Whew.
This week has been a whirlwind, with so much changing every moment.
Our top 30 trade board has been decimated, but will continue to be updated as we keep an eye on the trade market through 3 p.m. ET / noon PT Friday.
Some interesting possibilities remain, and the element of surprise waits around the corner. While, sure, a lot of the biggest and most intriguing names have been moved, there’s always a deal or two that comes out of nowhere. Who might the clever GM be this year?
So close to the deadline, we take a look through each of the NHL’s 32 teams and give you an idea of what to expect out of them. “Deadline Cap Space” shows how much full-season cap hit a team can take on by Friday, courtesy CapFriendly. Teams are listed by division within each conference.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
BOSTON BRUINS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $2,860,833
Draft Picks
Team Needs: … uh, nothing
Potentially Available: Draft picks, prospects
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think we could always be surprised here, but unless the Bruins are tinkering around the margins of their lineup, it looks like this is pretty much the roster and it’s a good one. They could easily win the Stanley Cup.”
Outlook: The Bruins added gritty Garnet Hathaway and top-four blueliner Dmitry Orlov to the best team in hockey and, really, that may have been enough. And just before publishing this piece, they also acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit, adding a gritty, sandpaper forward with 30-goal upside and a power-play option. They may be finished, but the team also put Taylor Hall on LTIR, which moves them from having zero cap space to a couple extra million. Will they still look to acquire, or is this their group?
BUFFALO SABRES
Status: Soft buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $77,650,455
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Defence depth, centre depth
Potentially Available: One of their three second-round picks
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “Kevyn Adams wants to stick to the plan, and I think it’s the right play, however that doesn’t mean you can’t look to make small moves, like a tiny move, a mid- to late-round draft pick for a player you can plug into a hole or can help you. As we talked about, they’re 32nd in the league in faceoffs. Can you find a centre that can help you with that?”
Outlook: By points percentage, the Buffalo Sabres are eighth in the Eastern Conference, so a playoff spot is very much in the cards. And with all the cap room they could ask for, it might be attractive to make a push for the franchise’s first post-season appearance since 2011. But under Adams, the Sabres have been exceedingly patient with everything, and there’s no reason to believe they’ll act any other way now. Yes, Buffalo may add something to give the dressing room support, but the bigger payoff is still coming.
DETROIT RED WINGS
Status: Fringe buyer/seller
Deadline Cap Space: $34,472,887
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Defence
Potentially Available: Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist, Olli Maatta
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “They’re not selling. I’m not sure they’re adding, but they’re in the race and I think they’re going to let it play out.”
Outlook: The Wings are still in the race, but three straight losses has turned it into a longer shot than it was a week ago. They re-signed Dylan Larkin, so we don’t have to wonder about his future anymore, but the surprise trade of Filip Hronek to Vancouver for a first-round pick caught us off guard. Might GM Steve Yzerman flip that pick, or is it for further use to build up the prospect base?
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Status: Likely more of a seller
Deadline Cap Space: $137,625
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Defence, centre, restock the cupboards
Potentially Available: Radko Gudas, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think this is going to be a big off-season for Florida. I think they’ve got some ability to do a few more things. And I do believe long term, they are going to look at fixing their defence.”
Outlook: After the high of last season, finally winning a playoff series for the first time since 1996, only to be dusted in Round 2, the Panthers have crashed back to earth. Sure, playoffs are still a possibility, but they aren’t the most likely of the bunch on the outside looking in. So much draft capital was spent on last year’s run that the team might want to step back, take a deep breath, and try to re-organize this thing before one playoff miss becomes two next season …
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $4,138,334
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures
Potentially Available: Sean Monahan, Joel Edmundson, Josh Anderson, Mike Hoffman, Jonathan Drouin
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I’ve just heard the activity on Edmundson is down just because his body has been through so much and he really hasn’t played. I think they’d be surprised if anything happened with him here. The other player everybody has been wondering about has been Monahan. I think we’re going to get clarity on that this week.”
