Dan Riccio and Bik Nizzar ask the question: "What does Elias Pettersson want?". The guys try to understand why Petey says he doesn't want to discuss his future during the season and what the Canucks should do to protect themselves. Don Taylor joins the show to reflect on the rollercoaster weekend Canucks fans had which saw their team beat the Bruins, the Green Men return home and their star player say he won't talk contract extensions mid-season. Then, the guys are joined by Adam Forsythe, one-half of The Green Men to learn about how the Green Men got back into Rogers Arena.
This podcast was produced by Victor Gouchee.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Rink Wide: Vancouver host Jeff Paterson sits in for Blake Price and unpacks a busy weekend for the Canucks. Topics include: the comeback win over Boston, the play of J.T. Miller and who is team MVP?; the return of the Green Men & the energy at Rogers Arena; teams calling about Elias Pettersson & why he isn't willing to re-sign ATM; stacking the three centres and giving them their own lines; the play of Arshdeep Bains on multiple lines and with no practices; Vancouver's interest in Wild winger Brandon Duhaime; and a potential makeover for that 4th line.
Green Man Force joins to talk about the triumphant return to Rogers Arena Saturday! It's been eight years since we've seen the Green Men. Force tells us what brought them back, how they pulled off the big surprise, and whether they'll come back for the playoffs. He talks about the different bits they pulled off, the reaction from fans, players and the wider social media world.
Irf Gaffar talks about the Canucks still being involved on Chris Tanev after speaking a source close to the former Canucks defenceman, what it would take to acquire Jake Guentzel, the latest on Phil Kessel, the ongoing saga of Ilya Mikheyev and his agent talking to the Canucks, plus teams calling on Pettersson. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.
Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.
We split our best bets on Friday night: The Sabres took care of business in Columbus, but the Oilers couldn't convert a 23-shot edge into a victory against the Wild.
Let's dive into Monday's plays as we look to start the week off with a mini-sweep.
The Senators continue to quietly fire on all cylinders. They've won seven of their past 10 games and posted a 3-0-1 record over a tough four-game stretch in which they faced the Lightning, Panthers, Stars, and Golden Knights.
The Sens looks like a completely different team of late. Shane Pinto's return has made them deep offensively, and they seem to be buying into what Jacques Martin is selling defensively. They're playing impressive five-on-five hockey and showing great discipline. No team has spent less time shorthanded over the past 10 games.
That ability to stay out of the box is important heading into a clash with a suddenly hot Alex Ovechkin, who's feasted on the power play throughout his career.
While the playoffs remain a massive long shot, Ottawa's strung together enough positive results that the postseason is at least in the realm of possibility. That should keep the players motivated, especially against a team in the wild-card mix.
With a big advantage in the middle of the ice and a lot more team speed, the Senators should be able to do some damage at even strength.
If they can continue to stay out of the box and draw a penalty or two more than they take, it'll be very difficult for the Capitals to get a result.
Targeting an under is always scary when Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Oilers are in the mix - but it's a plunge I'm going to take on Monday night.
The Kings and Oilers are as good as it gets at limiting shots at even strength. Over the past 10 games, they rank second and third in that category, respectively.
The clubs have played a lot of low-event games against each other of late. Their last four regular-season matchups featured an average of 3.75 goals.
We probably shouldn't expect this game to be much different, even though the Oilers conceded an abnormal 16 goals in their three-game skid.
Stuart Skinner has sprung a leak after playing over his head for months, so tightening the screws defensively and helping the goaltender will no doubt be a point of emphasis in Edmonton.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, never needs to be incentivized to play low-event hockey. The Kings' top priority on any given night is slowing down the opponent as opposed to generating offense themselves. That will hold true against McDavid.
L.A. can also feel pretty comfortable - relatively speaking - that it'll get saves when needed. David Rittich has saved 11.75 goals above expectation since the calendar flipped - the fifth-highest rate in the league.
