Trade Deadline Preview-Northeast Division
The Feburary 27th Trade Deadline is a little over a month away, but trades will start in the next few weeks. This is the first blog of a team by team preview broken down by division. Today I will start with the division I know the best the Northeast.
1. Boston Bruins 29-13-1 59 pts (2nd in Eastern Conference) Buyers
PP: 18.2% (12th) PK: 86.4% (6th) GF: 156 GA: 88 (+68)
Leaders: Goals-Tyler Seguin (17) Assists- Patrice Bergeron (25) Points-Tyler Seguin (40) GAA:Rask 1.61
Injuries: Rich Peverly (DTD), Marc Savard (LTIR)
Cap Space- 2.45 million
UFA's: Chris Kelly, Gregory Campbell, Joe Corvo, Dan Paille, Shawn Thorton, Danny Boychuk
RFA's: Tuukka Rask, Beniot Pouliot, Zach Hamill
Needs: 3-6 Defenseman, two way forward
Strengths:Goaltending, Forward
The Bruins start off cold with people talking of a cup hangover. They were dead last in the east with a 3-7 record. Then the calender turned to November and the Bruins turned it on. They did not lose a game in regulation the entire month and only lost a handful mid way through December. The Bruins shot to the top of the Eastern Conference Standings. They rolled over opponents in their path looking like definate repeats. The Bruins have come back to earth a little since Christmas, but are still a top 5 NHL team. Tim Thomas has struggled of late, drawing some concerns, while Rask continues to be solid. Nathan Horton has returned to his Florida form until he broke out last night in Tampa. That is a story line that is worth watching in the second half. Boston is a definate buyer going into the deadline and will probably look for defense help. That could be in the form of a defenseman or a solid two way forward. Here are some players that I think Boston will target and be trade bait:
Targets:Tim Gleason, Tuomo Ruutu, Andy Sutton, Toni Lydman, Ryan Suter, Sammy Pahlsson, Kristian Huselius, Jochen Hecht, Bryan Allen
Trade Bait: Jordan Caron, Joe Colborne, Joe Corvo, Tuukka Rask, Beniot Pouliot
2. Ottawa Senators 26-16-6 58 pts (5th in Eastern Conference) Buyers
PP: 18.3% (14th) PK: 81.4 (23rd) GF: 149 GA: 150 (-1)
Leaders: Goals-Milan Michalek (23) Assists-Erik Karlsson (38) Points-Jason Spezza (48) GAA-Craig Anderson (2.91)
Injuries: Peter Regin (IR), Jesse Winchester (IR)
Cap Space: 12.7 million
UFA's: Jesse Winchester, Zenon Konopka , Filip Kuba, Matt Carkner, Alex Auld
RFA's: Brian Lee, Peter Regin, Nick Foligno, Erik Karlsson, Kaspras Daugavins
Needs: Forward, 3-6 Defenseman, Depth, Size
Strengths: Goaltending, Youth, Defense
Ottawa is the surprise team of the season that has managed to stick around so far this season. They were projected to be in the 12-14 range in the Eastern Conference. Jason Spezza has had another strong year, Erik Karlsson has turned into perhaps the best young D prospect in the league, and Milan Michalek is putting up numbers like he did in SJ. Instead of the Senators being drowned in the to trade or not to trade Daniel Alfredsson debate, they will be looking to add at the deadline. They already made one of the big moves of the season picking up Kyle Turris from the Coyotes.
Targets: Tim Gleason, Ryan Malone, Derek Roy, Bobby Ryan, Toni Lydman, Francois Beauchemin, Jaroslav Spacek, Bryan Allen
Trade Bait: Brian Lee, Nick Foligno, Nikita Filatov, Peter Regin
3. Toronto Maple Leafs 22-18-5 49 pts (9th in Eastern Conference) Buyers
PP: 20.6% (4th) PK: 74.4% (30th) GF:139 GA:140 (-1)
Leaders: Goals- Phil Kessel (24) Assists: Joffrey Lupul (28) Points: Phil Kessel (49) GAA: Jonas Gustavsson (2.92)
Injuries: John-Michael Liles (IR), Colby Armstrong (IR)
Cap Space: 625K
UFA's: Mikael Grabovski, Joey Crabb, John-Michael Liles, Darryl Boyce, Jonas Gustavsson
RFA's: Nikolai Kulemin, Jay Rosehill, Cody Franson, Keith Aulie
Needs: Goaltending, Forward, Depth, Size
Strengths: Defense, Youth
Toronto has been an up and down team this season. Goaltending is again an issue in Toronto, with Reimer and Gustavsson struggling. Leafs are in the battle for a playoff spot this year and I think Burke will do his best at the deadline to get them in. Kessel and Lupul have carried the Leafs so far with excellent seasons. They will need some help to get the Leafs into the top 8.