Outlook: Injuries will complicate deals involving their most likely trade candidates (Monahan, Edmundson), so the stars might be aligning for a quiet deadline from the Habs, after they dealt Evgenii Dadonov to Dallas. But if they can, the front office will be chasing picks or prospects to help continue the build up.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Status: Leaning buyer, might sell
Deadline Cap Space: $16,210,960
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Goaltending, depth at various positions
Potentially Available: Cam Talbot, Austin Watson, Travis Hamonic
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “The Senators have been looking for defencemen, as everybody knows. A right shot. And at various times I’ve heard there have been things that have been close, they just haven’t happened. If there’s a defenceman out there they’ve looked at it.”
Outlook: The Senators made their big play Wednesday, winning the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes and adding another left-shot blueliner to the mix. Might they still chase a righty? The Sens may be done, and perhaps they’ll lean directly into this playoff chase instead of moving out anyone. But, for the future, they’re going to have to figure out if they need another goalie to join Anton Forsberg, or what’s going to become of UFA Cam Talbot.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $1,269,967
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Depth, more sandpaper
Potentially Available: Seemingly any pick or prospect
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “The Tampa Bay Lighting have shown when they are in this window, and they’re still in it, they’re going all out. They’re sacrificing the future for the present. They want Cups, they have Cups, and they want more. That’s where they are.”
Outlook: The Lightning should have a T-shirt stamped with “draft picks are for losers,” because it’s clear how much more they’re prioritizing their winning roster. Tomorrow’s problems are for another day. In dealing Vladislav Namestnikov to the Sharks Wednesday, GM Julien BriseBois opened up a little more cap space and may want to answer some of the moves made by their Round 1 opponent in Toronto. The Lightning have a type, and Tanner Jeannot was the latest addition in that mould. Will there be another?
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Status: Big buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $4,770,833
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Scoring forward, backup goalie
Potentially Available: Picks, Alex Kerfoot, Justin Holl
Outlook: At the start of the week, everyone was looking for Toronto to add a defenceman and, well, they added two more. With five trades already made, the sense is that GM Kyle Dubas still might not be done. He picked up a 2023 first-rounder in the Rasmus Sandin trade, which is an intriguing trade piece. They have nine defencemen on their roster, too, and we wonder if someone from that group goes. With backup Matt Murray battling injury, could the team seek more assurances there? Or will they look at more of scoring winger who could fill a top-six role and allow Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares to centre separate lines?
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $2,606,667
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Scoring forward
Potentially Available: Picks, prospects
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think they’re going to do something. I think they’re going to look around. The other thing I do believe is that as this (Timo) Meier trade dragged on at the end of last week, I do believe the Hurricanes were starting to put together their plans B and C.”
Outlook: If they have a big move in store to match those around them at the top of the East, we’re still looking for it. Shayne Gostisbehere was brought in to help their power play and add another puck-moving presence to the back end, but will they seek someone who could try to fill Max Pacioretty’s shoes? The winger was brought in to add goal scoring, but a season-ending injury has taken him out of the mix. Jesse Puljujarvi was acquired with the hope that a fresh start gets him going, but you can’t count on that transpiring in the next couple months. Is there something more impactful on the way?
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Status: Seller that could buy
Deadline Cap Space: $10,670,833
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Defence, scorers
Potentially Available: Jonathan Quick, Gavin Bayreuther, Boone Jenner
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “They’ve got a lot of assets. I think they want to show their fans their goal is to get better, fast.”
Outlook: They were a player in the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes, and though they lost out to Ottawa, that shows the intentions of this front office. Yes, they has to sell off pending UFAs Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov, and Jonathan Quick is likely to be flipped again before Friday. But the Blue Jackets have made some aggressive acquisitions recently (Patrik Laine, Johnny Gaudreau) to try to launch them out of a rebuild — and injuries have really impacted them this season. Their top option is off the table, but might GM Jarmo Kekalainen have another target?
