NHL Power Rankings: No more waiting, decision-time is now

The deadline is just days away, and it’s officially time for teams to make some decisions. This week, we’re talking about the latest news on every team, and where the focus is come Monday’s Trade Deadline.

1. Colorado Avalanche (43 – 13 – 5 – 91 pts)

Last week – 2

It has been a busy, busy week so far for GM Joe Sakic. On Monday he acquired Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks, then on Tuesday flipped Tyson Jost to Minnesota for Nico Sturm, and right now what we’re hearing is, he’s not done. Claude Giroux, Andrew Copp are both names that are out there, but there’s a sense out there that Joe Sakic is working on something nobody sees coming.

Quick note that I found interesting, a report came out Wednesday that apparently Tyson Jost had spoken with Avs management two seasons ago about facilitating a trade so he could get a fresh start elsewhere. They tried to work through it, but ultimately things never worked out for him in Colorado. 

2. Florida Panthers (41 – 13 – 6 – 88 pts)

Last week – 3

The Panthers sent Frank Vatrano ($2.53M Cap Hit) to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 4th round pick on Wednesday. Many, including myself, saw this as a salary dump to make way for Claude Giroux, which may still be the case, but first they took one of the most highly sought-after players off of this year’s trade list, Ben Chiarot. If you ask me, the price was a bit too steep, especially after what the Avalanche paid to acquire Josh Manson. This deal leaves Florida with no first-round or second-round pick in 2022, and no first rounder for 2023. I don’t think they’re out on Giroux, not by any means, but they definitely made it harder on themselves to get a deal done with Philly.

3. Calgary Flames (36 – 16 – 7 – 79 pts)

Last week – 1

When they realized Chiarot was headed to Florida, they turned to the next name on this list that they thought could help them, Calle Jarnkrok. The Flames have now made two solid adds to their middle-six, and while the word is that they’d like to add on D, they may be tapped out after this latest move.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (41 – 13 – 5 – 87 pts)

Last week – 4

With Dallas likely holding on to John Klingberg now, Carolina had also turned their attention to Montreal’s Ben Chiarot, but now he’s off the board as well. The ‘Canes want to add on defense but are already having to resort to plan C or D at this point. Don’t forget, Montreal owns Carolina’s first round pick as it was compensation for the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (38 – 15 – 6 – 81 pts)

Last week – 5

They’re in an arms race with the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, so conventional wisdom says they need to make a move, but I just don’t know if they can. The Manson trade kind of set the market a bit and Tampa is just a bit strapped in terms of assets and cap space. If there’s any top team I could see standing pat, it’s the Bolts.

6. Boston Bruins (37 – 18 – 5 – 79 pts)

Last week – 6

Word is that the Jacob Chychrun injury isn’t quite as bad as originally thought. The Boston Bruins are looking to add on D, and I think they’re going to pursue Chuchrun hard.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (36 – 16 – 9 – 81 pts)

Last week – 8

Penguins GM Ron Hextall said he wanted to wait for someone else to set the market on defenseman, and then Colorado picked up Josh Manson from Anaheim. So the market is starting to take shape, and the Pens want a defenseman who can make a difference now. They liked Chiarot, but he’s in Florida now. Robert Hagg is a name to keep an on eye here.

8. Washington Capitals (33 – 18 – 5 – 79 pts)

Last week – 7

They want MArc-Andre Fleury, bad. The goaltending is one thing that just hasn’t been good enough for this team. It sounds like they’ve made several offers to Chicago, but the rumor is that Fleury is a bit unsure of a couple things. One, are they good enough to win even with Fleury, MAF has said he only is willing to leave his family behind in Chicago for two months if he feels like he has a chance to win a cup, and two, does he want to go somewhere that was considered a massive rival of his for so many years.

9. New York Rangers (38 – 17 – 5 – 81 pts)

Last week – 10

They need to add somewhere, and they started by bolstering their depth with the addition of Frank Vatrano. The Rangers have some cap space to play with, and are looking to add. They’re in on Chychrun, and they’re in on Copp, I expect them to be fairly aggressive ahead of Monday’s deadline.