Targets: Antero Nittymaki, Elvis Lindback, Eric Staal, Rick Nash, James Van Reimsdyk, Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Jonas Hiller, Jeff Carter
Trade Bait: Nazem Kadri, Cody Franson, Keith Aulie, James Reimer, Jonas Gustavsson, Nikolai Kulemin, Clarke MacArthur, Mikael Grabovski
4. Buffalo Sabres 19-21-5 43 pts (11th in Eastern Conference) Sellers
PP: 18% (14th) PK: 83.5% (11th) GF:122 GA:134 (-12)
Leaders: Goals-Thomas Vanek (19) Assists-Jason Pominville (29) Points-Jason Pominville (44) GAA: Jhonas Enroth (2.42)
Injuries: Robyn Regher (IR), Brayden McNabb (DTD), Tyler Ennis (IR), Christian Ehrhoff (IR)
Cap Space: 0
UFA's: Paul Gaustad, Jochen Hecht, Brad Boyes
RFA's: Marc-Andre Gragnani, Tyler Ennis, Patrick Kaleta, TJ Brennan
Needs: #1 Center, Size, Scoring
Strengths: Defense, Goaltending, Youth
The Sabres had a lot of expectations this year and have fell flat on their face. Injuries have killed this team 19 of the 23 opening roster players have missed at least 1 game to injury. Ryan Miller has struggled along with Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, and Brad Boyes. Leino has not lived up to his big contract and the Sabres might be looking to dish it off at seasons end. The Ruff and Regier era could be coming to end and for the first time in a few years the Sabres are looking at being sellers at the deadline.
Targets: Sam Gagner, Bobby Ryan, Draft Picks, Prospects
Trade Bait: Jochen Hecht, Derek Roy, Brad Boyes, Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad, MA Gragnani, Mike Weber
5. Montreal Canadiens 17-20-8 42 pts (12th in Eastern Conference) Sellers
PP: 12.8% (30th) PK: 89.1% (2nd) GF:116 GA:123 (-7)
Leaders: Goals-Erik Cole (17) Assists-David Desharnais (24) Points-Erik Cole (33) GAA-Carey Price (2.44)
Injuries: Brian Gionta (IR) Travis Moen, Andrei Markov (LTIR), Tomas Plekanec, Ryan White, Andreas Engqvist
Cap Space: 1.8 million
UFA's: Travis Moen, Hal Gill, Andrei Kostitsyn, Mathieu Darche, Chris Campoli
RFA's: Carey Price, Lars Eller, Ryan White, Mike Blunden, Petteri Nokelainen, Alexei Emelin, Raphael Diaz, PK Subban
Needs: Dump Gomez Contract, Scoring, Forward, Size, Top 6 Forward
Strengths: Goaltending, Defense, Youth, One less year of the Gomez contract
Montreal has been another team that has let down their fan base. In Montreal they expect a winning team every year. They will be looking for a new coach in the offseason that hopefully speaks French and probably a new GM. I don't see Pierre Gauthier lasting through this season. The Habs are in desperate need of scoring and size to help out Carey Price. They have been active this season trading for Tomas Kaberle and trading away Mike Cammalleri for Rene Bourque. Bourque will provide the Habs with some size and hopefully scoring.
Targets: Bobby Ryan, Jeff Carter, Zach Parise, prospects, draft picks
Trade Bait: Scott Gomez, PK Subban, Andrei Kostitsyn, Hal Gill, Scott Gomez, Chris Campoli, Scott Gomez
Atlantic Division coming next sometime next week.
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