To trade or not to trade? That is the question for 20 NHL teams contending for the playoffs. Tony Ferrari helps out each team with their dilemma.
Trade season is here, and both New York teams jettisoned first-round picks for immediate help. The reality is that over the next few weeks, the NHL should see more first-rounders exchanged for impact players in hopes that a long playoff run is in the cards.
Not all playoff contenders are built the same, and trading away future assets may not be the smartest decision – but that doesn’t mean they won’t do it.
Some teams should only move their pick if an impact player is coming back, like the Islanders acquiring Bo Horvat. Others should use their draft capital without hesitation to get the missing piece on their rosters the way Brandon Hagel came in and put Tampa Bay over the top.
Some teams (the ‘pretenders’) should hold onto their pick because whatever player they add to their roster will not likely improve their chances of winning this year.
So let’s look at the teams in and around the playoff picture and see whether they should be moving their top draft choice for the upcoming 2023 NHL draft.
Carolina Hurricanes: Trade it
The Canes are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. They have made the playoffs four straight years with one conference final appearance and two straight second-round exits. They are in their win-now window, and adding a legitimate scoring threat should be a top priority now, especially with Max Pacioretty’s injury. There are a number of names on the market, big and small, that could fit into Carolina’s plans.
New Jersey Devils: Trade it for a difference-maker
We’ve been waiting a couple of years now for the New Jersey Devils to take the next step, and they’ve finally done so in a big way. While some thought a playoff appearance was possible, they’ve been among the league’s best for much of the season. They are still a young and developing team with a boatload of solid prospects, but this is also the first year of what looks to be a large window. Selling the farm to fix some of the edges of their roster may not be worth it, but trading for a Timo Meier might be a piece that could make a difference for years to come.
New York Rangers: Trade it for a difference-maker
The Rangers came into trade season with two draft picks thanks to the deal that sent Nils Lundkvist to Dallas in September. Having already dealt the latter of the two picks to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Vladimir Tarasenko, the Rangers still have what should be a late first-round pick that they can use to bolster one of the best lineups in the NHL. Having already made a splash in Tarasenko and adding defenseman Niko Mikkola in the same deal, they should look to make a true impact deal or continue building their solid pipeline in a deep draft.
Washington Capitals: Keep it
The Caps have a bad prospect pool and have very clearly moved onto the stage of the story in the Ovechkin arc, where they are trying to get him to the all-time goal record. They are good enough to make the playoffs, but they aren’t really a team with the juice to compete for the cup. Keep the pick and begin building toward the next era of Washington hockey.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Keep it
The Penguins are in a similar situation to the Capitals, even if they are a slightly better team overall. They could add and hope the pillars of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang stand up to the test of the playoff grind. That may not be the smartest thing unless they add a good young piece to help their aging core. They may also look to begin building the next era.
Boston Bruins: Trade it
So far, the juggernaut of the NHL is one of the most dominant teams of all-time in terms of their overall record and pace. They have been nearly unbeatable this year. This could be their “Last Dance,” but while they have one of the worst prospect pools in the league, they should look to bolster this lineup for one last run in the Patrice Bergeron era.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Trade it for a difference-maker
It’s time to get out of the first round. The Maple Leafs have been a certified wagon in the regular season over the last few years, but they have yet to figure out a way to advance past Round 1. The excuses got old with a combination of their self-inflicted mistakes in blowing leads or playing down to inferior opponents and the unfavorable playoff format. It’s time to put up for shut up with the great core of talent from Auston Matthews and William Nylander to Morgan Reilly and Mitch Marner. Go get the impact piece to get you past Game 7. It’s as simple as that.
Tampa Bay Lightning: No pick
They moved their pick for Hagel, and they’ve been to three straight Cup finals, winning two. They look like they could go to another Cup final this year. This team is a wagon as long as this core is around.
Florida Panthers: Trade the 2026 pick
The Panthers have been going all in for a few years now. They moved their 2023 pick at the deadline last year in exchange for Ben Chiarot, who is now with the Red Wings. The trade had no protections, and with Florida’s underwhelming play to this point, the pick has the 11th-best odds of winning the draft lottery. Imagine trading Chiarot for Connor Bedard or Adam Fantilli.
