Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – No trade deadline in North American sports sees more action than the NHL.<\/p>\n
Like an annoying Katy Perry song, this particular deadline could be hot and cold. There are a number of tight playoff races in both the Eastern and Western conferences and a lower salary cap this season has put a number of contending teams against the wall with little wiggle room.<\/p>\n
But general managers are paid to be creative, and as noted by The Sports Network NHL editor Dan Di Sciullo (http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/kh7bcqf), there are some names to be had before the deadline.<\/p>\n
Below we take a look at five teams, in no particular order, likely to be buyers before Wednesday’s deadline. Note that all salary cap figures are courtesy of capgeek.com.<\/p>\n
BOSTON BRUINS – 1ST PLACE IN ATLANTIC DIVISION<\/p>\n
The Bruins have looked like strong contenders all season and enter play on Friday with a six-point lead atop the division. They are among the top-scoring teams in the East and lead the conference with a plus-50 goal differential.<\/p>\n
However, the Bruins lost a big part of its defensive game when blueliner Dennis Seidenberg was lost for the season on Dec. 28 with a torn ACL and MCL. Replacing his minutes will be a must for the club come playoff time.<\/p>\n
Buffalo’s Henrik Tallinder is the perfect fit to step in for Seidenberg as he makes less money and the 35-year-old veteran comes off the books at season’s end. He could be had for draft picks and a fringe prospect.<\/p>\n
Other possible targets: Andrew MacDonald, New York Islanders; Andrej Meszaros, Philadelphia Flyers.<\/p>\n
MINNESOTA WILD – 4TH PLACE IN CENTRAL DIVISION; 1ST WILD CARD<\/p>\n
Though still in the running for third place in the division, the wild card seems like the likely playoff path for Minnesota. The Wild own a six-point edge for one of the two bonus spots and will get an offensive boost when Mikko Koivu returns from ankle surgery.<\/p>\n
However, goaltender Josh Harding’s status remains uncertain as he continues to deal with multiple sclerosis. He hasn’t played since late December after a great start to the season and former No. 1 Niklas Backstrom has dealt with his own injuries while going 5-11-2 with a 3.02 goals against average.<\/p>\n
The Wild are in position for a second straight playoff berth, but going in with Darcy Kuemper as the starter could rattle nerves.<\/p>\n
The big question then is, should the Wild make a run at Buffalo’s Ryan Miller as a long-term solution or look for a cheaper stop-gap in net?<\/p>\n
Minnesota has the ability to put together a package of prospects, including Kuemper, and could probably re-sign the Michigan-born Miller before he hits free agency this summer. They’ll have the space with Dany Heatley’s $7.5 million hit ready to come off the books.<\/p>\n
Toronto’s James Reimer would be a cheaper, younger solution for the long-term problem.<\/p>\n
Other possible targets: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes; Tim Thomas, Florida Panthers.<\/p>\n
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – TIED FOR 3RD PLACE IN ATLANTIC DIVISION<\/p>\n
The Maple Leafs ended a franchise-long seven-year playoff drought in 2012-13 and the offseason acquisition of goaltender Jonathan Bernier has the club ready to go to the next level.<\/p>\n
Toronto has a solid trade chip in the 25-year-old Reimer, who helped backstop the Leafs to the playoffs last season but is now the clear backup to Bernier. He could be enticing to a team that wants to take a stab at solidifying its position in net.<\/p>\n
So what do the Maple Leafs need?<\/p>\n
Toronto has a solid top-six at forward, led by Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk, is deep at the blue line and the goaltender spot, but pressure from the hockey-crazy fans could force the Leafs into a bigger move for a player like Thomas Vanek or Ryan Kesler.<\/p>\n
Landing either of those two would cost some defensive depth, though Vanek’s Islanders could like the idea of adding Reimer.<\/p>\n
If not, expect the Leafs to go for depth and pick up a forward like Edmonton’s Ales Hemsky or Florida’s Brad Boyes.<\/p>\n
Other possible targets: Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres; Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers; P.A. Parenteau, Colorado Avalanche.<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES KINGS – 3RD PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION<\/p>\n
The Kings need offense like Justin Bieber needs a good reality check.<\/p>\n
Before netting six goals in a win over Colorado on Wednesday, the Kings had been held to just 15 tallies in the previous 11 games and then only managed two goals in a shutout win over Calgary the following night.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles is built to win now and is just two years removed from a Stanley Cup title. General manager Dean Lombardi should make no hesitations in upgrading his roster, even if it costs a player like Valentin Zykov or Tanner Pearson.<\/p>\n
Vanek is a risk as he may be hard to re-sign this summer, meaning Buffalo’s Matt Moulson is a safer piece to add to an offense that features Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter.<\/p>\n
Having a little over $3 million in cap space will make things tough for Lombardi.<\/p>\n
Other possible targets: Mike Cammalleri, Calgary Flames; Ray Whitney, Dallas Stars; Steve Ott, Buffalo Sabres.<\/p>\n
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – 10TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE<\/p>\n
The Blue Jackets are five points out of a wild card spot and the bar is low enough that just making the playoffs for the second time in club history would be a huge accomplishment.<\/p>\n
Columbus is undone by having about $2 million in cap space, so moving a player off its NHL roster is a must. The huge conquest would be getting someone to take Marian Gaborik’s $7.5 million hit, and that may not be an impossible scenario given his pending free agency. Defenseman James Wisniewski ($5.5 million) or forward R.J. Umberger ($4.6 million) also would open up space if the Blue Jackets find new locations for them.<\/p>\n
If not, the play is for New York Islanders’ defenseman Andrew MacDonald. The 27-year-old has a cap hit this season of just $550,000 and if things work out, the Blue Jackets would have plenty of space to give him the raise he will be seeking this summer.<\/p>\n
Getting MacDonald also would allow the Blue Jackets creative possibilities of adding a forward like Edmonton’s Sam Gagner, P.A. Parenteau of Colorado or Calgary’s Lee Stempniak.<\/p>\n
Other possible targets: Christian Ehrhoff, Buffalo Sabres; Dmitry Kulikov, Florida Panthers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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