10. St Louis Blues (34 – 17 – 8 – 76 pts)

Last week – 12

I think they’re technically still hanging around on the Giroux conversation, but as we all know, Claude Giroux has full control over where he ends up, and I’m just not sure he’d have St. Louis on his list. It sounds like they’re looking for some depth help up front, and maybe a top 4 D-man. Mark Girodano or Hampus Lindholm are names the Blues are reportedly interested in.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (38 – 17 – 5 – 81 pts)

Last week – 9

Toronto GM Kyle Dubas said weeks ago that he would likely only make one move at this year’s trade deadline, I don’t think that’s an option anymore. They’re a really good team at the top but could use a middle-six forward, a defenseman, and as much a Dubas will deny it, they need to do something in net. It sounds like they’ve poked around on Fleury and former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, and I get the sense that when push comes to shove, the Leafs are going to do everything they can to improve their team.

12. Los Angeles Kings (33 – 21 – 8 – 74 pts)

Last week – 11

This season has definitely been a pleasant surprise for LA. This is the first time in several seasons now that they haven’t had to be sellers, and I think they’ll add if the price is right. GM Rob Blake wants to give his team a boost, especially given the injuries they’re dealing with, but not at the expense of continuing to build in the right direction.

13. Edmonton Oilers (33 – 23 – 4 – 70 pts)

Last week – 19

Well, the Oilers have been saying all season that they were going to make their deadline decisions based on where they were in the standings, they didn’t want to give away assets for nothing. With five days to go until the deadline, they’re holding down the third spot in the Pacific, thanks in large part to the wheels completely coming off in Vegas, and now have some decisions to make. They need a goalie, but don’t really have room for one in terms of cap space, and GM Ken Holland is adamant that he doesn’t want to give up futures for a rental. So… we’ll see.

14. Vancouver Canucks (30 – 24 – 7 – 67 pts)

Last week – 15

I think Vancouver has done well enough to kick the can down the road to the offseason in terms of selling off. They are within playoff striking distance and the growing sense is that they’re going to hold on to their guys has “in-house rentals”. I think it’s the right move.

15. Nashville Predators (35 – 21 – 4 – 74 pts)

Last week – 14

Nashville doesn’t have the same luxury that Vancouver does where J.T. Miller has another year on his deal beyond this one. Filip Forsberg is a pending UFA and there’s a good chance he walks for nothing at the end of the season, and I think the Preds would like to avoid that. They’re right on the cusp and have been slipping lately, based oil what’s out there, I think they move Forsberg (maybe a candidate for the aforementioned ‘move nobody sees coming’ for the Avalanche), just role with what they have in place and hope for the best.

16. Winnipeg Jets (28 – 23 – 10 – 66 pts)

Last week – 22

Last week I wrote that time was up on this core and that the Jets would be selling. Fast forward one week and they’re two points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand on Vegas (who currently holds the final wild card spot out west), who they just beat the tires off of. Selling off while you’re in the middle of a race is a tough sell for management to try and make to fans and players. There’s tons of interest in Andrew Copp though, and I just don’t think they can let that all slip away for some short-term feel good story that may not even end with them making it into the postseason. 

17. Minnesota Wild (34 – 20 – 4 – 72 pts)

Last week – 16

They make the in-division swap with the Avs and bring in Tyson Jost. Based on what we’ve heard from the Wild and from those who cover them, they’re hoping they can get Jost to the level everyone always wanted him to reach in Colorado. GM Bill Guerin has said repeatedly that he wants to know what he has on his books for next year when their cap hell starts. It sounds like they have a couple of moves they would like to make, but don’t expect them to do anything that would cost a lot of future assets.

18. Dallas Stars (32 – 23 – 3 – 67 pts)

Last week – 13

Short and sweet here, everyone that was on the block, isn’t anymore. Between injuries and them surging back in the standings, expect the Stars to keep their guys as in-house rentals.

19. Arizona Coyotes (20 – 36 – 4 – 44 pts)

Last week – 28

We all know the list of players that could be on the move, but more importantly, It sounds like Arizona has made it known that they are willing to take on salary, to help facilitate trades as a third-party, in exchange for a sweetener. They’ve won five in a row and for the first time all year, there are some good feelings around this organization. This is based on nothing but a gut feeling, but could Clayton Keller be on the move for the right price?

