Will the Toronto Maple Leafs add another highly touted defenseman and New Jersey a goalie? Adam Proteau shares his NHL Eastern Conference predictions.
During the NHL’s all-star break, let’s enjoy ourselves and make a few predictions for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Wednesday, we made three predictions for the Western Conference. Part of one of those predictions came to be true Wednesday night when the Calgary Flames dealt Elias Lindholm, and another came true on Friday when the Los Angeles Kings replaced coach Todd McLellan with interim coach Jim Hiller.
Today, we’re predicting three things that will happen in the NHL's Eastern Conference. Remember, these prediction columns are hunch-friendly zones, so you should factor that in when you react to them.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Prediction 1: Devils land Fleury from Wild for second-round pick, Kallgren
It’s common knowledge the Devils are in need of goaltending. With the Wild nearly out of the playoff race, Minnesota can offer a veteran with a Stanley Cup championship pedigree in Fleury.
Landing a first-round pick for a pure rental player like Fleury isn’t likely, but New Jersey can’t afford to miss the post-season. While they traded away their second-round pick around last year's trade deadline, Wild GM Bill Guerin would be happy to take their second-rounder in 2025, as well as a depth goalie Kallgren to finish off the season. New Jersey has more than $9 million in current cap space, more than enough to take on Fleury.
In this transaction, Fleury would get one last shot at winning another Cup, and the Devils wouldn’t be mortgaging their future for a veteran who provides excellent netminding insurance. Fleury may wind up playing a handful of games for New Jersey, but the more he does play, the better things will be going for the Devils. This deal is a win for both sides, which is why it’s more likely to happen.
Prediction 2: Bruins lose top spot in Atlantic to Panthers, but Florida falls in first round to Red Wings
The Bruins once again have been a dominant team in the league, but they’re currently just five standings points ahead of Florida, and both teams have the same number of wins.
We like the Panthers to stay hot in the second half of the season, but as we’ve seen numerous times over the years, it’s not easy to continue regular-season success into the post-season. If Florida does win the division, it’ll be playing a wild-card team that just might be Detroit. The Wings will be happy to be in the playoffs, while the pressure on Florida to go at least as far as the Cup final will weigh heavy on them. Detroit will be able to play relatively free and easy against the Panthers.
Boston is going to have their own issues to deal with in the first round, and we’re guessing they lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in that round. How’s that for being specific? Anyhow, the East playoff picture may not be finalized until the final days of the regular season, and the playoff picture will be just as hotly contested. We suspect Florida is going to discover how difficult it really is to have back-to-back deep playoff runs, and the upstart Wings finally take a meaningful step forward with a playoff series victory.
Prediction 3: Maple Leafs land Tanev from Flames for first-rounder and Abruzzese
One of the most prominent assets on the trade market this year is Calgary defenseman Chris Tanev, and rugged blueliners are going to be highly coveted, which is why the price will be relatively high for him. Toronto would be more willing to add a top draft pick if they knew Tanev would be interested in signing a contract extension with the team. Tanev could essentially take up the salary cap space the Leafs have in looming UFA T.J. Brodie.
Meanwhile, on the Flames’ end, they’d get Toronto’s first-round pick in 2026, as well as a decent prospect in Nick Abruzzese, who could thrive if given a longer look at the NHL level.
Calgary has already shown they’re fully prepared to tear down their current roster, and while they can’t expect the world in return for Tanev, this trade gives them a player for the present and one for down the line. It’s a win-win for the Leafs and Flames, and it could happen well in advance of the March 8 trade deadline.