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $2,110,834
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Size, sandpaper, goaltending
Potentially Available: Futures, Damon Severson
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “(The Timo Meier trade) is a big win for the Devils. He’s the player they needed. I’m curious to see what else they’re going to do. Fitzgerald in his conference can basically said ‘We may not be done here.’ So, now you’ve got this great momentum, what else are you thinking about adding?”
Outlook: Meier was such a great pickup for the Devils because of his offensive talent, but also because he brings a type of size and power forward element that was lacking in the top six. Take one look at the more experienced Eastern teams and you see them all adding a physical element to their bottom sixes, knowing how that translates in the playoffs. New Jersey’s window is just opening, where some of these others teams’ may be beginning to close, so how aggressive will they get on this run? Another consideration is in net, a position the team has been chasing since the summer. Vitek Vanecek has done well, but do you want a more experienced player as his backup … just in case?
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Status: Buyer, unpredictable element
Deadline Cap Space: $7,816,215
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Offensive defenceman, forward depth
Potentially Available: Picks, prospects
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I do think the Islanders were around (Ivan) Barbashev. Now, obviously they were outbid by the Golden Knights in St. Louis’ eyes, but what this tells me without getting any hints from the general manager is this is a big run for the Islanders. In their second year in this building, they want to make the playoffs, they want to be competitive. The idea of giving up while they’re in this race is Nowheresville.”
Outlook: Bo Horvat was their big get, and this week’s pickup of Pierre Engvall further shows GM Lou Lamoriello’s commitment to getting his team to the playoffs. With Mat Barzal out, the team may still look to acquire scoring punch up front (think James van Riemsdyk), or they might turn their attention to a puck-moving defenceman, something the organization has been after since the summer. Some have wondered about goalie Semyon Varlamov’s availability, given he’s a pending UFA, but that wouldn’t seem to fit with Lamoriello’s other actions.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $7,083
Draft Picks
Team needs: Defence
Potentially Available: Futures
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “If there was any doubt this was the direction we were moving in, I think that ended on Sunday because no team would enter into the theatre of the absurd like this unless there was a real reason for doing it. You simply do not do this to your hockey team unless you know you’re getting Patrick Kane.”
Outlook: The Rangers feel closer to being “done” than anyone else, after getting Vladimir Tarasenko and Kane to absolutely load up a top-nine threat of forwards. We wonder if they might still look for a defensive presence, either for the blue line or fourth line, but that would be nibbling around the edges. The big work is complete.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $1,217,459
Draft Picks
Team Needs: A complete reset
Potentially Available: James van Riemsdyk, Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, Ivan Provorov, Tony DeAngelo, Justin Braun.
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think the thing they’re really looking at (is), if James van Riemsdyk had gone to Dallas, I think Gurianov could have been the piece in return. I think that’s the kind of things they’re looking for: Are there guys out there who have underperformed that Philadelphia can acquire and get done under Tortorella.”
Outlook: If the Flyers are looking for more project players who’ve underperformed elsewhere, that’s … concerning. The Flyers lack identity and direction, and need some definition on what the plan is from here as they waffle through another tough season. Maybe more considerable change happens in the off-season, but the Flyers do have a couple of pending UFAs in van Riemsdyk and Justin Braun they have to move. Other deals may be more of a long shot, but the fact is Philadelphia can’t go on like this.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $1,169,072
Draft Picks
Team Needs: To just keep the hope alive
Potentially Available: Non-first-round picks, Casey DeSmith or possibly Tristan Jarry
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “Even when they were winning Stanley Cups, they were a nasty team in both the Mario era, and Sid and Malkin era. They were nasty. They had guys like that. They’re not nasty. They’re a bit docile. And I think that’s something they really want to change. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the kind of thing they look at, is can they add some edge to the margins of their lineup as much as anything else?”
Outlook: Rumours were percolating around the Penguins this week and finally the deal came through: $5-million player Mikael Granlund for a second-round pick. The Penguins, hanging on to the second wild-card spot, feel they owe it to this core to keep trying to Cups, even if appears extremely unlikely. While the Capitals have sold, the Penguins are forging ahead. But GM Ron Hextall is also trying to maintain some sort of balance with obvious future needs.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Status: Seller that could also buy
Deadline Cap Space: $7,327,950
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Young-ish defenceman, young-ish forward with term
Potentially Available: Trevor van Riemsdyk, Conor Sheary, Nicolas Aube-Kubel
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “It’s pretty clear that what (GM Brian MacLellan) is doing right now is talking to all his UFAs and saying, ‘Can I sign you or will I trade you?’ “
Outlook: The Capitals have traded out five NHL players already, effectively throwing in the towel on 2023 and re-focusing on next season. Bringing in Rasmus Sandin from Toronto shows they could be after players who could help with a quick turnaround, and it was also believed Washington was in on Chychrun. There are still a couple pending UFAs to move off the roster and while the real buying could wait until the summer, the Capitals could still be a surprise player by Friday.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ARIZONA COYOTES
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $75,697,111
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures, future, futures
Potentially Available: Nick Schmaltz, Nick Ritchie, Nick Bjugstad, Christian Fischer, Karel Vejmelka
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “Nick Schmaltz’s name has come up. They’re not moving their great young players and good young prospects, and they’re looking to accrue all the assets they can to build themselves up in a couple years. Other than that, I think there could be a lot going on here.”
Outlook: Mercifully, the Coyotes finally moved Chychrun, but might not be finished shedding from the roster and adding to that wild collection of draft picks. They’ll need to be mindful of reaching the salary-cap floor in coming seasons and have one more slot to retain salary.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $24,856,565
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures, young NHL players
Potentially Available: Andreas Athanasiou, Max Domi, Jujhar Khaira
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “The Blackhawks have a lot of capital and they’re going to start using that to try and turn around the ship. We’ll see if they can add any more.”
Outlook: The tough move is over with, but the Blackhawks are still open for business. Eventually, they’ll begin turning some of that draft capital into actual players, but for now, the build-up is on, with an eye toward Connor Bedard this summer.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $2,792,500
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Centre depth, possibly scoring winger, defence
Potentially Available: Futures
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “To me, the biggest question the Avalanche have is (Gabriel) Landeskog. He started skating last week. Is there any question he’s going to be OK, or going to recover, or is there any concern? If there’s any reason Landeskog may not be able to play in the regular season or at all, then I think their math changes substantially and it opens up things they can do. But they have to know this week.”
Outlook: The defending champions lurk in the Western Conference and have added depth pieces in Jack Johnson and Lars Eller (to help with their faceoff problem) already in the lead-up to deadline. Landeskog’s injury hangs in the balance and could have a big impact on what the Avs do from here. More than likely, the team looks to keep building out its depth.
DALLAS STARS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $548,415
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Forward and defence
Potentially Available: Futures
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I don’t know if they’re going to do anything major, but I think they’re going to think about it.”
Outlook: In acquiring Dadonov, the Stars did upgrade their forward unit, but it is enough to keep pace with the other Western Conference challengers around them? On Wednesday, they won their first game in regulation in nearly a month and since the calendar flip to 2023, they are 8-7-7, and tied for 24th in points. Does that inspire a reason to buy, or stand pat?
MINNESOTA WILD
Status: Buyer that might not be able to take on term
Deadline Cap Space: $7,428,265
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Blueline upgrade, skilled scoring forward
Potentially Available: Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway, non-first-round picks
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I believe he’s looking for a scorer, a centre or a scorer. He wants to help his offence. … I just wonder if they try to find a really good value player. (GM Bill) Guerin has big guts. He’ll go out there and try to make the big move. I just wonder who’s the big move with no term?”
