The time is now for five NHL teams to add to their team before the trade deadline in their push for a Stanley Cup. Jacob Stoller breaks it down. Jeremy Swayman, Nils Hoglander and Parker Wotherspoon [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NjM1Njk3MDY2Mjg4MzUx/usatsi_22613351_168400847_lowres.jpg] Jeremy Swayman, Nils Hoglander and Parker Wotherspoon There comes a time when a team has to seize the moment. NHL teams that are one or two moves away from solidifying an already top-tier team as a contender can’t balk at the opportunity. Sure, acquisition prices are inflated this time of year, but that shouldn’t matter for a select few teams. The clubs that may not get a better chance than the one in front of them or need to prove how serious they are about winning could push in the chips. Stanley Cup windows only last so long. With that said, the following five teams should absolutely go all-in ahead of this year's NHL trade deadline. VANCOUVER CANUCKS Usually, it’s a cause for celebration when a team like the Vancouver Canucks, which missed the playoffs in the last three years, ranks first in the Western Conference. But that's not necessarily the case right now for Vancouver. There's a bit of a cloud looming over the Canucks, and it’s rooted in star center Elias Pettersson becoming an RFA after the 2023-24 season. While there’s only so much the Canucks can do to try to re-sign him to a long-term contract, the best way to roll out the red carpet for ‘Petey’ is to make a legit Stanley Cup run. Going all-in this year isn’t shortsighted by any means, as Vancouver checks off a lot of cup contender prerequisites. They’ve got tremendous center depth in Pettersson, J.T. Miller and the recent acquisition of Elias Lindholm [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/news/breaking-news-canucks-acquire-all-star-elias-lindholm-from-the-flames-in-blockbuster-move-kuzmenko-traded-to-calgary]. They also have one of the best sharpshooters in the game, Brock Boeser. Norris front-runner Quinn Hughes leads their defense corps, and one of the best goalies in the world, Thatcher Demko, mans their crease. On paper, Vancouver is a Stanley Cup contender. But the deeper they can get, the better. The Canucks would be even scarier if they added another top-six winger and slotted down depth players, such as Nils Hoglander or Pius Suter, into secondary scorers. They’d have more insurance if they added another top-four defenseman — like former Canuck Chris Tanev — and rounded out their top six blueliners. WINNIPEG JETS The Winnipeg Jets desperately need to increase their season ticket base, and playoff success would do wonders for that. Ever since their Western Conference final berth in 2017-18, the Winnipeg Jets have only made it to the second round once, and that was in the 2020-21 COVID year when the general public couldn't attend. Now, the Jets shouldn’t irresponsibly splurge at the deadline just because of their crowd situation. They also owe it to their recently extended stars, Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele, to make a legitimate Stanley Cup run. Hellebuyck, in particular, has been nothing short of spectacular amid a 2023-24 campaign that has seen him run away as a favorite for the Vezina Trophy. Boasting the highest point percentage in the Western Conference, Winnipeg is one of the NHL’s best this year — but the playoffs are a whole different animal. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff already took a swing earlier this month, ponying up a first-round pick for Sean Monahan [https://thehockeynews.com/news/reaction-jets-acquiring-monahan-from-canadiens-looks-like-a-true-win-win]. But while they’re one of the NHL’s best defensive teams during 5-on-5 play, Winnipeg could use another impact defenseman. They’re one injury away from being paper-thin on the blueline. No disrespect to how well players like Neal Pionk or Brenden Dillon have played, but come the playoffs, they probably shouldn’t be shouldering top four minutes. Winnipeg could even potentially use another forward. Besides, their 2.53 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes is tied for 15th leaguewide, according to naturalstattrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=y&team=all&loc=B&gpf=410&fd=&td=]. Cole Perfetti was a solid top-six winger at the start of the year, but after recording just one point in his last 17 games, he’s been relegated to fourth-line duty. The Jets can’t let the holes in their lineup linger any longer, that is, if they’re serious about contending, which they need to be. EDMONTON OILERS The Edmonton Oilers have the most on the line this deadline. The clock is ticking on Oilers GM Ken Holland. Leon Draisaitl is eligible for an extension on July 1 and 365 days after that, the same goes for Connor McDavid. The Oilers have just one Western Conference final appearance since McDavid and Draisaitl became NHL regulars in 2015-16. Draisaitl is 28, and McDavid is 27. They’re not going to be this