20. San Jose Sharks (26 – 25 – 8 – 60 pts)

Last week – 21

It sounds like they’re inching closer and closer to re-signing Tomas Hertl, if they get it done, I expect them to try and move the likes of Alex Barabanov or an Andrew Cogliano. If they don’t get a deal done with Hertl before Monday, they’ll be looking for a dance partner there too.

Update: Tomas Hertl has re-signed with the Sharks on an 8x$8.25M contract 

21. New York Islanders (24 – 24 – 3 – 57 pts)

Last week – 25

Lou Lamoriello has said he remains confident in the core of this team, so I’m not expecting them to sell off the farm. Semyon Varlamov, though, I think just makes too much sense for them not to move him. We know that teams have called, but how much are they willing to pay?

22. Buffalo Sabres (20 – 32 – 8 – 48 pts)

Last week – 29

Maybe the best week for Buffalo Sabres fans in what… three years? They beat Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights at home, then smash the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Heritage classic, some good positivity to numb some of the pain likely coming on Monday. 10 pending UFAs in Buffalo, including Cody Eakin and the very sought-after Robert Hagg. They’re already taking calls and will be busy.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (30 – 27 – 3 – 63 pts)

Last week – 18

Max Domi and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo are both pending UFAs, I think Columbus is going to do everything in their power to get something in return for those two before they both likely walk in the summer.

24. Anaheim Ducks (27 – 25 – 11 – 65 pts)

Last week – 17

It’s a fire sale and the first domino fell when they sent Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche. GM Pat Verbeek said he isn’t going to let his pending UFAs walk for nothing, so expect the Ducks to be aggressive over the next few days to get deals done for the likes of Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm.

25. Chicago Blackhawks (22 – 30 – 9 – 53 pts)

Last week – 23

I can’t get a pulse here. Obviously there’s Fleury, who would accept a trade to the right home, but other than that… they’ve said they’re open for business, but it’s been quiet. Calvin de Haan is the only guy I would say I’m confident will be on the move by Monday.

26. Vegas Golden Knights (32 – 26 – 4 – 68 pts)

Last week – 20

Man oh man. I did not think I’d have the Vegas Golden Knights at #26 in mid-March, but here we are. Losers of five straight, they have a lot to figure out, and an increasingly smaller and smaller amount of time to do so. The word out there is that Vegas’ management has shifted into a “wait and see”mode. Meaning, they’re likely done tinkering with their roster for now, after all it feels like they’ve brought someone new in every 3-4 months since their inception, and are just going to see if what they have in place can course-correct, and then hope for health come playoff time.

27. Philadelphia Flyers (18 – 30 – 11 – 47 pts)

Last week – 24

All eyes are on Giroux’s 1,000th game which takes place tonight, and after that the expectation is that he will be traded, it’s just a matter of where. Additionally, it sounds like Travis Sanheim and Just Braun are also potentially on the move by Monday’s deadline.

28. Ottawa Senators (21 – 33 – 5 – 47 pts)

Last week – 27

Teams will call, but it’s mostly bit-parts that the Seas have to offer. It doesn’t sound like they’ll be very busy.

29. New Jersey Devils (22 – 33 – 5 – 49 pts)

Last Week – 26

If they make any moves, the sense is that they are looking for players that can be part of their young core in the future as a return. I also wouldn’t be shocked if they dabbled in the goalie market as well. Though, that will likely wait until the summer.

30. Seattle Kraken (18 – 37 – 6 – 42 pts)

Last week – 31

Will Ron Francis get out of his own way? A notoriously difficult GM to make trades with, Francis needs to be adding as much draft and prospect capital as he can, but as of right now the only thing we’ve heard from Seattle is that they’ll “listen to calls”. 

31. Detroit Red Wings (24 – 29 – 7 – 55 pts)

Last week – 32

Tough stretch for the Red Wings lately. Oh well. Word is though that they’ve Tyler Bertuzzi available which is pretty surprising. It’ll be interesting to see how much teams will shy away from the only unvaccinated player in the NHL.

32. Montreal Canadiens (16 – 36 – 8 – 40 pts)

Last week – 30

They got the first round pick that they said they wanted for Ben Chiarot, and honestly I’m surprised. Good for them though, they have already added a first round pick in 2023 and the deadline is still four days away. The final return for Chiarot was a 2023 1st, 2022 4th, and prospect Ty Similanic. I expect the Habs to try and add to what has been a good start to the deadline for them.