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something else haha
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Western Conference Trade Deadline
The west seems to be a lot more clear. With 6 teams already having a playoff spot locked up, it is easier to define who the buyers are at this point. 4 teams in the west already have over 100 points this season and most have been adding pieces throughout the season.
Chicago Blackhawks - Buyers
With an 11 point lead on the 9th place Blue Jackets, they are as close as clinching a playoff berth as you can get. Look for the blackhawks to be buyers come deadline time with lots of cheese space and some decent prospects. Recently they have seems very content with their roster so they might take that approach as well going into the playoffs. Either way, the blackhawks have a lot of flexibility to add some cheap depth. I can't see them trying to get an elite player before the deadline as they don't have a lot of depth.
Trade Bait - Howden, Flanagan, Culek, 3rd
Nashville Predators - Sellers
The Predators GM has came out in the last few weeks and let everyone know that they will be a seller this year. They have a lot of good depth for contenders that want to bring in some guys for an affordable price. The issue currently is they have zero cheese space so they are going to have to get creative. The Preds have done a lot of their roster moves already bringing in a bunch of new prospects to the system. They will be looking for picks mostly this deadline but might bring in a big contract to ease the cheese space.
Trade Bait - McClement, Eager, Aucoin, Jovanovski, Lilja
Detroit Red Wings - Buyers
After being one of the best teams in the league, there was a GM change mid way through this season. New GM flamesfan6 wanted to put a stamp on this team the day he came in. He clearly did that, shipping out Phil Kessel who has been a main piece to the success in Detroit for years. Was it too much change? They have slipped quite a bit and have gone 3-5-2 in their last 10. Look for the Wings GM to try and regain the sim chemistry they found earlier in the season, especially with Chris Pronger looking like he will be gone for a large chunk of the playoffs, if not all of it.
Trade Bait - 3rd, Rau, Gudas, Bobkov
Columbus Blue Jackets - Sellers
The Blue Jackets have defined the team as sellers. With an established core already in place, look for the BJs to build around the core by trading established players for players the GM likes more. With a good chunk of cheese space and being a very active GM, look for a lot of moves coming out of Columbus before the trade deadline. They have positioned themselves to not have many rental players to sell so look for them to look for upgrades and established NHLers.
Trade Bait - Moss, Stuart, Nystrom, 1st(s) (for flipping purposes)
St.Louis Blues - Sellers
A new face at the helm and a lot of new faces in the locker room. That has been the story for the Blues this season as the rebuild continues for a 2nd straight year. Throughout the year they have got a defined core but they are not finished any time soon. In terms of trade deadline time, the lack of cheese space is going to be a factor. With a few rental pieces but nothing significant, we could see a quiet deadline in St.Louis this year.
Trade Bait - Kostopoulos, Mayers, Lebda
Phoenix Coyotes - Buyers
One of the most active GMs in the CPHL has turned his team around in very little time. A clear contender for the CPHL crown, look for the Coyotes to be buyers this season. Very little cheese space might factor in but the Coyotes GM hasn't had an issue getting creative when it comes to trades. With a very defined top 6 forward group and a clear top 4 d-man core, look for the Coyotes to add experience and leadership come trade deadline time. With lots of prospects and high quality picks, the Coyoes could make a splash but a lot of the work has been done already this season.
Trade Bait - 1st(s), 2nd, Latta, Clifford, McBain
Dallas Stars - Sellers
Year 2 of the full rebuild approach has almost come to an end. With more teenagers on the roster then a Justin Bieber concert it is pretty clear the direction the Stars GM is taking. With a lot of the bigger names already shipped out, the Stars GM still has some nice rental pieces for contenders looking to gain depth. Similar to a lot of teams, the issue that might come up is cheese space. Look for the Stars to try and bring in a bad contract to ease this issue and ship out anyone older then 28 years old.
Trade Bait - Ponikarovsky, Belanger, Dvorak
San Jose Sharks - Sellers
Although throughout the season they looked to be a lock for a playoff spot, in the second half of the season the play started to fade. With a lot of prospects already in the system, the Sharks might try and look for upgrades or players they like more then what they have at the deadline. They have a lot of cheese space and can easily get picks and prospects for some of their older guys. They don't have a ton of rentals but for the ones that they do have, they should probably have their bags already packed because they will be gone.