good forever. Better yet, if things don’t change, there’s a serious possibility they won’t spend the rest of their prime in Alberta. Since firing Jay Woodcroft after a 3-9-1 start and hiring Kris Knoblauch [https://thehockeynews.com/news/edmonton-oilers-fire-coach-jay-woodcroft-bring-in-kris-knoblauch] on Nov. 12, the Oilers are tied with the Jets for the best point percentage in the NHL (.733). Things have tightened up — particularly their defense, with the Oilers allowing fewer chances against, and their goaltending is no longer a kryptonite — but the Oilers need to make improvements at any cost. The Oilers have all three of their upcoming firsts remaining, and they can’t rule out the possibility of dealing with one or even two of them. Edmonton has about $1.95 million in cap space, per PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/edmonton-oilers]. That isn’t going to be enough to bring anything sizeable inbound, and offloading Jack Campbell’s blunder of a $5-million cap hit won’t be easy. If it takes a first-round pick, a young NHL player like Dylan Holloway and a roster player like Warren Foegele or Brett Kulak to get Jake Guentzel — that’s a move they can’t balk at. Elite goal-scorers such as Guentzel, who has the gift of being able to play with an elite player like Sidney Crosby, are exactly the type of talent that would put this star-studded forward corpse over the top. BOSTON BRUINS Somehow, the Boston Bruins have remained atop the Eastern Conference all year despite their depleted center depth. Boston never found a way to fill the void left by its top two centers retiring — Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Come playoff time, Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha just aren’t going to cut it. Is the 2023-24 season the be all end all of this Bruins regime? No, but it may not be far off. Sure, they’ve got David Pastrnak signed for the next seven years, but 35-year-old Brad Marchand has just two years remaining. Jake DeBrusk is a pending free agent, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in another uniform next year. On the back end, Charlie McAvoy is signed for another seven years, but the glut of their defense depth — Matt Grzelyck, Derek Forbort and Kevin Shattenkirk — are all on expiring deals. While the B’s still have the NHL’s best goalie tandem, Jeremy Swayman is a pending RFA, and he’s due for a big payday, given the career year he’s having. Linus Ulmark has one more year after this, but with Swayman’s impending extension, he could become a casualty. This could be the last kick at the can for this team configuration, and the Bruins must operate with that in mind. Granted, Boston is scarce on asset capital. They’ve got two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the next three drafts, and they don’t have any blue-chip prospects to dangle, either. Trading Linus Ulmark could be risky, as Swayman’s an unknown commodity in the postseason, but if it somehow lands them a top-six center — it’d be worth it. The B’s aren’t making any noise this year unless they get a center. DALLAS STARS When you have a team built like the Dallas Stars playing this well, you have to do anything to push them over the top. Dallas is a legitimate contender. Up front, they’re truly four lines deep, and the quality of their depth — particularly in their top nine — is hard to match up against. It’s a pick your poison scenario for opponents. Depth chart (When healthy) Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski Mason Marchment — Matt Duchene — Tyler Seguin Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Ty Dellandrea Radek Faksa — Sam Steel — Craig Smith But for Dallas to get to that next level, they must shore up things defensively. Goaltender Jake Oettinger is having a down year due to injuries, but he’s still a top-tier goaltender, and they should feel as confident as ever with him between the pipes in crunch time. Their blueline, though, could use another piece or two. Their top three defensemen are set. Miro Heiskanen is an elite, all-situations No. 1 defenseman. Rookie Thomas Harley has solidified himself as an asset on the top pair, and Esa Lindell is a solid top-four defenseman. But there’s a noticeable drop off lower in the lineup. Nils Lundqvist — who has missed the last six games with a concussion but is nearing a return [https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/stars-nils-lundkvist-still-sidelined/] — is a top-six defenseman but probably not suitable as a top-four guy on a contender. After that are surefire bottom-pairing guys in Ryan Suter and Joel Hanley. The Stars have the offense, goaltending and game-breakers on the back end. But their blueline depth must be upgraded if they’re going to seize the moment. Luckily for Stars GM Jim Nill, he’s got all three of his upcoming first-round picks at his disposal. And he doesn’t have to deal blue-chip prospect Logan Stankoven for the type of upgrade they need (not that they even would, anyway).
