4 Teams Expected To Be In Market For Defenseman

Finding adequate defensemen in the NHL is usually more difficult than having forwards who can do the job. Even with fewer roster spots for d-men, there are always teams looking for defensive upgrades, not only for playoff runs, but in general. Four teams are expected to be in the hunt this season.

Christ Johnston reported, "I could be Toronto, it could be Utah's a team looking for a top-4. Edmonton could be in that market. Vegas will be in that market...that could be a team I think will be shopping for a defenseman."

The Toronto Maple Leafs just picked up Troy Stecher from the Edmonton Oilers on waivers, but that is a short-term, smaller fix. The Maple Leafs still see themselves as contenders, but have to get back to that point. Acquiring someone more impactful, likely for the top-4, is what could be the real game-changer. Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev are currently injured, so Stecher and Dakota Mermis are paired on the third pairing.

With the Utah Mammoth, Sean Durzi has had a tough time staying healthy, so that takes a top-4 out of the lineup on a regular basis. He has played two games this season. Juuso Valimaki hasn't played a game yet too. The 20-year-old Dmitri Simashev is still exempt from waivers, while Nick DeSimone shouldn't be playing more than a handful of games in the NHL. The Mammoth are a team that can compete and make the playoffs this season with an upgrade on defense.

The Edmonton Oilers would only need to upgrade one spot on their defense, potentially. It would be where Ty Emberson, Stecher, and Alec Regula were rotating in throughout this season. The Oilers are looking to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final and win this time, and can have no weak links. There isn't much cap space to work with though.

The Vegas Golden Knights are always looking to upgrade. They lost Alex Pietrangelo for the season and brought in Jeremy Lauzon, but he has now sat out a game and appears to be rotating in with Ben Hutton on the third pairing now that Noah Hanifin is back. The spot to upgrade for Vegas would also be the right side on the second pairing, as then Zach Whitecloud can move down to pairing three.