Trade Bait - Savard, Vokoun, Hartnell
LA Kings - Buyers
With a GM always looking to find a way to mix up the chemistry, look for the Kings GM to evaluate his team and define who needs to go for a shake up. In general the team has played pretty well and very consistent since new #1 goalie Cam Ward has came to the team. The Kings might stay the course and evaluate the significant changes in the off season. The Sedin sisters seem to be clicking and there is a good mix of highly offensive and good defensive players throughout the roster. Ryan O'Reilly seems to be struggling in the 3rd line center role with a -13 plus minus rating and the rest of the team being positives so the Kings GM might look to grab a more proven veteran to fill this role.
Trade Bait - O'Reilly, Gerbe, Rundblad, Koekoek, Pouliot
Anaheim Ducks - Buyers
Throughout the year this team has been one of the most consistent teams. They have elite talent in spots where you need elite talent. Bottom line depth and bottom pair d-men might be of concern but shaking up the room might be a bigger concern. I don't expect the Ducks to make any significant moves but might look to bring in some depth in case of injuries in the playoffs. The issue that will come up is cheese space so they might have to get creative but in general I don't see many moves coming out of Anaheim come deadline time.
Trade Bait - Leddy, Backlund, Ceci
Minnesota Wild - Buyers
With a team struggling to find significant success with some of the biggest names in hockey, the Wild have been trying to figure out why nothing seems to be working all year. At the beginning of the year they barely got 20 shots on net throughout the season but the direction to bring in role players changed the teams mentality and have been fairly consistent since then. Without a clear #1 goalie for the second straight year, the Wild GM might try and look for a stop gap for the playoffs. The issue currently is cheese space looks to be maxed out. The Wild have been shopping Kris Letang to try and bring in more depth and ease the cheese space issue but have not found any takers willing to pay the price.
Trade Bait - Brunner, Josefson, Silfverberg, Biggs, Elliot, Siemens
Colorado Avalanche - Buyers
The Avalanche have played fairly consistent this season but made a trade that might have cost them a ticket to go deep in the playoffs this year. Shipping out proven sim performer Jonas Hiller to bring in GM favorite Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury's start to being a new member of the Avalanche was as if Hiller never left but then couldn't stop a beach ball. The Av's GM paniced and looked to try and fix this. Coming in was Niklas Backstrom who has been outstanding since being acquired. Look for the Avs to bring in cheap depth and more leadership and experience. Star forward Jason Spezza looks to be coming back from the IR soon and continue his dominance.
Trade Bait - Dumba, Sustr, Redmond, Frattin, Nolan, Carey
Calgary Flames - Buyers
Not afraid of making moves, the Flames GM will continue doing this come trade deadline time. After finding whatever the Islanders GM has been putting in the water bottles, the Flames do what they do every year and change the roster completely and make the playoffs. Cheese space seems to be maxed out, but this GM has been known to get creative when it comes to trading. With lots of guys on the IR, the Flames might just wait it out to get healthy but if the price is right look for this GM to make some moves to bring in some more depth.
Trade Bait - 4th(s), Rust, Timmins
Edmonton Oilers - Sellers
A lot of the dirty work has already been done in Edmonton as the team just waits out the season and looks forward to the draft with a top 5 pick almost guaranteed. They do have quite a few rental pieces but like many teams in the west, cheese space looks to be an issue. If the GM wants to try and get creative, a lot of bottom depth is available in Edmonton. As this team continues to rebuild, they will be looking to bring in more picks and prospects like usual.
Trade Bait - Crabb, Winchester, McCormick, Jurcina, Carkner
Vancouver Canucks - Sellers
With a similar trend in the west, the Canucks seem to be counting down the days until the season ends to look forward to the draft. Thankfully a lot of the dirty work has already been done and a lot of youth have been brought in. Similar to a lot of teams, cheese space looks to be an issue for the Canucks come deadline time but still have 1 mill to play with. With some decent rentals still on the roster, they might have to get creative but the phone lines are open in Vancouver.
Trade Bait - Armstrong, Komisarek
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