The NHL’s Atlantic Division At The 2011 Trade Deadline: Rumors And Expectations

After all, any team that wins seven straight during the regular season should be considered a threat. But that’s just the thing: the Devils got off to such an incredibly bad start that they need to win seven games in a row to even feel like they have a chance. Despite going 15-1-2 in their last 18 games, New Jersey is still 10 points out of the final playoff spot with four teams ahead of them in the standings.

So, with the deadline a week away, are the Devils a buyer or a seller?

So, as the 2011 trade deadline approaches, could the Islanders be done moving already? The team has been much more respectable (don’t tell folks in Pittsburgh that) over the last few months and Garth Snow might want to keep much of the young team in place to see how they fare over the remainder of the NHL season.

Status: Seller

Status: Buyer. They missed the playoffs a year ago. Glen Sather isn’t going to let that happen again.

Needs: The Rangers have plenty of holes. A very green defense could be bolstered by adding a player at the deadline, and up front, another scorer is vital.

Okay, you wanna talk injury ravaged, New York? You’ve got nothin’ on Pittsburgh. The Penguins looked to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and the NHL early on in the season, but after injuries to literally every center on their club, they’ve been left out to dry.

Status: Buyer

If they have their way, another Cup Final is in their future.

At the same time, they’re certainly not a seller, either, even though they could ship out one of those forwards in an attempt to gain some extra depth on defense or to get back one of the draft picks they traded away in the Versteeg deal.