Prediction’s for this weeks trade action
Part 1 East and Central.
Because it is Easter I am not doing any trade rumors and news today but I will be going team by team to see what each team’s approach should be over the next week leading up to the trade deadline.
All standings as of Sunday night
I have also broken down their trade status into six categories
Buyer: a contender looking at a highly skilled top 9 foward, top 4 D-Men or a starting goalie or a 1A option whether it is a rental or a player with term.
Conservative Buyer: a team looking to improve most likely looking at a bottom six foward, a 2nd or 3rd defensive pair defensemen, or a backup Goalie who most likely is a rental player.
Standing pat: teams who are comfortable with their rosters and don’t want to do anything.
Undecided: a team who is to stuck between fighting for a playoff spot and not fighting for a playoff spot.
Conservative Seller: a team who doesn’t want to blow up their Roster and just sell low profile rentals.
Seller: a team who is in need of a lot of change and will most likely miss the playoff’s and sells rental’s and non rentals for future things.
Rental: a player who will become a Unrestricted Free Agent or UFA at the end of the year when his contract expires and the team acquiring him does not re-sign him.
And first the
East
Washington
25-9-4 record, 1st in East, 54 points, 38 games played, 15 points above the playoff line.
Games before Deadline: NYI, BOS, BUF, BOS
Deadline status: Conservative Buyer
Most likely to be traded: a 2nd or 3rd pick this year or next.
Most Pressing Need: a experienced Backup Goalie
Explanation: Washington is 1st in the East, has not looked bad, have a 15 point cushion on a playoff spot and do not have many holes in their lineup. One hole they probably have is at Goalie as having two Rookie goalies for a Playoff run that have no Playoff experience is not a good idea. Their are a couple of vetran rentals on the trade market like Jonathan Bernier (Detroit) and Carter Hutton (Buffalo) and look for Washington to inquire about some of them and maybe try to get one of them.
New York I
24-10-4 record, 2nd in East, 52 points, 38 games played, 13 points above the playoff line.
Games before Deadline: WAS, PHI, NYR, NYR
Deadline status: Buyer
Most likely to be traded: 1RD Pick
Most pressing need: top 6 forward
Explanation: The Islanders are a really good defensive team there top six defenders have barely been held out all season and Varlamov and Sorokin make a amazing tandem. But every team has flaws and for New York that is scoring. This team did not produce much goals on a game to game bases and that was before Anders Lee went down with injury for awhile. So I have heard they are in on all the big top 6 forwards that are on the market like Taylor Hall (Buffalo) and Kyle Palmeri (New Jersey) so keep an eye on the Islanders trying to get a top 6 forward to replace Anders Lee.
Pittsburgh
24-12-2 record, 3rd in the East, 50 points, 38 games played, 11 points above the playoff line.
Games before Deadline: NYR, NYR, NJ, NJ
Deadline status: Buyer
Most likely to be traded: a Left shot Defensemen
Most Pressing Need: a top 9 center
Explanation: Pittsburgh has been keeping pace with the Islanders and Capitals in the Standings and have a really good team but they do have injuries and that could lead to deadline moves. At the moment Teddy Blueger and Evgeni Malkin are injured. Their status will affect the Penguins decision but if Malkin will be out for a while than a top 9 center would be a smart add at the deadline. They also could trade one of their Left Defensemen as they have a lot to possibly trade. Possible trade options could be Luke Glendening (Detroit) and Nick Foligno (Columbus) for the Penguins.
Boston
19-10-5 record, 4th in East, 43 points, 34 games played, 4 points above the playoff line.
Games before deadline: PHI, PHI, WAS, PHI, WAS
Deadline status: Buyer
Most likely to be traded: Jake Debrusk
Most Pressing Need: Top 6 Foward or Top 4 D-Men
Explanation: Boston has done mediocre this year their youngsters on the blue line have shown up at times while there 5on5 scoring has been fizzling this year. The Bruins have road on the backs of their top line this year as they have accumulated the most points of any Bruin forward but they need help depth wise and 5on5 wise. As for the Defense The young guys have stepped up when needed but they still haven’t replaced Torey Krug or Zdeno Chara who left via free agency last off-season. Possible trade options for forward are Kyle Palmeri (New Jersey) and Taylor Hall (Buffalo) and for defense are Mattias Ekholm (Nashville) or Vince Dunn (St.Louis) and most trades for Boston would see them give up Jake Debrusk in the trade.
