2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Five under-the-radar additions to watch

Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

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We’re still over a week away from the NHL trade deadline, but some of the biggest – and most expensive – assets have already been moved. Ryan O’Reilly went to Toronto, the New York Rangers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko, and Bo Horvat is a New York Islander.

Some significant pieces are still on the table, including Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, Jakob Chychrun and Patrick Kane. The verdict is still out on how many – if any – of those get moved. But if they do, the price won’t come cheap.

The top teams are always rumored to be willing to make the biggest splashes, but the smaller deals typically make the most significant impact. Just ask Tampa Bay, who added Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel last year and Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman back in 2020. Sometimes, landing the biggest fish isn’t worth losing your best lure.

Today, we’re looking at five under-the-radar players who could bring your team some solid value this year. Whether it be adding a depth piece or patching an existing hole, these five could be solid additions for cheap ahead of March 3’s deadline:

Joonas Korpisalo, G, 28 (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Putting up good numbers with the league’s worst team is exceptionally challenging, but Korpisalo is laying everything on the line right now. Since Dec. 31, he’s 6-4-2, making 30 or more saves in eight contests. Korpisalo was in net for wins against Dallas, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Carolina in that frame, among others, so he’s getting quality wins in quality starts. Of the 32 goalies to play at least 10 games in the new year, Korpisalo’s .935 save percentage and 6.92 goals saved above average at 5-on-5 is fifth. Korpisalo’s career has been full of ups and downs, and injuries have been a significant concern. But when he’s healthy, he can steal games, and a team needing some depth could look to the pending UFA for help – especially in a year with very few notable goalies on the trade market.

Jonathan Drouin, LW, 27 (Montreal Canadiens)

Sure, Drouin has zero goals in 33 games this year. Injuries and other issues have prevented him from hitting the 50-game mark since 2018-19, but he’s healthy now and playing some of his best hockey in years. Drouin had a point-per-game output in a 12-game stretch heading into last week and has given the team some much-needed offense in Montreal’s middle six. He’s a pending UFA this summer with a $5.5 million AAV, but his value as a solid set-up man could prove valuable for a contender needing scoring depth. Drouin hasn’t lived up to expectations since Tampa Bay took him third overall in 2013, but he’s a two-time 53-point scorer and can still provide value in the right situation. You’d have to think the Canadiens would hold on to some salary here, too, which should help.

Taylor Raddysh, RW, 25 (Chicago Blackhawks)

With a $758,333 cap hit until 2024, Raddysh could be one of the better value pickups for a cap-crunched lineup. The 25-year-old is on pace for just over 20 goals on a Blackhawks team with nothing going for it, with Raddysh finally starting to show why he was a revered scorer in junior hockey. He’d solely be a bottom-six option for a contender but one who can step up in a pinch. Raddysh isn’t going to move the needle much, but he’ll be cheap and can get the job done.

Vitali Kravtsov, RW, 23 (New York Rangers)

The Rangers could ultimately use Kravtsov as a piece to make a big splash – Patrick Kane, anyone? – but a change is desperately needed. The 23-year-old has been in the rumor mill for a few years after multiple trade reports have publicly surfaced. His underwhelming play hasn’t helped, with the winger recording just five goals and 10 points in 48 career games. Can he unlock that potential elsewhere? It’s not working in the Big Apple, and keeping him around isn’t going to change that. If this is just a situation of a good player in a system that doesn’t suit him, another team could come out with some excellent value here.

Nick Bjugstad, RW, 30 (Arizona Coyotes)

The days of Bjugstad putting up 40 points a year have been gone for half a decade now. But the 30-year-old could be a useful depth option for a contender. Teams love size for the playoffs, and the 6-foot-6 forward brings a lot of it. He’s on pace for 20 goals for the Coyotes and doing it at $900,000. Bjugstad won’t play a big role anywhere, but you could do much worse in landing a bottom-six player. And, hey, if he can score even a few goals during a playoff run, that’s a bonus.