Slats432
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HFNHL Trade Deadline Primer
THE SELLERS:
Carolina Hurricanes38 GP – 8-27-3 (19 PTS)
Best lottery odds currently. Not a lot of top echelon prospects on the way outside Wyatt Johnston who projects to be a stud. Mateychuk looks projectable as a future HFNHLer.
TEAM NEEDS: Forward group is decent but underperforming. Defense and goaltending need work.
VERDICT: For sale sign should be out. Stralman on expiring contract might be out there. Jones is a quality back up at a decent price if not re-signed.
New York Rangers39 GP – 10-29-0 (20 PTS)
Worst goals against in the league by a lot. Not horrible at home but haven’t won a game on the road in the last 10. Help is coming in Slavkovsky, Clarke.
TEAM NEEDS: Lafreniere, Hughes to develop. A goalie. Forward depth.
VERDICT: Certain seller with a chance at Bedard. Should offload some assets to firm a position near the bottom. Derek Grant and Gostisbehere might get some good value back at the deadline.
Edmonton Oilers39 GP – 10-27-2 (22 PTS)
Unless someone can find Kevin Smith who is probably out making his next movie, they will be stuck in the quagmire. Rossi and Hofer are coming, Jiricek as well as a few very good goalie prospects in Gaudreau, Portillo and Wallsteadt percolating.
TEAM NEEDS: Not a lot of strength at any position. Probably needs Bedard the most.
VERDICT: They have a few depth dmen and Josh Leivo to move. Should load up on picks and continue the rebuild.
Pittsburgh Penguins37 GP – 12-23-2 (26 PTS)
The team most vocal about the tank. Has had vets on the block for some time now. Flush with young up and comers on the way at every position, Harley, Chytil, Forester, Soderstrom, Podkolkin, Frost, Knight, Mintyukov, Morrow.
TEAM NEEDS:
Forwards need depth through development. Might be some time before prospects become viable players especially top pair dman. Goaltending will be a strength for a long time with Knight, Skinner, Husso.
VERDICT:
All pieces are in play. Forsling, Barrie, Van Riemsdyk, and any player over 28 should keep their bags packed. The only question will be whether their captain makes it through the rebuild. Already moved Marc Staal and JT Compher but more moves will come.
Nashville Predators38 GP – 14-22-2 (30 PTS)
Has lottery pick and Blue Jackets pick. Prospects coming in Knies, Rosen, Pinelli, McGroarty, and other promising prospects are in the cupboard.
TEAM NEEDS: Top end skill at forward. 17.3% chance at pick one or two would push them forward in that regard. Blueline has strength, hoping Gibson bounces back but likely to be long gone by the time the forward group is revamped. Prospects are not slam dunks at the goalie position.
VERDICT:
Probably overperforming over expectations a bit considering that Heiskanen leads the team in scoring with 25 points. Dumba, Andreas Johnsson Balcers, Drouin, Wenneberg, Bjugstad, Kerfoot could all likely be had for differing price points. Moved Oshie earlier in the season and Jake Evans recently. Open for business.
Arizona Coyotes36 GP – 13-19-4 (30 PTS)
Largest goalie rotation in any minor league system worldwide. Some good prospects in McMichael, Evans, Yurov, Goyette, Edvinsson. Does not own Coyotes 1st but has Capitals 1st so draft position not as important.
TEAM NEEDS:
Still lots to like in the desert. Zibanejad, Zacha, SIgenthaler, Hart, Newhook, Raymond, Chychrun. Good vets in Henrique, Rakell, Bailey. Hart needs to grab reigns as a very good starter for it to work.
VERDICT: Expect only cursory pieces to move instead of big moves. Trade block has minor pieces like Dekeyser, Nutivaara, Juolevi and longer shot prospects. Patience and development look like the mantra here.
Boston Bruins37 GP – 14-18-5 (33 PTS)
Not a lot coming outside Kulich and Pelletier. Some of the longer shots will have to hit for the spoked B or a long and painful rebuild is in the offing.
TEAM NEEDS:
They could use a bit of everything but counting on Toews and Ovechkin to carry the mail at this point is a big ask. No number one goalie and not one on the horizon.
