Adam Proteau discusses five teams in the NHL's Western Conference, including the Golden Knights and Avalanche, that will likely upgrade their rosters or are already doing so. Cale Makar and Devon Toews [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0ODM5ODA5MjEzMDE1Mzg2/usatsi_22694403_168400847_lowres.jpg] Cale Makar and Devon Toews The NHL’s trade deadline is only a couple of days away, and we now have a good idea of which teams will be buyers and sellers at the deadline. On Tuesday, we looked at Eastern Conference teams likely to be buyers at the deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-trade-deadline-five-likely-buyers-in-the-eastern-conference]. Earlier on Wednesday, we broke down the Eastern teams likely to be sellers at the deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-trade-deadline-five-likely-sellers-in-the-east]. In this file, we’re looking at five Western Conference teams that will be buyers. In alphabetical order: COLORADO AVALANCHE The Avalanche got started well ahead of the deadline by moving out veteran forward Ryan Johansen and his $4-million salary cap hit in a deal that brought back defenseman Sean Walker [https://thehockeynews.com/news/reaction-avalanche-acquire-sean-walker-from-flyers-for-first-rounder-ryan-johansen]. In a second major deal, the Avs shipped out blueliner Bowen Byram to Buffalo for center Casey Mittelstadt. Those deals remade Colorado’s second line and defense corps, but Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland still has about $4 million in cap space. We expect him to use all of it to bring in more veteran help to beef up Colorado’s roster. The Avalanche now have potential openings for a second-line winger or a fourth-liner, and they should be able to add an experienced hand for both those openings. MacFarland and his boss, Joe Sakic, have made it clear with their recent moves that the organization is in win-now mode. Despite Colorado’s successes already this season, the remaking of its roster signals that the bar is continually being raised for the players in the organization. More moves will underscore that fact. LOS ANGELES KINGS The Kings have been a Jeykll-and-Hyde team this season. Although they have only $2.58 million in cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/los-angeles-kings], L.A. GM Rob Blake will almost certainly change his team’s lineup with a depth trade or two. The Kings need a winger to serve in either the second or third line, a depth forward and a depth defenseman. Blake currently has all three first-round draft picks [https://puckpedia.com/team/los-angeles-kings/draftpicks] in the next three seasons and two of his second-rounders in that span. Missing out on the playoffs would be a disappointment for L.A., but if the Kings bolster their all-around depth, they should be a post-season club. It’s now up to Blake to pick out some high-impact players to trade for. NASHVILLE PREDATORS At the start of the season, there was debate as to whether the Predators should be buyers or sellers this season. But with their strong play of late, the Preds have positioned themselves as a wild-card team, and their cap space gives them a lot of flexibility to make a deal or two by the deadline. The Predators’ primary need is at forward, where they could use help on the wing of their second line. They also could benefit from an influx of talent on the fourth line, and perhaps a depth addition in their bottom defense pairing. Nashville GM Barry Trotz has shown he’s not afraid to make trades of consequence, moving Ryan Johansen last summer, and he’s now got the opportunity to reward his players for solid play by adding an experienced hand or two. We think he’ll eat into the team's cap space by the deadline, but certainly not all of it, as he values flexibility on the trade and free agent front this summer. SEATTLE KRAKEN The Kraken have had a subpar season thus far, but Kraken GM Ron Francis is looking for pieces to both help him this season and in the long term. He has $6.9 million in cap space, so he has a good deal of flexibility to pull off a move or two by the trade deadline. For example: Francis began his trade deadline moves by moving forward Alexander Wennberg to the New York Rangers Wednesday for a second-round pick and a fourth-rounder. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/new-york-rangers-alex-wennberg-2024-nhl-trade-deadline] Seattle may trade a veteran by the deadline, but if they can add an experienced player to play on the fourth line the rest of this year and in the long term, they’ll do so. The playoffs are still a target for them, but Francis knows part of his job is to build a winner in the long haul, so trading for a younger player with term on his contract is his priority. Adding more draft picks as they did in the Wennberg deal would also work for the Kraken, and if it means sacrificing some veteran talent to get those picks, Seattle management will be happy to do so. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Golden Knights already have made an impact on the trade front, landing winger Anthony Mantha from Washington in return for a second-round draft pick and a fourth-rounder as well as acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/latest-news/golden-knights-acquire-hanifin-from-flames]. With the Golden Knights’ recent poor record of 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, there’s sufficient motivation to make more roster moves by the deadline. As it stands, Vegas needs help on their fourth line of forwards after solving their defense by getting Hanifin. McCrimmon may not have the cap space to address the offense. But now that the Golden Knights are fighting for their playoff lives as a wild-card team in the West, we think McCrimmon will at least consider trying to get a depth forward as well.
