Injuries are always the random element when it comes to making or advancing in the playoffs. When players go down close to the trade deadline, it forces NHL general managers to do things that they normally would not do.
Chicago winger Patrick Kane suffered a broken clavicle less than a week before the 2015 trade deadline, forcing Hawks GM Stan Bowman to trade a first round pick for pending free agent Antoine Vermette.
Kane ended up recovering quicker than expected and played in every game of Chicago’s third Stanley Cup run in the last six years, while Vermette scored four goals, but was a healthy scratch at times during the postseason.
With the February 29th trade deadline approaching, teams with playoff aspirations have lost key contributors and that may force those clubs to change their strategy in the next 10 days.
New York is in a difficult position with defenseman Keith Yandle. The pending unrestricted free agent is looking for a big contract this summer and the Rangers are in no position to be able to give the 29-year-old a long-term deal.
GM Jeff Gorton may have been looking to recoup future assets for Yandle after swapping winger Anthony Duclair and a first round pick to Arizona last March, but Ryan McDonagh’s questionable status may prevent that move from being made.
The Rangers team captain returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing four games with a concussion, but left in the first period of a 4-2 win over Toronto last night after being elbowed by Leafs winger Leo Komarov.
If McDonagh is unavailable for a long stretch, Gorton cannot move Yandle without making his blueline extremely thin going into the post-season.
Los Angeles has been looking for help on defense ever since Slava Voynov went back to Russia early this season. GM Dean Lombardi added some depth by acquiring Luke Schenn from Philadelphia, but struck out in acquiring Dustin Byfuglien and lost winger Marian Gaborik to a knee injury.
The loss of Gaborik could have Lombardi widening his shopping list to add a forward. Even after waiving defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to clear cap space, it may be tough for the Kings to create enough cap space to fill both needs.
Chicago lost Marian Hossa to a leg injury last Saturday in an overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks and the veteran winger is expected to miss multiple weeks.
Bowman is looking for defensive depth after waiving veteran blueliner Rob Scuderi and now will have to add a top six winger to play with Jonathan Toews to his shopping list. Which may now necessitate finding someone to take on Bryan Bickell’s $4 Million salary to give the Hawks some maneuverability.
Pittsburgh has climbed back into the playoff race due to Sidney Crosby’s strong second half, but the Penguins accomplished that feat without centers Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bonino. Both players have missed for all of February and are nearing a return, but that is not stopping GM Jim Rutherford from adding depth up the middle.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Wednesday that the Penguins and Maple Leafs have held talks regarding center Peter Holland and ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated that Rutherford may have designs on defenseman Roman Polak.
New Jersey has remained in the playoff mix on the strength of team defense and the goaltending of Corey Schneider, but the loss of sniper Mike Cammalleri (injured twice in 2016 and played only four games) has contributed to their league-worst 130 goals scored.
The veteran forward may return before the deadline, but GM Ray Shero cannot depend on Cammalleri’s durability down the stretch and has to acquire additional offense to stay with the Penguins and Tampa Bay.
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Written by Michael Augello, who can be found on twitter @MikeInBuffalo