9 Teams Still Looking To Add Top-6 Forward

The free agent market this year wasn't good, especially for top-6 forwards, but the trade market has been pretty solid, before and after free agency, to provide teams with players they need. Even with all of the movement, there are still nine teams reportedly still in the mix for a top-6 forward. These teams include the Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken, and LA Kings.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have cap space and Steve Yzerman should be very desperate at this point to do something to make the team better. It appears like players don't want to come to Detroit and something has to be done to upgrade the top-6 because James van Riemsdyk is slotted in on the top line.

Calgary Flames

If the Flames want to compete for a playoff spot and have a chance, it would be unwise to go into the season with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman both in the top-6. They are a solid third line shutdown duo, but there has to be an upgrade coming. The hope is that Morgan Frost, Yegor Sharangovich, and Joel Farabee can step up next season, but assuming they don't, there has to be another solid forward brought in. They have the cap space to do it.

Vancouver Canucks

After trading Dakota Joshua, there is over $3 million in cap space for the Canucks to spend. The team doesn't look very promising, but if players can improve from last season, we might be surprised. Nils Hoglander should probably be in a third line role, so that means there is a spot open to upgrade in the top-6 to play beside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. It is even questionable whether Filip Chytil can handle top-6 minutes as center. Something has to be done soon.

New York Rangers

The Rangers aren't in a position to upgrade unless someone is being moved out. If Mika Zibanejad is playing in the top-6 where he should, then the top two lines are very competitive. The bottom-6 isn't exactly great, but there are more than enough options for the team to experiment with early in the season with players like Trey Fix-Wolansky, Brendan Brisson, Jusso Parssinen, Justin Dowling, Brendan Othmann, Jonny Brodzinski, Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and Brett Berard.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils are a competitive team that does have some cap space, but it remains to be seen just how much after they sign Luke Hughes. There have been rumors that Dougie Hamilton could be traded. That would definitely open up the cap space and fetch the team a top-6 forward. That is the only way I see New Jersey upgrading their top-6, and they need it with Ondrej Palat in a top line role at this time.

Washington Capitals

The bottom of the lineup is where the Capitals are going to need some work ahead of the playoffs next year, but adding a top-6 player and moving Anthony Beauvillier down would solve some of those problems. The team has over $4 million in cap space and appear to want to upgrade ahead of time if next season is Alex Ovechkin's last. What he brings can't exactly be replaced, but another top-6 player being brought in for multiple years would soften the blow and help keep the Capitals just as competitive.

St. Louis Blues

It is interesting to think that the Blues are looking for a top-6 upgrade when Jordan Kyrou's name has been in many trade rumors as the offseason goes on. The Blues have no money to spend and arguably eight players that the team could confidently slot into a top-6 role. I don't think the Blues make a top-6 addition before next season.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken have been active this offseason and might still be as they have been linked to players like Kyrou and Rickard Rakell. They have the assets to bring in someone to bolster the top-6 and have the money to easily fit them in. The GM of the Kraken is clearly doing what he can to improve the team and get them back into the playoffs. With a top-6 addition, I think they can do it.

LA Kings

The Kings might not have much time left to get over the hump and go on a deep playoff run with Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty nearing the end of their careers. The team does have cap space, but I'm not confident that they will win a trade made to acquire a top-6 player if they even can after the poor offseason that has happened.

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