Nelson, Laughton and Boeser top Trade Targets Top 45 to kick off Trade Deadline Week
Cue the drum roll. We made it. It’s Deadline Week. And everything is happening. A flurry of trades over the weekend has whetted the appetite and set the table for a fascinating week, considering that 10 of the 16 teams in Stanley Cup playoff position on Monday morning have not yet made an addition. Buckle up.
2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 4 days
Here are 45 players in play on our latest Trade Targets board, where the ranking always seeks to balance a player’s prominence with his likelihood of a trade:
Trade Targets 🎯
1. Brock Nelson
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 33
Stats: 59 GP, 19 G, 22 A, 41 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: Time is up, right? There’s no chance Lou Lamoriello can hang onto the premier rental center available for a playoff miss, can he? Though a hotly debated roster choice for the Americans, Nelson made some key plays and gave Team USA quality minutes at 4 Nations – most noticeably in crunch time in the championship. He was very reliable, which isn’t news to Islander fans who would like to keep him, even if Nelson’s on track for his fewest goals and points in a non-shortened season since 2017-18. (For more on Nelson, read his Trade Deadline Player Profile.)
2. Scott Laughton
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 58 GP, 11 G, 16 A, 27 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Who knew that Laughton was such an artist? He recreated The Last Supper in a photo with his teammates in Winnipeg on Friday night on potentially his last road trip as a Flyer. There’s been no shortage of interest in Laughton, one of the Flyers‘ heart-and-soul players, who is also among the longest-tenured. Laughton is on pace to challenge his career high in goals and he is the ideal non-rental, third-line center option. That one year remaining is very reasonable with the cap increase and teams have noticed. Toronto and Winnipeg have displayed some of the most interest to this point.
3. Brandon Tanev
Left Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 59 GP, 9 G, 8 A, 17 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Speed kills and even at 33, Tanev still has it. He’s a fierce forechecker with speed and competitive juice that teams crave. That makes him an ideal trade deadline target once the Kraken begin to make decisions, but nothing is imminent quite yet.
4. Jake Evans
Center, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Stats: 60 GP, 12 G, 16 A, 28 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.7 million AAV
Scoop: We know now the Canadiens aren’t going to pay a premium to keep Evans, so he’s likely to be on the move. But he’s not a guarantee as the Habs are three points back with 22 games to play and concerned about creating the right culture and sending the right message to their roster. Evans’ production has been noteworthy. He’s played his most confident hockey over the last few months as the Canadiens have come to life again – and he’s been a catalyst in that. (For more on Evans, read his Trade Deadline player profile).
5. Reilly Smith
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 33
Stats: 58 GP, 10 G, 19 A, 29 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.75 million AAV
Scoop: New York held out Smith for trade-related protection over the weekend, their trade of Ryan Lindgren to Colorado indicating that they’re not willing to pass up assets for their UFAs in this off-the-rails season. Smith is a proven playoff performer – a 2023 Stanley Cup winner and critical cog in two trips to the Final with Vegas. The Penguins have already retained on Smith, but the Rangers can chop him in half one more time. It would make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to bring him home to Toronto and add a little Cup pedigree to their room and third line. But they have to get a center first.
6. Casey Mittelstadt
Center, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 26
Stats: 61 GP, 10 G, 23 A, 33 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.75 million AAV
Scoop: Given that both Mittelstadt and Bowen Byram are on our Targets board, it’s fair to say that neither side has been enthralled with the one-for-one swap that was one of the true surprises of Deadline 2024. Unlike Byram, Mittelstadt is at least under contract for two seasons beyond this one, so he would provide a little cost certainty moving forward. He just hasn’t quite been a fit, or as productive, in Jared Bednar’s lineup and we’re told the Avalanche are willing to shake things up if they can find the right deal.
7. Bowen Byram
Left Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 58 GP, 7 G, 22 A, 29 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.85 million AAV
Scoop: It’s been a bit of an odd tenure for Byram in Buffalo. He arrived at last year’s deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt and seemed genuinely excited to be part of the solution. Byram has played well. And yet, he has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1 and is still on track to be a restricted free agent. There’s been no shortage of teams calling as a result.
