If NHL Teams Were Stocks: Buy, Sell Or Hold On The Bruins, Stars And Kings?

As the NHL season continues to unfold, there are teams on the rise, others on the fall and clubs meeting expectations.

Each team's past, present and future looks like a graph in the stock market. If you had to predict which team's stock will improve, dip or remain high, who would they be?

Below, we’ll break down one team worth buying, one team worth holding on and one team worth selling. Let’s get to it:

Buy: Los Angeles Kings

Many investors like to buy an asset when it’s lower than its real-time value. With the Kings, you’re looking at a franchise that hasn’t been playing particularly well lately.

Indeed, after their five-game win streak that began at the end of December, Los Angeles has lost six of its last eight games, including five in regulation time.

They’re still in third place in the Pacific Division, but they’re only four points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for third place in the three-team wild-card picture.

The Kings do have a tough schedule leading up to the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but once the break is over, their schedule the rest of the way is favorable. They face the St. Louis Blues three times, the Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken twice and the Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and the New York Islanders once. Drew Doughty's back from injury as well.

Related: NHL Power Rankings: Jets Force Their Way Into First Place After Canes' League-Altering Trade

In short, Los Angeles will be in a solid position down the stretch. If they add a depth piece or two by the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline – which is possible, given they have about $1.56 million in salary cap space – they could surprise many people with a long post-season run. The Kings have to shape up in short order, but we believe they will do that and remain in the top three in the Pacific.

Hold: Dallas Stars

There's been a lot to like about the Dallas Stars for years. They don’t get a lot of hype, but the Stars have quietly pushed themselves high in the Central Division. They’re currently eight points behind the first-place Jets, but they have two games in hand on Winnipeg.

The Stars are one of the key teams to keep an eye on in terms of trades, as Dallas GM Jim Nill has about $1.95 million in salary cap space. If they expect center Tyler Seguin to remain injured through the end of the regular season, they can put his $9.85-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve and free up cap space to make a big move.

Nill has never been afraid to swing for the fences, and when we’re looking at teams that could make a move for a legitimate top-six center – Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, for example – we have to put the Stars in that group.

Dallas has a solid defense corps, youth and speed to spare at forward and the motivation to raise the bar on what they can do in the regular season and the playoffs. They’re the sixth-best team in the NHL, but give them time and a little patience, and we’re guessing you’ll see the Stars emerge as one of the odds-on favorites to win it all.

Sell: Boston Bruins

The Bruins won four of seven games before getting smacked in a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. They’re also not far removed from a six-game winless skid at the start of the New Year.

Even with their recent hot streak, the Bruins are now only one point ahead of Tampa Bay and Columbus in the race for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots.

There’s no room for error for the B's anymore, and their immediate schedule before the 4 Nations Face-Off break is not cause for optimism. They’ll face the Jets, New York Rangers (twice), Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.

Although they have about $4.72 million in cap space, the Bruins aren’t teeming with talent that will entice potential trade partners.

You never want to count out a Boston team that always seems to be pesky and resilient, but something about this year’s Bruins feels more off than their fans are accustomed to. They’ve changed coaches, and they’ve made important changes to their roster last summer, but in a highly competitive Eastern Conference, they're looking like a squad whose time in the spotlight is coming to an end.

Best to 'sell your investment' in this franchise before the bottom completely falls out.

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Related: Buy, Sell Or Stand: What 10 NHL Teams Should Do With Trade Deadline Approaching