I'm expecting a 3-2 or 4-2 game here, tucking us in under a hefty 6.5-goal total.
Bet: Under 6.5 (-105)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.
The trade deadline is almost upon us, meaning it's time we take stock of this year's Stanley Cup hopefuls.
All these squads are fearsome as is, but there's always room for improvement. In this exercise, we took a dive into the needs of each contender and identified one dream player who would boost their chances of winning it all - within reason.
First, a caveat. We left off the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets, who are Cup contenders, but they've already made major moves by acquiring Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, respectively. Of course, that doesn't mean that either squad is done adding, but we've opted to focus on the teams that have been quiet so far.
Too quiet.
Boston Bruins 🤝 Noah Hanifin
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
58
11
33
23:45
Projected deadline cap space: $57.5K
You might be looking at the Bruins' limited cap space, relatively bare prospect cupboard, and lack of draft picks (they don't pick until the fourth round of this summer's draft) and assume this is a pipe dream. Bear with us.
First, the fit. A pending UFA, Hanifin is a Boston native who grew up a Bruins fan. If GM Don Sweeney acquires him now, the Bruins will have a better chance of inking him to an extension than if they wait for the summer. Hanifin is also a left-handed shot, which Boston needs; both Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort can become free agents in a few months. Also, an injury to Hampus Lindholm has made a blue-line upgrade a more pressing need.
The problem here is cost. Hanifin carries a $4.95-million cap hit, which is too rich for Boston's blood as it currently stands. It doesn't sound like Lindholm's ailment will require a shift to long-term injured reserve, meaning the Bruins don't suddenly have an extra $6.5 million to work with. Boston has its first-round selection in the next three drafts after this one, but the Bruins haven't picked in the opening round since 2021. With limited resources at their disposal, the Bruins would have to move on from a roster player to get this done. Would Jake Debrusk - a streaky top-six winger who's struggled at times - move the needle? Trading DeBrusk would also clear $4 million off the books, but Boston is already thin on the wings as is.
Acquiring Hanifin would handcuff the Bruins' ability to improve in other areas, but the idea of him enhancing a corps that already includes Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and a hopefully healthy Lindholm may be too good to pass up. If it doesn't work out, depth options like Ilya Lyubushkin or Nick Seeler could serve Boston just fine.
Carolina Hurricanes 🤝 Pavel Buchnevich
Ben Ludeman / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
55
22
46
19:50
Projected deadline cap space: $6.679M
OK, the Hurricanes' situation in net is a bit of a mess, but listen: Four different goalies have made at least one start for them this season. Would trading for another guy with a middling save percentage provide any relief? Based on the realistic options available, probably not. So, what else could Carolina use?
Well, the Hurricanes have scored around 15 fewer goals than expected at five-on-five this season, a trend that would be aided by someone like Buchnevich. In addition, every game of last spring's Eastern Conference Final was decided by just one goal, and Carolina was on the losing side of all four of them. That still has to sting.
This one's a pretty big swing, but there's still some wiggle room in the Eastern Conference. Carolina may go all-in, given the number of pending UFAs on its books, four of which are forwards, with Teuvo Teravainen headlining that group. The good news for the Canes is that Buchnevich has one more year remaining on his contract after this one, which would lessen the blow if they can't keep Teravainen.
Unlike most other contending teams in need of an impact forward, Carolina currently has the cap space to accommodate Buchnevich's $5.8-million price tag. There are two issues here, though. Firstly, the St. Louis Blues are in the playoff race and may be hard-pressed to part with Buchnevich, and secondly, it'd take a lotto get him, which isn't typically GM Don Waddell's midseason style. Carolina hasn't parted ways with a first-rounder at the deadline since 2020 when it scooped up Brady Skjei, who had four years remaining on his deal at the time. In the likely scenario this doesn't pan out, the Hurricanes could turn their attention to some less flashy options like Anthony Duclair, a center like Alex Wennberg, or a depth defenseman.
