The seven Canadian NHL teams range from legitimate Stanley Cup contenders to plummeting Connor Bedard hopefuls. While there's a significant talent gap north of the border, all seven squads can significantly influence the March 3 trade deadline in their own way.
Below, we dive into how each team should approach the frenzy.
Calgary Flames: Find top-6 winger
General manager Brad Treliving made it known well before the deadline that he wants a scoring winger to add some punch to the Flames' attack. The team ranks 16th in goals per game this season after finishing sixth in 2021-22, and Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary's prized summer acquisition, hasn't delivered offensively the way everyone expected.
With approximately $4 million in cap space and $82 million already committed to next year's roster, it's unlikely the Flames will be able to grab a big name like Timo Meier or any other winger with term. Perhaps Treliving can convince the Flyers to retain salary on seven-time 20-goal man James van Riemsdyk, and if not, Max Domi or Ivan Barbashev would be budget-friendly options who play with the type of snarl Darryl Sutter prefers.
While there's no shortage of suitable options to fulfill Treliving's desire for a more potent offense, Calgary's precarious position in the Western Conference wild-card race might make him reluctant to go for it. A quick string of losses before March 3 could oust the Flames from the postseason race, so the reigning Pacific Division champs may have to act swiftly and jump the market.
Edmonton Oilers: Add sensibly to blue line
It's clear the Oilers want reinforcements on defense to increase their chances at a championship while Connor McDavid runs roughshod in his best season yet. Edmonton has been linked to Chicago Blackhawks rearguards Connor Murphy and Jake McCabe, but talk of the club's interest in Erik Karlsson caught on like wildfire.
As fun as the two-time Norris winner's resurgence has been this season, and as salivating as it is to imagine his perfect saucer passes springing endless breakaways for McDavid, the Oilers are not an offensive defenseman away from becoming a championship team - even if Karlsson is one of the greatest to ever play the role.
The Oilers are among the worst teams currently holding a playoff spot in terms of expected goals against and shots against per 60. They should focus on adding bodies capable of limiting chances against instead of adding a dynamic offensive player when they already have two of the world's best up front. Bolstering two defensive pairings with affordable players is the smart thing to do, especially for a team pushing the cap limit.
Montreal Canadiens: Get involved somehow
The Canadiens have 11 picks in the 2023 draft - including potentially two shots at Connor Bedard - and if they play their cards right leading up to March 3, could stock up even more. Montreal doesn't have the same quality of trade chips it did last year when it shipped out Tyler Toffoli, Artturi Lehkonen, and Ben Chiarot for big hauls, but some intriguing pieces remain if they can get healthy by the deadline.
Sean Monahan had 17 points in 25 games before landing on long-term injured reserve and could be an enticing option for teams looking for depth down the middle at a reasonable cost relative to other centers on the market. Monahan arrived in Montreal as a pure cap dump, so getting anything back is gravy for GM Kent Hughes.
Joel Edmundson could also land the Habs a quality return. Perhaps the Oilers could come calling if they follow our advice above. Contending GMs have proved time and time again they're willing to pay for hard-nosed defensemen, and Edmundson is one with an extra year of term (at an affordable $3.5 million per) and a Stanley Cup ring to boot. He's a leader on this young team, but Montreal has nothing to lose at this deadline and could just be delaying the inevitable for 2024, at which point Edmundson will be valued as a rental.
If the players' health issues scare potential suitors away, the Canadiens would be wise to shift their focus to being a third-party salary broker to come away with an extra pick or two.
Ottawa Senators: Deal the UFAs
The lofty expectations generated by Senators supporters after a thrilling offseason didn't come to fruition in Year 1. Rather than search for ways to supplement its young core, Ottawa will again be selling off assets come March 3. The process is already underway now that Pierre Dorion shipped Tyler Motte to the New York Rangers, but five pending unrestricted free agents remain. Austin Watson, Derick Brassard, Travis Hamonic, Nick Holden, and Cam Talbot are all useful depth pieces, and acquiring a pick for any of those players will help in the long run.
The Senators only have $62 million committed to next year's roster, and although they've wanted to add at center and on defense for a while, now's not the time. Collecting as many assets as possible and using them as ammunition for a trade or two in the offseason is the logical route. On top of selling off the UFAs, Ottawa can snag extra picks by utilizing its $20 million in cap space to retain salary as a third party.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Add a defenseman
The Maple Leafs already made two forward lines better by adding Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, so their focus should shift to adding bodies on the back end. Without Jake Muzzin, Toronto severely lacks physicality and playoff experience on its D corps, which should be a serious area of concern as it barrels toward a playoff rematch with the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sheldon Keefe's crew is a top-five defensive team on the year, but Muzzin's absence creates a big hole, and management should strive to bring in someone of a similar ilk who can challenge Rasmus Sandin, Justin Holl, and Conor Timmins for valuable minutes. Toronto has just over $4 million in cap space to work with, which means it could hunt for someone more prominent than just a depth piece. However, the Leafs are already without six draft picks over the next two years, so they may have to give up a roster player - they have a glut of NHL-caliber forwards - to sweeten a potential package.
Even though the Leafs have parted with a ton of future assets in recent years, further emptying the cupboard might be the most likely option given how grueling the Eastern Conference playoff picture projects to be.
Vancouver Canucks: Tear it all down
The Canucks have endured a tumultuous season, but a productive deadline would provide a silver lining. In our estimation, that would mean finally committing to the rebuild that management has put off for far too long. It's become crystal clear there is no quick fix, and it's time to do it right.
Vancouver doesn't have many rentals to part with aside from defenseman Luke Schenn, who's a virtual lock to be dealt, but it does have valuable pieces with term who could be parted with. Brock Boeser and Conor Garland are two players who could yield quality returns and in no way should be considered untouchable. Although goaltender Thatcher Demko is only a year removed from being a star, the Canucks shouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger if a team comes calling. By the time this club is ready to contend again, Demko will likely be past his prime anyway.
While there's more pain ahead, the only way to start fresh and build toward a sustainable future is to clear as much salary as possible and kick-start the rebuild. All players not named Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes should be on the table this week.
Winnipeg Jets: Keep adding depth
The Jets aren't a dominant team analytically, but they have star players at every position and are in contention for the top seed in the Western Conference. Saturday's shrewd acquisition of Nino Niederreiter signaled that Winnipeg wants to make the most of its bounce-back year, and with over $4 million left to play with, Kevin Cheveldayoff should keep adding.
Bringing a strong bottom-six forward or two could go a long way for the Jets, who already have one of the league's best attacking units. Or, maybe after already adding up front, they could seek a defenseman to make Connor Hellebuyck's life a little bit easier. The Jets' strength is their core, but filling a couple more holes like they did in the trade with Nashville could elevate them from playoff participants to Cup threats.
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