Philadelphia
17-14-5 record, 5th in East, 39 games played, 36 games played, 4 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: BOS, BOS, NYI, BOS, BUF
Deadline status: Conservative Buyer
Most likely to be traded: Scott Laughton
Most Pressing Need: top 4 Defensemen
Explanation: in the past three weeks or so the Flyers have been scoring a lot of goals and that’s good because they can’t keep the puck out of their net. Their defence has been atrocious including giving Mika Zibanejad two 6 point games in back to back games against the Rangers in 10 days and they need to fix their defence right now if they’re going to have a chance of making the playoffs. Possible options are Josh Manson (Anaheim) and Vince Dunn (St.Louis) and they could trade a young forward for that defensemen.
New York R
17-15-5 record, 6th in East, 39 points, 37 games played, 4 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: PIT, PIT, NYI, NYI
Deadline status: Undecided
Most likely to be traded: Tony Deangelo
Most Pressing Need: depth D-Men
Explanation: New York R has recently surged to be fighting for a playoff spot and have been a really good whole team since. The top 9 forwards for New York R is well rounded now after the edition of Rookie Vitality Kravstov, While their defence is still relatively young so adding a veteran defenceman who can play on the 3rd pair would make sense for New York R If they are Buyers as they do not have many valuable rentals if they choose to sell but could look to move disgruntled D-Men Tony Deangelo. Possible names are Mike Reilly (Ottawa) and Dimitry Kulikov (New Jersey) as depth Defensemen.
New Jersey
13-17-6 record, 7th in East, 32 points, 36 games played, 11 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: BUF, BUF, PIT, PIT
Deadline status: Seller
Most likely to be traded: Kyle Palmeri
Most Pressing Need: Picks and Prospects
Explanation: New Jersey was one of the surprise teams at the start of the year but after they were hit with Covid they were never able to gain traction and have kept on losing as they are now into double digits behind the playoff spot and it’s most likely that they’re going to sell as many UFA’s as they can before the deadline. Possible trade chips are Sami Vatanen, Dimitry Kulikov and Kyle Palmeri.
Buffalo
8-23-6 record, 8th in the East, 22 points, 37 games played, 21 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: NJ, NJ, WAS, PHI
Deadline status: Seller
Most likely to be traded: Taylor Hall
Most Pressing Need: a fresh start
Explanation: Buffalo was never a good team from the beginning of the season and recently ended a shootout era long losing streak of 18 games and have sucked for the last decade and are once again going to be sellers. Rentals like Hall and Montour as well as Players with term like Sam Reinhart or Rasmus Ristolainen are all on the table for being moved by the deadline.
Central
Florida
26-9-4 record, 1st in Central, 56 points, 39 games played, 17 points above the playoff line.
Games before deadline: CAR, CAR, DAL
Deadline status: Buyers
Most likely to be traded: Brett Connolly
Most Pressing Need: top 4 Right shot D-Men
Explanation: Florida has surpassed all expectations for this season as they lead the league at this point in time their offence is deep and their defence is pretty good and back up goalie Chris Driedger has played beyond expectation so far and due to this fact they will be buyers at the deadline. Their defence could use a tuneup before they make their final playoff push and that was before Aaron Ekblad got injured. Prime trade targets are David Savard (Columbus) and Brandon Montour (Buffalo) for Florida to add this year.
Tampa Bay
26-10-2 record, 2nd in Central, 54 points, 38 games played, 15 points above the playoff line.
Games before deadline: COLU, COLU, NAS
Deadline status: Stand Pat
Most likely to be traded: Late round Pick
Most Pressing Need: depth Forward
Explanation: Tampa Bay still looks like the team that won the Stanley Cup last year and all the moves made at last year’s deadline should help Tampa this year and they will get Kucherov back come playoff time so I think they should not do anything.
