NHL Power Rankings: Granting each team's trade-deadline wish
This is the 10th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.
In this edition, we grant one wish for each team ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.
1. Boston Bruins (45-8-5)
Previous rank: 1
A goalie goal for Jeremy Swayman. Starting netminder Linus Ullmark electrified the hockey world by lighting the lamp on Saturday, and we want more! But seriously, the Bruins don't need to add anything else. They're practically perfect in every way.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (39-11-8)
Previous rank: 2
A top-six forward. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, it seems like every top forward available this trade season has gone to a member of the Eastern Conference. Carolina will have to think outside of the box to add some top talent up front. Perhaps there's a match to be made with the Nashville Predators.
3. New Jersey Devils (39-15-5)
Previous rank: 3
Instant chemistry with Timo Meier. The Devils got their guy. Now, they've got to see how he fits into the lineup. The 26-year-old playing alongside either Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier would be must-watch hockey.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (37-15-8)
Previous rank: 7
A defenseman. The Maple Leafs could use a bottom-six winger as well, but they've already bolstered their forward group by adding Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, so general manager Kyle Dubas should focus on reinforcing the back end next.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-18-4)
Previous rank: 4
Health. The Lightning have roughly $770,000 in deadline cap space and no first-round picks until 2026 after adding Tanner Jeannot. Barring something unforeseen, it looks like Tampa will be rolling into the playoffs mostly as is, so the least it can do is hope all hands are on deck.
6. Colorado Avalanche (33-19-5)
Previous rank: 10
A second-line center. Even as the Avalanche have gotten healthy, a glaring hole remains at second-line center. Colorado's lack of cap space will make it tricky to address, but 2C has to be Chris MacFarland's top priority at the deadline.
7. Vegas Golden Knights (35-18-6)
Previous rank: 11
A big fish. Most of the league's elite teams have already made their moves, so is there anyone of significance left for the Golden Knights to nab with their new-found cap space? Six wins in 10 games suddenly made Vegas a buyer again.
8. Edmonton Oilers (32-20-8)
Previous rank: 6
Erik Karlsson. Who doesn't want to see Karlsson passing the puck to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? A potential deal with the San Jose Sharks for the two-time Norris Trophy winner would be complicated due to his $11.5-million cap hit, but it's not impossible. Work the calculators and get it done, Ken Holland.
9. New York Rangers (34-17-9)
Previous rank: 5
Patrick Kane. It's no secret that the Rangers are Kane's preferred (and possibly only) destination. Kane's recent hot streak, combined with New York's moves to create cap space, makes this combination feel like an inevitability.
10. Los Angeles Kings (33-20-8)
Previous rank: 12
Jakob Chychrun. There aren't many goalies available to help the Kings' 29th-ranked five-on-five save percentage, so they might as well target the top defenseman available to solidify their status in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has the assets to make a potential blockbuster for the Coyotes D-man work.
11. Dallas Stars (31-16-12)
Previous rank: 8
A top-six forward to play with Tyler Seguin. We've known for months that this is what the Stars want, and we're not convinced Evgenii Dadonov fits the bill for the Central Division-leading squad.
12. Winnipeg Jets (35-24-1)
Previous rank: 9
Depth scoring. Nino Niederreiter was a shrewd pickup for the Jets on Saturday, giving them a versatile winger who can slot in anywhere on the wing in their top nine. Adding another scorer to the bottom six would only help Winnipeg climb the goal charts.
13. Seattle Kraken (32-21-6)
Previous rank: 13
A seller in need of picks. The Kraken have kept their deadline plans largely under wraps, but the playoffs are in sight for the league's newest franchise, and they should give the fanbase a jolt by doing some shopping. Seattle has three second-round picks this year and two third-rounders in 2024 - attractive trade chips for teams out of contention looking to stock up.
14. Buffalo Sabres (31-23-4)
Previous rank: 18
A playoff berth. It's kind of cheating, but we don't think there's a player on earth Sabres fans would want to add over making the postseason this spring and ending an 11-year drought.
15. Minnesota Wild (33-21-6)
Previous rank: 20
A top-six forward. The Wild have the fewest goals per game of any team currently in a playoff spot. Having failed to replace the production that departed last summer when they traded Kevin Fiala to the Kings, a difference-maker up front would be a major boost.
16. Detroit Red Wings (28-22-8)
Previous rank: 22
For Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin to remain Red Wings. That would mean that Detroit is still firmly in the playoff hunt and, therefore, unwilling to part with the pair of pending unrestricted free agents.
