The NHL’s trade deadline is just five days away, and though the season is just about three-quarters complete, there is still precious little clarity with regard to which teams are going to be buyers and sellers. The one certainty is that the Los Angeles Kings are sellers, despite their strong play over most of the past month. They got the fire sale going on Tuesday by trading veteran defenseman Jaroslav Modry to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a third-round pick.

With all critical factors in mind — roster needs, salary cap space (courtesy of nhlnumbers.com), and no-trade clauses (courtesy of nhlscap.com) — here’s a special “Trade Deadline” edition of the Power Rankings, with a look at what each team should do in advance of the deadline. Statistically, teams are measured from left to right by games played, won-loss record, standings points, goals scored, goals allowed, power play success, and penalty-killing success. Please note that the data is up to and including games played on Tuesday night, and our statistics for special teams effectiveness also take shorthanded goals into account. Each team’s ranking from last week appears in parentheses.

1. DETROIT RED WINGS (1): General manager Ken Holland should pursue additional scoring — perhaps former Wing Sergei Fedorov — and a depth defenseman, in case Nicklas Lidstrom’s (sprained knee) and/or Brian Rafalski’s (groin strain) absences are extended.

G REC PTS GS GA PP% PK%
62 42–15–5 89 194 132 18.48% 85.66%

2 .DALLAS STARS (3): The hottest team in the NHL over the past few weeks, the Stars’ offense could use another top-end contributor; Florida Panthers center Olli Jokinen would be a great fit.
63 37–21–5 79 178 153 17.37% 90.94%

3. OTTAWA SENATORS (2): The Sens’ defense has been surprisingly porous: Could Blue Jackets veteran stay-at-home rearguard Adam Foote be the answer?
60 35–20–5 75 201 174 16.74% 86.38%

4. M O N T R E A L C A N A D I E N S (8): Additional depth on the blue line would help, and acquiring the Kings’ Brad Stuart probably wouldn’t require GM Bob Gainey to surrender much in the way of top-tier futures.
61 33–19–9 75 188 167 23.43% 83.88%

5. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (7): General manager Lou Lamoriello should try to find additional offensive support for Martin Brodeur: The Kings’ Ladislav Nagy and the Blackhawks’ Martin Havlat are two possible targets.
60 34–21–5 73 157 140 14.46% 84.91%

6. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (5): The Pens could use a stabilizing presence on the blue line; either Rob Blake or Foote would be a good choice.
60 34–21–5 73 171 158 18.77% 81.95%

7. MINNESOTA WILD (6): If GM Doug Risebrough can find a way to fit him under the cap (and if he’d waive his no-trade clause), Lightning center Brad Richards would nicely complement Marian Gaborik.
60 34–21–5 73 166 160 15.20% 85.37%

8. SAN JOSE SHARKS (4): The Sharks have virtually unlimited cap flexibility. Should they decide to go for gold, Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin, Jokinen, and Richards will all be within their sights.
59 31–20–8 70 151 141 14.80% 88.79%

9. ANAHEIM DUCKS (9): The Ducks are clearly in win-now mode, and rumors persist that they’ll pursue Sundin, whose presence would make them the prohibitive Cup favorite.
63 33-23-7 73 152 151 14.23% 83.33%

10. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (13): Rather than giving up any of his team’s youthful core, GM David Poile should stay the course.
62 32–23–7 71 179 168 12.59% 86.56%

11. VANCOUVER CANUCKS (15): Sundin would provide the Canucks in general (and fellow Swede Markus Naslund in particular) with a much-needed offensive spark.
60 30–22–8 68 155 146 16.54% 84.27%

12. CALGARY FLAMES (11): Shoring up the blue line is GM Darryl Sutter’s likely goal, with a stabilizing rearguard such as Foote the top priority.
60 30–22–8 68 171 172 13.85% 81.65%

13. BOSTON BRUINS (16): The Bruins are reportedly very much in the hunt for Hossa, with whom GM Peter Chiarelli is quite familiar from their time in Ottawa together.
59 30–23–6 66 151 157 16.44% 81.35%

