O Canada: 7 trades northern GMs should consider before deadline
Every Tuesday, theScore's hockey editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Trade Target: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving already addressed one of his club's needs by trading for defenseman Michael Stone. With a week left to go before the deadline, it's time to shore up the rest of the roster.
That starts in net, where Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have been decent enough but surely not great. Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Ben Bishop could serve as an excellent long-term upgrade, and with Andrei Vasilevskiy signed long term and level with Bishop in starts this season, the Lightning look willing to deal.
The Flames would need to make room for Bishop's hefty contract - now and moving forward - but the fact he's an unrestricted free agent this summer likely brings the price down a bit.
There's no question the veteran represents a considerable upgrade for the Flames, especially after a strong 2015-16 season that saw him finish as the Vezina Trophy runner-up.
Edmonton Oilers
Trade Target: Keith Kinkaid, New Jersey Devils
For the first time in a long time, the Edmonton Oilers are sitting pretty heading into the deadline, ranked second in the Pacific Division. But despite Connor McDavid's offensive dominance, there are still holes to be filled, especially if the club wants to avoid a quick first-round exit in its postseason return.
Defense is the perennial need in Edmonton, but a more pressing one right now is finding a backup goaltender to help out Cam Talbot, who's started 53 of the team's 59 games. Talbot has been exceptional, but if injury strikes, the Oilers will have few options - backups Jonas Gustavsson and Laurent Brossoit have failed to impress this season.
The Oilers don't need a big name here. New Jersey Devils netminder Keith Kinkaid could be an affordable option. The 27-year-old has a .913 save percentage this season and plenty of starts under his belt. Plus, the Devils still owe Peter Chiarelli for the Taylor Hall deal.
Montreal Canadiens
Trade Target: Mike Ribeiro, Nashville Predators
The Montreal Canadiens have been hampered by injuries all season long, yet they've managed to remain atop their division through it all. Their stars have held down the fort but adding some offensive depth before the playoffs seems wise given the team's recent luck.
General manager Marc Bergevin made waves with the decision to add Alexander Radulov in the offseason, ignoring the perceived attitude issues and rolling the dice on his skill. The gamble has clearly paid off, so how about another try? Mike Ribeiro's time with the Nashville Predators is clearly coming to an end, and after enduring the waiver wire, a return to his hometown and first NHL club could be just the inspiration he needs to rediscover his touch.
The veteran posted 50 points just last season, and amassed 25 points through 46 appearances this year. Ribeiro's still got the hands and vision to make an impact, and it's hard to imagine the asking price will be very high.
Ottawa Senators
Trade Target: P.A. Parenteau, New Jersey Devils
The Ottawa Senators' trade deadline needs changed dramatically in the last few days, as the club recently lost Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone, and Tommy Wingels to injury.
But the Senators still rank second in their division, so packing up and going home likely isn't on the agenda. Ottawa has some cap space to work with, but the team also stays on the lighter side of things financially, so a blockbuster move to add offensive depth may not be in the cards.
New Jersey Devils veteran P.A. Parenteau is likely the best bargain-bin offer the Senators will be able to find, coming in with a $1.3-million cap hit and 13 goals on the year.
The 33-year-old is fresh off a 20-goal campaign last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs - and that performance came before Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were in town, so it's clear Parenteau could provide the Senators with an offensive boost all on his own while Ottawa's stars heal up.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Trade Target: Anthony Duclair, Arizona Coyotes
With only 24 games left on the schedule, the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff hopes are still firmly intact. And the club has an absurd amount of space to work with - as much as $13 million - as it approaches the trade deadline, courtesy of a few recent LTIR moves.
Toronto could use that money to buy big, adding centerman Matt Duchene or defender Kevin Shattenkirk, but that may not be the right approach. The Leafs have enough space to fit in all of the big-ticket deadline names, but they aren't getting any of them without giving up one or more of their young stars - a clear deal-breaker.
A better option: Bring in more elite young talent that can grow with the team past 2016-17. Arizona Coyotes winger Anthony Duclair has fallen out of favor with the club's head office after a fairly tumultuous campaign. But the 21-year-old collected 20 goals and 44 points last season, and has plenty of talent still untapped.
The asking price likely isn't enormous, and if Duclair can rediscover his offensive consistency under head coach Mike Babcock, it could be a game-changing steal for Toronto.
Vancouver Canucks
Trade Target: Curtis Lazar, Ottawa Senators
If there's one Canadian team that should most definitely not load up at the deadline, it's the Vancouver Canucks. Their hopes aren't necessarily dashed, but it's clear Vancouver isn't getting far even if it does make the cut. All effort should be directed to selling off its veteran assets while the club can still get something in return.
That said, if the Canucks have a chance to add some young talent in the process, the need is surely there. Vancouver is starved for youth, with Bo Horvat ranking as the lone young, talented, NHL-ready piece moving forward.
Ottawa's Curtis Lazar has seen his name pop up in trade talks as of late while the 22-year-old continues to watch games from the press box. It might be a harder deal to swing now that the Senators' forward corps has been depleted, but if they're still willing to move the former first-round pick, the Canucks should move quickly to add the British Columbia native.
Lazar, a former Team Canada teammate of Horvat's, has just one point through 31 games this season, but remains a talented prospect with a strong junior resume - including a 41-goal, 76-point WHL season in 2013-14.
Winnipeg Jets
Trade Target: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Winnipeg Jets' young offense has run rampant, with Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele emerging as two of the game's most potent scorers. But their lackluster goaltending has nearly negated that, as the team's minus-14 goal differential has them sitting just outside the playoff picture.
Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Marc-Andre Fleury is likely to accept a deal out of town before the deadline, since the Penguins want to protect Matt Murray from the expansion draft and Fleury wants to play.
The asking price has been high in the past, as Fleury still has the potential to be an elite starter, but the Jets have plenty of interesting options to include in a potential deal.
The Penguins are in need of some defensive depth after losing Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz to injury. Jacob Trouba would be the most obvious returning option, though Winnipeg could also offer up smooth-skating veteran Toby Enstrom, who isn't part of their future plans and would likely thrive in the Penguins' system.
(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)