BUBBLE TEAMS IN MIDDLE OF TRADE DEADLINE ACTION
Several squads need to decide whether they’re going to be buyers or sellers
Only one team can win the Stanley Cup. But when it comes to Monday’s NHL trade deadline, it won’t just be the championship contenders who are looking to add.
Instead, keep an eye on the bubble teams.
While some still aren’t quite sure if they are buyers or sellers — they could be both — the lure of simply getting into the playoffs was enough for eighth-place Columbus to go big at last year’s deadline.
With so many teams a piece or two away from solidifying a spot in the dance, don’t be surprised if it’s the unlikely contenders who once again end up making the biggest splash before the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
3rd place in the Atlantic Division, 72 points
UFAS: F Kyle Clifford, Jason Spezza, D Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie
Why they should buy: The Leafs cannot miss the playoffs. Period. With Morgan Rielly due back before the playoffs, grabbing a topfour defenceman at the deadline could go a long way in ensuring that this team finally gets over the first-round hump and takes a step toward contention.
Why they could sell: As evidenced by two of their last three games, where they were outscored 16-7, the Leafs do not look like a team that is one or two pieces away from winning a round — much less the Stanley Cup. Muzzin looks like he might re-sign, but if Barrie is gone by July 1, then Toronto might as well get something back for him to help out for next season.
Possible targets: Sami Vatanen (NJ), Anthony Deangelo (NYR), Matt Dumba (Min)
CAROLINA HURRICANES
2nd wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, 74 points
UFAS: F Erik Haula, Justin Williams, Joel Edmundson, D Trevor van Riemsdyk
Why they should buy: The loss of Dougie Hamilton is something that is still affecting Carolina’s defence, so adding someone for the power play is likely at the top of the wish list. According to TSN’S Pierre Lebrun, the Hurricanes could be offering a first-rounder (they have their own and Toronto’s) and/or top prospect Jake Bean in exchange for Montreal’s Jeff Petry.
Why they could sell: Haula began the season with seven goals in October, but he has only four goals since. If the rumours of a coaching clash are true — Haula has been a healthy scratch at times — then it might be worthwhile to move the winger now rather than lose him for nothing once the season ends.
Possible targets: Jeff Petry (Mon), Erik Gustafsson (Chi), Connor Murphy (Chi)
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
9th place in the Eastern Conference, 74 points
UFAS: None
Why they should buy: Buying at the deadline worked a year ago, when Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel not only helped the Blue Jackets qualify for the playoffs, but aided them in a first-round upset over Tampa Bay. Pardon the pun, but with Oliver Bjorkstrand likely out for the season and with the team on an eightgame losing streak, adding a forward who can fill the back of the net could result in lightning striking twice.
Why they could sell: There are no rentals to dangle at the deadline, but Josh Anderson’s name has come up as a potential target for the Bruins. The difficulty is that the big-bodied winger, who has just four points in 26 games this season and is a pending RFA, has been out with a shoulder injury since mid-december.
Possible targets: Tyler Ennis (Ott), Conor Sheary (Buf ), Kyle Palmieri (NJ)
NEW YORK RANGERS
10th place in the Eastern Conference, 70 points
UFAS: F Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast, Greg Mckegg
Why they should buy: No one could have predicted when the season began — or even a month ago — that the Rangers would be in a position to add at the deadline. But with the team only four points out of a wild-card spot after winning seven of its past eight games, things have obviously changed. If the price is right, adding depth at centre could complete the comeback. Why they could sell: Even with their recent hot spell, the Rangers are on the outside looking in at a playoff spot. Considering that Chris Kreider is the most sought-after player in the market — someone who could fetch a first-rounder and a top-end prospect — buying or standing pat at the deadline won’t help their long-term plans of building a contender.
Possible targets: Erik Haula (Car), Alex Kerfoot (Tor), Ennis (Ott)
FLORIDA PANTHERS
11th place in the Eastern Conference, 70 points
UFAS: F Mike Hoffman, Evgeni Dadonov, D Mark Pysyk
Why they should buy: Eventually, the Panthers have to go for it — even if going for it merely results in a first-round exit. Hey, it beats the alternative. Getting a defenceman to play alongside Aaron Ekblad has been at the top of the list for a while now. The only question is, unless Sergei Bobrovsky can start earning his paycheque, will it be enough to get into the playoffs?
Why they could sell: Giving up assets simply to get bounced by either the Bruins or Lightning — or, worse, missing out completely — does not look appealing and could actually set Florida back another year. If that’s the case, then the Panthers might be better off unloading some UFAS for another attempt next year.
Possible targets: Jonas Brodin (Min), Brady Skjei (NYR), Michael Del Zotto (Ana)
WINNIPEG JETS
2nd wild-card spot in the Western Conference, 69 points
UFAS: F Nick Shore, D Dmitry Kulikov, Nathan Beaulieu
Why they should buy: They’ve been buying already, with Winnipeg having added Dylan Demelo and Cody Eakin. While that might be enough to stay in the playoff picture, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said he is open to making further deals on Monday to better the team’s chances of not only getting in but doing damage once they get there. One player who would look great centring the second line: Joe Thornton.
Why they could sell: It’s a long shot, but if another team could convince him to play again, then maybe there’s a market out there for Dustin Byfuglien, whose contract has yet to be terminated in the hope that he could be moved rather than lost for nothing.
Possible targets: Rasmus Ristolainen (Buf ), Ron Hainsey (Ott), Joe Thornton (SJ)
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
9th place in the Western Conference, 68 points
UFAS: F Mikael Granlund, Craig
Smith, Rocco Grimaldi, D Dan Hamhuis, Yannick Weber, Matt Irwin
Why they should buy: Because David Poile is not the kind of GM who stays silent for long, you can safely assume that the Predators will try to make some sort of move to increase their odds of making the playoffs. They’ve been linked to possibly acquiring Byfuglien from Winnipeg, which is just the sort of blockbuster trade that Nashville is famous for doing.
Why they could sell: If this year has proven anything, it’s that Nashville isn’t the same team that went to the final in 2017. This team has warts in goal and on the back end, which used to be areas of strength. Now might be the time to hang onto their picks and prospects and instead reload for the coming years.
Possible targets: Dustin Byfuglien (Win), Jean-gabriel Pageau (Ott), Andreas Athanasiou (Det)
CALGARY FLAMES
10th place in the Western Conference, 68 points
UFAS: F Tobias Rieder, Zac Rinaldo, D TJ Brodie, Michael Stone, G Cam Talbot
Why they should buy: The logjam in the west means that Calgary is one point out of a wild-card spot and only six points out of first place in the Pacific Division. If management believes this core group, which led the Flames to the second-best record in the NHL a year ago, is capable of turning the corner, then now might be the time to add some offensive reinforcements to complement the top two lines.
Why they could sell: The Flames nearly traded Brodie to Toronto in the summer for Nazem Kadri. With the Leafs possibly looking to unload Barrie, a D-for-d trade could be possible, rather than let Brodie walk away in free agency this summer.
Possible targets: Tyson Barrie (Tor), Ilya Kovalchuk (Mon), Jimmy Vesey (Buf )