VERDICT:
I would probably burn it to the ground and move on from the vets and rebuild. This team with a few moves might get a better lottery position and start building around the stud they get with their first.
Buffalo Sabres38 GP – 15-19-4 (34 PTS)
They have some nice pieces in Nazar, Stankoven and Behrens coming. With a 12.4 per cent chance at the top two picks, they will no matter what end up top 10. Should help the process.
TEAM NEEDS:
They have some nice top end pieces but there is a lack of depth on forward and on defense. No goalie to speak of unless Grubauer turns it around, and at $7M for two more years after this one, the Sabres sure hope so.
VERDICT:
Not a lot of currency to move out, with no pending UFAs with good value sitting around. Unless someone wants to take a flier on Dumolin or Bozak it might be quiet for the gold and blue.
Minnesota Wild37 GP 15-17-5 (35 PTS)
Zary, Quinn, Mitchell on the cusp, Vejmelka looks promising. Kasper, McTavish, Korchinski, Mysak, also coming. A few other youngsters look better than middling so a decent prospect pool coming.
TEAM NEEDS:
Goaltending is good. Defense with Dobson, Hanifin, Montour and Borgen looks good. High end forwards are what the Wild need to compete. The prospects will either have to fit the bill or be moved for a quicker turn around.
VERDICT:
Nino is on the block, but if some assets could be gleaned from Wheeler or Skinner or Benn the move might get quicker. Not only that, if they do move $21 million plus comes off the books to add other, more productive pieces. Got out from underneath the Karlsson contract, so it can be done. (EDIT. HANIFIN TRADED LATE YESTERDAY. Fabbro, Cisikas and a 1st rounder (I think...but like a teenager's relationship...it's complicated). Not sure if Fabbro will ever be Hanifin but time will tell.)
Ottawa Senators39 GP 16-18-5 (37 PTS)
They just picked up Alexander Holtz and Brock Faber to go with Lucius, Commesso, Bystedt, Trizikov, Grans, Neighbours, L’Heureux and of course first overall pick Shane Wright.
TEAM NEEDS:
It looks like by moving out Killorn, Hertl, Meier, the direction is being set. Team could use depth at all positions and youth looks like what is going to fill them.
VERDICT:
Expect them to try to move out more vet pieces. The problem is that they have a lot of decent middling players that might not let them continue to fall much more in the standings. A 7.3% chance at a top 2 pick but over 80% at a top 10 pick will get the rebuild going.
Seattle Kraken36 GP --18-17-1 (37 PTS)
Matty Berniers is a stud. Firkus, Dumais, Schaefer, Nemec, and Svozil are all highly touted and having good to great years. Expansion team is doing well so far and on a good trajectory.
TEAM NEEDS:
They are decent at all positions, but they need more high end talent to compete. They can throw 3-4 solid lines at you and defend well enough, but might not be good enough to make the playoffs. Could use a bonafide number one goalie.
VERDICT:
Probably not going to find anyone to take Nyqvist’s contract, but maybe a playoff warrior like Oshie could garner some value. Could end up with space in Free Agency and continue a climb in the standings.
THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
Dallas Stars40 GP – 20-16-4 (44 PTS)
No picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft. Askarov the only notable prospect. Turcotte, Hoglander still young and hoping to turn out.
TEAM NEEDS:
The defense is solid, Demko is a great tender. And they have depth at forward. Team looks like it should be pushing for the playoffs and it is, right in the mix. They might want to do their lines because I don’t think Unknown player is going to score that much for them. I would say though that one more top 6 forward might be needed.
VERDICT:
No 1st in 2023 means buy and make a push. Maybe not sell the farm but one or two very calculated moves might mean a solid playoff run.
Calgary Flames39 GP 19-15-5 (43 PTS)
Two first in the draft. Some not well known but interesting prospects in Hinds and Koivunen. Tarasov is one of the more underrated goalie prospects,
TEAM NEEDS:
Their bottom 6 is getting beat up and could use a 5-6 dman. If a few minor tweaks could be made then this is a playoff team.
VERDICT:
GM has said he wants to shuffle the deck chairs offering up Ekholm, Savard, Bobrovsky, and Backlund among others. Maybe he said that under the influence of too much wine but who are we to judge.