17. Florida Panthers (29-26-6)
Previous rank: 14
Help on the back end. Without their own first-round pick, thanks to last year's Ben Chiarot trade, there isn't much incentive for the Panthers to sell at the deadline since they can't improve their draft position by losing more games. Reinforcing the blue line and easing the workload for Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, and Gustav Forsling - who are each averaging over 23:00 per game - would be beneficial to their playoff hopes.
18. Pittsburgh Penguins (29-21-9)
Previous rank: 16
A savior for the third line. The Penguins ... oof. They've got to fetch an upgrade on Jeff Carter down the middle. Kasperi Kapanen is no longer around after they lost him on waivers, which gives them a little extra cap space. Pittsburgh has got to shore this up. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby can't do everything.
19. New York Islanders (31-25-7)
Previous rank: 19
The Bo Horvat trade to pay off. The Islanders already made their big splash by acquiring Horvat, and his importance to the team has increased significantly amid a tight playoff push of late as New York battles some key injuries up front. It's Bo's time to shine.
20. Calgary Flames (27-21-12)
Previous rank: 21
Extra goal-scorers. The Flames certainly aren't the only team that covets scoring depth, but Brad Treliving is on record saying it's his top priority. This one was a bit of a layup.
21. Ottawa Senators (28-26-4)
Previous rank: 23
Long-term help. The Senators are in an awkward spot: too far from the bottom to truly be in the race for Connor Bedard but also too far behind to realistically have a shot at the playoffs. Targeting assets that can help past this season at a reasonable price, such as Dante Fabbro, would be the best use of this year's deadline.
22. Nashville Predators (29-22-6)
Previous rank: 17
Assets. The Predators are barreling toward a rebuild, and with a changing of the guard on the horizon in the front office, they might as well start collecting as many picks and prospects as they can while they have attractive players to ship out.
23. Washington Capitals (29-27-6)
Previous rank: 15
A successful retool. The playoffs are beginning to feel like a long shot for the Capitals, which is hard to fathom given their success over the past decade. Ownership won't tear it down while Alex Ovechkin is around, so management might as well make the most of a lost season while they have a whopping 10 pending UFAs on the roster.
24. St. Louis Blues (26-28-5)
Previous rank: 25
Less tension. The Blues have already traded their unrestricted free agents and lost out on Meier, so what's next? We think St. Louis is in need of a little breather in the aftermath of head coach Craig Berube and Robert Thomas' recent disagreement.
25. Philadelphia Flyers (23-28-10)
Previous rank: 24
A nice haul for JVR. We mentioned a few teams that should wish for some scoring depth. Enter: James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia's most attractive trade chip with a ton of goal-scoring experience.
26. Montreal Canadiens (25-30-4)
Previous rank: 27
A match for Sean Monahan. The Canadiens would certainly have to retain some of the pending unrestricted free agent's $6.375-million cap hit, but they'll hopefully be able to seek out a dance partner in spite of his injury. There are some teams out there that could really use a center.
27. Vancouver Canucks (23-31-5)
Previous rank: 28
As many trades as possible. The Canucks need to commit to a full rebuild if they want a sustainable future centered around Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. The best way to do that is by shipping out as much salary as possible, and Vancouver has several pieces that could fetch quality returns.
28. Arizona Coyotes (20-30-9)
Previous rank: 29
An end to the Chychrun saga. His time with the Coyotes has been considered over for more than a year, yet he's still in the desert. The blue-liner hasn't played since Feb. 10 due to trade-related reasons. Enough is enough.
29. Chicago Blackhawks (21-32-5)
Previous rank: 31
Sell, sell, sell! The Blackhawks are well on their way to sending Kane to the Rangers. They've already ruled out trading Jonathan Toews but can certainly pick up more assets for Max Domi, Sam Lafferty, and Jake McCabe.
30. San Jose Sharks (18-30-12)
Previous rank: 26
Keep it up, Mike Grier. The new Sharks general manager already shipped off Meier and is almost certainly listening to offers for other key players like Karlsson and Logan Couture. The rebuild roars on.
31. Anaheim Ducks (19-34-7)
Previous rank: 30
For someone to take John Klingberg. Though the defenseman has turned it around offensively the past couple of months, the one-year, $7-million prove-it pact he signed with the Ducks isn't going as planned. He may not fetch Anaheim a first-round pick, but there ought to be someone out there who could use him.
32. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-35-6)
Previous rank: 32
Desperate bidder for Vladislav Gavrikov. The Blue Jackets are aiming sky-high with their reported asking price for Gavrikov. With the Bruins out of the mix, Columbus will hope someone cracks under the pressure of the deadline and pays up for the 27-year-old blue-liner.
(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)