seen the ice in Arizona since.
  • Defenseman Mark Barberio is headed to the injured reserve. CapFriendly reported tonight that the Colorado Avalanche have placed Barberio on the IR after he missed the team’s last game with a head injury. Barberio, in the first of a two-year, $2.9MM contract, has only played in twelve games this season but his -6 rating is the worst among all Avs defenders. The team has not yet made a corresponding move, but are expected to do so. Barberio’s loss on its own is not problematic for Colorado, but their defensive depth is a concern and extended absence for Barberio will add even more pressure for GM Joe Sakic to add another blue liner before the NHL Trade Deadline.

Pacific Notes: Goldobin, Silfverberg, Chychrun, Kase

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Nikolay Goldobin has found his way back onto the Vancouver Canucks top line next to Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser after having to sit out as a healthy scratch for four straight games and six of the last nine. The Province’s Ben Kuzma writes that one of the key reasons for his return to the first line has been the 23-year-old’s dedication to improving on his shortcomings that has seen him slip out of Travis Green’s good graces.

Goldobin has spent countless hours the last few weeks watching game film and has proven himself to Green to earn his way back to the top line. Kuzma adds that this is not the team’s way to showcase the forward before the trade deadline as his name has surfaced on numerous occasions already.

“That’s not the case,” insisted general manager Jim Benning. “He’s a good kid and wants to do well, and he’s progressing to get better and that’s part of development. It’s also the skill set that makes it worth our time to get that out of him. We’re going to continue to work with him and hope that he can get to where he needs to be.”

While there is no guarantee that his play will be better than it was previously, the Canucks like what they’ve seen from him while sitting in the press box. Goldobin has gone 13 games without registering a point and was struggling when not possessing the puck.

  • TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Anaheim Ducks and forward Jakob Silfverberg, who will be a unrestricted free agent this summer, are continuing to discuss a new contract. Talks are progressing and LeBrun writes that Anaheim is very interested in locking up the 28-year-old. Silfverberg has 12 goals and 19 points this season in 42 games, but has missed some time due to injury. The team likely will want a deal in place before the trade deadline, suggesting that if the team cannot, the Ducks are likely to move him.
  • The Arizona Coyotes will be without defenseman Jakob Chychrun once again. Head coach Rick Tocchet said that blueliner, out with a lower-body injury, did not accompany the team on their three-game road trip, which started tonight in San Jose, according to NHL.com’s Dave Vest. “He tweaked something and we just want to nip it in the bud,” said Tocchet.
  • The Anaheim Ducks officially placed forward Ondrej Kase on long-term injured reserve today after the team activated both Corey Perry and Patrick Eaves, according to Orange County Register’s Eliott Teaford. Kase has had a tough season as he didn’t appear in his first game until Nov. 12 after suffering a concussion in a preseason game and now has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. He finished the season with 11 goals and 20 points in just 30 games.

Minor Transactions: 01/30/19

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Just two games are on the schedule tonight but one is a battle between Eastern Conference contenders. The Tampa Bay Lightning will travel to Pittsburgh to take on All-Star MVP Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in a game that could have dire consequences for the home team. While the Penguins are never a team to write off, they now sit just two points ahead of Buffalo and four points ahead of Carolina for the final wild card spot. Tampa Bay will be a tough task if they want to get back on the winning track.

  • Denis Gurianov has been recalled by the Dallas Stars, a move that takes them to the full 23 man roster once again. Dallas will take on the Sabres tonight and could have their young forward in the lineup. Gurianov has been lighting up the AHL this season and seems to have turned a corner in his development. The 21-year old is a big part of the future for the Stars, and should get amply opportunity down the stretch.
  • Mike McKenna has been loaned to the minor leagues on a conditioning stint by the Philadelphia Flyers, a move that will save them from putting him on waivers for a little while longer. The Flyers will go with Carter Hart and Anthony Stolarz for the time being, with McKenna taking up residence with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
  • Andrew Mangiapane is on his way back to the Calgary Flames, recalled today from the minor leagues. Mangiapane has played 13 games for the Flames this season, but is still looking for his first NHL goal.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Michael Bunting from their AHL affiliate in Tuscon, the team announced. The 23-year-old scored a goal in his NHL debut earlier this season to kick off a four-game stint with the ’Yotes, but has otherwise remained with the Roadrunners. He has made the most of his season though, earning an AHL All-Star nod with 26 points in 29 games.
  • In a flurry of moves, the Vegas Golden Knights have swapped goaltenders and are prepared to give a young defenseman his first NHL start. The Knights announced that Oscar Dansk is on his way back to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, with Maxime Lagace getting the call-up to replace sickness-struck backup Malcolm Subban. Lagace has yet to see any NHL action this year after making 16 appearances in Vegas’ inaugural season. Joining him for a possible debut of his own is defenseman Jake Bischoff, who could finally suit up for the Knights following an impressive campaign as a first-year pro last season.

Poll: Which Team Is Under The Most Pressure To Make The Playoffs?

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When the NHL’s unofficial second half kicks off this week, there will be substantially fewer teams with playoff hopes than when the first half began back in October. Of course, no team has been statistically eliminated yet, but a quick look at the standings can help to rule out more than a handful of the league’s bottom-dwellers. In fact, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn had seven teams with less than a 5% chance of reaching the playoffs in his latest model: the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers.

