As Christmas fast approaches, 30 National Hockey League clubs are looking at their roster and checking it twice, to see where they need to improve on the ice.
Top contenders and teams just looking to sneak into the postseason may be looking to tweak or add depth in certain positions.
So in honor of the giving that goes with the holiday season, Santa will spread joy throughout the league by giving them the perfect present to make their chances of winning much better.
Chicago Blackhawks
Radim Vrbata – Forward (Arizona)
The Hawks are once again contenders for Lord Stanley’s mug, but could be in a bit vulnerable in the post season if their opposition is able to shutdown the line of Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane.
The addition of Brian Campbell has fortified Chicago’s defense, but GM Stan Bowman does not have a lot of room to work with under the salary cap. The veteran Vrbata has a $1 Million cap hit and could provide some valuable secondary offense.
Colorado Avalanche
Frank Corrado – Defense (Toronto)
The Avs have top line talent up front with top-five picks Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene, but are hurting on the blueline after Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie.
GM Joe Sakic needs to add youth and depth on defense and young Corrado has grown tired of being a healthy scratch in Toronto for over a year.
Dallas Stars
Ron Hainsey – Defense (Carolina)
The Stars have you given up a league-worst 104 goals against, but it’s hard to imagine GM Jim Nill adding a goaltender with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi taking up $10.4 Million on the salary cap.
Head coach Lindy Ruff has been hesitant to use inexperienced blueliners Julius Honka and Esa Lindell and would welcome the addition of an experienced defenseman like Hainsey into the fold.
Minnesota Wild
Rene Bourque – Forward (Colorado)
With a deep defensive corps and Devan Dubnyk an early candidate for the Vezina, scoring is clearly the pressing need for the Wild. Only Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle have scored more than 10 goals this season.
With cap room being tight and their core group signed long term, therefore a rental is the slightly course of action for GM Chuck Fletcher. The 34-year-old Bourque is second only to Matt Duchene in goals for the Avalanche, and he makes a paltry $650,000.
Nashville Predators
Drew Stafford – Forward (Winnipeg)
The Preds are not struggling to score as they have in years past, have Pekka Rinne in goal and a solid blueline corps led by Roman Josi and PK Subban in place. Adding a forward with offensive potential is likely the way that GM David Poile will go.
Stafford scored 21 goals last season for the Jets, but has scored only once in his free agent year and may benefit from a change in scenery.
St. Louis Blues
Bryan Little – Center (Winnipeg)
The Blues are reportedly looking for a center but not a short-term rental. Jori Lehtera’s offensive numbers have declined and Little could be expendable in Winnipeg, who have a bevy of young forward prospects.
Winnipeg Jets
Philipp Grubauer – Goalie (Washington)
The Jets are in the midst of a goaltending transition. Veteran Ondrej Pavelec’s contract expires at the end of this season and youngster Connor Hellebuyck is undoubtedly the heir apparent.
Michael Hutchinson is a less than adequate backup and Grubauer, who has put up good numbers as the understudy for Braden Holtby in Washington, would be a significant upgrade and provide stability between the pipes.
Santa’s gifts from the Atlantic Division | Metropolitan Division
Michael (@MikeInBuffalo on Twitter) can also be found on HockeyBuzz.com