8. Carson Soucy
Left Defense, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 30
Stats: 58 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Vancouver sent all 31 clubs a memo on Feb. 3 notifying them that Soucy was available. One issue: Soucy has a full ‘no-trade’ clause. Uninterested in leaving posthaste, Soucy decided that he wanted to take a couple weeks to try and get his game in order in Vancouver and see if he could rebound from what he admitted has been a tough year. Then the 4 Nations break hit. Soucy can see the writing on the wall and a healthy scratch on the horizon, and he wants to play. He’s a super attractive trade chip if the Canucks retain salary.
9. Rickard Rakell
Left Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 31
Stats: 62 GP, 28 G, 24 A, 52 Pts
Contract: 3 years remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Rewind to one calendar year ago and Rakell’s deal was looking like an immovable object on Pittsburgh’s books. Now? Rakell has turned in a phenomenal season and the Penguins have optionality. He’s already exceeded his cap hit in value this season, so they should be able to move him without retaining. How do teams feel about the three remaining years? If they’re wonky about it, Pittsburgh will need scoring support if they have any designs on competing again while Sidney Crosby is under contract, which seems to be the plan.
10. Kyle Palmieri
Right Wing, New York Islanders
Age: 34
Stats: 59 GP, 19 G, 21 A, 40 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Yes, the Islanders operate under the category of “Only God and Lou Know” – so you never truly have line of sight on the GM’s decision-making process. But Palmieri is in a very similar position to teammate Nelson, and equally productive, but plays a position teeming with other candidates. Both players have limited no-trade clauses that could help/hinder discussions. (For more, see Palmieri’s deadline player profile.)
11. Joel Armia
Right Wing, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 31
Stats: 60 GP, 10 G, 14 A, 24 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.4 million AAV
Scoop: Maybe it’s because he’s previously passed through waivers that Armia has been overlooked, but he shouldn’t be as a bottom-six addition at this deadline. Armia has an absolute cannon of a shot, which is a valuable asset. He also has a decently-sized frame at 6-foot-3 and he’s played well in a shutdown role this season on a line with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman. They’ve been among coach Marty St. Louis’ most trusted players. Sounds like a sneaky good add to a contender.
12. Brock Boeser
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 28
Stats: 53 GP, 18 G, 18 A, 36 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.65 million AAV
Scoop: The Canucks put a 5-year, $40 million offer on the table, but Boeser is looking for more term in this slow-moving game of ‘chicken.’ Expect it to heat up this week. The Canucks essentially dared him to go out and replicate his 40-goal season. He’s on track for 28 with seven games missed due to injury, which is close to his career average. Now with the increasing cap on his side, he’s a younger UFA, and the Canucks are really going to need scoring support if they have designs on competing again anytime soon. Plus they currently have the cap room to re-sign him and it’s not a huge jump in AAV compared to what he’s currently making.
13. Ryan Donato
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 28
Stats: 58 GP, 21 G, 22 A, 43 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2 million AAV
Scoop: Of all the Blackhawks veterans, it’s Donato and Jason Dickinson that have lived up to their billing this season. Donato has been a model of consistency in Chicago. He’s been impactful and competitive and someone both coaching staffs in Chicago have relied upon in the midst of a career year. Donato is also relatively inexpensive and could be a quality under-the-radar addition.
14. Trent Frederic
Center, Boston Bruins
Age: 27
Stats: 57 GP, 8 G, 7 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.3 million AAV
Scoop: Frederic is currently banged up, listed by the Bruins as out week-to-week, but he is still a candidate to be traded. They won’t be re-signing him. Frederic is a guy who has drawn lots of interest from around the league. He’s a pain in the ass to play against. He competes. And he scores – 18 goals last season, 17 the year prior. Frederic is the perfect bottom-six forward and the Bruins have proven they can mine those guys better than any other team. (For more on Frederic, including his potential trade value, read his player profile here.)
15. JJ Peterka
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 56 GP, 17 G, 28 A, 45 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $855,834 AAV
Scoop: Peterka hit the Trade Targets like a wrecking ball, a 23-year-old first line winger with tons of untapped potential still. Sources say any team calling Buffalo has been met with resistance on Peterka, but the volume of calls has increased, the amount of chatter around the league is growing louder – and it exploded over the weekend. So why is he on the board? The Sabres haven’t done anything to shake up their team yet. He has significant value. He’s a pending RFA who will need a new contract, and oh by the way, he will potentially be an offer sheet target this summer.