Colorado Avalanche 🤝 Marc-Andre Fleury
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
SV%
GAA
SO
28 (12-10-3)
.899
2.92
1
Projected deadline cap space: $1.242M
The Avalanche are overreliant on Alexandar Georgiev, and GM Chris MacFarland knows it. He leads the league in games played (48) while rankingsecond in shots faced (1,342). What's more, Georgiev has started 11 of the Avs' last 14 games since MacFarland said he wanted his No. 1 to play less. Whoops.
Colorado clearly doesn't trust youngsters Ivan Prosvetov or Justus Annunen enough to give them any significant amount of playing time, so MacFarland's only way to improve the situation is to explore the trade market for a capable netminder. Luckily for him, the perfect match might just be out there.
Enter Fleury. Wild GM Bill Guerin previously made it clear that he wasn't eager to gauge the trade market for the beloved goalie, and to Fleury's credit, he said he doesn't want to abandon Minnesota in the throes of a playoff race. However, we're a little over a week out from the trade deadline, and the Wild are looking at a 24.6% chanceto make the postseason, meaning Fleury's 17-year playoff streak is in jeopardy.
Fleury has control over the situation thanks to his no-move clause, and he said in May that he has no interest in moving again, but this might be his last NHL season, so why not go Cup-chasing one more time? Georgiev would still be the Avalanche's starter, but there'd be a decent role for Fleury in Colorado. If the affable veteran is fully dedicated to staying in the fight with the Wild, there are other options available for the Avalanche, like Jake Allen (although salary retention would likely be required), James Reimer, or Kaapo Kahkonen.
Dallas Stars 🤝 Sean Walker
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
59
5
21
19:29
Projected deadline cap space: $1.52M
Only three of the nine defensemen to play a game for the Stars this campaign are right-handed shots: Jani Hakanpaa, Nils Lundkvist, and Alexander Petrovic. Two of those options (Hakanpaa and Lundkvist) are currently injured, while the other (Petrovic) made his season debut in mid-February. Dallas' best option on the right is Miro Heiskanen, and it isn't even his strong side. When Peter DeBoer puts his best two rearguards together in Thomas Harley and Heiskanen, the blue line thins out even more.
It's not ideal, especially for a team that has stiff competition to be the last squad standing in the Western Conference. Acquiring Walker - a right-handed shot - would provide immediate aid.
Firstly, his presence in the top four would cut into the 31-year-old Hakanpaa's average ice time (18:59). Hakanpaa has spent the bulk of the season with Esa Lindell on his left, but the Stars fail to convincingly dictate play with the duo on the ice. Despite Hakanpaa and Lindell's struggles together, they comprise Dallas' most-utilized pair this season. In addition, even when Lundkvist was healthy, the Stars occasionally scratched him.
Walker would also come cheaper than someone like Chris Tanev, thanks to his $2.65-million cap hit. However, the Flyers are still very much in the playoff picture and may not want to part ways with the pending UFA, who's been a difference-maker in Philadelphia. Another option could be Lyubushkin of the Anaheim Ducks, whose cap hit is a teensy bit higher than Walker's, but it wouldn't cost as much to acquire him.
Edmonton Oilers 🤝 Chris Tanev
Terence Leung / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
55
1
12
19:49
Projected deadline cap space: $2.373M
What is it people say, defense wins championships?
Virtually every contender (and inexplicably the Ottawa Senators?) is interested in acquiring Tanev, and for good reason. The veteran is a capable shutdown blue-liner who has a near-sadistic love for blocking shots. He's also responsible with the puck and has a knack for making breakout passes.
The Oilers sure could use someone like that to fortify their second pair behind Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. A right-handed shot, Tanev would be a slam-dunk upgrade over Cody Ceci next to Darnell Nurse. If we were Ken Holland, we'd pull the trigger, but it's never that easy.
