This is an in depth look at each team in the Eastern conference and the potential moves they are expected to be making leading up to the trade deadline....

Devils

Buyer: This team has put together a solid season so far and is definitely going all in for the cup. The Devils have many contracts testing free agency this offseason like Nielsen, Giroux, Chara and Greene. Top that to a very seasoned roster that will be turning over in the next 2 or so years it seems the Devils window is small like another year or two and they need to take advantage now. The team is set down the middle however like many others would probably love to add a scoring winger to their top 6. But it seems the most likely position to be addressed will be that 3^rd D pairing to upgrade Wideman/Coulbourne. They have $1,325,175 cap to work with

Canadiens

Buyer: GM Vardy has already been very active and been able to keep this team at the top of the Atlantic Division. He has already addressed his top 6 bringing in Thorton, Smith, Boedker and Hanzal all since the beginning of the month and even added a bit to the back end bringing in Dman Andy Greene.  With all the action in the past few weeks i wouldn’t be surprised to see the Habs try and add another  piece to that top 6 just to push them up 1 more tier but most likely will be adding a cheap DF forward to help with their 2^nd PK unit. Team has roughly $4,337,952 in open cap, lots of room to bring in another top 6 body even a UFA with not the greatest contract and with two 1sts and two 3^rd round picks this year has lots of pieces to get it done

Capitals

Buyer: Caps have done an excellent job so far in their campaign to go worst to first this season led by McDavid when healthy. Lately we have already seen them add to the top 6 by bringing in Steen and bulking their blue line with Giradi. It has been made known the Caps would like to upgrade the back end more before playoffs start. I imagine they would target a Dman with some offensive numbers to help on the PP because besides Edler and McDonough (on what he would hope to be a 2^nd pairing role)they don’t have much offense coming from the back. We have also seen a backup tender carousel this season from Lack to Ramo to now Berra the team still isn’t showing much confidence with their netminders and may make another move for a higher end expiring contract (like a Varlamov) to solidify the net position for what they hope to be a long run in the post season. Cap remaining $1,866,244

Islanders

Buyer: This was a cross over team (old Blues) that made it to the western finals last year and is looking to cause chaos in the East now. With new GM Larry now behind the wheel and the team already in good position I don’t see the team making a huge splash at the deadline which is just over a week away. Larry seems like this isn’t his first rodeo with leagues and has shown dedication to leagues in the past and i get the growing feeling he will let it ride a bit this year and really start to get a good feel for his new squad in the offseason and gear up for a strong run next year. They can add some cheap rentals to help boost the top 6 which only has 2 players rated over 80 in SC and 1 in PA and possibly an offensive D to help on the PP and pair with Letang but once again not expecting big move. This year is like playing with house money but do expect the big move to come in offseason after he gets a chance to evaluate the team more, specifically his blue line and take the upcoming expansion draft into consideration when deciding which 4 Defence men to keep and protect. Whatever they decide to do they have $3,989,329 cap to play with but have also expressed financial concerns and may be more reluctant to add more cap then a seller would think.

Red Wings

Buyer: This is Nolans first full year in a sim league and he is looking to make his mark this post season. He has been active all season long. He recently addressed his goaltending winning the Tuuka Rask auction and moving out Neuvirth. Next he has stated he is looking to upgrade the Center position so he can presumingly move Stamkos or Zetterberg to the wing. Another area which could be addressed is his 3^rd pairing on D and upgrade Marchenko or Bieksa for a better shut down Dman rental. The team has $1,633,473 cap room remaining.

Senators

Buyer: Lets get it out of the way, Kirk reminds us on a regular basis he is only GM with 2 rings and since becoming more involved as of late has the team climbing the rankings into what is for now a playoff spot and what he hopes can become #3. The only team he is competing with for that spot is the Sabres who have been sliding a bit lately in a very competitive eastern playoff race. I can’t lie this team is stacked on paper. Looking through the team he could maybe add another DF depth forward for special teams but also has Stoll in minors ready for call up as he continues to run an offensive heavy team. As for possible moves to expect its anyone’s guess. Seriously you all know or soon will know not only the volume of deals but the high end player swaps that come out of Ottowa after nearly a decade of building this roster he pretty much has the pieces to get any deal done once he grinds you down (except McDavid from what I hear). Whatever move he makes next he has roughly $1,757,970 cap to work with

