The Specialists: Seven players to target for specific needs at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

With less than a week until March 7, we continue to provide at least one Trade Deadline story at Daily Faceoff each day. Next up, we’re looking at the top trade target in seven critical categories.

2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 5 Days

If you’re going on pure skill, Mikko Rantanen, Elias Pettersson, Dylan Cozens and Brock Boeser are among the most notable players on Frank Seravalli’s trade targets board.

But targeting the biggest names doesn’t always pay off – and in a lot of cases, prioritizing role players can be just as effective, if not more. These aren’t the guys you throw on the ice to score you a big goal. But, maybe, just maybe, they do enough right to push you over the edge.

Need a tough guy? Not sure about your goaltending? Need to spruce up your special teams? Using Seravalli’s rankings as a base, let’s look at seven players who are the best of the best in their given categories:

Enforcer: Trent Frederic, C (Boston Bruins)

Contract: Pending UFA, $2.3 million AAV

Frederic is out week-to-week, which doesn’t help. But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the toughest players to play against on the market, and teams will want someone like him for the playoffs. Frederic has been in four fights this season and more than 40 in his career, so we know he’s tough. He had a career-high of 40 points and 69 penalty minutes last year, and while he won’t come close to that in 2024-25, he’s still an absolute pest. The 6-foot-3 physical forward has shown he can play just about anywhere you need him, and he’s a solid two-way threat, too.

Faceoffs: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C (New York Islanders)

Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV

With a faceoff percentage of 59.8, Pageau is putting up career-best numbers in the dot. The third-line center has always been solid down the middle, boasting a 56.5 percent success rate during his eight-year career on Long Island. Only two centers have a better faceoff percentage this year: Islanders teammate Bo Horvat (60.1) and New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck (59.9). So, in a market like this, you can’t do much better. On a contending team, Pageau can be a valuable middle-six piece who can play on special teams, too, especially on the penalty kill. The Ottawa, Ontario native can put up 35-40 points a year, and he’s defensively responsible, too. His $5 million cap hit isn’t too bad, especially in a weaker center market. Plus, getting him for another year – especially with the cap going up – could prove valuable if everything works out. And if it doesn’t, you can recoup some assets next March.

Goaltending: Daniel Vladar, G (Calgary Flames)

Contract: Pending UFA, $2.2 million AAV

The trade deadline is rarely the right time to trade for a goalie, and that isn’t different this time around. Vladar’s name has been in the rumor mill for a few years now, and with Dustin Wolf playing so well, this might finally be the end of an era for the Czech keeper in Alberta. He’s a pending UFA on a $2.2 million hit, and while his numbers aren’t spectacular, he has often been given the harder starts this season. If a team needs some extra goaltending insurance, Vladar could be a nice pickup without having to sacrifice many assets. The Flames could easily hang on to Vladar and keep him for the stretch run, but getting something back for the pending UFA would likely be preferred.

Power Play: Rickard Rakell, LW (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Contract: 3 years remaining, $5 million AAV

The 31-year-old is on pace for one of the best seasons of his NHL career and should reach 60 points for the third time. Primarily playing alongside Sidney Crosby on Pittsburgh’s top line, Rakell is tracking for 35 goals, which would be the most of his career. But he’s also solid on the power play, scoring five goals and 12 points with the man advantage. Erik Karlsson is another great option out of Pittsburgh as the team’s quarterback on the top unit, but his $10 million remaining of an $11.5 million cap hit is tougher to take on. Rakell, meanwhile, has a more manageable $5 million hit until 2028, which has suddenly become more attractive with the cap going up. The Finnish forward should be a hot commodity just like he was when the Penguins acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks back in 2022.

Penalty Kill: Jake Evans, C (Montreal Canadiens)

Contract: Pending UFA, $1.7 million AAV

Evans sits just one point behind Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel (seven) for the best shorthanded output this year. With three goals, he’s been dangerous while down a man. He also blocks a ton of shots, makes smart defensive reads and rarely makes a poor play while under pressure. Montreal has been significantly more dangerous when Evans is clicking alongside Emil Heineman and Joel Armia, and Evans is on pace for a career-best of 16 goals and 39 points this year. Many Canadiens fans want him to re-sign because he makes the team tougher to play against deeper in the lineup. But that type of intelligent, two-way play makes him a valuable asset on the trade front.

Shot Blocks: David Savard, D (Montreal Canadiens)

Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV

Savard’s play has been exposed a bit too often this year, and he can’t play heavy minutes anymore. But the 34-year-old is still willing to lay his body on the line anytime he can, and he’s been hovering around the top 10 in blocks all year long despite missing a handful of games. Savard might work best on a team with decent puck-moving options that just needs someone to get in the way and keep the puck away from the net. He’s not overly aggressive, but he can be. He’s also a right-shot defenseman, which doesn’t hurt. Savard’s prime might be well past gone at this point, but perhaps a team looking to get some good insurance will take a chance on the defensive defender.

Veteran Presence: Ryan Suter, D (St. Louis Blues)

Contract: Pending UFA, $775,000 AAV

Few NHLers play into their 40s – and even fewer do so without skating in a single Stanley Cup final game. Suter has been a full-time NHLer for 20 seasons, which is incredible, no matter your position. He has never won any individual awards but did boast the second most votes for the Norris Trophy in 2012-13 – the same season he was named to the NHL’s First All-star Team. He’s still playing around 20 minutes a night this year, which is incredible for his age – maybe less so when you realize the fitness-oriented blueliner averaged an incredible 29:25 in 2013-14. Suter’s age has definitely caught up to him, but he can still play some decent hockey and would be an excellent veteran presence for a team’s third-pair. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll get to go on that elusive extended playoff run.

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