Well, that’s where the Panthers are. They also don’t have a first-rounder in 2024 or 2025 because of other trades. They could move their 2026 pick to avoid giving up a pick in the lottery and squeak into the playoffs. Their chances of making the playoffs seem to dwindle each day, but they are in one of the most complicated and odd situations around the league.
Buffalo Sabres: Keep it
The Sabres took the step we’ve all been waiting for them to take for a decade or more. They are entertaining and showing signs of building a truly competitive squad. They play in the league’s toughest division in terms of top-end talent, but they have held their own. They will be in a fight for the playoffs as it is, but they shouldn’t jump ahead of the plan and send out a first-round pick unless they are getting a piece that helps now and in the future.
Dallas Stars: No Pick, Hold Futures
They dealt their pick for Nils Lundkvist in September and have a strong team. They could look to move a future pick or a prospect to bolster their lineup in the short term. Still, they may opt to stand pat or make a minor move with the future in mind as their sneaky good prospect pool slowly works toward becoming NHLers.
Winnipeg Jets: Trade it
The Jets came into the year after an off-season in which their stars were on the trade market, and the bottom looked to have fallen out on a roster that was once highly competitive. However, a new coach, a new attitude, and a return to form of all-world goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have made them a contender once again. The Jets should take advantage of a weakened Western Conference and add to their roster. Whether it’s an impact player for a middle-of-the-lineup upgrade, the Jets are poised to make a run.
Colorado Avalanche: Trade it
Injuries have plagued them since the start of the season, but they’ve managed to get themselves back into a playoff spot. The defending champions should bolster their lineup, possibly looking to fill their second-line center role vacated by Nazem Kadri’s departure in the summer. Could they look to add a veteran like Jonathan Toews or Ryan O’Reilly, who have been there and done that?
Minnesota Wild: Keep it
The Wild are a good team, but they are in the mushy middle. They aren’t good enough to assure themselves a playoff spot but not bad enough to tank. They could find a player to push them over the top, but with their salary cap situation in such dire straights, they should look to building for the future with young, cost-controlled talent.
Nashville Predators: Keep it
The Predators are just close enough that they could do something silly. They really shouldn’t, though. Instead, build toward the future and use your draft capital to your benefit. Simple as that.
Vegas Golden Knights: Keep it (but they won’t)
The ultimate wild card, Vegas has always found a way to put itself in the conversation for the biggest names in the trade market. With Mark Stone injured, they now have some extra cap space, and they could look to inject more talent into their roster. They only have two players selected with their first-round pick in the organization since their inception (Brendan Brisson and Zach Dean), so why not continue the trend? They must add talent to their pipeline, but they live here and now. It won’t be shocking when they ignore the future once again and trade their pick.
Seattle Kraken: Keep it
When you’re a team ahead of schedule, rushing things is always tempting. The Kraken need to control themselves and look toward building up over the next few years with homegrown talent, and the 2023 NHL draft will provide that. This is their second season in the NHL, and they’ve got a good thing going. There is no need to rush anything.
Edmonton Oilers: Trade it for a difference-maker
The Oilers have the best player in the game in Connor McDavid. They have another top-five offensive player in the game in Leon Draisaitl. They are also fighting for playoff positioning. The team hasn’t been able to string together much in terms of consistency, and they must figure out what’s wrong. GM Ken Holland has been hesitant to make deals recently, but it’s time to get the Oilers some legitimate depth. They need help on the blueline, they could use some secondary scoring, and even the crease has been shaky. Do something, Ken. Help out Connor and Leon.
Los Angeles Kings: Trade it for a difference-maker
The Kings took a step toward being a competitive team last year. They’ve been solid again this year despite incredibly shaky goaltending. They have been in the rumor mill recently as Jakob Chychrun is linked to the Kings, with the possibility of goaltender Karel Vejmelka being included in the deal. That would be the kind of difference-making trade they need. If their first-round pick – and likely much more – are the cost, they should do it.
Calgary Flames: Who knows?
The Flames are possibly the most difficult team to access regarding whether they should deal their pick. They made massive moves in the summer, losing Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk while adding Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau. The massive turnover of star talent hasn’t led to massive success, as they are fighting for a playoff spot. They could look to add an impact piece, but they are risking further messing with a still-meshing roster. They could also hope they mesh in the second half and go on a run.