NHL Power Rankings: Selling Teams at the Trade Deadline

As we head into the trade deadline, which is just two days away, a solid crop of teams should be looking to sell. 

Some of these teams are small-time sellers, which may be out of the playoff picture and have some upcoming free agents or veteran assets they could offload to be right back in it next year. Other teams are on clearance and in an everything-must-go mode. 

Some teams are just wandering through the proverbial NHL Mojave desert. They don’t necessarily have great assets and have no better thing to do than sell. This is called the ‘Chicago Blackhawks’ tier.

NHL Power Rankings: Selling Teams at the Deadline

1. Bruins

Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins have become a punching bag in these recent power rankings. 

It’s not even really their fault. They loaded up for a playoff run in a historic season a few years ago, traded away the prospects in an already depleted farm system, and lost on their home ice in the first round. On second thought, that kind of sounds like their fault. 

The sell-off started on Tuesday when they traded away forwards Trent Frederic and Max Jones to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a prospect, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. 

They still have a handful of unrestricted free agents they could move, like Cole Kepeke, Parker Wotherspoon, and Justin Brazeau. Trading away Brad Marchand would be their biggest potential move.

2. Islanders

The New York Islanders hold the most significant trade piece in the market right now: forward Brock Nelson. 

Nelson was emotional Tuesday night following New York’s surprise 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in what may have been his final game with the team after 12 seasons. 

But GM Lou Lamirello shouldn’t be fooled into holding onto Nelson and thinking they should be buyers at the deadline. New York is three points out of the final Wild Card spot but behind four teams.

Nelson and other UFAs, like Kyle Palmieri and Mike Reilly, should be on the trading block at the deadline. 

3. Penguins

It’ll be another disappointing season for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are currently 24-30-10 and have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

GM Kyle Dubas’ hands are somewhat tied as the Penguins have become a retirement home for Crosby and the rest of Pittsburgh’s Big Three. It’s unlikely that any of them would be on the move. But he should still look for assets to build the team for the post-Big Three era. 

Defensman Erik Karlsson is a name that’s been hot in the trade markets, but veterans like Noel Acciarci, Kevin Hayes, or even Matt Grzlecyk could be of interest to some contenders. 

4. Flyers

The Penguins’ Pennsylvania neighbor, the Philadelphia Flyers, are another likely seller at the deadline. 

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked the Flyers 18th in his NHL farm system rankings at the beginning of January. They settled into the third-worst spot in the Eastern Conference after a 4-4-2 stretch over their last ten games, making them clear sellers. 

Their third-line winger, Andrei Kuzmenko, should be dangled as trade bait as a depth forward for a contender. 

5. Blackhawks

Ah, the aforementioned Chicago Blackhawks. They could have and likely should have been higher on this list, but in a perfect world, the Blackhawks would be adding to, not subtracting from, the veterans on their roster. 

However, the vibes at the United Center are not great these days, and their addition of a few veteran free agents over the offseason did not translate to success this season. It’ll be sad to see the Blackhawks undergo another reset, but they probably need it. 

Look for 28-year-old center Ryan Donato to be the next to go, along with potentially Pat Maroon or Craig Smith. 

6. Kings

As we pass the Blackhawks, we get into a tier of teams that either currently occupy a playoff spot or are close to it. The Los Angeles Kings are one of those teams. They’re comfortably sitting in third place in the Pacific division. 

But Los Angeles has lost four games in a row and has a record 5-3-2 in their last ten games. It’s easy to see them getting overtaken by the Vancouver Canucks (who should probably also sell) or the Utah Hockey Club. 

They’re also strapped for prospects, according to The Athletic’s ranking, which had them at 26th on the list. 

It’s possible they just stand pat come Friday, but they could also try to move some UFAs like 29-year-old defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov or forward Tanner Jeannot. 

7. Senators

The Senators are currently a point out of the final Wild Card spot in the East, behind the Detroit Red Wings, but they, too, should sell at the deadline. 

Since the end of the Four Nations break, they’ve had two bad losses against the Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets. They beat the league-worst San Jose Sharks on Saturday but lost in OT to the Capitals on Monday night. 

Their captain, Brady Tkachuk, has always been rumored to be on the move, and maybe it’s because he seems like too bright a star to be stuck up on a middling Ottawa team. Barstool Sports’ Ryan Whitney added fuel to the fire, suggesting that if Ottawa’s fans keep booing America’s national anthem, then Tkachuk, a proud member of Team USA, could request a trade. 

While it’s unlikely that Tkachuk is off the team before Friday, the Senators should look at selling high on some of his teammates. 

8. Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are another team in a tricky spot ahead of the trade deadline. 

On paper, they should be a team looking to contend after their playoff run last season. But something just doesn’t seem right about them so far this year. 

Admittedly, they are on the cusp of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference but, as presently constructed, would they be able to make any noise in the playoffs? Their -25 goal differential so far this season suggests they won’t be. 

Left-winger Brock Boeser is the most likely name to be on the block for them. 

9. Blues

St Louis is also on the cusp of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, a point behind Vancouver and three points behind the second place Wild Card team Calgary. 

But, looking in the mirror, the Blues have to admit that they aren’t making a run that’s worth not evaluating what their players are worth on the trade market. 

This is mostly a shoutout to Jordan Binnington who came in at number 8 on Tuesday’s trade deadline player ranking. After his performance for Team Canada in the Four Nations, it would be fun to see Binnington contribute to a playoff team in a meaningful way. 

10. Flames

Yes, Calgary’s currently a Wild Card team but at their current +20000 odds to win a Stanley Cup, how meaningful is a Wild Card spot to the Flames?

After losing Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to the Bruins in free agency, they’ve cobbled together a solid run this season. But how long does that run last?

They have a handful of upcoming UFA they could sell off like centerman Kevin Rooney and defenseman Joel Hanley. Flames could even do a half-in half-out deadline where they get some assets for players they don’t intend to re-sign without blowing it all up.