14. ST. LOUIS BLUES (18): The Blues have done a fabulous job of turning things around; look for them to avoid the trap that befell the Thrashers last spring.
59 28–22–9 65 155 159 11.93% 85.33%

15. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (10): Even in the throes of an ugly 7-game losing streak, the Flyers should exercise serious caution before jettisoning any of their talented youngsters.
60 30–24–6 66 186 17020.95% 85.71%

16. NEW YORK RANGERS (17): The Rangers should pursue Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle — but not if top prospect Bobby Sanguinetti is the asking price.
62 30–24–8 68 153 150 15.59% 83.40%

17. BUFFALO SABRES (14): If All-Star rearguard Brian Campbell isn’t signed to a contract extension, GM Darcy Regier must trade him or risk losing him for nothing this summer.
59 28–23–8 64 171 159 16.93% 87.15%

18. COLORADO AVALANCHE (12): With Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny returning from injuries, would Blake (a former Avs standout) waive his no-trade clause for a return engagement in Denver?
60 30–25–5 65 162 164 11.89% 81.19%

19. PHOENIX COYOTES (19): Much like the Blues the Coyotes need only stay the course. Even if they reach the postseason, they’re highly unlikely to advance past the first round.
61 31–26–4 66 165 165 15.95% 85.31%

20. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23): Last spring, the Isles shocked the hockey world by acquiring Ryan Smyth; this time around, GM Garth Snow will more likely be a seller.
60 28–25–7 63 148 172 12.60% 86.67%

21. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (21): Acquiring a playmaking pivot would help the Caps capture the division crown. But sacrificing top prospects should be a no-go.
60 28–26–6 62 169 182 14.57% 82.49%

22. CAROLINA HURRICANES (22): The ‘Canes are in first place in the Southeast, but their season effectively ended when pivot Rod Brind’Amour went down with a serious knee injury.
63 30–28–5 65 182 199 14.01% 77.57%

23. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (27): An ugly 5–1 loss to the Blues on Tuesday night may have been the death knell for the ‘Hawks’ season; look for GM Dale Tallon to emerge as a seller.
59 27–26–6 60 162 166 12.73% 85.07%

24. ATLANTA THRASHERS (24): GM/coach Don Waddell can undo some of the damage done with last spring’s ill-advised shopping spree by offering Hossa to the Canucks for a package including Luc Bourdon.
61 29–28–4 62 157 191 14.58% 83.20%

25. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (20): Fedorov and Foote are the two most attractive trade chips; GM Scott Howson is free and clear to move Fedorov, but Foote has a no-trade clause.
62 27–26–9 63 148 158 15.58% 87.76%

26. FLORIDA PANTHERS (25): The good news is that the Panthers’ key players are all signed for next season. The bad news is that they’re the reason why the Panthers are the NHL’s 26th-best team.
62 27–29–6 60 164 175 18.49% 82.04%

27. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (28): Bryan McCabe’s annual cap cost is $5.75 million, but his salary will be a reasonable $4.15 million in 2009–10 and 2010–11, making him an interesting acquisition for a small-market team.
61 25–27–9 59 166 191 12.26% 80.16%

28. EDMONTON OILERS (26): The Oilers don’t have much in the way of unrestricted-freeagents-to-be to dangle, but talented young Finnish rearguard Joni Pitkanen (a restricted-free-agent-tobe) would be a good target for the Rangers to pursue.
61 27–29–5 59 152 180 13.57%87.23%

29. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 29): If the Lightning can’t agree to terms on a contract extension with power play quarterback Dan Boyle, they’ll take the best available offer.
59 25–28–6 56 169 192 16.75% 83.11%

30. LOS ANGELES KINGS (30): Getting a nice return for Nagy and Blake (if he waives his no-trade clause) would further accelerate the Kings’ already-strong rebuilding effort.
62 25–34–3 53 172 203 17.01% 80.93%

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.