Winnipeg Jets38 GP – 20-16-2 (42 PTS)
Lots of picks in 2023. Perunovich and Akira Schmid are the two youngsters on the way. Will have to restock the cupboard upcoming.
TEAM NEEDS:
This is a real nice team. Their bottom six is absolutely getting caved in and their defense is bleeding goals for some unknown reason. Ben Hutton is the only dman having a very good year. The top 6 forwards are a force and should keep them in the fight for the playoffs.
VERDICT:
To me this is a shuffle of the cards. Swap a dman for a different dman and make a few moves in the bottom six. Would be shocked to see this team on the outside looking in.
Chicago Blackhawks37 GP -- 20-16-1 (41 PTS)
Lekkermaki, Corronato, and Bobby Brink coming, but not much else. Currently picking 15th overall almost certainly (Almost 98% odds) means what you see is what you get.
TEAM NEEDS:
Might just have to wait until next year and the goaltending might develop to be a more solid group. Right now they are running a four headed goalie monster with Samsonov with the bulk of games and mediocre stats. The strength of the team is their forward depth and solid if unspectacular blueline.
VERDICT:
Do you add a starter if you expect the goaltending to develop and be better next year? That would be a tough question. If they did, a playoff push could happen. If not, probably fighting for a spot to get in. Will be interesting to find out.
Anaheim Ducks39 GP – 20-15-4 (44 PTS)
A rolling stone gathers no moss. Qualify that this post is accurate only at the time of writing and no expectations of it being accurate by the time of publication. Only Colorado’s late 1st and Michael Benning to speak of in the pipeline.
TEAM NEEDS:
Jack Campbell to play well. Aged stars to keep performing. Maybe a fountain of youth. Blueline has Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty and Brent Burns on it. Although still capable this is not 2016.
VERDICT:
Who the heck knows. It’s Roy for crying out loud. Maybe improve the bottom 6 a bit. Maybe a 4-5-6 dman. Chances are deals will be made.
Philadelphia Flyers38 GP -- 20-15-3 (43 PTS)
The prospects are graduated. Young players on the cusp are Heinola, Wahlstrom, Chinakov. Entire team of young star players under the age of 28. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
TEAM NEEDS:
Might be a stretch but maybe some veterans? Historically teams with a strong core and some vet players go far. Talent? Yep. Skill? Yep. Goaltending? Yep.
VERDICT:
The team deserves some vet bolstering with some experience and leadership. You can build a team of young stars, but need some grizzled warriors to throw in the mix.
Detroit Red Wings37 GP – 20-15-2 (42 PTS)
Wings have really turned it around in the last couple seasons. With Cooley, Ostlund on the way, Perfetti and Protas on the cusp there is also help on the way.
TEAM NEEDS:
Goaltending is shored up. Forwards and defense are solid but could use improvement on the lower end of both. A lot of UFAs here so there will be work to be done in the offseason.
VERDICT:
Could go either way. Right on the playoff line but reconstruction could be in the offing. Is there enough for a playoff run or is it time to gather assets and continue to retool?
Vegas Golden Knights40 GP 20-15-4 (44 PTS)
Lots of young players on the cusp in Kochetkov, Wolf, Drury, Macelli, Perbix. Three firsts in the draft including a lottery pick from Dallas (Only 12th best lotto odds so currently no chance at Bedard). Also has Power, Savoie, Lucius, Svechkov, Martino as prospects. Verrry Niiiice.
TEAM NEEDS:
You could say looking at the team on paper that it is overperforming. A top line running out with William Karlsson, James Van Riemsdyk and Cole Caufield isn’t going to strike terror into most teams. Varlamov is playing out of his mind.
VERDICT:
Team is probably playing better than it should. Expect a few vets to jettison at the deadline.
Columbus Blue Jackets38 GP – 20-14-4 (44 PTS)
No picks in top three rounds of the draft. Some great prospects still on the list. Bourgeault, Cuylle, Marchenko, Schneider. Dostal coming in net, Kaako and Kaliyev just coming into their own.
TEAM NEEDS:
Could have best top pair in the league. Has one of the best goalies in Kuemper. Has good depth and veteran players. Looks like a sneaky good team that the division leaders wouldn’t want to play.
