The National Hockey League’s trade deadline is fast approaching as the schedule has passed the halfway point. The races in the North, East, Central, and West are still tight enough that there are only a few certain sellers, which along with budgetary constraints, lack of cap room and cross-border quarantine questions may limit the number of deals made before April 12.
The next few weeks will determine whether teams who consider themselves Stanley Cup contenders will be able to add one final piece to make a playoff run and those who fall out of the race decide to go into sell mode.
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Ep 45: Canucks, Islanders, and The Boston Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 6:26 am
In this episode, Jim and Chris discuss the latest with the Canucks, […]
Here is a weekly look at players who have been significant difference makers and others who are not meeting expectations.
North Division
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Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers): The NHL’s leading scorer had a great week, scoring eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in four games, winning three of four against Calgary and Winnipeg and holds a 10-point lead in the race for the Art Ross Trophy over teammate and sometimes linemate Leon Draisaitl. McDavid has also erased the gap in the race for the Rocket Richard, tying Auston Matthews with 21 goals.
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Sean Monahan (Calgary Flames): The Flames top center scored a career-high 82 points two years ago, but his dramatic decline to 48 points last season led to off-season trade rumors and doubts about his place in the Calgary core group. After an initial spike with Darryl Sutter taking over, the Flames split two-game series with the Oilers and Leafs, but Monahan went scoreless in four games and has only 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 32 games this season.
East Division
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Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers): The Rangers top center had struggled this season after coming back from a bout of COVID-19, but found his footing last week with eight points in four games, with most of it coming in one period against Philadelphia. Zibanejad tied the NHL record for most points in a period (6) with a hat trick and three helpers in the second period of New York’s 9-0 drubbing of the Flyers.
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The Buffalo Sabres: Until they end their losing skid (now at 14 games after losses to Washington, New Jersey and Boston last week), the Sabres are taking permanent residence in this spot. If things couldn’t get any worse, the week ended with the cancellation of their second game with the Bruins after a couple Boston players found their way on the COVID protocol list and there is speculation that the club will be big sellers before April 12.
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Central Division
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Calle Jarnkrok (Nashville Predators): The 29-year-old Swede has been a consistent double-digit scorer for the Preds the last five seasons and that will be the case again this year. Jarnkrok trails only Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi in scoring for Nashville and earned NHL First Star of the week honors last week with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in four games, including a four-point outing in a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.
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Kevin Lankinen (Chicago Blackhawks): After Robin Lehner was traded at the deadline and Corey Crawford was not brought back, the 25-year-old Finn came out of nowhere to win the Hawks starting job over Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia and has put up great numbers (11-7-2, 2.83 GAA, .915 save %), but Lankinen came back to earth last week, allowing seven goals in losses to Florida and Tampa.
West Division
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Nathan Mackinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche): The Avs have hit their stride with a 7-1-2 record in the last ten games after struggling with injuries to key players in the first half. Colorado is in hot pursuit of Vegas for the top spot in the West and their “Big Three” were large factors in wins over Anaheim and Minnesota, each scoring seven points in three games against the Ducks and Wild.
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Devan Dubnyk (San Jose Sharks): Dubnyk was acquired by the Sharks to share the workload with starter Martin Jones, and in spite of a losing record had put up better numbers that made him a potential trade target for clubs looking for goaltending depth, but San Jose lost four games this week and the former Wild starter allowed 11 goals in losses to Vegas and St. Louis.
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Ep 42: Going Streaking, 84 Game Schedule, Ovechkin Watch, Holiday Funby Full Press Coverage on December 22, 2022 at 5:50 pm
In this episode, Jim and Chris talk notable point streaks in the NHL, the […]
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Ep 41: Alex Ovechkin, Playoff Expansion, and Moreby Full Press Coverage on December 15, 2022 at 2:27 am
Jim and Chris are back to discuss Alex Ovechkin's 800th goal, potential […]
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Ep 40: Borje Salming Passing; Kris Letang, Roope Hintz, Top 5 Teamsby Full Press Coverage on December 2, 2022 at 12:45 am
Jim Biringer and Chris Wassel are back for another edition of Full Press […]
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Ep 39: The NHL Has A Problemby Full Press Coverage on November 10, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Mike and Jim are back to discuss all the latest from around the NHL.
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New Jersey Devils and NHL Talkby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 8:00 am
Jim is back once again joined by Vox NHL Analyst Bruce Zeman to discuss […]
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The Mess That Is The Vancouver Canucksby Full Press Coverage on January 23, 2023 at 8:00 am
Jim is back once again joined by Chris Wassel as they break down the mess […]
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Ep 79: Bruins Are A Wagon, Pastrnak Contract, Krejci, Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on January 18, 2023 at 6:35 pm
Ian and Chris evaluate the red-hot Bruins halfway through the season. In […]
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Ep 78: Mitchell Miller Fiasco Reaction; What Do The Bruins Do Next?by Full Press Coverage on November 7, 2022 at 10:37 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Mitchell Miller signing fiasco and discuss what […]
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S4Ep17 - Road Warriors - Devils, Kraken, Bruins, and Golden Knightsby Jim Biringer on January 24, 2023 at 7:00 am
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word of Hockey with NHL […]
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S4Ep16 - Consistency - Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthersby Jim Biringer on January 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word of Hockey with NHL […]
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Episode #126: Re-Ranking the Reign Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 8:28 am
On this episode of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah have another trade […]
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Episode #125: Rockford Offseason Makeover Successesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 5:04 pm
On this edition of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah discuss the news […]