WHO ARE THE EARLY BUYERS AND SELLERS?

KEY TRENDS & OBSERVATIONS

Biggest Surprises (Ahead of Last Year’s Pace) BASED ON PROJECTED POINTS

1. Chicago Blackhawks (+43 points) – Bedard effect and Spencer Knight coming up large.
2. San Jose Sharks (+34 points) – Celebrini living up to the hype. young energy
3. Colorado Avalanche (+32 points) – Dominant start, best team in NHL
4. Anaheim Ducks (+31 points) – Young core (Carlsson, Gauthier) emerging
5. New Jersey Devils (+26 points) – Jack Hughes needs to stay healthy…

Biggest Disappointments (Behind Last Year’s Pace)  BASED ON PROJECTED POINTS

1. Calgary Flames (-40 points) – Complete collapse, worst in NHL
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (-26 points) – Major regression without Marner
3. St. Louis Blues (-26 points) – Goaltending/Defense disaster
4. Washington Capitals (-21 points) – Special teams killing them
5. Edmonton Oilers (-19 points) – Depth issues exposed/Goaltending consistency

Buyers (Playoff Contenders)

Teams actively looking to add pieces for playoff runs:

• Carolina Hurricanes – Goaltending depth
• New Jersey Devils – Secondary scoring
• Colorado Avalanche – Depth forward
• Dallas Stars – Penalty kill improvement
• Anaheim Ducks – Defensive help
• Detroit Red Wings – Top-4 defenseman
• Pittsburgh Penguins – Defensive stability
• Chicago Blackhawks – Defensive structure
• Seattle Kraken – Star power

Sellers (Rebuilding/Retooling)

Teams looking to move assets and build for future:

• Calgary Flames – Complete rebuild needed
• St. Louis Blues – Need draft capital
• Nashville Predators – Direction unclear
• Buffalo Sabres – Organizational overhaul
• New York Rangers – Retooling on the fly
• Vancouver Canucks – Hughes situation
• San Jose Sharks – Continue rebuild

Common Needs Across League

1. Goaltending – Multiple contenders need goalie help (Montreal, Ottawa, Utah, St. Louis, Edmonton)
2. Defensive Depth – Most common need across all teams
3. Secondary Scoring – Depth scoring crucial for playoff success
4. Penalty Kill Specialists – Special teams often decide playoff series
5. Veteran Leadership – Young teams need playoff experience

Historically: TRADE DEADLINE STRATEGIES THAT WORK

• Don’t be afraid to trade future assets – Windows close quickly
• Address weaknesses, not just add talent – Fix specific holes
• Consider term, not just rentals – Players with contract years provide flexibility
• Special teams matter – PP/PK specialists can swing series

• Maximize return on expiring contracts – Don’t let UFAs walk for nothing
• Consider retaining salary – Increases trade value significantly
• Target picks and prospects – Build for future, not quick fixes
• Be patient – Desperation from buyers increases as deadline approaches