Firstly, the Calgary Flames may not want to send Tanev to their provincial rivals (he also has a 10-team no-trade list), but GM Craig Conroy has already made two trades with the Vancouver Canucks this season, so maybe he isn't picky about his dance partner as long as he gets the best deal. Next, Conroy is reportedly seeking a second-rounder and a prospect for the pending UFA, which Edmonton could swing, but the Oilers are going to have to ship out money to accommodate Tanev's $4.5-million cap hit. If Edmonton wants to dump Ceci's contract ($3.25 million for one more season) in the process or get the Flames to retain salary, then Holland would have to sweeten the deal.
The market for Tanev is going to be competitive, so Holland could pivot to Walker or Alexandre Carrier. Their smaller price tags could give the Oilers more room to set their sights on a middle-six forward (Jordan Eberle, anyone?) or a backup goalie.
Florida Panthers 🤝 Anthony Duclair
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
51
11
19
15:55
Projected deadline cap space: $5.72M
The Panthers could really use a winger to add some scoring touch to their third line, so why not stage a reunion?
Yes, this one may be a bit far-fetched, seeing as GM Bill Zito is a mere eight months removed from trading Duclair to the San Jose Sharks to clear up cap space, but he's the exact type of player the Panthers are missing. Florida could use an upgrade on the trio of Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Nick Cousins, who've combined for 21 goals and 47 points. Now, to be fair, Duclair hasn't been tearing up the scoresheet, either, but he's only had the abysmal Sharks to work with.
Duclair enjoyed his best offensive season in 2021-22 with the Panthers, putting up 31 goals and 58 points. He was mostly out of action last campaign thanks to an Achilles injury, but he chipped in with 11 points in 20 games during Florida's surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final. His $3-million cap hit is manageable under the Panthers' current projections, and his acquisition cost will be modest, but there may be an even cheaper option out there.
Meet Arthur Kaliyev, a 22-year-old pending RFA with a cap hit of just under $900,000. He's sat as a fairly regular healthy scratch with the Los Angeles Kings this season, but there's potential there. The 2019 second-round pick scored 14 goals in 2021-22 and 13 last season. With his value tanking while he observes games from the press box, Kaliyev could be a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for the Panthers.
New York Rangers 🤝 Adam Henrique
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
57
16
38
17:35
Projected deadline cap space: $4.383M
Those lucky Ducks. With Lindholm and Monahan off the board, Henrique has suddenly become the best center available at the deadline.
The Rangers could also use a top-six right winger to replace Blake Wheeler (and they needed an upgrade even before he got hurt), but a center is arguably a more pressing need because of the loss of Filip Chytil. Henrique checks a lot of boxes. A solid two-way player, he's on pace for a career year offensively while winning 53.1% of his faceoffs, which is what New York would want in its third-line center behind Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad.
Henrique is already 34 years old and wouldn't add much in the way of speed, but he might be the best option out there for the Rangers. He'd provide more pop than, say, Tyler Johnson, Nic Dowd, or Scott Laughton, and New York could get a deal done without having to sacrifice top prospects like Brennan Othmann and Gabriel Perreault or current lineup regular Will Cuylle. Lindholm and Monahan each fetched a first-round pick in their respective deals, and Henrique likely would as well, especially since the Rangers would need the Ducks to retain some of his $5.825-million salary. A first-rounder might be a bit steep for a pending UFA on the wrong side of 30, but it's an avenue GM Chris Drury should be serious about. Henrique does have some control over the situation thanks to his 10-team no-trade list.
If the Rangers are fine with riding the recently extended Jonny Brodzinski as their third-line center, they could always go the right-winger route. Maybe they reunite with an old friend, like Frank Vatrano or Vladimir Tarasenko.
Vegas Golden Knights 🤝 Jason Zucker or...
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
47
8
23
14:06
Projected deadline cap space: $6.864M
What the Golden Knights need most of all is to get healthy and stay that way: Jack Eichel and Mark Stone are both out, Shea Theodore is finally back after missing 35 games, and Adin Hill was on and off the shelf earlier this season. Despite that, they're still one of the top squads in the Pacific. If we were to nitpick (assuming they'll be at 100% come playoff time, as no one has been ruled out for the spring), the reigning Stanley Cup champions could really use a middle-six winger. How about one that grew up in Las Vegas?
