The second half of the 2010-2011 NHL Schedule picks up tonight, and it's getting down to crunch time for NHL teams to make decisions on the future of their clubs, with that said, here is a list of what each team may be looking for/seeking in the coming weeks before the NHL Trade Deadline.
Anaheim Ducks - Defensive D-man - Anaheim is the only current Western Playoff team with a - rating on goals against, they will be looking to make gains in that area
Atlanta Thrashers - Much the same as Anaheim here, although Atlanta has made it known that Antropov is available for defensive help, it's important for the Thrashers to make the playoffs this season, they will make a push.
Boston Bruins - looking for a puck moving D-man, and a top 6 forward to make up for the injured Marc Savard
Buffalo Sabres - with new ownership now in place, Buffalo will be making a run I have no doubt, look for Buffalo to be a surprise team in making one of the larger deals at or before the deadline
Calgary Flames - being only 2 points out of the playoffs has changed the Flames mindset, they will make a run for it, but it will likely hurt them next year and years to come, I expect the Flames to be buyers
Carolina Hurricanes - just one point out of the playoffs, I expect Carolina will make a minor deal or two for depth, playoffs would be a boost for Canes fans this season following a fantastic All-Star weekend
Chicago Blackhawks - will be looking for depth heading into the deadline, I expect a few minor/mid level deals out of the Hawks
Colorado Avalanche - much the same here, minor deals as they are expected to add Peter Forsberg any time now which is a huge boost in itself
Columbus Blue Jackets - likely staying the course, much like Atlanta, Columbus needs a playoff push for it's fan base but won't trade it's future away for it
Dallas Stars - rumors are swirling about Brad Richards on his way out but it's hard to imagine that scenraio with Dallas in 3rd in the West, Brian Burke would have to come up with something huge for Dallas to move the looming UFA to Toronto which has been making the rounds
Detroit Redwings - I expect Detroit to acquire a goaltender before the deadline, whether it be Giguere or possibly a lower end backup to Jimmy Howard, they will make a move
Edmonton Oilers - aside from trying to unload the Sheldon Souray contract (which is what I have heard the Leafs rumored to be discussing in exchange for Toronto obtaining draft picks) Edmonton will be staying the course
Florida Panthers - talk continues that Bryan McCabe will be dealt to Montreal or the NYR, Florida is a tweener and reality suggests they won't make the playoffs, I expect them to sell veterans for younger players that can step in now
Los Angeles Kings - talks with the Leafs continue involving Kaberle/Brayden Schenn, LA needs a playoff drive this season and Schenn is not exactly expendable, but they ar enot dependant on him either, LA has lots of youth, adding a vet like Kaberle would prove genius in my opinion, Kaberle would be a lethal addition when not being relied on as the go to offensive d-man
Minnesota Wild - another tweener, will be looking to add a top 6 forward for a playoff push, sitting just one point out
Montreal Canadiens - I expect Montreal to be fairly busy, they are only 3 points ahead of 9th place Carolina and are looking at many options, McCabe being one, look for Montreal to be a major player in the coming weeks
Nashville Predators - sitting 4th in the west, I expect Nashville to be busy as well, much like Atlanta & Columbus, this franchise needs to make the playoffs for interest from their fanbase
New Jersey - they will be major players as well, but for all the wrong reasons, after what seems like a never ending string of good/great NJ teams, they have finally fallen from the top, and hard! they will be looking for Draft Picks/Prospects and unloading veterans
NY Islanders - it's always hard to tell what Charles Wang/Garth Snow are going to do, but at this point, I don't think much, look for them to trade one or two assets (not major ones) for prospects
NY Rangers - the Rangers will be active, their name is out there on many of the rumors I hear, including McCabe, Iginla and more, NY will be looking to add a top 6 D-man, as well as a scoring forward
Ottawa Senators - much like the Devils, Ottawa has ended up near the bottom and it's time for change with the current core group of players, look for Fisher, Phillips & possibly Jason Spezza to be moved for top level prospects (in Spezza's case)
