The NHL trade deadline is about six weeks away, and teams are in the midst of meetings to identify their needs and potential targets.
What will your favorite team be looking to accomplish? Adding a difference-maker? Or just a bit of depth? Or whatever futures it can muster?
The Athletic asked its NHL staff this week what they think each team needs most. Here’s what they said.
A bona fide sniper: The Ducks are nearing the point where they need to acquire talent that can help them now instead of solely eyeing the future. They’re well-stocked when it comes to defense prospects and some, like Pavel Mintyukov and Jackson LaCombe, are already eating minutes as NHL rookies. It was enough that general manager Pat Verbeek could deal Jamie Drysdale to beef up his forward pool with a high-end prospect in Cutter Gauthier. But when 2024-25 rolls around, it’s time to start moving upward. Draft capital is strong this year, with another high first-round pick coming and five selections in the second and third. More assets could be gained in trading Adam Henrique and Ilya Lyubushkin. But it’s time to identify a scorer who still has valuable years ahead of him. Not easy to acquire, but you’ve got to kick the tires. — Eric Stephens
GO DEEPER
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Help at center: The Coyotes have nice balance and depth in goal, on the blue line and on the wings, but they have one of the weakest collections of center-ice men in the NHL, even before the injuries to Barrett Hayton and Travis Boyd thinned an already so-so herd. In the recent past, the Coyotes have never really pushed the chips in for a short-term fix, and this probably isn’t the year to do it either. But if we’re talking wish-list stuff, a first- or second-line center should be at the top of the organization’s shopping list. — Eric Duhatschek
A top-six wing: The Bruins can depend on David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand to score. They cannot expect the same from anyone else. Jake DeBrusk is playing well, but he is not scoring at previous rates. Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, James van Riemsdyk, Trent Frederic, Danton Heinen and Jesper Boqvist have all taken shifts at wing on the first or second lines. None of them are proven offensive threats. — Fluto Shinzawa
GO DEEPER
Bruins are going nowhere without an impact wing
A top-four defenseman: The Sabres added depth to their blue line with Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson this offseason, but a legitimate top-four defenseman is still a need. Finding an experienced and reliable defenseman to play with the offensively gifted Owen Power would help the Sabres put together a stronger overall defensive group. — Matthew Fairburn
Draft picks and prospects: If the Flames are going to be sellers, they need pieces that can make them better for the future. It means selling their pending unrestricted free agents — prominently Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev and/or Noah Hanifin — for draft picks and quality prospects that bolster their farm system now and can eventually be part of a rebuilt NHL roster. — Julian McKenzie
GO DEEPER
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Defensive depth: The Hurricanes are already carrying an extra defenseman with Tony DeAngelo having played in just one game (for under four minutes) in the past month. DeAngelo’s name has circulated in some trade rumors, and Carolina would probably like to shed his $1.675 million cap hit but still have some insurance if one of their defenders gets injured. The Hurricanes could target more of a stay-at-home depth defenseman to give them depth for the postseason. — Cory Lavalette
Trade partners in dire need of cap space: With Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson locked up for two more years and Petr Mrázek potentially joining them, the Blackhawks don’t have much in the way of rentals. A healthy Tyler Johnson might fetch a mid-round pick. What Kyle…
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