Zucker proved he's still got plenty of good hockey left in the tank last season when he put up 27 goals - all but two of which came at even strength - and 48 points in 78 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was rewarded with a one-year, $5.3-million deal with the Arizona Coyotes in the summer. With the Coyotes falling out of the playoff race, GM Bill Armstrong could flip Zucker at the deadline for a decent return. Arizona would absolutely have to retain some of his cap hit, which was an overpay when Zucker originally signed it, but even then, the Golden Knights wouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to acquire him. The 32-year-old can play both wings, to boot.
One thing to keep an eye on is if Stone and his $9.5-million cap hit get moved to LTIR, which would give GM Kelly McCrimmon more wiggle room to do something dramatic. In that case, a splashier name like Jake Guentzel could be a realistic option. Eichel is already on LTIR, but McCrimmon recently said he's "not far off" from returning, and the Knights would undoubtedly want him back in their ranks as they push for home-ice advantage in the playoffs.
A pending UFA with a $6-million cap hit, Guentzel has hit the 20-goal mark in each of the last seven seasons and is primed to be a point-per-game player for the fourth time in the last five campaigns. Sounds like someone Vegas could use.
Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to resume practicing with the Colorado Avalanche and has entered the follow-up care phase of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, the league and the union jointly announced Monday.
The forward has yet to be cleared to play in a game.
Nichushkin entered the program in mid-January. He's been away from the club while receiving care.
The Russian winger, who'll turn 29 on March 4, has 22 goals and 20 assists in 40 games this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine and Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov also entered the program in 2023-24.
Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.
We have a small four-game slate in front of us to begin the week. Let's look at a few props that stand out as we hope to start things off on a high note.
John Carlson: Under 2.5 shots
Carlson has gone over his total just 36% of the time this season and in only four of his last 15 games (27%).
He's averaged only 5.2 shot attempts per game on the year. Although that volume sounds fine on the surface, it's not great for defensemen.
They routinely have to shoot through multiple layers of defenders and from far greater distances, which results in a much higher percentage of their shots being blocked or missing the net relative to forwards.
This has led to very low outputs when Carlson doesn't have a ceiling game in terms of attempts. Carlson has generated just 1.6 shots on goal over the 35 games he's attempted five shots or fewer this season.
There's plenty of reason to believe Carlson is heading for such a game versus the Senators. They've been one of the best shot-suppression teams in the league over the last month. Ottawa has also done a terrific job staying out of the penalty box, spending just 2:42 shorthanded per game in February.
The Sens aren't giving up many shots, nor are they taking many penalties and allowing opposing stars to be put in easy offensive situations.
This is a matchup I expect Carlson to struggle in.
Odds: -114 (playable to -135)
Miro Heiskanen: Over 2.5 shots
Heiskanen needs two things to have success shooting the puck: home ice and a weak opposing defense. Both boxes are checked tonight as the Stars host the Islanders.
We'll start with home ice. Heiskanen has averaged 6.4 shot attempts per game in Dallas compared to just 4.8 on the road. Given the difficulty of getting shots through consistently, volume is especially important for defenders. Heiskanen generates it at home.
He also has a mouthwatering matchup against the Islanders. Although they have tightened the screws a little bit under new head coach Patrick Roy, they're still a very targetable team.
They rank 31st in shots against per game to defensemen this season, conceding more than all but the Sharks. They also rank inside the bottom 10 over the past 10 games.
Likely to log over 24 minutes in a juicy matchup, Heiskanen is primed for an active night shooting the puck.
Odds: -102 (playable to -120)
Evander Kane: Over 2.5 shots
Kane is one of the more consistent shooters in the NHL. He's averaged 3.1 shots on goal and gone over his total in 63% of his appearances this season.
