Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

The Pittsburgh Penguins have an aging core and might not be good enough to make the playoffs anymore, so I think the Penguins should seriously consider rebuilding. It would take some time, but if they rebuild correctly, the Penguins could be a playoff-caliber team in a few years. This is how the Pittsburgh Penguins should rebuild. At the 2022 Trade deadline, a few major trades are made: Pittsburgh Penguins trade Evgeni Malkin to the Dallas Stars for Roope Hintz, Denis Gurianov, Mavrik Bourque, and a 2022 1st round pick. With the addition of Evgeni Malkin, the Stars become immediate contenders, while the Penguins get three very top 6 caliber players and a 1st round pick. The Penguins also trade Kris Letang to the Nashville Predators for Dante Fabbro, Philip Tomasino, 2022 1st round pick. The Nashville Predators bolster their defense with the addition of Kris Letang, while the Penguins get two good young players and a 1st round pick. Jeff Carter, Bryan Rust are traded to the Edmonton Oil...

The New York Rangers have a great young core, but they don't have enough NHL experience yet. If they make the right trades, they could be a legit contender as soon as next year. This is how the New York Rangers can become a legit contender next year. Before the season, a huge blockbuster trade is made: New York Rangers acquire Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres for Mika Zibanejad, Braden Schneider, 2023 1st round pick. This is a fair trade for both sides because the Rangers get a legit superstar in Jack Eichel; while the Sabres get Mika Zibanejad, who is a UFA next season, Braden Schneider, and a 1st round pick.   The New York Rangers barely squeak into the playoffs in the 2020-21 season and get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Before the 2022 draft, two trades are made: New York Rangers trade Ryan Strome, Vitaly Kravtsov to the San Jose Sharks for Timo Meier. This is a great trade for both teams because the Sharks get two great players in Ryan Strome and Vitaly...

The LA Kings have a great young core now, but they aren't quite ready to be contenders yet. However, if they make the right trades, and draft correctly in the coming years, they could be. This is how the LA Kings can become a legit contender in three years At the 2022 trade deadline, a few trades are made: LA Kings trade Dustin Brown to the Minnesota Wild for Mitchell Chafee, 2022 2nd round pick.  If the Wild make the playoffs, the 2nd round pick becomes a 1st round pick. This is a win-win trade for both sides; the Wild gets a veteran forward in Dustin Brown, who has plenty of playoff experience, while the Kings get a prospect and a conditional 2nd round pick, that could become a 1st round pick.  The Kings also trade Olli Maatta, Adrian Kempe to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Vladislav Gavrikov, Eric Robinson, 2022 2nd round pick.  This is basically two trades in one; first, you have an Olli Maatta for Vladislav Gavrikov swap, which is pretty even; then the Blue Jackets ge...

 The Arizona Coyotes have made it clear that they are rebuilding, and have already taken steps towards that process by trading away Oliver Ekman Larsson and Darcy Kuemper, as well as adding numerous draft picks over the next three seasons for taking on bad contracts. As good a job as the Coyotes have done so far, they are far from done, and I suspect they will be making a few more trades before the season. It will be a long process, but in time, the Coyotes could become a contending time in three years. This is what the Arizona Coyotes should do to become a contending team in three years. Before the season, the Arizona Coyotes make a few major trades: Arizona Coyotes trade Phil Kessel to the Colorado Avalanche for JT Compher, Valeri Nishushkin, and a 2023 2nd round pick. If Kessel re-signs with the Avalanche, the Coyotes get Colorado's 2024 1st round pick. This is a win-win trade for both teams; the Avalanche get Phil Kessel to play alongside Nazem Kadri on the second line, while t...

 New Jersey Devils' GM, Tom Fitzgerald has said that the Devils want to take that next step this season, and possibly vie for a playoff spot. In this blog, I  explore how the Devils can turn their team into a playoff-caliber team this season. Here is a quick look at the roster right now, and the prospects they have that could potentially crack the lineup. The current lineup looks like this: J.Kuokkanen-J.Hughes-Y.Sharangovich P.Zacha-N.Hischier-J.Bratt M.Wood-M.McLeod-A.Johnsson N.Foote-J.Boqvist-M.Studenic R.Graves-D.Hamilton T.Smith-D.Severson J.Siegenthaler-PK.Subban M.Blackwood J.Bernier Prospects who could potentially crack the lineup are Alexander Holtz, Dawson Mercer, Tyce Thompson, Kevin Bahl The Biggest weakness of the Devils at the current moment is goal scoring; if Holtz and Mercer aren't NHL ready yet, then they need to go out and trade for one. The Devils have been one of the teams that have been linked to Vladimir Tarasenko; Tarasenko is exactly what this team ne...