NHL Trade Deadline 2018: These 5 teams need to be buyers
99. . Western Conference. Central Division. St. Louis Blues. 1. player
The Blues can address several areas at the trade deadline. A boost in their top six forwards would go a long way for St. Louis. Jake Allen has struggled in net recently, at one point this year the Blues left Jake Allen home to get his head right. Backup Carter Hutton has played well but St. Louis will not want to rely on Hutton during a playoff run. Adding an insurance goalie will be on GM Doug Armstrong’s shopping list. The usual names like Rick Nash, Mike Hoffman, and Evander Kane will be options for St. Louis to fill their scoring need.
In net the Blues will have a few options, Robin Lehner from Buffalo is available as is one of the two Detroit goalies, Petr Mrazek or Jimmy Howard. Detroit is likely to move one of their two goalies to help them clear out future cap space. Howard has a large contract that will be tough to move. Mrazek is the easier piece to trade because he is a low cap hit and a restricted free agent.
Next: NHL Trade deadline: Top 5 players who will be traded
In Buffalo Robin Lehner is also a restricted free agent. Looking at his wins and losses doesn’t do Lehner justice. He has played well for the Sabres on some very bad teams. Lehner was a goalie that former Sabres GM Tim Murray paid a high price for. After Murray was fired the new coaches and GM were never sold on making Robin Lehner a long-term goaltender. So he is expendable as the Sabres try to stock up on draft assets.