His numbers spike further in Edmonton, where Kane averages 3.3 shots per night and has posted a remarkably strong 67% success rate.
What I love about Kane is matchups don't seem to matter to him in the slightest. Whether he's facing top-10 or bottom-10 defenses in terms of suppressing shots, the volume and success rates are nearly identical.
That's very noteworthy heading into a game versus the Kings. They play a slower brand of hockey and have been excellent at limiting shots for years. That hasn't seemed to impact Kane. Playoffs included, he's recorded three or more shots in 16 of 19 games versus Los Angeles over the past couple of seasons.
Odds: -145 (playable to -160)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.
The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled the goaltender from his conditioning loan with the AHL's Marlies, the NHL club announced Monday.
Woll hasn't played at the highest level since departing a win over the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 7 due to a high ankle sprain. He was labeled week-to-week two days later.
The 25-year-old played one game during his most recent stint with the Marlies, stopping all but one of 37 shots in a 4-1 victory over the Laval Rocket on Friday.
Woll performed well for the Maple Leafs this season before his injury. He went 8-5-1 with a .916 save percentage over 15 games, starting 13 of them. The American netminder briefly grabbed the No. 1 job before being forced to sit out for over two months.
Toronto is riding a seven-game win streak - its longest in 20 years - and got defenseman Morgan Rielly back from a five-game suspension Thursday.
Ilya Samsonov earned six of those victories in the Leafs' crease, albeit with an .896 save percentage. The Russian goalie has a mark of .883 to go along with a 14-4-6 record in 26 games this season. Martin Jones hasn't fared much better, going 11-7-1 with a .907 save percentage while starting all but two of his 20 appearances in 2023-24.
The list of teams pursuing Chris Tanev continues to grow, as the Dallas Stars have shown strong interest in the Calgary Flames defenseman, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Stars general manager Jim Nill wouldn't confirm that specifically, but he did acknowledge that he's eyeing an upgrade at the position.
"We've got a solid 13 forwards up top already, and then I know I've got a bunch of young guys down below," Nill told LeBrun. "Defense, you can never have enough defensemen. So that's something we're looking at. What's the cost of acquisition - what's the asset cost? That's what we're monitoring right now."
The Stars have been known for their defensive play in recent years, but this season has been a different story. They entered Monday ranked fourth in goals per game but tied for 12th in goals against per contest.
"That's why I don't think we've reached our best performance yet," Nill said. "I still think there's another level we can go to. That's finding the balance between offense and defense. We've been a pretty dynamic team offensively, but we know if we're going to have success in the playoffs, we have to tighten up defensively."
Tanev is one of the hottest commodities as the March 8 deadline approaches. The pending unrestricted free agent can invoke a 10-team no-trade list, but the Flames have already shipped out forward Elias Lindholm and may ultimately do the same with blue-liner Noah Hanifin.
The Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly been interested in acquiring Tanev. The rugged defense-first rearguard has a $4.5-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.
This is the 10th in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.
In this edition, we look at each team's biggest trade-deadline need.
1. New York Rangers (39-17-3)
Previous rank: 5
A good forward. Probably two. The Rangers need a top-six right-winger with Blake Wheeler no longer in the picture, and they could use a third-line center following Filip Chytil's injury. Maybe there's a way for New York to satisfy both needs with one trade?
2. Florida Panthers (38-16-4)
Previous rank: 4
A top-nine winger. The Panthers are rolling and have already traded their next two first-round picks, so there isn't a need nor the assets to make a huge splash at the deadline. Florida does have some cap space to work with, so bringing in another solid winger would be worthwhile.
3. Vancouver Canucks (38-16-6)
Previous rank: 2
Another impact forward. The Canucks already made a significant move by bringing in Elias Lindholm, but that shouldn't stop them from remaining active in the forward market. Vancouver is reportedly eyeing Jake Guentzel, so clearly general manager Patrik Allvin feels similarly.