On the other hand, there are also quite a few teams whose first-half success has given them near certainty of playing beyond the regular season this year. Luszczszyn’s projections give eleven teams an 85% chance or better of qualifying for the postseason: the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Islanders.

This leaves 13 clubs remaining – the “fringe” teams – who are vying for a possible five playoff spots. Eight of these teams will miss out. Who least wants to be part of that group?

Well, the team who has been a member of the early off-season club the longest would certainly like to change things up. The Carolina Hurricanes have gone nine seasons since making a postseason appearance and have come close the last few years but fallen short. The team could crack 90 points this season for the first time in eight years, but it might not be enough in the tight Eastern Conference wild card race. The two other teams who are desperate to get back to the playoffs are the Buffalo Sabres, who are on a seven-year drought, and the Arizona Coyotes, who are six years out from a postseason appearance. The Sabres got off to a hot start this season and looked to be a surprise playoff team, but have regressed recently, with three wins in their past then games, and are now tied with Carolina for ninth place in the East. The Coyotes have been resilient in the deep Western Conference wild card race, battling injuries and inconsistency to stay in the mix, but Arizona has their work cut out for them the rest of the way.

Then there are the teams who have made the playoffs recently but not performed. The Blue Jackets – who have never won a playoff series in franchise history – will almost certainly have another shot this year, but what about the Florida Panthers? Many have dismissed the team this season, but the Panthers have plenty of talent and have fallen short of expectations until recently. They face an uphill battle to make the postseason but if they do, the team would have a chance to snap the league’s longest streak without a playoff series win. Florida has not won a round since 1996, a whopping 21 seasons without postseason success and longer than the Blue Jackets have even existed. That’s a substantial mark on the franchise. It’s been a decade now since the Colorado Avalanche have won a postseason series as well and now that they are armed with one of the league’s best forward lines, have a chance against anyone if they can win a spot. The Avs looked like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender early this season and with some trade deadline reinforcements could be a factor this spring. However, recent struggles have plummeted them into the thick of the wild card race in the West and they are in danger of missing the playoffs entirely.

Then, there are teams that simply entered the 2018-19 campaign with high expectations and need to meet them. The defending champion Washington Capitals are of course part of this group. Among the most likely fringe teams to make the postseason, it is nevertheless hard to ignore the disastrous play of the Capitals of late. Three wins in their past ten games, including a number of blowout losses, has begun “Stanley Cup hangover” talk and has legitimately injured Washington’s playoff odds. The team needs to right the ship soon or risk falling out of the current playoff picture. A team on the opposite trajectory are the Minnesota Wild, who have improved their play of late and have pulled away in the race for the final Central Division berth. Minnesota is another team that entered the season with high expectations and are still searching for the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup final appearance. With hopes reaching new highs this season, a collapse for the Wild would be devastating.

Unlike the Capitals and Wild, there are also teams with high expectations who don’t have promising playoff outlooks right now. The Edmonton Oilers and the league’s best player, Connor McDavid, sit atop that list. Edmonton is currently in 13th in the Western Conference and in danger of dropping out of the playoff conversation sooner than any fringe team. The organization has already fired their head coach and general manager this season amid another year of disappointing results and face slim odds that this campaign will end any differently. McDavid and company maintain that the Oilers are a playoff-caliber team, but something has to change with this team down the stretch for that that hypothesis to be tested this postseason. The St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars certainly look like playoff teams on paper, but both have been mediocre at best this season. The Blues, a popular dark horse Stanley Cup pick before the season, have been disappointing in every regard and there has been talk that the team could blow it up this season. A recent improvement paired with the struggles of others in the Western Conference playoff race have revived postseason hopes, but few expected that making the playoffs would be this difficult for St. Louis this season. The same goes for Dallas, who has had highly-publicized feuds between ownership, coaches, and players alike this year as the team continues to fall short of expectations. The Stars currently hold the top spot in the wild card race, but a recent history of late season collapses casts doubt over their ability to hold on to that spot.

There are still many teams whose playoff futures this season remain in question. These franchises all have varying degrees of desperation based on history and expectations. Of the 13 “fringe” teams, which team is under the most pressure to make the playoffs?

Mobile users, click here to vote.

L.A. Kings, Chicago Blackhawks Make Minor Trade

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In a rare exchange of intangible assets, the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to swap an unsigned prospect for a draft pick. The Kings have announced that the rights to European pro forward Dominik Kubalik have been assigned to the Blackhawks in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick. Kubalik will be placed on Chicago’s reserve list indefinitely.

Kubalik, 23, was a Kings’ seventh-round pick back in 2013 from the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. However, he returned to his native Czech Republic after one more junior season and has not played in North America since. The 6’2″ two-way winger spent several years in the Czech pro leagues, but has enjoyed back-to-back strong campaigns now with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss NLA. Kubalik registered 27 points in 25 games last year, only to top that with a team-best 43 points in 36 games thus far. Kubalik was also a contributor for the Czech entries at the Winter Olympics and World Championships last year. The late-round waiver seems to be developing into a capable pro.

While it’s unclear whether Kubalik has any intentions of signing in the NHL and, if so, if his ability will translate, this seems like a worthwhile gamble for the Blackhawks. Chicago also had two fifth-round picks already, belonging to the Arizona Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning. The pick sent to the Kings belongs to the Coyotes and will thus be earlier in the round. Los Angeles clearly is not convinced that Kubalik would ever be a major piece of their team are likely happy to recoup another draft pick, as the rebuilding team had just their seven original picks prior to this deal.

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