VERDICT:
Added Hertl so heavy lifting done. Could continue to massage the cursory of the roster but this looks like a playoff team that could be a tough out.
Washington Capitals40 GP – 20-13-7 (47 PTS)
No picks in the top three rounds of the draft. Prospect list has tons of Russians so questions on how long they will impact. Issac Howard probably a couple years away. Matthew Phillips might be ready to pop soon.
TEAM NEEDS:
Vezina guy? Check. Hart candidate at number one C? Check. Strong top four defense? Check. There are a lot of boxes but their bottom end players are not performing like a contender needs them to. They need to check in defensively.
VERDICT:
Top line is outscoring some problems and will have to continue. Just like most midrange teams, the long term outlook depends on how the holes are filled.
New York Islanders39 GP – 21-14-4 (46 PTS)
Six picks in the top two rounds of the 2023 draft. Eklund, Hutson, Kent Johnson, Guhle, Lysell all coming. Some surprises will also come from a strong drafting team as well with sleepers like Staios, Spence and Grudinin.
TEAM NEEDS:
The bottom six and the bottom half of the blueline will need to be addressed either with trades or patience. The goaltending is a huge question mark.
VERDICT:
Stay the course. If a deal shows up that they like, make it, but this is not the time to press. Patience and extracting value when it shows up. Drafting and development is the earmark of this team and it shows.
Colorado Avalanche37 GP – 21-14-2 (44 PTS)
Two firsts in 2023 including Coyotes lottery pick. Lots of prospects but no star power. Grieg and Mesar will give some depth.
TEAM NEEDS:
Some of their best players are getting long in the tooth but still strong enough to forge into the playoffs. Will eventually need to address goaltending with Andersen and Quick getting on in age. Blueline is strong and has depth.
VERDICT:
Might have to try to go on one more run with Sid the kid, Patches and Perry. It is possible that if someone put a “too good to resist” deal in front of them to acquire a veteran, you might accelerate a retool, but as of now…we wait and see.
Montreal Canadiens38 GP – 23-15-0 (46 PTS)
Still have first two picks in 2023. Robertsson, Kemmel, Thurn, Ceulemans still on the prospect list. No certain goalie of the future with question marks in Stauber, Malik, Dobes.
TEAM NEEDS:
Too many players are not defensively responsible. Players like Durzi, Necas, Olofsson and Dubois are minus players. Like other teams lots of depth at all positions but not enough playoff experience. Could use a well placed veteran.
VERDICT:
Adding Meier, Maroon, Killorn, Durzi and Lowry this season, the Habs have spent a ton of capital. They have no cap space and the cupboard is pretty bare. What you see is what you get unless a cap neutral deal shows up to help a cup run.
THE CONTENDERS
Tampa Bay Lightning38 GP -- 23-13-2 (48 PTS)
Shane Pinto and Philip Broberg look like they could be players. World Junior star Dylan Guenther, Owen Beck and the underrated Ty Voit are in the hopper percolating but should arrive sooner rather than later.
TEAM NEEDS:
When you have the best goalie in the league, and one of the strongest bluelines in the league, you have to help them, and the 2nd line and depth forwards need to help more. Glass and Galchenyuk are having very poor seasons thus far.
VERDICT:
Improve second line and the fourth line. Everything else is in place to do some damage in the playoffs. Either that or hope Huberdeau and Eichel go supernova on the East.
Los Angeles Kings41 GP – 26-14-1 (53 PTS)
Still have their first in the upcoming draft. Othmann, Ohgren, Gunler, fine looking prospects with Xhekaj, Cates, York all taking steps to being regulars.
TEAM NEEDS:
Not a lot. Could they get a better 6th defenseman? Sure. How about an improvement on the fourth line? I guess.
VERDICT.
Kings should keep their powder dry and only strike if the deal suits their fancy. They have a lot of horses. Good ones and certainly have their eye on the prize.
Toronto Maple Leafs38 GP – 23-11-4 (50 PTS)
They don’t have a pick in 2023. Seriously, not one. Scouts are in the Cayman Islands for the year. They have no prospects to speak of. The player development department is also in the Cayman Islands.