16. Jamie Oleksiak
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 32
Stats: 61 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 13 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.6 million AAV
Scoop: Another candidate in the Kraken Should Move category is Oleksiak. His minutes have slid a bit since Brandon Montour arrived in Seattle last summer, but Oleksiak is a near perfect No. 4 defenseman for a playoff-bound team. He moves pretty well for his 6-foot-7 frame, he competes, and he’s a low-maintenance player. Given the dwindling number of defensemen available, there aren’t many left who will check as many boxes as Oleksiak.
17. Petr Mrazek
Goaltender, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Stats: 33 GP, 3.46 GAA, .890 Sv%
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: With Spencer Knight in the mix, it’s suddenly a crowded crease in Chicago. If Laurent Brossoit was healthy, they’d have four NHL netminders. Here’s the deal: it’s Knight and Arvid Soderblom moving forward. The Hawks are going to try to move Mrazek this week, but it will be tough, because they don’t have any retained salary transaction slots left and Mrazek has one more year left. But they could find a third party broker, and that would make for a reliable goalie at a low acquisition cost signed for next year at half price, too.
18. Yanni Gourde
Center, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 35 GP, 6 G, 10 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5,166,667 AAV
Scoop: Out since Jan. 2 after undergoing hernia surgery, Gourde is nearing a return and might even see game action before the deadline. He’s still a good bet to move. The injury will definitely hurt the return for Seattle. Gourde is hitting free agency as a 33-year-old with numbers on a steep decline this season. He has struggled to produce and his ice time in Seattle has taken a hit as a result, down almost two full minutes per game. What’s most surprising is he’s struggled to get puck on net with just 38 shots in 35 games played. He’s banged up now but teams see the two-time Stanley Cup winner as an ideal 3C candidate. (For more on Gourde, read his Trade Deadline Player Profile.)
19. Mario Ferraro
Left Defense, San Jose Sharks
Age: 26
Stats: 61 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $3.25 million AAV
Scoop: On the surface, it would seem like Ferraro would be a player the rebuilding Sharks would keep. He’s well-liked, he competes and he keeps the vibes high in San Jose. But they also might be able to cash in on his value as a quality No. 5 defenseman who could play second or third pair comfortably and has one year left. If the Sharks move Ferraro, it will have to be at full boat absent a third-party broker, because they don’t have any salary retention spots remaining. Could a UMass reunion with Cale Makar in Colorado make sense?
20. Oliver Bjorkstrand
Right Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 29
Stats: 60 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5.4 million AAV
Scoop: We’re all waiting for ultra-conservative GM Ron Francis to do something, to be pushed into a move that he doesn’t necessarily ‘have’ to make. Moving Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev doesn’t count – that is expected and obvious. Bjorkstrand seems like as good a bet as any on that front. He’s been productive relative to pay and he has actual value for the Kraken, as an acquiring team would get two playoff runs out of Bjorkstrand. The short-term pain of Bjorkstrand’s absence moving forward is largely irrelevant – because the Kraken are going nowhere fast.
21. Connor Murphy
Right Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 31
Stats: 47 GP, 1 G, 15 A, 16 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.40 million AAV
Scoop: Remember when the Blackhawks retained half on defenseman Jake McCabe’s deal and knocked him down to just $2 million to send him to Toronto? That deal worked out great for the Leafs. Chicago could do it again with Murphy, though it would require a third-party broker now that the Hawks used their final retention slot on Jones. Murphy is a perfectly serviceable if not flashy No. 4 defenseman, but the youth movement is on the way in Chicago.
22. Jason Zucker
Left Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 33
Stats: 54 GP, 18 G, 26 A, 44 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5 million AAV
Scoop: The Sabres took a flier on Zucker last summer, a one-year deal to add veteran leadership. He’s more than delivered for Buffalo. Zucker has posted arguably his best season since 2017-18 with Minnesota. He didn’t hit the trade board earlier because Buffalo had initially indicated that they intended to extend him with a new deal. Now, they’d have to consider any quality offer in another lost season. To consider: one thing missing on his resume is a deep playoff run and his production has definitely dipped in the postseason relative to his career numbers.