4. Boston Bruins (34-12-13)
Previous rank: 1
Center depth. The Bruins need to strengthen down the middle, and Patrice Bergeron ain't walking through the TD Garden doors. Boston is up against the cap and missed the boat on Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, so GM Don Sweeney will need to get creative.
5. Dallas Stars (35-16-8)
Sam Hodde / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 6
A right-shot defenseman. The Stars' depth in that area was already a concern, but now Jani Hakanpaa and Nils Lundkvist are out with injuries. Dallas needs to fortify its blue line to boost its chances of coming out on top in the Western Conference.
6. Winnipeg Jets (36-15-5)
Previous rank: 9
Depth defense. Most contenders are scanning the thin market for defensive help, and the Jets are no exception. Having already made a move for a center, Winnipeg could benefit from solidifying its bottom pair or bringing in a sturdy seventh option if injuries strike.
A partner for Morgan Rielly. The Leafs' pairings of T.J. Brodie-Timothy Liljegren and Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe have been rolling, meaning Rielly has had to slot in next to William Lagesson since returning from suspension. GM Brad Treliving should prioritize finding his top blue-liner a right-shot stud to play with.
9. Colorado Avalanche (35-19-5)
Previous rank: 10
A backup goalie. The Avalanche could also use another center, but they need to stop running Alexandar Georgiev into the ground. He leads all goalies in games played (48) and owns a subpar save percentage (.899). Colorado should get him a capable running mate so he's fresh for the spring.
10. Edmonton Oilers (33-20-2)
Derek Leung / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 3
Top-six winger. There's a substantial drop-off in production from Edmonton's big guns to its depth guys. Ken Holland needs to shop for some reinforcements or hope the incumbents kick it into gear come playoff time.
11. Detroit Red Wings (32-20-6)
Previous rank: 13
A cheap veteran. Detroit is playing with house money en route to its first playoff berth since 2016, so it feels unlikely that Steve Yzerman will mess with the chemistry of his up-and-coming group. That said, if the Red Wings stay in playoff position, it would be sensible to find an experienced veteran - forward or defenseman - who could help the club's youngsters learn what it takes to win.
12. Tampa Bay Lightning (32-23-5)
Previous rank: 12
A way to replace Mikhail Sergachev. The Bolts have an enviable amount of cap space at their disposal with the blue-liner on LTIR, but they don't have a ton of assets to take a big swing. Your move, GM Julien BriseBois.
13. Philadelphia Flyers (30-22-7)
Previous rank: 11
Focus on the task at hand. The Flyers are in prime position to make the playoffs in a year no one expected them to. Although they could recoup some strong assets for their players, keeping the band together is the smart play. Philadelphia is tough to play against and has a proven playoff tactician behind the bench. Making the playoffs - maybe even winning a round - would do wonders for Daniel Briere's rebuild.
14. Vegas Golden Knights (32-19-7)
Previous rank: 8
Clarity on Mark Stone's status. If the captain misses the rest of the regular season (again), the Golden Knights would have some extra money to work with at the deadline, allowing them to target some bigger fish. Jake Guentzel looks good in yellow; we bet he'd look good in gold, too.
15. Los Angeles Kings (29-17-10)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 16
Goalie help. Cam Talbot has cooled off considerably after a blazing start to the year, and suddenly the Kings once again find themselves needing stability between the pipes. They have the assets to outbid other contenders seeking goalie help, so they might as well go for it.
16. Nashville Predators (32-25-2)
Previous rank: 21
More future assets. Prospects and draft picks - those are what the Predators need. Already with 11 selections in the 2024 draft, GM Barry Trotz should continue to beef up the cupboards by selling off his handful of intriguing players on cheap, expiring contracts.
17. Calgary Flames (28-25-5)
Previous rank: 18
For contenders to pay up. A whole bunch of Stanley Cup hopefuls could use someone on the Flames to aid their pursuit of glory, from Noah Hanifin to Chris Tanev to Jacob Markstrom. Offers would need to be substantial for Calgary to justify blowing up a team that's still hanging around in the wild-card race.