TEAM NEEDS:
They have McDavid, Panarin, Krieder, Gaudreau, Carlson. They are going to score some goals. The problem is that they don’t necessarily like to play defense. That is ok if you have Shestyerkin in net, but Panarin, Krieder and Carlson are all minus players. Their second line power play consists of Luostarinen, Trenin and Jones.
VERDICT:
Their top end at all positions is spectacular. The forward depth could be massaged but not sure what they are going to use to get it.
St. Louis Blues38 GP – 24-10-4 (52PTS)
Still own top two round picks in 2023. Sameskovich, Sanderson, Snuggerud, Soderblom, super solid. Byfield is evolving and could take another step soon.
TEAM NEEDS:
Not a fan of their goaltending but this is a team that preaches team defense. Not sure if they have the top end talent to go on a deep run. They will likely go as far as their deep blueline takes them.
VERDICT:
Scotty….we need more power. Team should go out and get a bonafide scorer or two. This team reminds me of teams when they just don’t have the high end skill to get a big goal when needed. If the playoffs have a ton of 2-1 games, this team will go far. If there is some run and gun…these guys might be left feeling……blue. (sorry, not sorry)
Vancouver Canucks37 GP – 25-8-4 (54 PTS)
Still have their 2023 first rounder. Some decent prospects in Niemela and Bischel. A few unheralded guys that look promising in Greene, Slaggert, Buium. Tons of young guys coming in Holloway, Desharnais, Timmins, Tomasino.
TEAM NEEDS:
Psst. It’s not the blueline. With huge raises being afforded to Norris, Thomas, Miller, Peeke as well as potentially Jarry, and only Vrana coming off the books, the Canucks should not take their success lightly. The fourth line should be improved and these guys actually have the cap space to do it.
VERDICT:
The Canucks have the team, the assets and the cap space to make moves. Nothing is really holding them back from making a strong push this year. Let’s get busy.
Florida Panthers39 GP – 26-8-5 (57 PTS)
No picks in the top two rounds this year for Florida has to be painful. The top end prospects of Cutter Gauthier, Olen Zelleweger, and I am sure there are a host of others that seem to just turn out for Florida. Peterka, Robertson and Reichel are again solid developed players.
TEAM NEEDS:
Fourth line of Blueger, Zegras Bunting. Tons of salary dropping off next season so the entire core should be around together for a while. Defense has Makar and Seider. Saros is solid in net. Maybe a veteran 3D to help the kids?
VERDICT:
They are a buyer for a UFA dman. Other than that, if you can figure out a way to improve the line up. Good luck.
New Jersey Devils38 GP – 25-7-6 (56 PTS)
They have only their first but it has conditions on it. No other picks in 2023. Prospect group is thin, super thin. Annunen is a promising goalie, Ty Dellandrea is coming. Other than that, not much.
TEAM NEEDS:
They seem to be punching above their weight class but the results don’t lie. The key is that their entire roster is defensively responsible. They have some high calibre scorers in Kaprizov, Nelson and Hintz. The question is, will the goaltending hold when it counts. Forsberg-Reimer doesn’t strike fear but Forsberg is playing well and Reimer hasn’t lost a game this season.
VERDICT:
They added Hanifin yesterday. Jeannot earlier in the month. Anders Lee in December and moved out scorer Matt Boldy for more two way Anton Lundell. Not sure what else they will do, but sure it will be something interesting. But be careful, you are messing with a team that has won 8 in a row.
San Jose Sharks39 GP – 29-10-0 (58 PTS)
Only one pick available in the top 4 rounds in the next two drafts. Only 4 prospects remain from the last two drafts. Lambos is the only recognizable name. Carter Savoie is a decent college scorer now in the AHL but the Sharks are pretty much void of young pieces.
TEAM NEEDS:
Again the team is loaded up with veterans and defensively responsible pieces, but it is actually outscoring that is helping. They only rank 11th in goals against. Again the goaltending doesn’t look like much but Chris Dreidger has one loss this season in 25 starts with a .928 save percentage. Maybe another offensive guy since the PP is 13th in the league? What about a PK specialist? PK is 21st in the league.
VERDICT:
They added Logan Couture. That might be it for them, but if you are rolling, you might just want to let it roll. First in the league, and enough veteran leadership to win a lot of games. I think any changes the Sharks do will more than likely be coaching and line up driven. If it ain’t broke.
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