One of my favorite moments of the year is right around 3 pm of the trade deadline when I start to get texts and calls from teams telling me "We are done." For me, this means one less team to be tracking and being informed helps me paint the picture of where I see a team is heading...
We don't get that after UFA Day... Teams rarely say they are done....and most aren't.
Here are five teams I see as furthest from done:
#1. Ottawa.
This is no brainer of course, but needs to be mentioned...The Sens are VERY slim after two half-decent first lines...and that is including Brady Tkachuk....The Sens are nowhere near ready to compete in the NHL....and they don't want to tank...at all.
#2. Carolina.
The Hurricanes need to get some scoring and since they didn't address this is in the Skinner trade, they are more likely to be trading Justin Faulk than ever. There are some possibilities out there for them, but it doesn't sound like they will be able to get Pacioretty or Panarin to come to Raleigh...
#3. Montreal.
When you take Pacioretty and Plekanec out of the lineup, the oldest regular forward on this team is....Nicolas Deslauriers...who JUST turned 27. That is crazy amounts of youth and not a ton of upscale quality after Drouin and Gallagher.. Meanwhile, 4 of their likely top 6 D will be OVER 30 as the season begins.. And with Carey Price in goal they aren't rebuilding...
#4 NY Rangers.
The Rangers are the epitome of a "goal by committee" team and that almost always means "trouble scoring." The Rangers first line is more like a second line and their second line is really a third line...with two fourth lines...and very young forwards as well...The Rangers are also sitting on more cap space than EVER still. They are trying to get in on Pacioretty....who grew up a Rangers fan. Or Panarin...
#5.Chicago.
I keep hearing they aren't done. They aren't at all satisfied with the current group and the Hawks LOVE to make noise and stir things up. I still keep hearing they have their heart set on bringing Panarin back to play with Kane...
#6 NY Islanders...
Trust in Lou...He loves to wait and see who other teams give up on...
What's the buzz...
Is your team done?
What do they still need to do?
Do you agree with my 6?
Join the Discussion:
»