Three NHL Teams That Are One Trade Away From Being Flat-Out Scary

The NHL’s trade deadline is one week away, and there are already some Stanley Cup contenders nobody should want to face in the playoffs. But some others are nearly there.

Cale Makar and Wyatt Johnston (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

Some teams could be flat-out scary opponents by making another move before the deadline passes. One piece of added depth or filling one positional need can take these teams from great to excellent.

Here are three of those clubs that aren’t just any ordinary buyer.

Dallas Stars

The Stars entered the campaign as one of the favorites to do great damage during the season and into the post-season. Nothing has changed in that regard, but with the Winnipeg Jets taking the spotlight at the top of the league, Dallas can make a trade to remind everyone how strong it is.

They Stars have $4.59 million in cap space, and although Dallas GM Jim Nill has already struck on the trade front when he acquired Mikael Granlund from San Jose, the Stars could use another winger with a successful playoff pedigree.

Another experienced hand who can bump some players down the depth chart might be the best the Stars can hope for with their remaining cap space. Nill’s team has to win now, and though he doesn’t have his first or second-round draft picks this summer, he can still move out a 2026 or 2027 first-rounder if he can land the right pick. But it will have to be someone of consequence to get a first-rounder out of Dallas.

In any case, the Stars are a good bet to finish second in the Central and avoid a showdown with the mighty Jets in the opening round, but they’re still going to face either the Minnesota Wild or Colorado Avalanche. Beating either of them will be a tall order indeed, but with additional quality depth, nobody should want to face the Stars, even Winnipeg.

NHL Trade Deadline Needs: Winnipeg Jets And Los Angeles Kings With the NHL trade deadline nearly one week away, contenders look to put the finishing touches on their rosters for their run toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche made a shocking move when they dealt Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. But there’s still a sense they’re not done making notable trades – and the fact Colorado has about $4.76 million in salary cap space is an indication Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland will be active by or before the trade deadline.

Colorado sits in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference after a slow start to the season.  But with Valeri Nichushkin back in the lineup, Colorado can continue to make everyone forget they went 0-4-0 to start October. Add another player, and they’re set up to beat anyone.

The Avalanche could go after a top-six forward – most likely, at their second-line center position – or a depth defenseman to shore up the final pair.

The Avalanche already have superstar Hart Trophy contender Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy contender Cale Makar. But a trade that adds experience and grit will turn Colorado into one of the odds-on favorites to win the Western Conference. Expect MacFarland to take a big swing.

NHL Trade Deadline Needs: New Jersey Devils And Dallas Stars With the Stanley Cup playoffs looming in the near distance, what needs should the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars address by the NHL trade deadline to maximize their Cup potential?

New Jersey Devils

New Jersey is currently fighting it out with Carolina for home-ice advantage in the Metropolitan Division. While the Devils have only $1.43 million in cap space, GM Tom Fitzgerald is a creative and motivated manager who is under significant pressure to get his team into the second round and beyond. We believe the Devils will be a buyer at the deadline and put the fear of the hockey gods into whichever club they take on in the first round.

The Devils should target a top-nine forward. They’re currently 14th overall in goals-for per game (3.03). Although Stefan Noesen was very effective in October and November, he only has five points in 18 games in the New Year. Timo Meier is a scary player to face when he’s at his best, but we haven’t seen as much scoring from him as we did when he played for San Jose.

If Fitzgerald can move some money around and bring in someone who has legitimate scoring ability – Mikko Rantanen would be a dream but a highly unlikely one considering they could face the Hurricanes in Round 1 – the Devils will go into the post-season ready to eliminate clubs.

Their goaltending has to hold up, of course, but stars Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier can do big things if they’re surrounded with more skill.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.