NHL Power Rankings: Each team's best asset before the trade deadline
This is the 11th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.
In this edition, we examine each club's most tantalizing asset ahead of the March 21 trade deadline.
1. Colorado Avalanche (39-10-4)
Previous rank: 1st
Considering the Avs' draft starts in the third round this summer, you can bet their 2023 first-rounder will be in play at the deadline. Colorado is likely to be in business for a rental, and if the league leaders want someone big, that pick will be the starting point in any package.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (37-11-4)
Previous rank: 5th
The Hurricanes have been adamant Jesperi Kotkaniemi is a part of their future, but packaging him with some picks for a bigger fish has to be worth some consideration. The former Hab is averaging only 12 minutes per night this season.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-11-6)
Previous rank: 3rd
Julien BriseBois is a different kind of asset. He's not going anywhere, but the Lightning general manager has built a bulletproof roster and won two Stanley Cups by making key moves at each of the past two deadlines. He's sure to be active again, and Eastern Conference rivals should be on high alert.
4. Florida Panthers (35-13-5)
Previous rank: 2nd
Patric Hornqvist isn't producing or playing as much as he used to. The veteran winger has plenty of playoff pedigree but makes $5.3 million per year, which the Panthers could better allocate across the roster to make a serious Cup run.
5. Calgary Flames (31-14-6)
Previous rank: 8th
The Flames already made their big move by landing Tyler Toffoli, and they managed to do so without dishing out one of their top prospects. The club doesn't own its first-, third-, fourth-, or sixth-round picks this year but has two second-rounders in its pocket. With little cap space remaining, Calgary would have to get creative to make another splash.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (34-14-4)
Previous rank: 7th
After moving their 2021 first-round pick to acquire Nick Foligno at the deadline last season in a deal that didn't pan out, the Maple Leafs may be a little more hesitant to move their top-round selection in 2022. However, the team boasts a strong prospect pipeline featuring potential league regulars like Nick Robertson and Topi Niemela.
7. New York Rangers (33-15-5)
Previous rank: 9th
The Rangers have a ton of cap space available to them this season. Projected to have just under $32 million in room at the deadline, they can go all-in on the rental market. They own all of their draft picks over the next three years except for a 2022 third-rounder and have a decent selection of prospects they can dish out.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (33-14-8)
Previous rank: 6th
The Penguins have a barren prospect pipeline, hardly any cap space, and no surplus of upcoming draft picks. The allure for newcomers of playing with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in pursuit of a Cup is perhaps Pittsburgh's best asset.
9. St. Louis Blues (32-14-6)
Previous rank: 12th
The Blues are highly unlikely to subtract from their roster ahead of the deadline. Zachary Bolduc and Jake Neighbours are two top prospects likely to draw interest if St. Louis chooses to add.
10. Boston Bruins (31-17-4)
Previous rank: 11th
Jake DeBrusk. Earlier this season, his agent said he and the Bruins were working to facilitate a trade for the 25-year-old. It's no secret the last few years in Boston have been tough for DeBrusk, but his potential is still high and a change of scenery could be a spark for him. Parting ways with DeBrusk should help the Bruins land an established top-six forward to boost their offense.
11. Minnesota Wild (31-16-3)
Previous rank: 4th
The Wild are projected to have over $10.5 million in cap space, which is a lot more flexibility than most contenders. If Minnesota wants to go for it and be players at the deadline, this is the year.
12. Los Angeles Kings (29-17-7)
Previous rank: 16th
Their deep, talented prospect pool. With Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Quick all playing good hockey, the Kings are looking like a legitimate dark-horse threat. Perhaps L.A. leverages one of its blue-chip prospects to make some noise on the trade market.
13. Washington Capitals (28-17-9)
Previous rank: 13th
Justin Schultz is a serviceable, veteran blue-liner, but with a $4-million cap hit and an expiring contract attached to his name, the Capitals would do well to move him and shore up other parts of the roster.
14. Nashville Predators (30-19-4)
Previous rank: 14th
The Predators are currently sitting in a playoff spot, so it seems outlandish to trade Filip Forsberg, whose 1.13 points-per-game rate leads Nashville. Barring a new deal, he'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and it isn't a good look if the Predators lose him for nothing. Priority No. 1 is re-signing him, but they should consider moving Forsberg if they can't get a deal done by the deadline.
15. Edmonton Oilers (29-21-3)
Previous rank: 15th
Tyson Barrie's role as Edmonton's offensive catalyst from the back end has diminished with Evan Bouchard's emergence this season. He'd be a tantalizing add for contenders looking to boost their power play, and the Oilers could find a more defensive-minded blue-liner to fill Barrie's spot in the lineup.
16. Vegas Golden Knights (29-20-4)
Previous rank: 10th
The Golden Knights solved their cap issues by placing Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve to accommodate Jack Eichel's $10-million cap hit, but what if Stone can return before the playoffs? Reilly Smith is a pending unrestricted free agent with an average annual value of $5 million. Moving him can bag Vegas some picks while helping to ease a potential cap crunch.