18. Minnesota Wild (28-24-6)
Previous rank: 26
Right-side defense. The Wild are steadily creeping into the wild-card race, and the club appears to have bought in on pushing for the playoffs rather than selling. Minnesota's biggest area of need is a right shot on the blue line behind star rookie Brock Faber.
19. St. Louis Blues (30-25-2)
Previous rank: 15
A major offer for Pavel Buchnevich. The Blues were on the playoff bubble this time last year and sold off significant assets. They could go the same route again but have fewer shiny pieces to offer. Buchnevich is far and away St. Louis' best, and if someone wants to pay a steep price for the talented winger, let them.
20. New Jersey Devils (29-25-4)
David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 17
Jacob Markstrom. There's no beating around the bush here: Goaltending has been the Devils' biggest weakness, and the guy who could solve the problem seems to be available for the right price.
21. Seattle Kraken (24-22-11)
Previous rank: 22
Value for pending UFAs. The Kraken must be careful not to fall in love with the group that made the playoffs last season. Amid a step back, cashing in on players like Jordan Eberle and Alex Wennberg, rather than inking them to deals further into their 30s, is necessary this year.
22. Ottawa Senators (25-27-3)
Previous rank: 24
Business partners. The Senators are reportedly looking to buy and sell, as they're suddenly playing well in what appears to be a lost season. Making as many deals as possible might be what the franchise needs.
23. Washington Capitals (26-21-9)
Previous rank: 23
Draft picks. Washington's a long shot to make the playoffs but has a handful of useful pending UFAs. Snagging as many draft picks as possible to revamp a depleted farm system should be priority No. 1.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-21-8)
Previous rank: 20
A bangin' package for Guentzel. The pending UFA is the Penguins' biggest asset at the deadline, and GM Kyle Dubas has expressed a desire for his team to get younger. Go reel in some top-notch prospects.
25. New York Islanders (23-20-14)
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 19
Get younger. Whether it's moving some aging players off the roster, adding younger talent, or both, the third-oldest team in the league needs to get its average age down.
26. Buffalo Sabres (27-27-4)
Previous rank: 27
An extension for Casey Mittelstadt. Buffalo's been a major disappointment this season, but quieting rumors of trading its leading scorer would be a small victory.
27. Arizona Coyotes (23-29-5)
Previous rank: 25
A young NHL defender. The Coyotes have an outrageous number of second and third-round picks in the coming drafts. Arizona doesn't need more picks, so GM Bill Armstrong should be aggressive and pursue any young players who become available, particularly on the back end.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-28-10)
Previous rank: 29
A contender to take Elvis Merzlikins. The Blue Jackets netminder is one of the bigger names on the goalie trade block but has a cumbersome contract and mediocre stats. Ending the trade saga would be a positive step forward for a franchise stuck in the mud.
29. Montreal Canadiens (22-28-8)
Previous rank: 28
A solution to the goalie problem. The Canadiens have been carrying three netminders - Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Cayden Primeau - all season. GM Kent Hughes is more or less comfortable continuing that way if the right offer doesn't come, but that isn't ideal.
30. Anaheim Ducks (20-35-3)
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 30
A first-rounder. Centers are a hot commodity this time of year, and the Ducks have a good one to sell in Adam Henrique. Anaheim should be able to finagle a first-round pick for him based on trades involving pivots so far.
31. San Jose Sharks (15-36-5)
Previous rank: 31
Middle-round picks. It may come as a surprise that the Sharks only have two selections from Rounds 3-6 in the upcoming draft. Being able to take more swings in the middle of the draft will be key for a team so far away from contending.
32. Chicago Blackhawks (15-39-5)
Previous rank: 32
Destinations for all UFAs. Chicago has six pending UFAs on its roster and a major rebuild in the years ahead. The Blackhawks already have 26 picks in the next three drafts and might as well keep piling them up.
