USA Today: Looking at needs for each NHL team heading into the holidays.
Anaheim Ducks – some salary cap space. The Ducks could use some help upfront, but they have little cap room.
Arizona Coyotes – a ladder to get out of the basement. They expected to be better this season.
Boston Bruins – a goal scorer. David Pastrnak has twice as many goals as their next highest scorer.
Buffalo Sabres – a healthy Jack Eichel
Calgary Flames – more shots on goal. They are ranked 29th in the league in shots and could be in the top 10 in scoring if they would shoot more often.
Carolina Hurricanes – continue to get good goaltending from Cam Ward.
Chicago Blackhawks – get more from Jonathan Toews. Toews has been dealing with a back issue, but has only four goals and 14 points in 25 games.
Colorado Avalanche – a high draft pick.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Sergei Bobrovsky to remain healthy.
Dallas Stars – better luck. They have only one win in seven OT/SO games.
Detroit Red Wings – a time machine. They are unlikely to make a push playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Time to rebuild.
Edmonton Oilers – managed expectations. They still need to learn what it takes to win in the playoffs.
Florida Panthers – peace and quiet. It has been a “tumultuous three months” for the Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings – a box of 25 assorted goals. They are ranked 20th in scoring and have only gotten three goals from Anze Kopitar.
Minnesota Wild – the hockey gods to smile on Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau needs some playoff luck.
Montreal Canadiens – a healthy new year.
Nashville Predators – time. As of Dec. 20th, they were one point out of the playoffs.
New Jersey Devils – a young defenseman. They need to restock their system with some blueline prospects. They should trade one of their goalies, possibly Scott Wedgewood, for a defenseman prospect.
New York Islanders – help for John Tavares. He needs scoring help.
New York Rangers – some help on the blueline. They could use a puck-moving defenseman.
Ottawa Senators – more good luck.
Philadelphia Flyers – avoiding their rookies hitting a wall. Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov are big parts of their success.
Pittsburgh Penguins – health.
St. Louis Blues – (NY Post didn’t post anything for them)
San Jose Sharks – two more playoff wins. Were two wins short of winning the Cup last year.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Steven Stamkos.
Toronto Maple Leafs – a few more wins. Not going to make the playoffs, but a few more wins would give their rookies more confidence and momentum heading into next year.
Vancouver Canucks – a new game plan. Time to rebuild.
Washington Capitals – more from Alex Ovechkin. Ovi has only 23 points so far this season.
Winnipeg Jets – maturation from Connor Hellebuyck.
