5 Last-Minute Trades Florida Panthers Should Consider Before the 2015 Deadline

By PowerPlayCJ

5 Last-Minute Trades Florida Panthers Should Consider Before the 2015 Deadline

Philadelphia Flyers v Florida Panthers — After trading away Sean Bergenheim, the Florida Panthers still have a number of moves to make with a week before the trade deadline. With the team still in the playoff picture, I fully expect the Panthers to be adding players at the deadline in hopes of making their second trip to the playoffs since 2000. Here are five potential deals they could swing by the deadline.

5. Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado Avalanche)

Colorado Avalanche v Minnesota Wild - Game Six

5. Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado Avalanche)

Colorado Avalanche v Minnesota Wild - Game Six — The Avs could use help on defense in the form of Erik Gudbranson, and the Panthers could surely use O’Reilly’s amazing two-way acumen as I think he’d fit in fine with the team’s forward group. I see this as a trade that work well for both teams as they address areas of need with young players who have experience and some untapped potential.

4. J.T. Miller (New York Rangers)

New York Rangers v Florida Panthers

4. J.T. Miller (New York Rangers)

New York Rangers v Florida Panthers — The Rangers have been misusing the young forward, and I really think his game could be taken to new heights in South Florida. Miller’s grit and offensive potential make him a very intriguing acquisition for the Panthers. Given his differences with Alain Vigneault, the Rangers might be willing to move him.

3. Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers)

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports yakupov 2

3. Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers)

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports yakupov 1 — As Edmonton looks to overhaul, the former No. 1 overall pick could be Florida’s for the taking. I’d love to see how Yakupov would fit in with the Panthers’ style of play and whether a change of scenery could work wonders for him. It wouldn’t be the first time the Panthers traded for a goal-scoring Russian winger from a Western Canadian team -- the team famously landed Pavel Bure in 1999.

2. Zack Kassian (Vancouver Canucks)

Edmonton Olers v Vancouver Canucks

2. Zack Kassian (Vancouver Canucks)

Edmonton Olers v Vancouver Canucks — Pavel Bure, David Booth and Roberto Luongo (twice) are among the players traded between the Canucks and Panthers over the last decade and a half. Kassian would give the Panthers some snarl up front and would wreak havoc against some of the weaker teams in the East.

1. Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Phil Kessel Toronto Maple Leafs 2014-15

1. Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Phil Kessel Toronto Maple Leafs 2014-15 — Florida is supposedly interested, and the Leafs are on the verge of an absolute firesale meaning a deal could happen. If there was ever a time for the team to add star power now is it, because the former U.S. Olympian’s stock is at an all time low and it is a buyer’s market. Kessel speeding down the wing and unleashing wrist shots could be gets Florida back to the playoffs.

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Florida Panthers

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