In the real world, NHL teams are strapped down due to salary caps, contracts and various other financial constraints. In the realm of fantasy, anything is possible.
As the 2010-11 NHL season draws to a close with the Bruins and the Canucks locked in a close
Stanley Cup Final. We look at seven teams, what they are missing, and which player could really fill their need – regardless of the real likelihood of it actually happening.
Los Angeles KingsBiggest: Need: Sniper
Solution: Jarome Iginla
The Los Angeles Kings are another team that might be just one or two players away from being a legitimate
Stanley Cup contender. It’s tough to question their defense or goaltending, but the fact that they were tied for the fewest goals scored by any team that qualified for the playoffs, it’s fairly clear that they need some offensive help. NHL betting stats for the season show 2.7 goals and 28.8 shots per game.
Jarome Iginla is the perfect fit, and he also brings the playoff pedigree that this young squad is lacking. More importantly, this potential marriage has a somewhat reasonable chance of happening.
Nashville PredatorsBiggest Need: A Superstar
Solution: Sidney Crosby
Yes, it’s easy to say that
Sidney Crosby would be a great fit on all 30 of the NHL teams. When healthy, he’s the best player in the game.
But for the Predators specifically, he could be the man to get them over the hump.
Head coach Barry Trotz milks the most out of his talent each and every year. While they’ve got an All-Star caliber netminder and a stellar group of blue lines, a big-time playmaker is exactly what the offensive units need to take the next step to the Conference Finals and even to the Stanley Cup. This team needs some offense.
Washington Capitals Biggest Need: Goaltending
Solution: Tim Thomas
The Washington Capitals continue to have playoff shortcomings and the truth of the matter is that they will continue to until they find a reliable goaltender. With all due respect to Michal Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov, Jose Theodore and whatever other scrubs the Capitals have tried to skate by with, they need someone who has been there and done it. Not only to make a few key saves, but to provide some confidence from the back end.
The Caps are a mentally frail team when it comes to the playoffs but a stonewall goaltender could change that. Someone like
Thomas – or a veteran like Martin Brodeur – would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
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Anaheim DucksBiggest Need: Big-Time Defenseman
Solution: Kevin Bieksa/Zdeno Chara
With Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks have one of the best offensive lines in the NHL and scoring isn’t as much of a concern. At the back end, they have an All-Star netminder in Jonas Hiller – when healthy.
The problem for the
Anaheim Ducks is in between those two areas as they lack some primetime defensemen.
In the middle part of the 2000’s, the Ducks were anchored on the blue line by the likes of Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin and Mathieu Schneider.
Nowadays, the Ducks still have the puck-moving defensemen in Tony Lydman and Lubomir Visnovsky, but they lack that shutdown defenseman who can stifle the opponent’s top line.
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara or Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa would be the perfect fit. Good thing the latter is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) come July 1st, 2011.
Buffalo SabresBiggest Need: Power Forward
Solution: Bobby Ryan
The Buffalo Sabres are a small, fast team, and in the new NHL – if you want to call it that – they have really put their speed into full effect to milk the most out of their squad.
But to take the next step, particularly in the playoffs, the Sabres need a little more size and strength.
Derek Roy is 5’10, Tyler Ennis is 5’9 and Nathan Gerbe is 5’5. How good would 6’2, 209-pound Bobby Ryan look in a Sabres uniform? Well, he’d look good in any uniform really, but the Sabres are in desperate need of someone with his type of muscle.
The Sabres finished the regular season on a 16-4-4 run and with a new owner that wants to do whatever it takes to win, look for him to address this need in the near future.
San Jose SharksBiggest Need: An experienced Defenseman with a Stanley Cup track record
Solution: Chris Pronger
The San Jose Sharks have made it to the Western Conference finals two years in a row now. However they just can’t get over the first hump. One player that can help them to do that is Chris Pronger.
The rugged defenseman just wins wherever he goes. He’s big, he’s tough, opponent’s hate to face him but he’s welcome to play for any team in the league. A team that could really use him is San Jose.
They have the offensive weapons to succeed, they finally have a reliable goaltender, now they are just one piece away from getting over the top and the perfect fit would be a guy with the pedigree of Pronger.
Toronto Maple LeafsBiggest Need: No. 1 Center
Solution: Brad Richards
Getting back to reality for a second, how good would
Brad Richards look in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform?
The Leafs are in dire need of a playmaking, top-line center – almost as much as Kim Kardashian needs drama. Phil Kessel is trying to do it all from the wing, but a little help could go a long way.
Richards is an UFA on July 1st and Leafs General Manager Bryan Burke will very likely be calling him as 12:00.01 AM ET. A couple of fantasy options that would work are either Henriks – Sedin or Zetterberg – or even Mike Ribeiro wouldn’t look too bad as a cheaper option.