23. Rasmus Ristolainen
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 58 GP, 4 G, 15 A, 19 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.1 million AAV
Scoop: Ristolainen has tumbled down the board in recent weeks because there has been little interest expressed league-wide in the lanky Finn. The Flyers and John Tortorella have raved about the improvements in his game over the last year, but not sure the rest of the league is buying on that, particularly with the term remaining. Teams are still drawn to his size, though his ability to defend is still a question mark and his point production has slid.
24. Alex Tuch
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 28
Stats: 58 GP, 22 G, 24 A, 46 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.75 million AAV
Scoop: Tuch has been the model of consistency during one of the most turbulent periods in Sabres history. Steady. Tough. Competitive. That’s why teams are interested in shaking him loose from the Sabres. He has 92 goals and 222 points in 257 games since arriving in Buffalo in the Jack Eichel trade. He’s a Western New York kid and really wanted to help return the Sabres to glory. Their issues have been way bigger than him.
25. Elias Pettersson
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 54 GP, 11 G, 24 A, 35 Pts
Contract: 7 years remaining, $11.6 million AAV
Scoop: Pettersson is on the clock. With J.T. Miller traded, GM Patrik Allvin made it clear in no uncertain terms that Pettersson needs to be better – and that expectations have not been met. There are no excuses left. He was invisible in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, registering zero points, and played just two shifts in the third period of Sweden’s finale. Teams wanted to see what Pettersson looked like outside of the Vancouver environment. Now for Vancouver, the risk of selling too low on him must be balanced with the risk of being stuck with his contract.
26. Dylan Cozens
Center, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 24
Stats: 58 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts
Contract: 5 years remaining, $7.1 million AAV
Scoop: No player player in Buffalo has received more trade attention this season than Cozens – and given the state of the Sabres, the organization hasn’t been in a position to do anything but consider everything. The Workhorse from Whitehorse has experienced a steady drop in production year-over-year from that 31-goal, 68-point season that earned him this $49.7 million contract and seemed to put him on the precipice of stardom. Now what?
27. Lukas Reichel
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 22
Stats: 51 GP, 6 G, 12 A, 18 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $1.2 million AAV
Scoop: A mostly miserable season is winding down for Reichel, who has been a healthy scratch at both ends of it, most recently on a Blackhawks’ road trip. What will Chicago do with the 2020 No. 17 overall pick? They obviously don’t have to move him. They’d prefer a hockey trade. But there’s enough teams intrigued by his high-end speed and talent that will overlook his lack of consistency and compete, thinking they can turn him into a more complete player.
28. Justin Brazeau
Right Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 27
Stats: 55 GP, 10 G, 10 A, 20 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $775,000 AAV
Scoop: It’s been a wild season for Brazeau, who won himself a roster spot during last year’s playoffs. He’s already collected 10 goals this season – and he’s still playing on a two-way contract, making the league minimum this season. The Bruins are up and down, and they likely won’t be paying him, so he’s a solid bet to move. No matter what, he has playoff experience, and his next contract this summer will be life-changing either way.
29. Brian Dumoulin
Left Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 33
Stats: 59 GP, 1 G, 14 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.15 million AAV
Scoop: There would undoubtedly be a handful of teams interested in Dumoulin’s services as a steady defender and solid contributor to two Stanley Cup squads in Pittsburgh. He’s got this ability to get the puck out, flipping it out, that is tried and true. He’s moving pretty well for 33 and has taken on a role mentoring the Ducks’ young guys. Anaheim sent a 4th to Seattle on July 2 for him; no reason to think they can’t do better this time around.
30. Ryan Suter
Left Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 40
Stats: 62 GP, 1 G, 11 A, 12 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $775,000 AAV
Scoop: All of a sudden, St. Louis’ late surge in the standings has the Blues putting pause on everything. Suter has been pretty good in St. Louis, if not spectacular. And you know he’s still hungry to get his hands on the Stanley Cup. Figures that Doug Armstrong will try to send Suter on one last run as an insurance piece for a contender’s blueline, as coincidentally Dallas is a great reminder from last year that you’ll likely need at least eight bodies on the back end. He’s been paid his last $600,000 bonus for games played, which makes him a better trade target now.
