Considering that we\u2019re basically just at the one-quarter mark of the season, the trade market hasn\u2019t really materialized aside from a handful of smaller moves.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t stop teams from setting their respective wish lists and determining what areas they\u2019d like to add to their rosters.<\/p>\n
As is often the case, help down the middle is an area that a lot of teams will be targeting.\u00a0 Among them are a pair of Metropolitan Division teams.\u00a0 Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reports<\/a> that while acquiring a top replacement for Jack Hughes<\/a> is unlikely, they\u2019d like to add a depth center to the mix.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Sportsnet\u2019s Elliotte Friedman reported on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link<\/a>) that the Flyers are also looking for an extra depth middleman.<\/p>\n New Jersey had been looking to add a center last season.\u00a0 However, when Hughes suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, they pivoted from looking to make a big addition to more of a depth one in Cody Glass<\/a>.\u00a0 Speculatively, that\u2019s the type of depth addition they\u2019d likely want to make, one that would add to the roster without costing too much to acquire.<\/p>\n The other element in play is the player\u2019s actual cost.\u00a0 The Devils are deep into LTIR with Johnathan Kovacevic<\/a> and Brett Pesce<\/a> currently on there while Hughes is eligible given that he\u2019s out for the better part of two months.\u00a0 But eventually, when they\u2019re all healthy, New Jersey is going to be right against the Upper Limit of the salary cap so if they go add someone to help at center, it ideally would be a lower-cost addition that\u2019s easier to fit on their books.<\/p>\n As for the Flyers, they haven\u2019t really replaced Jett Luchanko<\/a> after he was assigned back to junior last month.\u00a0 Rodrigo Abols<\/a> has been filling a role as a fourth-line center but the 29-year-old only has 36 career NHL games under his belt.\u00a0 In a perfect world, a more proven and impactful option would be a good way for them to go.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Philadelphia enters play today seventh in the Metropolitan Division and the expectation heading into the season was that they\u2019d be a non-playoff team and a likely seller.\u00a0 Not enough has happened yet to change those expectations so taking a big swing on the trade front might not the prudent move.\u00a0 Instead, a smaller addition now that doesn\u2019t cost a lot but could still help would make sense for GM Daniel Briere.\u00a0 Unlike the Devils, cap space isn\u2019t a concern for the Flyers so they could have a bigger pool of players to potentially target.<\/p>\n