It has been nearly three weeks since the puck dropped on the 2022-23 NHL season, but already several clubs find themselves requiring additional defensive depth.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need another puck-moving defenseman to take some of the burden off top blue-liner Morgan Rielly. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers could use a mobile rearguard to help at both ends of the rink.
Rebuilding clubs like the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators could benefit from an experienced, skilled defender who can also anchor their power play. In Vancouver, the struggling Canucks need someone to ease rearguard Quinn Hughes’ workload.
The Florida Panthers suffered a significant blow as top defenseman Aaron Ekblad was sidelined by a groin injury. Injuries also waylaid St. Louis Blues defenders Marco Scandella and Scott Perunovich while the Philadelphia Flyers face another season with Ryan Ellis on the shelf.
Read more
Finding suitable replacements isn’t easy this early in the season. Most of those clubs currently have little or no salary-cap space to acquire a defenseman. Those who do will find the pickings slim in the trade market right now.
Jakob Chychrun has been a fixture in the trade rumor mill for months. The 24-year-old requested a trade from the Arizona Coyotes and carries a reasonable $4.6-million cap hit. However, he has a long injury history and is still rehabbing from off-season wrist surgery. Interested clubs will want to see how well he plays upon his return before making offers to the Coyotes.
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Pierre-Olivier Joseph is a more affordable option. The 23-year-old defenseman earns just $825,000 per season and has been the subject of recent trade speculation. So far, however, the Penguins seem unwilling to move the former Charlottetown Islander. Joseph also lacks Chychrun’s experience and his big shot from the point.
Most of these clubs will have to ride it out until their sidelined defensemen return or more options become available in the trade market.
Early surprises
Despite their lack of experienced defensemen, the Canadiens are off to a decent start. The rebuilding Habs won three of their first six games with big wins against the Leafs and Penguins.
The Canadiens were predicted to finish near the basement of this season’s overall standings along with the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken. Those clubs could still end up as bottom-feeders, but thus far they’ve proven more competitive than expected.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals and last spring’s Stanley Cup finalist Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves near the bottom of the standings going through the early going. Even the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche were playing .500 hockey (2-2-1) in their first five contests.
Their fans shouldn’t be troubled. These clubs have too much talent to remain in their current positions in the standings. Expect them to rise among the league’s best as the season goes on.
Lyle Richardson is a freelance writer with The Hockey News and Bleacher Report and runs the website Spector’s Hockey. His column will appear in The Guardian through the NHL season.