The NHL trade deadline is on Monday, February 24th and the league’s teams are now scrambling to add those last pieces to push for an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff place. While some teams will seek new additions to get into the postseason, others want to shed salaries and look to next season. NHL fans are preparing for the excitement of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fans can read the latest Ladbrokes review by Betenemy and receive bet bonuses before wagering on the latest round of NHL games.
The trade rumors are running rampant with the trade deadline in two weeks. Which teams will be buyers and sellers before the window closes on player trades?
Winnipeg Jets – Buyers
Feb 1, 2020; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates his third period goal against the St. Louis Blues at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Despite inconsistencies, injuries, and issues on the blue line, the Winnipeg Jets will be buyers ahead of the trade deadline. The Jets are the fourth-place team in the chase for a wild card place in the playoffs. As every NHL fan knows, it doesn’t matter how you get to the postseason as long as you make it. The Jets are within touching distance of the two wild card places, just three points back of the Arizona Coyotes and four from the Calgary Flames.
It was claimed the Jets would become sellers if they fell out of playoff contention before the trade deadline. But with February 24th fast approaching and the team playing well enough, selling at this point would anger both fans and players.
If the Jets are truly interested in making the playoffs and being buyers, then any one of these players or draft picks could be moved on: Jack Roslovic, Sami Niku, Kristian Vesalainen, Mason Appleton, 2021 first-round pick, or assorted other draft picks in 2020 and 2021.
Minnesota Wild – Sellers
Feb 4, 2020; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (24) celebrates with goaltender Alex Stalock (32) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Wild look dead in the water with 52 points from 51 games. The Wild are sixth in the race for the Western Conference wild card race and seven points back of the final spot occupied by Arizona. Although seven points do not sound like many, it feels like miles in distance for the Wild to make up at this point.
One player likely to leave before the trade deadline is forward Jason Zucker. According to The Athletic, he is on the radar of the Dallas Stars. Although it is claimed that the Wild do not want to have a “fire-sale” of players, clubs are calling about the availability of Zucker.
One problem with trading Zucker could be the no-trade clause he has in his contract. The forward put together a list of 10 teams at the start of the season preventing the Wild from trading him to those clubs.
The Stars are not the only team that could land the 28-year-old player. Zucker has 14 goals and 14 assists, and will make any of the teams interested in him immensely better. His contract could be an issue with $5.5 million of his $6.25 million salary affecting the salary cap. Minnesota will most likely keep its cards close to the vest until trade deadline day.