31. Jack Quinn
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 51 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $863,334 AAV
Scoop: At the start of this season, we picked Quinn as one of our breakout stars. We were wrong. It’s been a really tough year for Quinn, who sat for a stretch of time as a healthy scratch. It still feels like there is something there. He’s still on his entry-level contract, still two seasons removed from a 14-goal, 37-point year. It doesn’t make much sense for the Sabres to sell low on Quinn, but that’s why teams have been calling.
32. Ryan O’Reilly
Center, Nashville Predators
Age: 34
Stats: 57 GP, 14 G, 22 A, 36 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner didn’t get a formal ‘no-trade’ clause when he inked this four-year deal with the Preds in 2023, but GM Barry Trotz is treating him as such. They won’t move O’Reilly to a destination in which he’s uninterested in playing. There will be some teams calling to inquire as O’Reilly is unsurprisingly in great shape and plays the rugged, competitive style of game that wins in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has the ring to prove it.
33. Lawson Crouse
Left Wing, Utah Hockey Club
Age: 27
Stats: 60 GP, 9 G, 4 A, 13 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $4.3 million AAV
Scoop: It’s been a grind in Salt Lake City for Crouse, who has struggled mightily all season, finally resulting in a healthy scratch on Feb. 4. Ouch. It’s hard to pinpoint why Crouse – who has played all of his 550+ career games with the Arizona/Utah crew – hasn’t been able to make the adjustment. He posted three consecutive 20+ goal seasons and seemed to be effectively leveraging his 6-foot-4 frame. Utah is aggressive under Bill Armstrong, so expect them to explore all options.
34. Erik Karlsson
Right Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 34
Stats: 63 GP, 8 G, 37 A, 45 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $10 million AAV
Scoop: What was in the water at 4 Nations? It was amazing to see Karlsson turn back the clock a decade to 2015, turning in vintage ‘EK65’ performances – particularly for Team Sweden against Canada in Montreal to open the tournament. It was a reminder that at 34, Karlsson has some game left – even if we’ve barely seen it in Pittsburgh. Is he just not a fit for Mike Sullivan’s style? The damning part is the cap hit. Pittsburgh has just one retained salary transaction slot left, but if they could withhold a big chunk of Karlsson’s deal, it’d get interesting. He’s been vocal on more than one occasion now that he’d like to play for a Stanley Cup.
35. David Savard
Right Defense, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 34
Stats: 54 GP, 1 G, 11 A, 12 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Savard’s best days are behind him. Period. Full stop. Whenever pressed into overuse this season, and his minutes have ratcheted up, his warts have become more transparent. That said, he would fit for one of the handful of teams looking to improve on a replacement level player on their third pair. He has experience. He will compete. But you’re going to have to offer something relatively decent (third-round pick?) because Montréal will just keep him through his contract rather than inserting a young player into their lineup who isn’t ready.
36. Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 32
Stats: 56 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Over the past six months, Pageau has gone from salary cap casualty candidate to legitimately in-demand as the center market is so thin. Unlike a rental, he has one year left at a manageable $5 million. And with the salary cap increasing (potentially by a sizable amount), if you could trade the same assets and also get to use him for one extra year, wouldn’t he be a smart add?
37. Trevor Zegras
Center, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 23
Stats: 34 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5.75 million AAV
Scoop: Ah, yes, Zegras is no stranger to the Trade Targets board – residing on it last summer through the Draft. Now, there seems to be a consensus around the league that Zegras is very much available. He’s had injuries in each of these last two seasons, but Zegras is not passing the eye or numbers test with exactly 31 points in his last 65 games. We’ve seen flashes of Zegras magic at times recently, but not consistently enough, and not enough to convince us that he isn’t a quality change-of-scenery candidate.
38. Andrei Kuzmenko
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 29
Stats: 42 GP, 5 G, 13 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: The Flyers are certainly willing to retain half on Kuzmenko if that means getting a decent return to flip him after acquiring him from Calgary. There hasn’t been a ton of interest to this point, though Kuzmenko has three points in five games with the Flyers, compared to 15 in 32 with the Flames. Nonetheless, he’s playing out the string on a most disappointing season. What’s next for the uber-talented Russian?
39. Michael McCarron
Center, Nashville Predators
Age: 29
Stats: 51 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $900,000
Scoop: It hasn’t been a productive year for McCarron, but that doesn’t stop teams from drooling over his 6-foot-6 frame and compete level, which could give GM Barry Trotz something to think about this week. McCarron has another year left on his deal at basically league minimum, so there’s no need for Nashville to make it happen. Nonetheless, sources say McCarron is toward the top of one Western Conference team’s list as a guy who brings a different element.
