The NHL Trade Deadline is a few weeks away, but there is already plenty of action. Teams are buying or selling based on where their playoff hopes stand. Therefore, keep reading to find out which teams may be active this year.
The 2023 NHL trade deadline arrives Friday, March 3, at 3 pm ET. As we do every season, we watch and speculate on what may happen. Last season 27 players were traded before the deadline. Some teams want to shore up their rosters to make a playoff push. While others are accelerating their rebuild by acquiring top picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. Here are some buyers and sellers to watch.
NHL Trade Deadline Buyers
There are some teams that could be considered buyers because they are adding to their team amid a playoff push. Such as, the Seattle Kraken has had an incredible bounce-back season. However, the offense has been overpowered, and the goalie tandem is weak. They will need to acquire a couple of good players, and Semyon Varlamov could be a good option. Another team would be Winnipeg which has a deep blueline, but they have a weak bottom six forward groups. To compete with other contenders, Winnipeg will need to acquire some offensive firepower. A possible target for them may be Canucks captain Bo Horvat.
The Bruins, who are the current Stanley Cup favorites, are trying to get creative and add before the trade deadline. They already have one of the best rosters, but a few upgrades would not hurt. Patrick Kane could be a good option for Boston. The Avalanche are another team that may add to their roster. They made a trade for Matt Nieto and Ryan Merkley this week. Another good option could be Sharks blueliner, Erik Karlsson.
Trade Deadline Sellers
There are some teams that could be categorized as sellers because of their low chances of making the postseason. The Detroit Red Wings have struggled since December and dropped in the standings. Therefore, they may decide to look towards the future and get some more draft picks. Another seller may be the Anaheim Ducks, who have had a dreadful campaign.
The Vancouver Canucks are one of the teams that may be listening to offers on everyone. They are struggling this year and are looking to the future. There are some sellers that may want some of their talents. Also, the Arizona Coyotes are in the same position, and they have players like Nick Ritchie who will be free agents. They may trade some of them and get some young talent in return. These are just a few teams that could be sellers.
As the deadline gets closer, NHL fans should keep an eye on all these teams in the coming weeks. There will be plenty of action, rumors, and drama. Stay tuned for more NHL news and stories.
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