Outlook: Guerin has done well to pick up draft picks as a trade broker for others, but he’s also managed to add Marcus Johansson and Gustav Nyquist (who they hope to be a playoff contributor when he’s back from injury) to help this season. The cap crunch the team is facing for a few years makes it nearly impossible to add a player with term, though they have been connected in rumours to the likes of Brock Boeser. Guerin has a team that could go on a nice run and will want to reward them, but the cap situation is not great. Dumba probably only goes for an upgrade, but should be looked at more of as an own-rental.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $18,465,727
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures
Potentially Available: Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, Ryan McDonagh, Tyson Barrie, Dante Fabbro
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I’m curious to see what the plan is. Is this a complete restart, do they simply use these picks to restock the team, or do they use these picks to do some other things? They’re potentially giving themselves a blank canvas.”
Outlook: This will be GM David Poile’s last trade deadline at the helm of the team he’s overseen since expansion, and it’s a bittersweet one as he’s having to spend it moving away from what was built. A number of players have already been moved out, and the Preds may not be done there. Whether this is a full-blown rebuild, or a hopeful retool on the fly might be up to Barry Trotz, who won’t officially take over until July 1.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Status: Seller that could buy
Deadline Cap Space: $6,539,741
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures to help a quick retool
Potentially Available: Colton Parayko, Torey Krug, Robert Bortuzzo
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think (GM Doug Armstrong) could do anything this week. I think St. Louis wants to reshape itself and (has) absolutely zero desire to go out and have any kind of long rebuild.”
Outlook: It feels like their biggest moves are finished, but since no one believes Armstrong is about to curl up for a long rebuild, we have to be mindful of the possibility he surprises us. All of their top-four defencemen are signed with term and have no-trade clauses, but won’t go away in trade rumours. Maybe the “buying” begins in the off-season, but Armstrong is a deadline wild card.
WINNIPEG JETS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $5,402,238
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Top-four defenceman, tough forward with playoff experience
Potentially Available: Logan Stanley, future first-round pick
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “He got a really good player (Nino Niederreiter) at a really good price and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is it. I think he’s going to look at their defence.”
Outlook: The Jets have been sliding of late, but hang on to the second wild-card spot by five points. Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t always the most active GM on deadline day — and has already picked up Niederreiter — but with key decisions to make in the next two years on many of their core players, this feels like a go-for-it year. Will the GM step up? Can he?
ANAHIEM DUCKS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $60,201,705
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Draft picks, prospects
Potentially Available: John Klingberg, John Gibson, Maxime Comtois, Kevin Shattenkirk, Dmitry Kulikov
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think it’s safe to say they’re sellers.”
Outlook: It’ll be a long way back for the Ducks, and while they’ll sell at this deadline, they don’t really have any players we’d expect to bring back a home-run return. They’ll do their best to recoup some future assets for their pending UFAs, and build out their stock of draft picks as we’ve seen from the Blackhawks and Coyotes.
CALGARY FLAMES
Status: Wild card
Deadline Cap Space: $3,411,748
Draft Picks
Team Needs: To get right
Potentially Available: Tyler Toffoli, Noah Hanifin, Milan Lucic, Trevor Lewis, Brett Ritchie, Chris Tanev, MacKenzie Weegar, Nikita Zadorov
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I just think they’ve paused to say, ‘What really makes sense for us?’ And I think the way they’ve played recently, they’ve pumped the brakes and thought about the big picture.”
Outlook: The Flames certainly didn’t expect to be in this kind of a hole in early March and now there’s no telling what GM Brad Treliving might do. With a reputation and history of being unafraid and bold on the trade market, Treliving has the potential to make waves here. We don’t expect he’ll move all — or even most — of the players listed above, but we do wonder about any veteran with one more year left on their contract. It’s hard to imagine them giving up on this season, but it’s easy to see how they might want to change some things up.
EDMONTON OILERS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $450,000
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Depth
Potentially Available: Futures
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think (GM) Ken Holland’s plan is similar to (Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas’ — there are some teams here who are going to get stuck, and can we take advantage of it? They’re dollar in, dollar out. I think he’s playing cards.”
