Adam Proteau lists five Eastern Conference NHL teams that will likely trade veterans and pending free agents by the trade deadline, including the Senators, Penguins and Capitals. Vladimir Tarasenko [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0ODMyMTIzMzY5MDM5MTk0/usatsi_22675601_168400847_lowres.jpg] Vladimir Tarasenko 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. In this file – the second of its kind – we’re looking at the Eastern Conference teams that will be sellers. In the articles that follow, we’ll pinpoint the Western teams that will be sellers, and which Western teams will be buyers. In alphabetical order: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS After another calamitous season, the Blue Jackets are sellers once again, and there’s a slew of potential trade assets that will help the Blue Jackets down the line. On defense, it’s possible that Ivan Provorov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/rumor-trade-talks-involving-ivan-provorov-picking-up-steam], Adam Boqvist [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/news/rumor-adam-boqvist-being-scouted-heavy-for-a-potential-trade] and Andrew Peeke wind up being moved. Up front, forward Jack Roslovic could benefit with a fresh start on another team. There are untouchables on Columbus’ roster, but considering how terrible the Jackets have been this season, interim GM John Davidson has to listen to offers on many, if not most of his group. The Blue Jackets are going to be prominent in the next draft, but if they can add a handful of top picks in the next couple of seasons and maybe win the Macklin Celebrini Sweepstakes, their latest rebuild is going to be less painful. MONTREAL CANADIENS The Canadiens have been in full rebuild mode all season, and they have a couple of veterans who will be attractive to a number of teams. First, there’s goalie Jake Allen [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/three-goalie-tandem-provides-no-benefit-for-montreal-canadiens], who could easily improve the netminding situation of many playoff-bound teams. Allen would be a secondary option behind star goaltender Jacob Markstrom, but he still should get the Habs a decent prospect or NHL-ready player. Similarly, defenseman David Savard would attract interest from a slew of teams [https://thehockeynews.com/news/defensemen-among-most-speculated-trade-candidates-as-deadline-approaches]. Many believe Montreal GM Kent Hughes would need to be bowled over by a trade offer to seriously consider moving Savard, but with the market for right-shot D-men boiling to a froth, the Habs could get an offer too rich to turn down. The Canadiens still need one or two elite young players in the next handful of drafts. But with Hughes amassing five first-rounders in the next three drafts and the potential of winning this year’s lottery and selecting phenom Celebrini, the Habs are in an excellent place when it comes to being a menace of a team a couple years from now. Adding to that group by moving veterans at this year’s deadline makes a ton of sense for this franchise. OTTAWA SENATORS There’s little question the Senators will be sellers at this year’s deadline. Their biggest trade chip is veteran sniper winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who is heading to the Florida Panthers for two draft picks, according to ESPN and NHL Network's Kevin Weekes [https://x.com/KevinWeekes/status/1765420536044081223?s=20]. The Sens also are likely to ship out veteran winger Dominik Kubalik [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/players/trade-deadline-moving-senators-winger-dominik-kubalik-will-require-some-salesmanship], who, like Tarasenko, will be a UFA at season’s end. Other than that, we don’t see the Senators making a bunch of blockbuster moves to drastically remake the foundation of the organization, but stranger things have happened. Ottawa GM Steve Staios has had a good stretch in which to judge which players to hang on to and which ones to trade, but if there are franchise-changing moves to take place, they’ll more likely come in this coming off-season. The willingness of other teams to step up and offer huge trade packages will increase this summer, and a little bit more patience from Staios would maximize the returns he’d ideally be looking for to make foundational change. Tarasenko and Kubalik aren’t part of the long-term picture in Canada’s capital, but the rest of the players Ottawa is ready to sell off may not become apparent for a few more months. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Some observers are guesstimating the Penguins will be buyers at the deadline, but when you factor in Pittsburgh’s recent (and let’s face it, season-long) struggles, it's apparent to us the Pens ought to be sellers in the next few days. This team just doesn’t have the right mix and the appropriate amount of talented depth to be a legitimate Stanley Cup playoff contender, let alone a bona fide Cup front-runner. It’s time for notable change in Steeltown, and it’s now a question of which veterans Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will be moving out. The biggest name the Penguins are likely to move on from is winger Jake Guentzel [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/jake-guentzel-trade-pittsburgh-penguins-getting-huge-return], who is too pricey for Pittsburgh’s long-term picture, and who could get a ton of draft picks and/or prospects in a deal. That said, other veteran forwards including Reilly Smith, Rickard Rakell and Noel Acciari also have value as trade chips, and playoff-bound teams are going to be interested in that trio. The Penguins need to regroup and remodel their roster, and being a buyer at the deadline would be a terrible choice by Dubas. It’s time to wave the white flag and try again next season, and to that end. the Pens can’t justify keeping their current group of players intact. They’ll almost assuredly be sellers at the deadline, and the only question is how deep the roster cuts will go. WASHINGTON CAPITALS Like the Penguins, the Capitals have a core of greybeard talents, and a win/loss record that makes a playoff appearance this year more or less of a fantasy. They’re not going to trade Alexander Ovechkin or John Carlson, but they do have an abundance of veteran help for teams that are legit Cup contenders. They began their selling on Tuesday, moving forward Anthony Mantha to Vegas for a second-round and fourth-round pick. But that’s probably the first of many moves Washington makes. In addition to forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who could be a significant contributor on a Cup front-runner, there are also pending UFAs Max Pacioretty, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and defenseman Joel Edmundson to consider as Caps trade targets. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan is fully aware he’s closer to a full-on total roster rebuild than a playoff contender, so we’d be extremely surprised if Washington stands pat after the Mantha deal or if they’re a buyer at this year’s deadline. The Capitals need to add talent for the long haul, and the best way they can do that is to part ways with secondary veterans like Mantha. There’s almost certainly more to come from them by deadline day.
