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The NHL has had some huge trades in the past two weeks that changed the outlook of teams in three divisions.
Carolina and Colorado, Vancouver and the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Dallas, and Philadelphia and Calgary all pulled off major deals well before the league’s March 7 trade deadline.
With those deals going down, the picture in the Pacific, Central and Metropolitan divisions all look significantly different today than it was a short time ago. But oddly enough, the other division – the highly competitive Atlantic Division – has been quiet on the trade front.
Don’t expect that silence to last for long. The stakes are too high for Atlantic teams to stand pat, so we think there could be trades going down sooner than later.
With that said, which Atlantic teams will most likely make a big addition via the trade market? Two teams in particular – the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings – would benefit by adding one key piece by the deadline. The two Original Six franchises are under considerable pressure – different types of pressure, but pressure nonetheless – and there are no internal candidates in Leafs Land or Hockeytown that seem ready to step up and fill the needs they have right now.
Related: NHL Trade Deadline Needs: Toronto Maple Leafs And Tampa Bay Lightning
The Maple Leafs need a third-line center. Max Domi isn’t working out at that spot, and youngster Fraser Minten isn’t experienced enough to be relied upon at this point in his career.
The Maple Leafs could have used now-former San Jose Shark and current Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund – but getting a veteran pivot like him is the goal. The Maple Leafs have about $1.3 million in salary cap space, assuming goaltender Anthony Stolarz will come off long-term injury reserve soon. By moving out salary, there should be room to land a big fish.
It’s unrealistic to think Leafs GM Brad Treliving will give up a prized prospect like Easton Cowan, and he’s definitely not moving developing star left winger Matthew Knies. But Treliving knows he must pay a sizeable price to land a center, whether that’s a pure rental or for someone with term still left on his contract. Either way, the Buds need a long playoff run to prevent their core from being broken up this summer, so there’s a clear impetus to make a major move by March 7.
Related: Buy, Sell Or Stand: What 10 NHL Teams Should Do With Trade Deadline Approaching
Meanwhile, the Red Wings have played well enough since changing coaches in late December to get back in the thick of the playoff race. They’re in the first wild-card spot, but one point separates four teams. They should add one or two assets to push them into the post-season.
The Red Wings could use help at both ends of the ice. They’re currently 19th overall in goals-for per game and goals-against per game. That’s a mediocrity that can’t continue if Detroit wants to tighten its grip on a playoff spot.
Yzerman has about $4.9 million in cap space, and he’s also got all of his first-round draft picks in the next three seasons. It’s time for him to put aside part of the future and send a first-rounder and/or above-average prospect to acquire a needle-mover and a depth component to solidify the Wings’ playoff push.
A third-line center like the Flyers’ Scott Laughton – who would also be a good fit with Toronto – has the talent to step in and give a bump in depth to the Red Wings. His $3-million salary makes him affordable for Detroit and the Leafs, and he has one more year left on his contract.
In any case, don’t be surprised when Atlantic Division teams shake the trees and close on big trades in the next few weeks. Standing pat doesn’t make sense for many Atlantic teams. No team will make a trade for the sake of making a trade, but the pressure to break through the parity could tempt more squads to upgrade.
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