Last FridayB次元官网网址檚 game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals had the potential to upend not only the playoff race in the Eastern Conference but coming up fast.
Despite the , Washington is now expected to sell after falling flat two days later. The Flyers could do some deals because it is unexpectedly in a playoff spot with less than six weeks to go in the regular season.
With many teams in limbo, the weekend provided some much-needed clarity around the league one year after the 2023 trade season featured changing places . Expect a flurry of activity as the week goes on ahead of the Friday 3 p.m. EST deadline.
B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 kicking tires,B次元官网网址� Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said Sunday. B次元官网网址淚 think there were some and everybodyB次元官网网址檚 trying to put some pieces together on their team that will help it and people are trying to look for the best value possible.B次元官网网址�
There is value to be found at just about every position for Stanley Cup contenders looking for an upgrade.
Need a scoring winger? How about PittsburghB次元官网网址檚 Jake Guentzel. A No. 1 goaltender? CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Jacob Markstrom is signed through 2026. A do-it-all fourth-line center? WashingtonB次元官网网址檚 Nic Dowd is under contract for two potential playoff runs. Defensemen? Philadelphia has three pending free agents in Sean Walker, Nick Seeler and Marc Staal.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still open,B次元官网网址� Flyers GM Briere said Friday night in Washington. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of discussions. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot going on. YouB次元官网网址檝e seen whatB次元官网网址檚 happened in the market. ThereB次元官网网址檚 obviously a lot of defensemen that are gone now, so weB次元官网网址檙e getting a lot of calls on our guys.B次元官网网址�
Dallas last week got arguably the best defenseman available in from the Flames and didnB次元官网网址檛 have to give up a first-round pick to do it. CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Noah Hanifin could also still be traded, along with Capitals veteran Joel Edmundson, among others at the position.
What might start the dominos falling? Pittsburgh lost at Calgary and Edmonton on back-to-back days, which could push GM Kyle Dubas closer to being a seller after he said how he approaches the deadline.
By the time bitter rivals face off Thursday in Pittsburgh, the rosters of the Capitals and Penguins could look drastically different.
B次元官网网址淥ur priority would be the future of our club,B次元官网网址� Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. B次元官网网址淎ll decisions will be based on (that). ItB次元官网网址檚 not, B次元官网网址楬ey, weB次元官网网址檙e going to go out and rent a guy for the playoffs.B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e not in that game. WeB次元官网网址檙e here to look for opportunities to find more young players, add more young players to our roster and compete.B次元官网网址�
While the Capitals and Penguins, and to some extent the St. Louis Blues, are among the recent champions looking to tweak their rosters, the list of those competing for the Cup this season include Toronto, Detroit, Vegas, Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Boston, Florida and the New York Rangers.
They are expected to be the leagueB次元官网网址檚 biggest buyers, looking for the right combination of rental players and those signed beyond this year.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 people calling on everything right now,B次元官网网址� Armstrong said Sunday, pumping the brakes on the rental market because recent seasons have made his colleagues rethink the process. B次元官网网址淧eople are understanding how important the draft is and probably more now just trying to hold onto their picks and not give up as much on the trade deadline.
B次元官网网址淏ut if you need a piece to complete your team, whether that might be depth or itB次元官网网址檚 an injury that has occurred, youB次元官网网址檝e got to get it done.B次元官网网址�
Teams worth watching include the Capitals, who may trade at least Edmundson and Anthony Mantha; New Jersey, which could decide the future of Tyler Toffoli; Anaheim, which may trade Adam Henrique and perhaps All-Star Frank Vatrano; and the San Jose Sharks offloading a handful of players in their lost season.
No team is more fascinating than the Flyers, who are surprisingly contending but are balancing winning now with accumulating assets for years to come when they can try to win it all.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 have to say itB次元官网网址檚 a good problem to have because if the team doesnB次元官网网址檛 play the way they have, weB次元官网网址檙e not getting the attention from other teams about our players,B次元官网网址� Briere said. B次元官网网址淓verythingB次元官网网址檚 on the table, and weB次元官网网址檙e trying to figure out whatB次元官网网址檚 best for the future.B次元官网网址�
READ ALSO:
