10 Teams to Watch Ahead of The NHL Trade Deadline
There are ten teams to keep an eye on during the coming weeks. These 10 teams could be buyers or sellers in March.
The second half of the 2021-22 NHL season is here for a few teams but this is the time where general managers earn their paychecks. The calendar turns over to January, which means teams start thinking about the trade deadline on March 21.
As we all know there could be many moves, or a few small depth moves, as teams look to improve for the playoffs.
Below are 10 NHL teams believed to be active at the trade deadline and ones to watch carefully to see if they are buyers or sellers.
The Edmonton Oilers are Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and not much else. The thought process going into the deadline is that the Oilers need to be active and pick up a goaltender first, then add some secondary scoring.
The Detroit Red Wings could be sellers or buyers as they remain competitive this season. Nick Leddy and Vlad Namestnikov are the front runners to be traded, while the Red Wings would be looking to add pieces on defense if they choose the buyer route.
The Los Angeles Kings could be in the same position as Detroit. Andreas Athanasiou and Gabe Vilardi could find new homes but if the Kings are buying they could be in the search for a left-shooting defenseman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are blessed with an offensive team that can score in bunches. In order to move on in the playoffs, they need to search for an upgrade on defense to help out goaltending standout Jack Campbell.
The New York Rangers are one of the top teams in the league and are a good all-around team. That being said they could be on the lookout for a bottom 6 forward or a tough defenseman.
The Pittsburgh Penguins could use some help if they choose to be buyers. With the top 6 forwards being pretty much set their focus could be on a bottom 6 forward and an offensive defenseman.
The Calgary Flames could very well be sellers at the deadline. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are a couple of names who could fetch a very nice return if moved and set the team up for the future.
The St. Louis Blues are on the verge of a playoff berth but could use some help in getting there. The middle 6 forward lines could use an upgrade if they are going to make a run.
The Boston Bruins could be active as well this year as they could use some scoring help. Expect them to go after a scoring forward, most namely San Jose Shark forward Tomas Hertl, which could help fill that void.
The Nashville Predators are sitting nicely in a playoff berth right now and might need to add just a piece or two for a lengthy playoff run. A depth forward or offensive defenseman could be had at the right price if they chose to go that route.
What teams would you put in here? Do you disagree or agree with the teams and their needs?