40. Zac Jones
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 24
Stats: 30 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $812,500 AAV
Scoop: Showcase opportunity much? Jones led all Rangers skaters in ice time on Sunday night, giving him an chance to show his wares to potential acquiring teams. A couple months back New York gave him permission to speak with other teams to help facilitate a trade. He has been frustrated by a lack of opportunity in the lineup, a well-liked competitor who is looking for opportunity. Jones can move well and has offensive instincts, but his undersized frame has created some limitation in the market.
41. Dan Vladar
Goaltender, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Stats: 24 GP, 2.98 GAA, .891 SV%, 2 SO
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.2 million AAV
Scoop: There isn’t a big goalie market this season mostly because so few teams (outside of Carolina) seem to be interested in a netminder. Colorado already did their shopping, and Carolina has checked in to understand the price. But the Flames are looking to get back at the very least what they spent to get Vladar from Boston, which was a third-round pick. Vladar has taken on the tougher workload this season in Calgary, but Devin Cooley is waiting patiently with the Wranglers as the owner of strong AHL numbers.
42. K’Andre Miller
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 25
Stats: 54 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.872 million AAV
Scoop: With the entire defense corps in-flux outside of Adam Fox and Braden Schneider, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Miller is moved before March 7. Given his rare combination of size and athleticism, lots of teams would love to get their hands on the insanely gifted Miller. The flashes of brilliance are there but he just hasn’t been able to put it all together on a consistent enough basis. So much of what GM Chris Drury is willing to consider will hinge on how the Rangers perform over the next few weeks.
43. Brad Marchand
Right Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 36
Stats: 61 GP, 21 G, 26 A, 47 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.125 million AAV
Scoop: Marchand left Saturday’s game in Pittsburgh early with an injury that isn’t expected to be long-term, but may further lessen the odds of him moving. But that is up to him almost as it is up to GM Don Sweeney and president Cam Neely. They are expected to make their best offer at some point over these final few days – and Marchand will need to decide whether he’d like to end his career in Boston, or put his fate in the hands of Sweeney and Co. to pull the trigger and move their captain. He sounds optimistic: “At the end of the day, we may not achieve what we hope to this year, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t build for something greater and bring it back next year.”
44. Brayden Schenn
Center, St. Louis Blues
Age: 33
Stats: 62 GP, 12 G, 26 A, 38 Pts
Contract: 3 years remaining, $6.5 million AAV
Scoop: The prices in St. Louis have been astronomically high, GMs around the league are grumbling. GM Doug Armstrong wants two first-round picks (or equivalents) in exchange for Schenn; that’s the threshold he says is required to ask his captain to waive his full ‘no-trade’ clause. Either Armstrong will have to soften that price, because teams are balking, or Schenn is likely staying put – which is a possibility anyway because Schenn has set down roots in St. Louis.
45. Mikko Rantanen
Right Wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 28
Stats: 60 GP, 27 G, 43 A, 70 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.625 million AAV
Scoop: The Canes are in active, daily communication with Rantanen’s camp after putting down a franchise record-setting offer during the 4 Nations Face-Off break. They haven’t gotten an answer yet, which has raised trade speculation. But sources indicate they are ‘very much’ willing to retain Rantanen as their rental for a Stanley Cup run even if gives them a ‘hard no’ on signing that $100+ million offer. Though his production has been down in Carolina, they see him as an ideal fit and the game-breaker they’ve never had. In order to flip Rantanen by Friday, he’ll have to give a firm no, and they’ll have to get a great deal that makes their team better to justify it.
Traded: No. 1 J.T. Miller; No. 1 David Jiricek; No. 4 Taylor Hall; No. 5 Seth Jones; No. 5 Marcus Pettersson; No. 6 Jacob Trouba; No. 8 Joel Farabee; No. 14 Gustav Nyquist; No. 15 Cam Fowler; No. 18 Alexandre Carrier; No. 22 Cody Ceci; No. 23 Ryan Lindgren; No. 24 Morgan Frost; No. 28 Andrei Kuzmenko.
Re-Signed: No. 5 Frank Vatrano.
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