2020-2021 Trade Deadline Preview: East Division

With the NHL trade deadline less than two weeks away, I’m taking a look at the needs of the potential buyer teams and identifying some of the likely candidates for rental players on the teams likely to be selling.

The East Division is the final stop in my trade deadline previews. There are a number of teams in the east that may look to buy for a playoff run, a couple that are hanging in the playoff race, and a couple of likely sellers.

As the standing sit now, the Capitals have a slight lead over the Islanders and Penguins for the top seed. The Bruins hold the final playoff spot with the Flyers chasing. The Rangers, Devils and Sabres all have slim playoff odds.

We’ll take a look at each team’s needs in order of the current standings. Using player data from Natural Stat Trick and salary cap data from CapFriendly, we’ll look at player usage charts for each team based only on this season’s data to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. We’ll limit our analysis to players who have played over 100 minutes this season.

Washington Capitals

Projected Cap Space: $0

The Capitals lead the East and will look to hold off the Islanders and Penguins down the stretch. Their deadline options will be limited since they are already tight against the cap.

What’s gone right: Goals have been coming in bunches for the Capitals this year from throughout the lineup. Alex Ovechkin is continuing to fill the net, keeping talk of his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goals record alive.

Areas for improvement: A number of the Capitals top players have poor possession metrics, indicating they are being out-chanced by their opponents. With limited cap space, the Capitals are unlikely to add a major piece by the deadline. They may look to add depth as insurance for injuries.

Trade targets: Depth forward, depth defenseman

New York Islanders

Projected Cap Space: $0

The Islanders have been chugging along and will look to make another long run in the playoffs. With limited cap space, they will have to find affordable options to improve before the deadline.

What’s gone right: Depth has been a strength for the Islanders. They’ve had offensive contributions from all lines.

Areas for improvement: The Islander’s depth player’s possession metrics are worse than the top end of their lineup. With Anders Lee now out for the season, there is a hole in their top 6 forward group.

Trade targets: Depth defenseman, top 6 forward.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Projected Cap Space: $251,386

The Penguins have been surging and may look to bolster their roster for a playoff run.

What’s gone right: The Penguins seem to have found their groove following a slow start. Jared McCann is having a strong season in a depth role.

Areas for improvement: The Penguins possession metrics are not great after their top line.

Trade targets: Top 4 defenseman, depth forward

Boston Bruins

Projected Cap Space: $1,684,245

The Bruins look to hold on to the final playoff spot down the stretch. They have enough cap space to add a significant piece or two.

What’s gone right: The Bruins top players have performed as the top players.

Areas for improvement: Aside from Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins defensemen have not contributed much offense and are getting out-chanced while on the ice.

Trade targets: Top pair defenseman

Philadelphia Flyers

Projected Cap Space: $942,707

The Flyers have been reeling of late and will try to challenge for the final playoff spot down the stretch. They may be able to improve with their available cap space.

What’s gone right: The Flyers have had no trouble scoring this year. James van Riemsdyk, Joel Farabee, and Sean Couturier are leading the way in points/60.

Areas for improvement: Goaltending has become an issue as the Flyers have fallen out of the playoff picture. The depth players have been getting out-chanced.

Trade targets: Starting goaltender, depth forward

New York Rangers

Projected Cap Space: $4,035,711

The Rangers are just 5 points out of the playoffs but are in the midst of a rebuild. They aren’t likely to give up future assets at the deadline.

What’s gone right: Adam Fox has become a standout on defense, contributing offensively and controlling play while on the ice. The Rangers young player’s impact has been growing.

Potential Rental Players: The Rangers don’t have many upcoming UFAs that could be traded as rentals. Phillip Di Giuseppe ($700,000) and Brendan Smith ($4,350,000) are the only UFA’s on the current NHL roster.

New Jersey Devils

Projected Cap Space: $8,546,566

The Devils are well back of the last playoff position and will likely look to the future at the deadline.

What’s gone right: Ty Smith is having a strong season on defense. Jack Hughes has had a positive impact controlling play while on the ice.

Areas for improvement: Possession metrics are inconsistent through the Devils lineup. Some of the veteran players are the worst culprits for getting out-chanced.

Potential Rental Players: The Devils have a number of upcoming UFAs that may be of interest to contending teams. At forward, Travis Zajac ($5,750,000), Kyle Palmieri ($4,650,000) and Nikita Gusev ($4,500,000) may all be targets for teams with some cap room. On defense, Ryan Murray ($4,600,000), Sami Vatanen ($2,000,000), and Dmitry Kulikov ($1,150,000) could be moved.

Buffalo Sabres

Projected Cap Space: $410,984

The Sabres season has been a tire fire. If it could go wrong, it has for the Sabres this year. They’ll try to salvage some future assets and erase the 2020-2021 season from memory.

What’s gone right: The Sabres only have a 56 game schedule to endure this season.

Potential Rental Players: Taylor Hall ($8,000,000) may be a big addition to a team that has some cap room and that is looking for scoring. Tobias Reider ($700,000) and Riley Sheahan ($700,000) could be additions for teams looking for forward depth. Brandon Montour ($3,850,000) and Matt Irwin ($700,000) are potential rentals on defense.