NHL Trade Rumors: Divisional Breakdown

By Patrick Helper | Jan 28, 2015

3 of 5

Metropolitan Division

New York Islanders: The Islanders are right back on track after a sub par 2013-2014 season that went down the drain largely due to injuries. With 65 points in 47 game the Islander hold the best record in the East. If the Islanders are really going to make a run this year they will need to add one or two missing parts. It’s not scoring or goaltending that are an issue on the Island. But the addition of a few strong role players could be just what is needed to return this once great franchise back to the glory days of the 1980’s.

Like any other team looking to make a move at the deadline the Islander will need to move prospects and picks. The problem is the Islanders don’t have a first round pick in the up coming draft, and trading away their 2016 first round pick would just be dumb. Instead I’m looking for the Islanders to make mid round moves or look for an even player for player swap.

I’d look to move a player like Anders Lee. At 24 years old the young center could bring in a slightly more seasoned player; something the Islanders will need if they are going to host the Stanley Cup in 2015.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins are among the NHL’s elite but they are also among the NHL most puzzling teams. Even with Sidney Crosby on the Roster the Penguins have managed only one Cup. As far as NHL trade rumors go the Penguins will most like stay the course and hope that on again off again net-minder Marc-Andre Fleury will need to stay healthy and not go into shell shock.

There are always trade options available to teams willing to risk it all to win the Stanley Cup, but the Penguins don’t need to risk it this year. They need to just sit

More from NHL News

back and evaluate. When you have an experienced roster like Pittsburgh’s you have the freedom to just play the game.

The Penguins are sitting pretty in the playoff picture and as long as the injury big doesn’t pay them a visit I’d look for the Penguins to hang around Stanley Cup talks. (Pittsburgh have traded center Marcel Goc to the St. Louis Blues for center/right winger Max Lapierre.)

New York Rangers: High profile, low returns? Maybe, the Rangers are a confusing team to look at. They have the talent and goaltending; yet they can’t seem to gain much ground on the Islanders or Penguins. New York has 58 points and is sitting in a playoff spot, but only by one point. Any slide and the blue-shirts will fall.

This deadline the Rangers need to bring in some hungry players with drive and playoff experience. While I’d say most teams in this spot should sit back and not be too active I think the Rangers need to be bold. They need to shake it up and get a charge going in the locker room. The Rangers roster is largely divided when you look at points with only Rick Nash having over 40 points.

New York needs to find some high 20 point scorers and they need to get them as soon as they can or making the playoffs may prove difficult to do. The rangers big spending ways could slow the process, but the right trades at the right value and NY could make a little run.

Washington Capitals: There’s a lot to be happy about in Washington. Barry Trotz has the Capitals looking like a playoff team, and better yet he has found away to get more out of Alex Ovechkin. If I’m a Capitals fan im not looking at too many NHL trade rumors. Not because the Capitals don’t need help, with 57 points and hanging on to a wild card spot they could use a boost, but finding the right player to fit into this roster will not be easy.

Washington unlike many teams has balanced scoring with only six players with under ten points. With solid goaltending and the balanced attack anything can happen if the Caps get hot.

Not unlike most NHL teams it come down to the blueline. Washington is allowing 2.55 goals a game, and a stronger more disciplined back-end could be all that is needed to tun this borderline contender into a true Stanley Cup threat.

Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers are a mess, and have been for a while. The hard-hitting in your face style doesn’t win you Stanley Cups. Philadelphia has struggled to change their game, and they don’t have the talent needed to be a real threat in the NHL.

As the deadline closes in the Flyers need to sell off some parts in an attempt to bring in a faster style of play. At 22 years old Sean Couturier is an interesting trade idea. The former 8th overall pick has largely underperformed as a member of the Flyers. The team has given more of the same old stuff.

Year after year there is hope that this roster will click and the wins will start to come. But, it is becoming clear that the current makeup is not working. It’s the away record that is killing the Flyers (7-15-4). This trade deadline is a chance for Flyers brass to rework things and start gearing up for next year.

Columbus Blue Jackets: After a much-needed successful season last year the Blue Jackets were attacked by the injury bug early this season and haven’t found a way to claw back. I don’t see major changed coming to Columbus via a trade, and I don’t see any reason they should blow this thing up.

If I was in the Blue Jackets front office I’d want to take a wait and see approach to the rest of this year. Columbus only has seven player with over 40 games played, and you can’t compete that way. Going forward this season will be about individual growth.

Any trades that come to the Blue Jackets will be from teams looking to raid a struggling teams roster and I hope the Blue Jackets are smart enough to understand now is not the time for bold quick moves.

New Jersey Devils: With a -27 goal differential the Devils have been riding a High Way To Hell this year, and trade and deals wont save them. With 17 wins and 42 points the only thing the Devils have to look forward to is the NHL Draft.

If the Devils are willing to move a player I suggest they unload Jaromir Jagr. His age aside Jagr is still a 20 plus point a year player, and he should get the Devils a 2 or 3rd round pick in return. I’d day the Devils are close to turning the corner but other than Cory Schneider there is not much to be happy about right now.

New Jersey is sitting in 26th place in the league. Not bad enough to be in the race for the bottom and not good enough to matter.

Carolina Hurricanes: There are a handful of really bad teams, and Carolina is one of them. It would be wise of their front office to find a way to be active this year. Carolina is facing a few issues.

Moving Eric Staal is proving to be impossible. Staal hasn’t shown much willingness to wave his NMC, and the Hurricanes are now handcuffed. Cam Ward‘s name has been talked about in years past, and came up again about a week ago. Moving Ward seems smart considering his cap number, but who wants an aging net-minder that no longer player to his contract?

If Carolina wants to improve in years to come unloading some bigger players will be their only option. They are not a great free agent destination, and I don’t believe they will finish the season as bad as they started; taking the out of the race for the bottom conversation.