Almost four months of the NHL season are behind us and there are only 39 days until the trade deadline.
Friday’s three-team blockbuster is proof that by now, front offices have had enough time to evaluate their teams. Whether it’s for the short- or long-term, all 32 clubs will be looking to improve in trade discussions between now and the March 7 deadline.
This week, The Athletic asked its NHL staff to put teams into three tiers — the buyers, the sellers and those in between — and highlight each franchise’s biggest need. Of course, several teams will change tiers and shift their trade priorities in the coming weeks, but it’s insightful to see where they stand at this point.
As of now, our staff believes there will be…