The funny thing about the trade deadline is your needs can immediately shift. Whether it's a bad injury (Shea Theodore) or a sudden hot streak (or cold), it can change a team's fortunes. The Vegas Golden Knights had a pinch of bad news hit the airwaves during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
While the news of losing a puck-moving defenseman sucks the life out of the room, they could have more money to spend. Should he go on LTIR, that could open up the checkbook for Kelly McCrimmon to make the conspiracy theorists' heads explode. How fun would that be?
So let's look at the best trade targets from each division, starting with the Atlantic Division. Each division will have three specific players that should be the primary focus of McCrimmon. What do these players bring to the table? How can they help defeat adversaries like the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings?
Those questions will be answered. But! Let's focus on the Atlantic Division, home of the Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Now, McCrimmon can't grab anybody from this team (even if Matthew Tkachuk does look good with Jack Eichel on his line during the 4 Nations Face-Off). They're also fighting for another title. Therefore, no bueno!
However, teams such as the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens are opening up shop (or looking into selling). Why not reunite with a "Misfit" like Alex Tuch? Or maybe look at lower-line depth with a center like Dylan Cozens? Let's explore three names coming from the Altantic Division that will help the Golden Knights.
Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
Now, this one is obvious for many reasons. One, he's a big player (6'4", 215 lbs) who can bulk up the right wing. The Syracuse native also brings hefty scoring to the position, scoring 19 goals and 24 assists this season. Add in an innate ability to create turnovers (32 takeaways this season) and it's easy to see why a reunion with Alex Tuch will work.
Of course, a name like Dylan Cozens should also be considered for forward depth. But Tuch has everything the team needs for the wing. Size, scoring, and defensive capabilities. He's also under control for next season, making him the perfect piece for a reunion. A cap hit of $4.75 million makes this much easier to manage, too. Viva la reunion!
Jake Evans, Montreal Canadiens
Jake Evans can also bring some scoring depth to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has 11 goals and 16 assists this season, giving the Montreal Canadiens some offensive bite. The Toronto native can also play center and right wing, providing additional flexibility should William Karlsson (or any other center, for that matter) be out for an extended period.
But that's not the only reason you sign a player like Evans. He's also a proficient penalty killer. His exits are efficient and he gravitates towards the play effortlessly. It's no wonder Montreal has the eighth-best penalty kill in the league (81.7%). Considering the Canadiens aren't close to a contract extension with him, it might be worth Kelly McCrimmon swooping in for a deal.
Dylan Cozens, Buffalo Sabres
There's no such thing as an embarrassment of riches, especially in Las Vegas. You're looking for more center depth to bolster your unit, specifically when losing players like Karlsson. That applies here as well, with Dylan Cozens being an ideal player for the middle of the lineup.
Like Tuch, Cozens is big (6'3", 207 lbs.) and has a booming shot. He also has 11 goals and 16 assists this season (much like Jake Evans), adding more offensive firepower. But the forward has also grown into a hard-hitting player with 121 hits this season. That could translate into the powerful player McCrimmon needs, especially when paired with Keegan Kolesar.
Bonus: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Admit it. You'd love to see Brad Marchand annoy Connor McDavid, Evander Kane, or Leon Draisaitl during the playoffs. He doesn't just score goals, after all. The Boston Bruins star is also the ultimate pest. Opposing fanbases hate him (unless he's on their team, of course) and he can give teams a rough time.