Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

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 Winnipeg Jets are a borderline playoff team right now, but if they want to win a Stanley Cup, they will need to make a few changes. This is how I would turn the Winnipeg Jets into a Stanley Cup caliber team.  Before the 2021 Draft, two trades are made: Winnipeg Jets trade Paul Stastny to the Detroit Red Wings for 3rd rd pick '21. The Jets don't need Paul Stastny anymore because they intend on playing Pierre Luc Dubois at center for the upcoming season. The Jets also trade Mathieu Perreault, Derek Forbort, Trevor Lewis to the Calgary Flames for Joakim Nordstrom, Brett Ritchie, 4th rd pick '22. Winnipeg bulks up with the additions of Joakim Nordstrom and Brett Ritchie, and they get a 4th round pick as well. Winnipeg Jets lose Dylan DeMelo to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. 2021 draft 18-Corson Ceulemans 50-Sean Behrens 82-Shai Buium 95-Kalle Vaisanen The Winnipeg Jets greatly bolster their defense with the additions of Ceulemans, Behrens, and Buium. Winnipeg ...

 It has been 38 years since the New York Islanders last won a Stanley Cup, and although they have been doing well in the playoffs in recent years, the odds of them winning a Stanley cup are pretty thin, especially playing in arguably the toughest division in the NHL.  If the New York Islanders want to win the Stanley Cup, they will have to make some changes to the team. At the trade Deadline, the Islanders make one major trade: New York Islanders trade Anthony Beauvillier, Scott Mayfield, Michael Dal Colle, 2021 2nd round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for David Savard, Eric Robinson. The Islanders acquire David Savard, a reliable defensive-defenseman, who fits in perfectly with the Islanders. With the addition of David Savard, the Islanders manage to make it to the Conference Finals, where they are eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning. New York Islanders lose Cal Clutterbuck to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft   After the expansion draft, the New York Isl...

The Winnipeg Jets have a solid team, but if they want to make the playoffs in the newly formed All-Canadian Division, they need to improve their roster. The Jets should focus on improving their defense, their offensive depth, and prospect pool. The Winnipeg Jets start by making two huge blockbuster trades: Winnipeg Jets trade Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens for Jonathan Drouin, Philip Danault, Victor Mete, Artturi Lekhonen, 1st round pick 2021.  This trade is beneficial for both sides because the Habs get Patrik Laine, a stud goal scorer, while the Jets get Jonathan Drouin, Philip Danault, two Mete, and Lehkonen, solid role players, and a 1st round pick. Winnipeg also trades Adam Lowry, Nathan Beaulieu, and a 2021 2nd round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Brandon Montour. This is a good trade for both teams because the Jets get Brandon Montour, a stable two-way defenseman, while the Sabres get Adam Lowry, a valuable role player, Nathan Beaulieu, and a 2nd round pick. At the t...

 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...