17. Dallas Stars (29-20-3)
Previous rank: 17th
It seems there are never enough talented, right-handed defensemen to go around in this league, and luckily for the Stars, they've got a premium one in John Klingberg. The 29-year-old can be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and all signs point to him wanting to break up with Dallas, so the Stars can certainly fetch a nice return for Klingberg.
18. Vancouver Canucks (26-22-6)
Previous rank: 19th
J.T. Miller. The Canucks will need a lot to go their way to end up in the playoffs, but they've been playing extremely well since Bruce Boudreau's arrival. If the team decides to sell and prepare for next season, getting a king's ransom for Miller would go a long way in setting Vancouver up for the future.
19. Anaheim Ducks (25-21-9)
Previous rank: 18th
New GM Pat Verbeek inherited a rebuilding Ducks team that's exceeded expectations this season, but he has tough decisions to make regarding a trio of key, pending unrestricted free agents in Rickard Rakell, Josh Manson, and Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim will have to find a way to navigate its future on top of a potential surprise playoff run this season.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (27-25-1)
Previous rank: 21st
Luckily for the Blue Jackets, Patrik Laine has looked like the 40-goal scorer he once was during his recent hot streak. The 23-year-old isn't always consistent, but he'd be a valuable asset to contending squads in need of a talented winger.
21. Winnipeg Jets (23-21-9)
Previous rank: 20th
The Jets are straight-up not having a good time this season. Sure, they could eke their way into a playoff spot, but right now, things look pretty shambolic. So, the Jets might as well see what they can get for pending unrestricted free agent Andrew Copp. As of Feb. 28, he's fifth in Winnipeg with 28 points in 47 games, and his defensive skill will be coveted by contenders.
22. Detroit Red Wings (23-24-6)
Previous rank: 23rd
The Red Wings still have a ton of cap space and should look to acquire some bad contracts in exchange for assets. The team's rebuild is coming along smoothly, and the Wings will be back to being a contender in the next few years. This may be one of Detroit's last opportunities to load up on draft picks or prospects before taking off.
23. San Jose Sharks (24-23-6)
Previous rank: 22nd
Of course the Sharks are interested in keeping fan favorite Tomas Hertl. However, the pending unrestricted free agent would move the needle for several contending teams looking to make a playoff run even as a rental, and he'd likely net a significant return.
24. New York Islanders (20-21-8)
Previous rank: 24th
Scott Mayfield is in the middle of the Islanders' blue-line depth chart and is the type of stay-at-home, physical defender GMs salivate over. With an extra season on his contract at an affordable $1.45 million, New York would be wise to cash in while Mayfield's value is at its highest.
25. Ottawa Senators (19-27-5)
Previous rank: 25th
The Senators don't have a ton to offer in yet another year of the rebuild, but they could go fishing for picks with a few of their pending unrestricted free-agent forwards like Tyler Ennis, Chris Tierney, and Nick Paul. Playoff teams are going to want depth up front.
26. Chicago Blackhawks (19-27-8)
Previous rank: 26th
Marc-Andre Fleury. A handful of teams vying for the playoffs are in need of goaltending, and Fleury is far and away the best option on the market. The Blackhawks got him virtually for free, so getting anything in return for him would be a big win.
27. New Jersey Devils (18-29-5)
Previous rank: 29th
The Devils don't have a lot of upcoming unrestricted free agents, but there is P.K. Subban. He isn't the same defenseman he used to be, but it'd still be worth it for New Jersey to get something for him on the trade market. The Devils would most likely have to retain some of his $9-million cap hit, but they have the space to do it.
28. Philadelphia Flyers (16-26-10)
Previous rank: 30th
Claude Giroux. It seems inevitable the Flyers will part ways with their longtime captain, but the timing couldn't be better. Philadelphia needs to shake things up, and Giroux would be one of the most coveted players on the trade market.
29. Buffalo Sabres (16-30-8)
Previous rank: 28th
Take your pick between Cody Eakin, Robert Hagg, and Mark Pysyk. All three players are on expiring contracts and would be nice depth adds for teams headed to the playoffs.
30. Seattle Kraken (16-34-5)
Previous rank: 27th
Mark Giordano. The Kraken will reportedly try to move their captain ahead of the deadline, and plenty of teams will be lining up to try to grab him. It's not often that a veteran of Giordano's stature becomes available, and his leadership will be a priceless intangible for any playoff team.
31. Montreal Canadiens (13-33-7)
Previous rank: 32nd
Ben Chiarot. The Canadiens have a handful of players they may or may not move by the deadline, but the bruising defenseman is one of the most surefire trades we'll see at some point in the next month. Teams typically dish out a ton for blue-liners, so Montreal will have to dig around to find the best deal out there.
32. Arizona Coyotes (14-35-4)
Previous rank: 31st
The Coyotes' mission at the deadline will be to acquire more assets, and they'll surely get a nice return for defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Arizona's asking price for the 23-year-old is high, but there'll likely be a good fit that'll send some juicy pieces to the desert.
(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)