Flyers

Buyer: Another case of early season neglect has turned their season around with a little activity however the Flyers are in the Metro division and in a very heated race for what  seems to be a wild card spot. The weak spot for the Flyers early on was goaltending which was addressed with Crawford. It would not hurt to boost the backup position of Kuempher who has only played 11 games so far from what seems to be lack of faith against just weak competition. One would think this would catch up with them come playoff time IF they make it. They have already added to their top 6 bringing in Datsyuk down the middle but seem to have a bit of a PA pass heavy top 6 and only three players rated over 80 and the top being only 83 SC it may make sense to make a bit of a swap with another team and bring in more SC to balance a top 6 that at times has had trouble putting the puck in the net this season. An area which definatley needs to be addressed is the 3^rd pairing of Faulk, Engelland and Johns rotation. The team has $2,038,004 cap

Hurricanes

Seller: This is an un biased opinion piece and I am trying very hard to keep the review of the Canes in check with my obvious race with them for playoffs, we all know he is a Buyer and will throw everything he can at extending his playoff streak before the inevitable rebuild is forced on him. Since the Crawford trade and a couple un timely injuries the team plummeted in the standings but they have levelled out as of late and today find themselves in the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference but not comfortably by any means. With no picks for the next two years and the only prospect in the system being Amadio the team has to at some point begin stocking the cupboard. This year alone has proven there are more teams in the east who are making that transition from their own rebuilds and creating extra competition. With roughly 24 games left they are in a heated race which includes the Flyers, Canes, Pens and Sabres where only 2 of the 4 will make it.  It Would delay the rebuild even more to push for spot and miss out on any value they could of got from moving a UFA or expiring body right now. All of that being said Rich is competitive and it is very unlikely he would  sell off. He added a couple bodies to the top 6 with the Koivu and Sharp already but still doesn’t have a single player with a SC rating over 80, would think he will be trying to scrape together whatever he can to try and add that to his top 6 in any way possible. A cheap DF forward to help boost the PK and unlikely but probably should add another shutdown D on the back end because it seems the Canes secret to success is defensive minded play and they should add to that strength. The Canes have $1,100,589 cap

Penguins

Buyer:  The Pens are shopping for players with good DU (Durability) lol. This is a good team on paper that has been shredded by significant injuries to impact players many for extended periods of time. MacKinnon, Tarasenko, Giordano, Cammalari, Spezza, Trouba are just the main pieces that have all missed stretches of time and forced the team to dip into next years picks and move future pieces to try and stay in the hunt and find themselves knocking on the playoffs door. Recent moves have boosted the roster with Quick and Benn being the most recent. The team is trying to take that step out of the rebuild stage and become competitive. On paper all areas have been addressed however after the latest season ending Cammalari injury the team may be looking to upgrade that RW position which would either move Williams down the depth chart or be moved as package for upgrade. Got that Dal 1 to work with but going to see how team rolls a bit the next couple games. WILL NOT BE SELLING OFF. Have limited $733,458 in cap to work with which i why Williams may have to go out for upgrade.

Lightning

Seller: New GM Eric has just stepped in and has already stated he will not be in the playoff race and will be selling so he can focus on next season. This seems to be a very smart move considering the log jammed east and the situation he is setting up for next year. He has many key players who will have good rerates like Talbot, Maroon, Kane, Huberdeau and Palmeiri and lots of cap opening with contracts either being moved now or leaving the books for Free Agency  like Ribiero, Gabrovski and Hartnell. Have been told the big 3 being shopped are Hartnell LW (82CK, 76SK, 81PH, 76PA, 80SC) $1,324,309 UFA contract remaining. Beleskey LW ( 98CK, 81SK, 73PA. 71SC) $210,656 contract remaining UFA. Hainsey D (75CK, 88DF) $363,563 contract remaining and has 1 year left at $1.4 mill. Tampa has 2 retentions remaining

Sabres

Seller: The defending Cup champs find themselves in a tough spot in the backend of a wild card log jam.  They are on a tough stretch going 1-4-1 their last 6 games and find themselves a bit behind the 8 ball to make playoffs. The Sens have a 7 point lead on them with 2 games in hand for the final divisional spot and are currently 5 points back of Carolina who has 3 games in hand on them for the final wild card spot. They also still have their own 1 round pick which just builds on the case to start selling and put that pick in the best position they can for the upcoming draft. With lots of top talent returning like Crosby, Nyquist, Ristolainen and Petriangelo the Sabres should have a quick turn around this summer and push themselves back in a playoff spot next year.  There are quite a few UFAs on the squad that would make sense to move now. And make Note Buffalo still has all 3 retentions this year. They could be one of the busiest teams in the next week if they choose