Philadelphia Flyers - the Flyers will be a buyer at the deadline, that much is certain, the question mark like every year, is in goal, will they finally add a top level goaltender or continue to bank on rookie/AHL goalies to get it done, time will tell, my bet is they add a veteran mid level goaltender
Phoenix Coyotes - the Yotes will be looking to add a top 6 forward, possibly two before the deadline, 3 points ahead of 9th in the west, they need to make a move to show their fan base they are serious
Pittsburgh Penguins - right now, praying Sidney Crosby is going to come back like Sidney Crosby, aside from that, look for Pittsburgh to acquire a two-way forward in the mold of a Mike Fisher type, and a defenseman for depth
San Jose Sharks - rumors were shot down about SJ talking with Toronto about Joe Thornton, they are talking with Toronto, just not about Big Joe, the Sharks will make moves, they have to, Doug Wilson is not happy with the production from his team this season, and changes will be made
St Louis Blues - I expect St Louis to be fairly calm heading into the deadline, they are a young team and aside from some minor tinkering, I don't expect much
Tampa Bay Lightning - the Lightning will be looking to add a couple defensive D-men in the coming weeks, they give up far too many goals for a playoff team and will need to address that
Toronto Maple Leafs - likely the busiest of all NHL teams, they are talking to everyone right now it seems, Brian Burke will be adding prospects in the 20-23 year old range that can step in now, lots of talk with Brayden Schenn, and also the Sheldon Souray contract relief for Edmonton, Toronto fans can expect MANY deals to talk about in the coming weeks
Vancouver Canucks - the Nucks will be fairly quiet, other than adding some depth in case of injuries, I expect a quiet deadline out of Vancouver
Washington Capitals - the Caps will be looking to add a defenseman and possibly a goaltender as the deadline approaches, also could surprise with a large move, as I have heard a couple rumors with Toronto have escalated into multi player deals in talks
feel free to add to the discussion about your team or any others!
Anaheim Ducks - Defensive D-man - Anaheim is the only current Western Playoff team with a - rating on goals against, they will be looking to make gains in that area
Atlanta Thrashers - Much the same as Anaheim here, although Atlanta has made it known that Antropov is available for defensive help, it's important for the Thrashers to make the playoffs this season, they will make a push.
Boston Bruins - looking for a puck moving D-man, and a top 6 forward to make up for the injured Marc Savard
Buffalo Sabres - with new ownership now in place, Buffalo will be making a run I have no doubt, look for Buffalo to be a surprise team in making one of the larger deals at or before the deadline
Calgary Flames - being only 2 points out of the playoffs has changed the Flames mindset, they will make a run for it, but it will likely hurt them next year and years to come, I expect the Flames to be buyers
Carolina Hurricanes - just one point out of the playoffs, I expect Carolina will make a minor deal or two for depth, playoffs would be a boost for Canes fans this season following a fantastic All-Star weekend
Chicago Blackhawks - will be looking for depth heading into the deadline, I expect a few minor/mid level deals out of the Hawks
Colorado Avalanche - much the same here, minor deals as they are expected to add Peter Forsberg any time now which is a huge boost in itself
Columbus Blue Jackets - likely staying the course, much like Atlanta, Columbus needs a playoff push for it's fan base but won't trade it's future away for it
Dallas Stars - rumors are swirling about Brad Richards on his way out but it's hard to imagine that scenraio with Dallas in 3rd in the West, Brian Burke would have to come up with something huge for Dallas to move the looming UFA to Toronto which has been making the rounds
Detroit Redwings - I expect Detroit to acquire a goaltender before the deadline, whether it be Giguere or possibly a lower end backup to Jimmy Howard, they will make a move
Edmonton Oilers - aside from trying to unload the Sheldon Souray contract (which is what I have heard the Leafs rumored to be discussing in exchange for Toronto obtaining draft picks) Edmonton will be staying the course
