Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

 The New York Islanders are an aging team that desperately needs to overhaul their roster by moving out some of their overpaid veterans, and replacing them with younger players with more potential. The biggest weakness the Islanders have is on defense, and they really need to improve that if they are to contend next season. This is what the New York Islanders should do in the offseason. Before the 2022 Draft, a few trades are made New York Islanders trade Josh Bailey to the Nashville Predators for Eeli Tolvanen, Jeremy Lauzon, 3rd round pick '22. If Filip Forsberg doesn't return to Nashville, the Predators should try to add a veteran winger like Josh Bailey to boost their offense. The Islanders also trade Semyon Varlamov to the Buffalo Sabres for 4th round pick '22, 6th round pick '23.   If the Sabres make the playoffs, the Islanders get a 2023 2nd-round pick. The Islanders unload Varlamov's contract, while the Sabres get their number 1 goalie. The Isles also trade ...

 The Ottawa Senators have been rebuilding for a few years now, and that trend will continue this offseason, as they try to build a contending team through the draft. In addition, they will also be adding some key free agents as well. This is what the Ottawa Senators should do in the offseason. Before the 2022 Draft, Ottawa Senators make a few trades are made Ottawa Senators trade Chris Tierney, Michael Del Zotto to the Seattle Kraken for 4th round pick '22, 5th round pick '23 Seattle get Chris Tierney and Michael Del Zotto from Ottawa in exchange for two draft picks The Senators also acquire Alex Killorn from Tampa Bay Lightning for Dylan Gambrell, Austin Watson, Lassi Thomson, 2nd round pick '22. The Lightning needs to move some salaries, and Alex Killorn is one of their cap casualties. For Ottawa, they will be getting a solid veteran forward who will help mentor their young players. Adam Gaudette and Victor Mete are traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for 5th round pick ...

 The Detroit Red Wings are having a disappointing season, but they can turn it around in the offseason, and build to be better next season.  These are the moves that I would make if I were GM of the Detroit Red Wings. Before the 2022 Draft, a few trades are made Detroit Red Wings trade Filip Zadina to the Arizona Coyotes for 1st round pick '22 This is a win-win trade for both teams because the Coyotes get a potential top 6 winger, while the Red Wings get Colorado's 1st round pick from this year's draft. Robby Fabbri and Jordan Oesterle are traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Ilya Mikheyev and Ilya Lyubushkin. If Neither of these players re-signs with Detroit, they get a 2023 3rd-round pick. Detroit retains 1.5 million of Robby Fabbri's Contract for the duration of it. This is basically a cap dump for the Red Wings, and for the Maple Leafs, they get two players to help the roster for two pending UFAs. The Red Wings also trade Dan DeKeyser to the Anaheim Ducks for Jaco...

 The Minnesota Wild are a mediocre team that is stuck in no man's land; they aren't good enough to be a contender, but at the same time, they aren't bad enough to be a lottery team. So the most logical thing to do is to trade their veteran players and rebuild for the future. At the trade deadline, the Minnesota Wild make two blockbuster trades. Minnesota Wild trade Jonas Brodin, Nick Bonino to the New Jersey Devils for Will Butcher, Andreas Johnsson, and a 2021 2nd rd pick.  The Devils get a top 4 defenseman in Jonas Brodin and a top 9 forward in Nick Bonino, while the Wild get Will Butcher, Andreas Johnsson, and a 2nd round pick. The Wild also trade Marcus Johansson, Victor Rask, 1st round pick '21 to the Detroit Red Wings for Vladislav Namestnikov, and a 2021 2nd round pick. This is a good trade for both sides because the Wild gain cap space, while the Red Wings get Marcus Johansson and a 1st round pick. The Minnesota Wild finish the 2020-21 season with the 10th worst...

 The Pittsburgh Penguins are far from being a contending team now, in fact they would be better off trading everyone except Crosby and going forward with a full rebuild. Two major trades are made by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2020 offseason: Evgeni Malkin is traded to the San Jose Sharks for Tomas Hertl, Ryan Merkley, Ryan Donato, 1st round pick '21. The Sharks get a superstar center in Evgeni Malkin to help propel the Sharks to new heights, while the Penguins get Tomas Hertl, a very good top 6 forward, Ryan Merkley, the Sharks top prospect, Ryan Donato and a 1st round pick. Kris Letang is traded to the Ottawa Senators for Erik Brannstrom, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, 1st round pick '21. The Senators get an elite puck moving defenseman in Kris Letang, which makes them a legit contender; the Penguins get 3 very good young players in Brannstrom, Norris and Batherson as well as a 1st round pick. With Malkin and Letang gone, the Pittsburgh Penguins finish the 2020-21 season wi...