PuckSleuthWestern Conference · updated Oct 3
League overview
Most common need
Goal scoring
8 teams graded Need or Thin
Second most common need
Power play
8 teams graded Need or Thin
Deepest league-wide
Goal scoring
7 teams graded Solid or Strong
Teams with $8M+ space
5
Buyers with room to absorb a contract
Team needs & strengths
Built from each roster's results
| Team | Goals | Creation | Physical | 5v5 D | PP | PK | Goalie | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANAAnaheim Ducks | Solid | Solid | Need | Thin | Thin | Thin | $1.522M | |
| CGYCalgary Flames | Need | Need | Thin | Need | Solid | Solid | $14.918M | |
| CHIChicago Blackhawks | Need | Need | Need | Need | Need | Strong | $5.458M | |
| COLColorado Avalanche | Strong | Strong | Need | Strong | Thin | Strong | Strong | $333K |
| DALDallas Stars | Solid | Solid | Solid | Strong | Solid | Solid | $-1.31M | |
| EDMEdmonton Oilers | Strong | Strong | Thin | Strong | Thin | Need | $3.377M | |
| LAKLos Angeles Kings | Need | Need | Strong | Need | Need | Thin | $1.975M | |
| MINMinnesota Wild | Solid | Solid | Solid | Strong | Solid | $1.035M | ||
| NSHNashville Predators | Thin | Need | Thin | Solid | Solid | $11.589M | ||
| SJSSan Jose Sharks | Solid | Thin | Need | $9.853M | ||||
| SEASeattle Kraken | Thin | Need | Thin | Need | Solid | $17.876M | ||
| STLSt. Louis Blues | Thin | Thin | Solid | Need | Thin | Thin | $2.757M | |
| UTAUtah Mammoth | Solid | Solid | Thin | Solid | $3.613M | |||
| VANVancouver Canucks | Need | Need | Need | Need | Need | $17.143M | ||
| VGKVegas Golden Knights | Solid | Solid | Strong | Strong | Solid | Need | $0K | |
| WPGWinnipeg Jets | Thin | Thin | Thin | Thin | $5.008M |
Goals: goals for per game. Creation: primary assists per game. Physical: hits and blocked shots per game. 5v5 D: expected goals against per 60 at 5v5. PP and PK: NHL power play and penalty kill percentages. Goalie: goals saved above expected per game. Grades compare each team with the other 31, using the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons (until every team has played 20 games). Space is the cap ceiling minus NHL roster cap hits and retained salary.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets
- Green Coaches 500th as Sens Kick Things Off in Toronto
TOR · NHL.com · Oct 3
- Projected Lineup - Flames At Canucks
CGY · NHL.com · Oct 3
- Alex Ovechkin played the fewest minutes of his career in Capitals’ season-opening win over Hurricanes
CAR · RMNB · Oct 3
- Canucks: Caleb Malhotra helps Boston University to victory in collegiate debut
VAN · The Province · Oct 3
- Senators vs Maple Leafs Prediction, Odds & Best Bet (Oct. 3)
OTT · Sports Betting Dime · Oct 3
- Wild Welcome Bruins for 2026-27 Home Opener
BOS · NHL.com · Oct 3
Top 10 trade targets
Ranked by trade chatter and availability
| # | Player | Cap / yrs | Chatter | Fans | Beat | Best fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Hellebuyck WPG · G · age 33 | $8.5M / 5 | 89 | 47 | 50 | VAN, SJS, PHI Goaltending |
| 2 | Daniil But UTA · L · age 21 | $973K / 2 | 20 | 59 | — | VAN, CHI, ANA 5v5 defense |
| 3 | Easton Cowan TOR · R · age 21 | $900K / 2 | 15 | 74 | 71 | SEA, VAN, CGY Playmaking |
| 4 | Tristan Jarry EDM · G · age 31 | $5.375M / 2 | 14 | 17 | 21 | VAN, SJS, OTT Goaltending |
| 5 | Connor McDavid EDM · C · age 29 | $12.5M / 2 | 18 | 56 | 61 | SEA, VAN, CGY Playmaking |
| 6 | Paul Cotter VAN · L · age 26 | $2.15M / 1 | 11 | 81 | 79 | NSH, CAR, CHI Physicality |
| 7 | Jake Walman EDM · D · age 30 | $7M / 7 | 10 | 35 | — | VAN, CGY, CHI Goal scoring |
| 8 | Clay Stevenson WPG · G · age 27 | $850K / 1 | 9 | 71 | 68 | VAN, SJS, OTT Goaltending |
| 9 | Dylan Garand NYR · G · age 24 | $875K / 2 | 13 | 52 | 62 | VAN, SJS, OTT Goaltending |
| 10 | Aleksander Barkov FLA · C · age 31 | $10M / 4 | 13 | 38 | 40 | SEA, VAN, CGY Playmaking |
Best fits = teams graded Need or Thin in the player's strongest area, with cap room for the deal at up to 50% retention.
Top 10 undervalued
Performance percentile minus fan sentiment
| # | Player | Cap | Fans | Perf. | Perception gap | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Fox NYR · D · 28 | $9.5M | 21 | 90 | +87 | +$2.65M |
| 2 | Nikolaj Ehlers CAR · L · 30 · Controls the chance battle at 5v5 while fans sour on him | $8.5M | 33 | 90 | +84 | −$630K |
| 3 | Roope Hintz DAL · C · 29 | $8.45M | 26 | 77 | +72 | −$291K |
| 4 | Brandt Clarke LAK · D · 23 · Chance share is strong and goals follow, well beyond his reputation | $7.4M | 27 | 78 | +71 | −$819K |
| 5 | Jack Hughes NJD · C · 25 | $8M | 44 | 85 | +66 | +$3.881M |
| 6 | Brent Burns COL · D · 41 | $850K | 40 | 84 | +65 | +$4.814M |
| 7 | Brock Faber MIN · D · 24 · Team wins the chance battle at 5v5 with him out there, and it is not luck | $8.5M | 37 | 80 | +63 | −$688K |
| 8 | Lucas Raymond DET · L · 24 | $8.075M | 40 | 76 | +63 | +$752K |
| 9 | Tom Wilson WSH · R · 32 | $6.5M | 40 | 75 | +62 | +$2.157M |
| 10 | John Carlson TBL · D · 36 · Team controls chances and goals at 5v5 with him out there, easy to overlook | $8.5M | 38 | 79 | +62 | +$2.549M |
Perception gap = how his performance ranks at his position minus how his fans rate him, among players fans discuss. The league's biggest stars are left out. Reasons are written by Claude from the numbers only.