Florida Panthers - talk continues that Bryan McCabe will be dealt to Montreal or the NYR, Florida is a tweener and reality suggests they won't make the playoffs, I expect them to sell veterans for younger players that can step in now
Los Angeles Kings - talks with the Leafs continue involving Kaberle/Brayden Schenn, LA needs a playoff drive this season and Schenn is not exactly expendable, but they ar enot dependant on him either, LA has lots of youth, adding a vet like Kaberle would prove genius in my opinion, Kaberle would be a lethal addition when not being relied on as the go to offensive d-man
Minnesota Wild - another tweener, will be looking to add a top 6 forward for a playoff push, sitting just one point out
Montreal Canadiens - I expect Montreal to be fairly busy, they are only 3 points ahead of 9th place Carolina and are looking at many options, McCabe being one, look for Montreal to be a major player in the coming weeks
Nashville Predators - sitting 4th in the west, I expect Nashville to be busy as well, much like Atlanta & Columbus, this franchise needs to make the playoffs for interest from their fanbase
New Jersey - they will be major players as well, but for all the wrong reasons, after what seems like a never ending string of good/great NJ teams, they have finally fallen from the top, and hard! they will be looking for Draft Picks/Prospects and unloading veterans
NY Islanders - it's always hard to tell what Charles Wang/Garth Snow are going to do, but at this point, I don't think much, look for them to trade one or two assets (not major ones) for prospects
NY Rangers - the Rangers will be active, their name is out there on many of the rumors I hear, including McCabe, Iginla and more, NY will be looking to add a top 6 D-man, as well as a scoring forward
Ottawa Senators - much like the Devils, Ottawa has ended up near the bottom and it's time for change with the current core group of players, look for Fisher, Phillips & possibly Jason Spezza to be moved for top level prospects (in Spezza's case)
Philadelphia Flyers - the Flyers will be a buyer at the deadline, that much is certain, the question mark like every year, is in goal, will they finally add a top level goaltender or continue to bank on rookie/AHL goalies to get it done, time will tell, my bet is they add a veteran mid level goaltender
Phoenix Coyotes - the Yotes will be looking to add a top 6 forward, possibly two before the deadline, 3 points ahead of 9th in the west, they need to make a move to show their fan base they are serious
Pittsburgh Penguins - right now, praying Sidney Crosby is going to come back like Sidney Crosby, aside from that, look for Pittsburgh to acquire a two-way forward in the mold of a Mike Fisher type, and a defenseman for depth
San Jose Sharks - rumors were shot down about SJ talking with Toronto about Joe Thornton, they are talking with Toronto, just not about Big Joe, the Sharks will make moves, they have to, Doug Wilson is not happy with the production from his team this season, and changes will be made
St Louis Blues - I expect St Louis to be fairly calm heading into the deadline, they are a young team and aside from some minor tinkering, I don't expect much
Tampa Bay Lightning - the Lightning will be looking to add a couple defensive D-men in the coming weeks, they give up far too many goals for a playoff team and will need to address that
Toronto Maple Leafs - likely the busiest of all NHL teams, they are talking to everyone right now it seems, Brian Burke will be adding prospects in the 20-23 year old range that can step in now, lots of talk with Brayden Schenn, and also the Sheldon Souray contract relief for Edmonton, Toronto fans can expect MANY deals to talk about in the coming weeks
Vancouver Canucks - the Nucks will be fairly quiet, other than adding some depth in case of injuries, I expect a quiet deadline out of Vancouver
Washington Capitals - the Caps will be looking to add a defenseman and possibly a goaltender as the deadline approaches, also could surprise with a large move, as I have heard a couple rumors with Toronto have escalated into multi player deals in talks
feel free to add to the discussion about your team or any others!
I hope Toronto makes some moves soon, getting anxious for change here! nice list, thanks for posting this
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