The Detroit Red Wings have reportedly declared themselves sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. Even though the team sits nine points out of a playoff spot, there are still available assets that many teams would covet for a Cup run.
Jimmy Howard
Team that should be most interested: New York Islanders
Contract: $5.29M cap hit through 2018-19
If the Islanders received league-average goaltending this season, the club would probably be sitting comfortably in a playoff spot instead of two points out. The same could be said for the Carolina Hurricanes, but there's a lot more on the line for the Isles given John Tavares' expiring contract.
Howard's numbers don't jump off the page - a .913 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average - but he'd certainly be an upgrade over the Jaroslav Halak-Thomas Greiss tandem that has posted a combined .898 SV% and 3.49 GAA.
The Islanders could also stand to add a defenseman or two to help shore things up on the back end, but bringing in a solid, veteran netminder would be a good start to complement one of the league's most potent offenses.
Halak's expiring contract would likely have to be sent the other way to balance things out with the Islanders right up against the cap.
Mike Green
Team that should be most interested: Toronto Maple Leafs
Contract: $6M cap hit, UFA after this season
We've already looked at which teams should pursue Mike Green, and after a few more weeks of play and further consideration, the Leafs should be pushing the most. Life without Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev on the back end has exposed the team's depth on the blue line.
Travis Dermott has shown signs that he can be a top-four D-man one day, but if the Leafs want to achieve their goal of winning a Cup, a bottom pairing featuring a combination of Dermott, Roman Polak, Andreas Borgman, and Connor Carrick isn't going to cut it - especially when the top four isn't anything to write home about.
Green isn't the sturdy, stay-at-home guy that might fit the Leafs best, but he's arguably the top rearguard on the market. Moreover, his right-handedness would help balance out a left-heavy blue line and would serve as a much-needed right-handed trigger man on the power play. The Leafs would have to get creative to take on Green's salary, but it would be well worth it.
Gustav Nyquist
Team that should be most interested: St. Louis Blues
Contract: $4.75M cap hit through 2018-19
The Blues are one of the most complete teams in the league, but to make a serious run at the Cup, they need to add scoring depth. In steps Nyquist, who, even on one of the league's worst offenses, has still managed to pot 14 goals thus far.
Whether playing alongside Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko, or Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz, Nyquist's speed and ability to finish would fit in nicely in the team's top-six forward group. His presence would push someone like Vladimir Sobotka down the lineup, creating more depth.
The Blues have plenty of prospect ammunition to acquire Nyquist. Though they would also have to get creative with the cap, it would be worth it given the extra year of Nyquist's services.
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