Outlook: Edmonton’s top need was for a top-four defensive blueliner and they accomplished that adding Mattias Ekholm this week. But it won’t be easy for the dollar-in, dollar-out Oilers to find another big splash. If they’re still going to be active, they might be looking for bottom-six forward depth, or just generally more physicality and defensive acumen.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $6,234,707
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Forward depth
Potentially Available: Second-round picks, B-level prospects
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think one of the things they’ve tried to do is be careful, not get drawn into bidding wars. ‘We have a plan in terms of what we’re willing to do and move.’ They told (Quinton) Byfield (he’s) not going anywhere, they told (Brandt) Clarke (he’s) not going anywhere, I think they have a plan and they want to stick to it. They’ve been disciplined in sticking to it.”
Outlook: The Kings were in on Chychrun, but balked at giving up top prospects Byfield or Clarke. It’s a reminder that, while the Kings are here as a challenger, they are still heading toward their peak. The Kings did buy Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo to help with their defence depth, and perhaps find a playoff starter, but are they done there? They may not trade any of their top future assets, but they still have some interesting secondary pieces.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $2,444,167
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Picks and prospects, young NHL players
Potentially Available: Nick Bonino, Vladislav Namestnikov, Erik Karlsson, James Reimer
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I don’t think San Jose, and we heard (GM) Mike Grier say this, I don’t think they’re interested in a full rebuild. And I think that goes above Grier.”
Outlook: The Meier trade was crucial to returning the organization a collection of picks and prospects to begin building out their prospect base again, and Grier did well with that one. If Karlsson goes, the return will be equally as important for the Norris Trophy favourite — though that appears a long shot now. Past Karlsson, the Sharks still have depth pieces who could be of interest to playoff teams.
SEATTLE KRAKEN
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $3,950,975
Draft Picks
Team Needs: A boost anywhere for a post-season run
Potentially Available: Carson Soucy, second-round picks
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “The one thing I look at with (GM) Ron Francis is he’s got three second-round picks, and I wonder about moving around with those.”
Outlook: The Kraken may yet be a wild card here too as they look to make a playoff push in Year 2 of the franchise. But because they’re such a young organization, they’re also still building out a team from prospects on up and have longer-term goals in mind. They’ve been very quiet to this point, but we’d be surprised if Francis stayed that way through Friday.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Status: Seller
Deadline Cap Space: $3,744,583
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Futures, direction … and cap space, for cryin’ out loud
Potentially Available: Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, Tyler Myers, Thatcher Demko
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I think Vancouver has a few things they can do here, but it sounds like their heaviest moves are already done unless a Miller deal comes here out of nowhere.”
Outlook: The Canucks’ front office has made it abundantly clear for months that their intention is to retool this team on the fly and not step back into a ground-up rebuild. The head-scratching Filip Hronek deal further leans into that idea, as did the low-risk bet on Vitali Kravtsov. But this management team has also talked about a desire to open up cap space … but then they keep bringing in contracts. Boeser’s name won’t go away, and perhaps there’s an outside shot Miller gets dealt before his no-trade kicks in with his new contract in July. But, more and more, it feels like this organization is boxing itself in again.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Status: Buyer
Deadline Cap Space: $5,066,666
Draft Picks
Team Needs: Depth anywhere … or a big play
Potentially Available: Any draft pick or prospects
From 32 Thoughts, The Podcast: “I would expect them to do some more. I don’t think they’re done at all. I think they’re going to look for some more players up front. People expected the Golden Knights would try to make one big move and one small one. I really like Barbashev, I think he’s a great fit for them. I don’t know if that fits in the one-big-move-one-small-move conversation. What it means to me is they have more moves.”
Outlook: With Mark Stone on LTIR through the rest of the regular season, immediate expectations were for the Golden Knights to use the cap space to take another big cut on the trade market. So far, Barbashev and Teddy Blueger have been their additions, but they’ve missed out on the likes of Meier or Kane. While the trade pool is drying up, you can never count Vegas out of doing something shocking.
