Deadline team needs: Pacific Division
The lead-up to the trade deadline has been, well, underwhelming. An unofficial trade embargo seems to have been placed on 30 front offices, as the upcoming expansion draft and an unclear playoff picture has made the market murky.
Despite the early difficulties in manufacturing deals, we're just over a week away from deadline day, and several teams - in contention or out of it - have roster situations to address.
Below, we'll dive into the needs of each team in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim Ducks
Need: Goal-scorer
In principle, Anaheim's deadline plan seems quite simple. The Ducks need scoring, and have a surplus of talented, coveted defensemen.
Related: 3 forwards the offense-starved Ducks should trade for
Anaheim ranks 18th in the NHL with 154 goals for this season, and desperately needs some more offense on the wing to make a playoff run.
Arizona Coyotes
Need: Sell
It's been a lost season in the desert, and the Coyotes began shedding contracts when they traded Michael Stone to the Flames on Monday.
Arizona still has plenty of intriguing trade candidates, mainly up front, as Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal, and captain Shane Doan have been mentioned in the rumor mill.
Accumulating draft picks has to be the plan for general manager John Chayka, and taking on extra salary from trade partners is an option as well.
Calgary Flames
Need: Don't push it
Calgary is currently clinging to the second wild-card spot in the West - not a particularly enviable position, as it most likely means a first-round meeting with Minnesota.
The Flames addressed a need by acquiring Stone, who should help ease the pressure on Calgary's top pairing, but this roster doesn't exactly exude the aura of a Stanley Cup contender.
Both Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson are impending UFAs, as are defensemen Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland, all of whom could fetch useful draft picks.
Edmonton Oilers
Need: Backup goalie
Cam Talbot leads the NHL with 53 starts this season, and with a playoff spot well within reach, the Oilers need to offer their go-to guy some rest.
Talbot has been outstanding this season - he's been the Oilers' most important player outside their captain - but Peter Chiarelli needs to scope the market for a reliable backup plan.
Of course, Edmonton would love to add a top-four defenseman, but in this year's market, that's much easier said than done.
Los Angeles Kings
Need: Goal-scorer
Save for Jeff Carter, who's potted the second-most goals in the NHL this season, the Kings are starved for offense. Tanner Pearson is the only other player on Los Angeles to reach double digits in goals this year, one of the main reasons the two-time champs find themselves outside the playoff picture.
If a deal becomes available, Dean Lombardi should take it, but he needs to consider the future. Pearson and Tyler Toffoli need new contracts next season, and the Kings would be wise to create some room in a tight cap situation.
San Jose Sharks
Need: Stand pat
The Sharks own virtually the exact same roster that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, and hardly have a glaring need anywhere on the ice.
San Jose currently leads the Pacific by a five-point cushion, and doesn't need to force anything after being one of the most consistent teams this season.
Vancouver Canucks
Need: Sell
The Canucks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup, and they aren't going to give up assets just to make the playoffs, so that means it's time to shed some salary.
Both Alex Burrows and Ryan Miller are pending UFAs, and while they each have a no-trade clause, both veterans would surely welcome an opportunity to compete in the playoffs.
Vancouver should try to sell high on both players and restock the fifth- and sixth-round selections that are missing from this year's draft board.
(Photos courtesy: USA TODAY Sports)