Carolina
25-9-3 record, 3rd in Central, 53 points, 37 games played, 14 points above the playoff line.
Games before deadline: FLO, FLO, DET
Deadline status: Conservative Buyer
Most likely to be traded: James Reimer
Most Pressing Need: Right Shot D-Men
Explanation: Carolina has been a playoff contender for three years now and are putting up a lot of effort into keeping up with Tampa and Florida for top spot in the Central and have a pretty solid group. One place where they can improve is at Right Defence as they have used four left shot Defensemen most of the year and would benefit from a right shot D-Men. They could use a goalie most likely James Reimer to acquire that D-Men. Maybe a Colin Miller (Buffalo) or (Sami Vatanen) would help them.
Nashville
20-18-1 record, 4th in Central, 41 points, 39 games played, 2 points above the playoff line,
Games before deadline: DET, DET, TB, DAL
Deadline status: Undecided
Most likely to be traded: Mikael Granlund
Most pressing Need: bottom six foward
Explanation: Nashville was unexpectedly one of the worst teams to start this year but have fought their way back into a playoff spot. Because of this they could still easily miss so I list them as undecided and they could go two ways 1:) they are buyers in witch case getting a depth forward like Ryan Dzingel (Ottawa) or Bobby Ryan (Detroit) would be their best bet or 2:) they’re sellers and they moveing pieces like Mikael Granlund and Eric Haula would be smart.
Chicago
17-17-5 record, 6th in Central, 39 points, 39 games played, 2 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: DAL, DAL, COLU
Deadline status: Undecided
Most likely to be traded: Mattias Janmark
Most Pressing Need: Top 6 D-Men
Explanation: Chicago surprised the hockey world by looking like a playoff team but since the half way mark they just can’t seem to find their footing. They are still close enough to a playoff spot that they could either Sell in witch players like Calvin De Haan and Mattias Janmark could be gone or they could be Buyers in witch case they could try to add a top 6 Defensemen like Jamie Oleksiak (Dallas) or Marc Staal (Detroit) before the deadline.
Dallas
13-13-10 record, 6th in Central, 36 points, 36 games played, 5 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: CHI, CHI, FLO, NAS
Deadline status: Undecided
Most likely to be traded: Jamie Oleksiak
Most Pressing Need: Top 9 Foward
Explanation: Dallas doesn’t look like the team that made the Stanley Cup Final last year and have not gained traction this year and could have something to do with Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop missing every game so far with injury. Dallas could try to Sell UFA’s like Andrew Cogliano and Jamie Oleksiak or try to get a top 9 Forward who can score like Ryan Dzingel (Ottawa) or Marcus Sorensen (San Jose) as Buyers.
Columbus
14-18-8 record, 7th in Central, 36 points, 40 games played, 5 points back of a playoff spot.
Games before deadline: TB, TB, CHI
Deadline status: Undecided
Most likely to be traded: David Savard
Most Pressing Need: Top end Center
Explanation Columbus has been keeping pace in the race for a playoff spot in the central and have had just a mediocre season so far. Columbus could try and sell players like Nick Foligno, David Savard, and Elvis Merzlikins, or could Buy players like Dimitry Kulikov (New Jersey) or Colin Miller ( Buffalo) to shore up their Defence.
Detroit
13-22-5 record, 8th in Central, 31 points, 40 games played, 10 points back of a playoff spot,
Games before deadline: NAS, NAS, CAR
Deadline status: Seller
Most likely to be traded: Bobby Ryan
Most Pressing Need: Picks and Prospects
Explanation: Detroit was never going to make the playoffs with the team they have on the ice right now as they are too young and inexperienced to make a deep run to the playoffs so Detroit will have to sell pieces probably starting off with Bobby Ryan and Luke Glendening rentals and maybe moving up to a player of Anthony Mantha’s caliber to try and get some picks and prospects.
Part 2: West and North will be posted Monday night and the standings will sill be from Sunday night.
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