Friday’s NHL trade deadline will be the last chance for Stanley Cup contenders to add that one final piece, and it could be a winger.
Upgrading the roster could make the difference between playoff glory and post-season defeat – or not even making it to the first round.
While some teams will look to help their depth up the middle, the most effective offensive acquisitions could be one of these 10 wingers.
Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes pushed in all their chips before the 4 Nations break to acquire Rantanen from Colorado. The move has not paid off in immediate victories or convincing Rantanen to sign an extension. The team is 5-6-1 since the trade, and Rantanen has six points in 11 games. GM Eric Tulsky may keep him as an own-rental, but there has been some speculation that Carolina may recoup what it gave up for the power forward.
Jason Zucker, Buffalo Sabres
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Buffalo is in talks with Jordan Greenway on a contract extension, but the 33-year-old Zucker is a pending UFA with 18 goals and 44 points in 54 games. He could yield a high draft pick if the Sabres retain some of the veteran’s $5-million cap hit.
Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
It is not completely clear if the Sabres will trade Tuch with another year left at $4.75 million, but they could look to shake up their core group. The 28-year-old Tuch could get the Sabres a healthy return after reaching the 20-goal mark for the third-straight season.
Joel Armia, Montreal Canadiens
The big Finn has been part of the Canadiens’ top penalty-killing unit with Jake Evans and has scored in double figures for the second year in a row. There was some talk that GM Kent Hughes will look to deal both forwards in the same deal to increase the return, but Evans signed a four-year contract on Tuesday. On his own, Armia could help a playoff-bound club looking for size and special teams help.
Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders
With the Islanders’ playoff hopes fading, GM Lou Lamoriello could look for the best return possible for 30-something veterans Brock Nelson and Palmieri, who is coming off a career-high 30 goals last season and has 19 goals this year. But a team may need to give the Islanders a tempting offer before the team and player agree on another contract.
Reilly Smith, New York Rangers
GM Chris Drury continued the house cleaning by dealing defenseman Ryan Lindgren and left winger Jimmy Vesey to Colorado for Juuso Parssinen, Calvin de Haan and a pair of draft picks. After spending six years in Vegas and winning a Cup, Smith was traded twice in the last two seasons. The Rangers have healthy scratched him in preparation for another deal.
Evander Kane, Edmonton Oilers
The veteran right winger has been injured all season. Indications are he wants to return to the lineup before the playoffs, which would put a crimp in the Oilers’ plans to use the cap space freed up by placing Kane on LTIR to make deadline acquisitions. After the Oilers acquired center Trent Frederic, Kane can either act as their late-season addition, or they can move him to another team this week to free cap space for a bigger trade.
Brandon Tanev, Seattle Kraken
An excellent defensive winger, the 33-year-old Tanev leads the Kraken in penalty-killing ice time, has nine goals this season and would be a good add for a club looking for a high-energy two-way forward.
Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
With the Canucks in a battle for a Western Conference wild-card spot, Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin has a difficult decision of whether to hold on to the 28-year-old and risk losing Boeser as a free agent in the summer or trade him to clubs desperate for a sniper. Short of Rantanen being available, Boeser looks to be the most effective forward to potentially be available.
Lawson Crouse, Utah Hockey Club
The three-time 20-goal scorer has dipped to nine goals this season after the move to Utah from Arizona. Crouse is 27 and has two more seasons under contract at $4.3 million annually. He would be an excellent addition for a playoff club looking to add size and physicality.
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