Fansided

5 NHL teams that need to make a trade to save their season

By Derek Grochowski

ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Stalock #32 of the Minnesota Wild skates by Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild as he tends to his creese before a game with the New Jersey Devils at Xcel Energy Center on February 15, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Stalock #32 of the Minnesota Wild skates by Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild as he tends to his creese before a game with the New Jersey Devils at Xcel Energy Center on February 15, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 16: Alex Galchenyuk #17 of the Arizona Coyotes is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 16: Alex Galchenyuk #17 of the Arizona Coyotes is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Arizona Coyotes

Don’t look now, actually look now this doesn’t happen often, but the Arizona Coyotes are only a few points back of a playoff spot with a game in hand on a few teams they are chasing. The Western Conference is wide open for the final two playoff spots. One move could see a team bottom out or rocket up the standings.

If you are the Arizona Coyotes you have to be thinking about making a push. After losing Jason Demers earlier in the season to a knee injury the Coyotes have struggled with depth on their blue line. The forward group on paper seems underwhelming but has actually performed well, leaving general manager John Chayka’s primary focus on the blue line.

It is not often Chayka has been in a position to be a buyer at the deadline but this year we should be able to see what he can do. By no means should he go all out and try to hit a homerun with a rental who will leave in the summer but a smart investment in a young player that can join the roster long term would be a great addition.

A player like Nathan Beaulieu from the Buffalo Sabres could be an attractive piece for the Coyotes. He is a restricted free agent and would come at a low price. Beaulieu has struggled to make the Sabres roster regularly but he could do well in Arizona.

The higher priced option would be to pull Cody Ceci out of Ottawa. Ceci could be a victim of the Ottawa rebuild and see himself get shipped out as the Senators tear down their roster. The defenseman was highly touted early in his career but never reached his full potential. This is another player about to hit restricted free agency, Arizona could bring him in for the remainder of the season, see how he fits and then angle to re-sign him long term in the offseason.

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