NHL Trade Buzz: Islanders could seek help on defense

Welcome to the NHL Trade Buzz. There are 25 days remaining until the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET, Feb. 26) and the buzz is just starting, egged on by chatter at the weekend's 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Tampa. Will the New York Islanders' continued struggles push general manager Garth Snow to upgrade his goaltending and defense? Will Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka shake things up or stick with his rebuilding plan?
Here's a look around the League at the latest deadline doings:

New York Islanders

The Islanders are one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, but their continuing struggles to keep the puck out of their net seemed to reach a head following
a 4-1 loss against the Florida Panthers
on Tuesday and
a 5-0 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs
on Wednesday.
"It's really unacceptable the level we are playing at," Islanders center John Tavares said. "You are not going to win too many hockey games or be in it the way we've played the past couple of nights."
The Islanders rank last in the NHL in allowing 3.62 goals per game and are 30th in the 31-team League in giving up 35.1 shots per game. Since Dec. 1, they are 10-15-3, allowing at least four goals in 19 of those 28 games and giving up at least 40 shots nine times over that span, including 50 against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday and a season-high 56 against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 15.
No doubt, injuries to defensemen Johnny Boychuk (lower body) and Calvin de Haan (upper body) have hurt. And goaltenders Jaroslav Halak (3.16 goals-against average, .909 save percentage) and Thomas Greiss (3.94 GAA, .887 save percentage) haven't gotten a lot of help in front of them, but also haven't helped themselves in some games.
So, though there is time left before the trade deadline, the clock is ticking on general manager Garth Snow to find upgrades on defense or in net before the Islanders' season slips away.

Arizona Coyotes

Though Coyotes general manager John Chayka repeated Wednesday his intention not to make any significant changes before the deadline, it would be surprising if he didn't at least explore what he can get for potential unrestricted free agents such as defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Brad Richardson.
Schenn, 28, and Richardson, 32, would have some appeal to teams seeking to improve their depth heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Goaltender Antti Raanta, 28, also is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but Chayka said he plans to hold onto him for the rest of the season. Raanta is trying to re-establish himself as a No. 1 goaltender and went 3-2-3 with a 1.93 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in eight appearances in January.

Raanta, 8-13-5 with a 2.56 GAA and .919 save percentage this season, could provide insurance for a team unsure about its backup or with injury concerns. Chayka believes there are benefits to keeping him, though.
"That's just people making a guess based off his contractual status … but I haven't had a single realistic discussion on him," Chayka told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM of the speculation about trading Raanta. "We're in need of a good goalie and he's a good goalie. That's where I'm at."
Chayka is also pleased with the direction the Coyotes are heading despite their 12-29-9 record. So he doesn't feel the need to shake things up with a trade.
"If there's a chance to make our team better I'll do it, but in the past there was a lot of need for guys to get a fresh start or to infuse youth," Chayka said. "There were some underlying changes we were trying to make. I don't think that's the case any longer.
"I think the core players are in place and they need some time and some experience surrounded by the right players. We've got some pieces in place that we like. Now, we're just seeing if there are some things we can tweak to try and improve. There is nothing underlying that I think needs a significant change."

Carolina Hurricanes

The Montreal media asked Hurricanes coach Bill Peters about the "trade rumors" surrounding goaltender Cam Ward.
Peters said he knew nothing about them and laughed them off.
"He's here, he's been here his whole career," Peters said after the morning skate prior to the Hurricanes hosting the Canadiens at PNC Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-SE, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV). "He's played well for us. He's 14-6-2. I think that's a bad rumor. That makes me laugh a little. We're trying to make a push. I want to add [players]. Start that rumor. Let's add to our mix, not detract."
Ward, 33, has a 2.78 GAA and .907 SV% in 24 games (23 starts) this season.

Maple Leafs 'always could use help'

It seemed clear from what Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Wednesday that he was not satisfied with where the team was or with how they were playing with less than a month to go before deadline. He made that, and his desire for reinforcements, apparent with the message he delivered at the morning skate Wednesday.
"The bottom line is, it's our job as a team to put as much pressure as we can on [general manager] Lou [Lamoriello] to help us, and you don't do it by talking, you do it by playing, and the better you play and the more you look like you got a chance, the more opportunity you have for your general manager to help you," Babcock told TSN.
The implication was that the Maple Leafs might need an addition or two for the stretch run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that they also need to help themselves to get there.
"Always could use help," Babcock said. "Never been on a team that didn't need more."
Though Babcock said he likes the potential the Maple Leafs have, he believes they can be better and more consistent.
After a 5-0 win against the New York Islanders, the Maple Leafs were third in the Atlantic Division with 63 points, behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (71) and Boston Bruins (66), though Boston has four games in hand on Toronto.
One target area for the Maple Leafs could be on defense, with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie or Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green potential options.

Fisher's comeback plan could be boon for Predators

Center Mike Fisher stepped on the ice at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday to begin what he and the Nashville Predators hope will lead to the 37-year-old signing a contract close to the trade deadline.
Fisher, Nashville's captain last season, announced his retirement on Aug. 3, a few weeks after the Predators' first trip to the Stanley Cup Final ended with a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I believe this team is built to win and has a very good chance," Fisher said. "I believe that this year can be our year. That's what I want to be part of, and have some fun."
Getting Fisher back would effectively be a trade deadline acquisition for the Predators. "I think it's one of my better ones," general manager David Poile said.
The Predators reached out to Fisher about returning; they had started throwing the idea around in December, before asking if he would be interested. Fisher likely would be the No. 3 center behind Kyle Turris and Ryan Johansen, and ahead of Nick Bonino, who was supposed to replace Fisher in the lineup.
There's no timetable for Fisher's return to game action.
As for other trade deadline options, Poile said he believed the Predators are now in good shape. "But I never say never," he added.
Adding Fisher could start the gears grinding among Nashville's rivals in the Central Division. The first-place Winnipeg Jets have 68 points; the Predators and St. Louis Blues each have 65, though Nashville has three games in hand on Winnipeg and four on St. Louis.

Barrie back for Avalanche

Defenseman Tyson Barrie returned to the Colorado Avalanche lineup against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday after missing 13 games with a hand injury. He played 17:12 and had one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss. But the Avalanche were 10-3-0 in his absence and jumped into the Stanley Cup Playoffs conversation, raising the possibility Barrie, 26, could be a trade target for defensemen-needy teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders.
Barrie is in the second season of a four-year contract he signed July 31, 2016.
The Avalanche will know a lot more soon. Something that could impact Barrie's status is an injury to center Nathan MacKinnon, who is second in the NHL in scoring with 61 points (24 goals, 37 assists). MacKinnon left the ice in the second period following a hit on Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler that left him grabbing his shoulder.
The Avalanche said Wednesday that MacKinnon won't play Thursday at the Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SWN, ALT, NHL.TV) and listed him as day to day. His status will undoubtedly affect what Colorado ends up doing, and whether it can remain in the playoff race.

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Kane's time with Sabres near end?

It has been a disappointing season for the Buffalo Sabres, and that could mean forward Evander Kane might be on the move.
Kane isn't likely to come cheap: TSN's Darren Dreger reported recently that the Sabres are looking for a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, a prospect, a roster player and a conditional draft pick. But it's also possible the price could drop as the deadline approaches.
"Obviously personal relationships, friendships, you never want to see buddies go, people you care about, people you enjoy being around, but you kind of have to put that aside and look at the business aspect of things," Sabres center Jack Eichel said at the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game. "There's guys on the move around this League all the time, and that's part of it. Obviously you're prepared for it. You just want what's best for the team every day."
Kane, 26, has 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games this season and can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.