February 13, 2023
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — I’ve got good news for fans in Philadelphia. After losing the MLS Cup, World Series and now Super Bowl, they don’t have to worry about losing a Stanley Cup Final. Every cloud has a silver lining, right?

The Flyers are likely going to be one of a few teams that needs to keep their cell phones well charged between now and March 3 with the NHL’s Trade Deadline quickly approaching.

The rumor mill is only going to continue heating up as big names get more attention. When will we finally learn the future home of Jakob Chychrun? And what the heck is Chicago going to do with their two future Hall of Famers?

As always please feel free to let us know what we got right and where we’re terribly wrong. And let us know what your favorite team should buy or sell before the deadline.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets

I might jokingly say their goal differential is nice (minus-69), their 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games is not. They’re clinging to last place with the Blackhawks chasing them to the bottom.

31. St. Louis Blues

How is a team that’s basically .500 all the way down at 31? They’re 3-7-0 in their last 10, a stretch that has led them to sell before the deadline. And that fire sale started with Vlad Tarasenko last week.

30. Vancouver Canucks

Their captain is now with the Islanders and most of the rest of their roster is waiting for the phone to ring. So, it’s no surprise they’re 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.

29. Chicago Blackhawks

We’re all still waiting for the trades to start decimating their roster. Will they find a suitor for Patrick Kane now that the Rangers are out? And what is going on with Jonathan Toews? And, maybe most importantly, is either of the two future Hall of Famers their most valuable trade asset at this point?

28. Arizona Coyotes

They still haven’t won a road game since Nov. 23, though they came close in Chicago on Friday night. Of course, that might have been Jakob Chychrun’s last game in a Yotes’ sweater.

27. Anaheim Ducks

They boast the worst goal differential in the league (minus-88) and are just 9-14-1 at home this season. Do they have much on the roster to sell at this point?

26. San Jose Sharks

Their 5-12-7 record on home ice is the worst in the NHL. Now they’re looking to move on from Erik Karlsson, who is somehow putting together a potentially historic season in spite of the team around him.

25. Montreal Canadiens

Yeah, they’ve won their last two. But the minus-50 goal differential is still the fourth-worst in the league and they’re under .500 in Montreal.

24. Philadelphia Flyers

They have some intriguing names ahead of the trade deadline and a 3-4-3 stretch over their last 10 gives them plenty of reason to look to the future.

23. Ottawa Senators

They have actually received calls on Alex DeBrincat (he’s not leaving) but this season has not been what they had hoped. They are .500 in their last ten games, though.

22. Buffalo Sabres

For a team that was hoping for a playoff berth, a three-game losing streak at this time of year could prove to be devastating. They are 5-3-2 in their last 10 but have to be better than 11-14-2 on home ice.

21. Detroit Red Wings

They’re working on getting Dylan Larkin locked-up long-term, which is the most important part of the rest of their season. They have won their last two games.

20. Nashville Predators

With six wins in their last ten, they’re now just four points back of Minnesota with two games in-hand. Their 140 goals scored in 50 games continues to be a significant concern, though.

19. Minnesota Wild

That’s Nashville in their rearview mirror, with Colorado now equaling their point total with one game in-hand. They’re sliding the wrong way with a 4-6-0 record in their last 10.

18. New York Islanders

Bo Horvat should help. He will help. But they’re just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and losing to Horvat’s former employer was a game they needed in the playoff race.

17. Florida Panthers

They got a nice emotional bounce coming out of the All-Star Game in which their new star showed out. But they have an uphill climb in front of them to catch a playoff spot. They’re just 11-15-3 on the road.

16. Calgary Flames

In the mess of a Western Conference playoff picture, the Flames are a team that has so many questions. Does Sutter have the room? What do they need to add? What’s going on with Jonathan Huberdeau?

15. Seattle Kraken

At just 4-5-1 in their last 10, the top of the Pacific is getting crowded. But their 17-8-2 road record remains impressive from a relatively young team.

14. Vegas Golden Knights

Their goaltending is a problem and they’re going to be without Mark Stone for a while (the rest of the year?) so the deadline just became a lot more interesting. They’ve won three straight to improve to 4-4-2 in their last 10.

13. Colorado Avalanche

They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 and may be ready to make the significant addition to their lineup… if they can get anyone to stay healthy. Injuries may force them to consider more additions than they had wanted before the deadline.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

At just 5-2-3 in their last 10 with a plus-six goal differential, the Pens experienced something they have never seen this weekend: Sid getting the showers early. They’re 15-6-4 on home ice.

11. Washington Capitals

The Pens have three games in-hand on the Caps and are just one point back in the standing. But Washington has been a better road team. Will they swing big at the deadline? Maybe for a big-time center?

10. Dallas Stars

At just 5-2-3 in their last 10, the Stars have benefitted from the rest of the Central being terrible most of the year. But we’re now entering trade season and the Stars may need to add something significant if they want to get out of the division, much less win the conference.

9. Los Angeles Kings

Call this a preemptive bump because the sense is the Kings are ready, willing and able to do something big before the deadline. They’re 5-4-1 in their last 10 and still have a negative goal differential but they appear to be the most ready to do the big deal in the West.

8. Winnipeg Jets

They’re three points back of Dallas with one game in-hand. They’ve been relatively quiet in the trade rumors recently but could make an impact move to bolster their chances to win the division and make a deep run.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

They’ve already played 30 home games, so the stretch run will see them travel a bit. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are just trying to stay solid until Auston Matthews returns. Two upcoming games against Chicago will help.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts are just doing what they always do: quietly win games and hang around the playoff picture until they surprise people making what seemingly always ends up being the perfect move at the trade deadline.

5. Edmonton Oilers

With a 7-1-2 record in their last 10, the Oilers could probably be higher if not for the top of the Eastern Conference being so good. They might be the class of the West, and a potential addition of Karlsson would make them a scary proposition for anyone in the playoffs.

4. New Jersey Devils

At 7-2-1 in their last 10, the Devils are back to being a really good team. They have some questions to answer while Jack Hughes is missing form the lineup, but they’ve positioned themselves to be an intriguing team to watch before the deadline.

3. Carolina Hurricanes

How does a team that’s an NHL-best 8-1-1 in their last 10 end up third on the list? Waiting to see what they do to add offense is now as worthy of our attention as their stellar play on the ice. This is a good team that should be motivated to go for it.

2. New York Rangers

Speaking of going for it, the Rangers added the top-line RW they needed last week… and it wasn’t Patrick Kane. Vlad Tarasenko has paid immediate dividends and the Rangers have won their last five games. Look out in the East!

1. Boston Bruins

Until a team gets within smelling distance, Boston is going to sit on the top of our rankings. They have a seven-point cushion entering the new week and are still a ridiculous 22-2-3 on home ice as we get to Valentine’s Day. They have a plus-80 goal differential in 52 games! That’s almost twice the second-best mark in the league.