D-Bouwmeester: (91SK,60PA, 90DF) $1,246,409 remaining

LW/RW-Perron: (85CK,77SK,76PH,77PA,70SC) $730,318 remaining

LW-Kunitz: (98CK,77SK,77PH,74PA,72SC) $1,220,442 remaining                        

C-Gordon: (75SK,98FO,95DF) $947,790 remaining

C-Kesler: (86CK,84SK,99FO,79PH,80PA,78SC,95DF) $1,635,912 remaining

G-Pavelec: In sim has 15GP 0.921SV % serviceable backup with only $334,193 remaining

Maple Leafs

Sellers: The Leafs have been in the selling market for a while now but definately still got some talent left to move. The team is looking strictly for young players, prospects and picks as they try and right the ship in the offseason. Been asked to advertise the following players. And hurry because they only have 1 retention remaining

 D-Gudbranson (88Ck78SK,91DF) on a 2 year deal $2.25 mill cap hit, $584,254 remaining

D-Vlasic (84SK,77PH,75PA,88DF) on a 4 year $5.355 mill cap hit, $1,390,525 remaining

LW/RW-Neal (79CK,83SK,82PH,76PA,87SC) 3 year $5.85 mill cap hit, $1,519,061 remaining

G-Schneider 3 year $5.04 mill cap hit. $1,308,729 remaining.

LW/RW-Michalek (84SK,70SC,95DF) 2 year deal $4.68 mill, $1,215,249 remaining

C/RW-Sutter (77SK,79PH,93FO,80DF) $603,729 remaining. UFA

LW/RW-Martin (76SK,77DF) RFA $285,635 remaining

LW/RW-Hudler (84SK,79PH,81PA,73SC) $940,649 remaining UFA

Panthers

Sellers: After an extremely disappointing start to the season the Panthers started making moves looking towards next year where they will be returning with another great squad on paper but hope to work the kinks out this offseason. With returning players like Eichel, Domi, Galchenyuk, Marchand, Panarin, Hedman, Shattenkirk and Larsson it shouldn’t take much to catapult this team up the eastern standings next season. GM Rich has been rebuilding a while now and this team is busting at the seems with young talent, after moving Steen already they currently have no UFA skaters and the oldest body on the team is 28 years old. The only UFA on the entire roster is Goalie Corey Crawford. He has posted a 0.918 SV% in 50GP and has $3,895,028 cap remaining. One would think a retention would have to be used to get anything done. (page just shit the bed and i cant see how many retentions teams have left but i know he has atleast 1 to use on Crawford)

Bluejackets

Sellers: GM Vansickle has been selling since the beginning of the season and the roster is pretty picked over by now as he is battling for position in the upcoming draft lottery to help his rebuilding efforts.  There are a couple depth bodies still available that may be moved as others come off the board

C/LW-Boyle (80CK,83FO,70SC,72DF) $618,011 remaining cap hit UFA

LW/RW-Nystrom (85CK,87DF) $311,602 remaining cap hit UFA

Rangers

Sellers: Another team who has been selling since last offseason and the cupboard is pretty bare at this point. GM Cepparulo has also done a fine job setting this team up for an overhaul so they can one day become competitive on an annual basis. I don’t see the team moving any of there youth packaged together at this point that is more an offseason move. Maybe someone takes a flier on a Patrik Nemeth who has seen 26GP for the Stars defence this season and getting a little over a minute on the PK. He is on a cheap 4 year $757,000 RFA contract and has and 80CK and 78 DF as a potential bench body for injury this season

Bruins

Seller: Dan very well could of loaded up this offseason and probably found himself in the playoff wild card log jam this year however he decided to dedicate this season and possibly next to a very good looking retool in an effort to become competitive year after year on a regular basis. Credit has to go to the way he has dedicated himself to not just the trades but the lines  and way he has run this roster putting him in a very good position to try and land a franchise player at the draft. I have to admit i would have a lot more to write about if it wasn’t for him finally moving out Marchand. At this point it seems the big moves are done for now but maybe we see recently acquired Calvin de Haan be moved (83CK,83SK,88DF) 2 year $1.947 mill cap hit RFA, for more picks or youth.