Who’s Left? Van Riemsdyk and Klingberg lead final 35 Trade Targets on Deadline Day
Think you know sports? PointsBet Canada is live in Ontario!
_____
We’ve made it to the finish line. We may have been flying downhill on a scooter with one wheel, but after counting down to Deadline Day with at least one trade-focused story each day on Daily Faceoff, we made it.
Welcome to the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline.
2023 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: Today
More than 40 trades were executed in the three days leading up to Friday, an unprecedented period of player movement before the deadline itself in league history. We told you it was Wild Card Week. Our Trade Targets board was absolutely obliterated, as more than 30 players who have appeared on our board have been traded – including six of our Top 10 from earlier this week.
Who is left? Don’t fret. We’ve got our final Trade Targets board, with 35 names still in play. Reminder: A player’s ranking is always a blend of his prominence with the likelihood of a trade.
Trade Targets 🎯
1. James van Riemsdyk 📈
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Stats: 41 GP, 9 G, 14 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
Scoop: Death, taxes and ‘JVR’ scoring at a 20-goal clip in the NHL. Those are three things you can bank on. The Flyers know that, which is why they’ve been seeking a package with a second-round pick as the centerpiece. There were four to five teams in the mix on Friday morning, including Vegas and Winnipeg. Van Riemsdyk has rebounded from a fractured finger earlier this season into his usual form. He’s never been fleet of foot, so his speed isn’t a concern, because he has a knack like few others to find the puck at the exact right moment. It’s for that reason that ‘JVR’ is the 12th-best net-front scorer in the NHL, according to our Archetype Rankings series. For more on why JVR is a handy addition to a team’s toolbox, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
2. John Klingberg
Right Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 30
Stats: 50 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
Scoop: The way his season has devolved, it’s easy to forget that Klingberg was an absolute stud in the bubble for the Dallas Stars, racking up 21 points in their 26-game run to the forgotten Stanley Cup Final. That might be a driving narrative on Friday. Because it’s been an incredibly tough year. This was supposed to be a smart bet by Klingberg and the Ducks. Klingberg would put $7 million in his pocket for the season, shoulder the security risk, and hope to cash in again next summer. The problem is: Klingberg has struggled. He’s probably wishing he took less money to play on a contender. His stock has fallen precipitously. For a deep dive on the current status of Klingberg’s game, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
3. Kevin Hayes
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 61 GP, 17 G, 32 A, 49 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $7,142,857 AAV
Scoop: The market has heated up on the rangy, All-Star center in the last few days with intelligence that the Flyers are willing to retain some salary on a transaction in order to facilitate a deal. How much? That depends on the return, but the thought process is that Hayes at $4.5 or $5 million is a really valuable asset. Columbus is among the teams that have been in touch with the Flyers on Hayes. He has a 12-team ‘no-trade’ list. Hayes has size, plays a diligent and responsible two-way game, and changed the playoff performer narrative in the 2020 bubble with the Flyers with 13 points in 16 games. Hayes is also only due $17 million in real cash over the final three years of his deal relative to the nearly $21.5 million in cumulative cap hit. The Flyers are motivated to make something happen, but it’s not clear if they will clear the hurdle before 3 o’clock.
4. Brock Boeser
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 53 GP, 12 G, 27 A, 39 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $6.65 million AAV
Scoop: There were rumblings on Thursday that the Canucks had some action on Boeser, but that appeared to be a false alarm. There is no doubt they’d like to clear some salary cap space – and Boeser is their best trade chip to do so. He’s still on a 60-point pace. Word is the Canucks are willing to entertain a deal for Boeser that includes Vancouver retaining some salary. It likely would not be a significant amount, but the Canucks are ready to move on. We know that Boeser is looking for a change of scenery, too. He’s already been given the ability to seek a trade through his agent. Boeser hasn’t scored goals at his typical rate this season, but he’s 25, and he does have value as a scoring winger. The concern for teams is the term. For a detailed breakdown of Boeser’s game and potential fits, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
5. Jakub Vrana – ✅ TRADED TO ST. LOUIS
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 27
Stats: 5 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $5.25 million AAV
Scoop: When Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman makes up his mind, he doesn’t sit around and wait. Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Hronek were jettisoned in recent days. And Vrana was always more likely to be dealt than them. It’s never been the same for Vrana and the Wings since he entered the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program for what sources say was a substance abuse issue. He was demoted to the AHL and posted 6 goals in 17 games (11 points) with Grand Rapids. He is a gifted goal scorer, fourth in the league in goals-per-60 minutes at even-strength over the last four seasons. That has caught the attention of teams. The Red Wings would add that they believe he isn’t a consistent competitor, particularly in practice. If the Red Wings are going to buy him out of the remaining year in the summer – would they retain that much now and take an asset in return for him?
6. Nick Bonino – ✅ TRADED TO PITTSBURGH
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 34
Stats: 59 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 19 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.05 million AAV
Scoop: If you listen closely, you can still hear Harnaryan Singh’s call from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ run in the Stanley Cup playoffs – “Bonino, Bonino, Bonino, Booooonnniiiiiiiinnnnnooooooo.” It was the soundtrack of the spring in the Steel City, a legendary call on a player who showed up in significant situations for the Pens. Bonino has never been fleet of foot, but he’s incredibly smart and his attention to detail is second to none. He is a diligent worker and has a strong work rate, and his point production hasn’t wavered much at all from his career averages. The Rangers, Bruins and Penguins were among the teams that have inquired about him.
7. Colton Parayko
Right Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 29
Stats: 58 GP, 4 G, 17 A, 21 Pts
Contract: Seven more seasons, $6.5 million AAV
Scoop: Parayko has been a hot topic in St. Louis as GM Doug Armstrong begins to remake the Blues. There is no doubt that Armstrong would like to find some salary cap flexibility on his blue line. Here’s the thing: Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, Nick Leddy and Parayko all have at least three seasons remaining on their deals. They combine for $23.5 million (28 percent of the cap). They also all have full ‘no-trade’ clauses. Outside of Krug, Parayko is the one likely with the most market value. And even then, it’s a tall ask to get a team to take on north of $45 million in real cash commitment at the deadline.
8. Conor Sheary
Left Wing, Washington Capitals
Age: 30
Stats: 63 GP, 12 G, 18 A, 30 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.5 million AAV
Scoop: Sheary doesn’t generate a lot of buzz or headlines, but when you take a look at his production, he’s still churning out points at a 0.50 per game pace. He doesn’t make a dent on the salary cap. And he has his name etched on the Stanley Cup twice already. The idea that his point production is solid and he only earns $1.5 million is probably indicative that teams don’t really know how to best utilize or deploy him in the lineup. But that doesn’t mean Sheary can’t be quality depth for a team on the hunt in their bottom six.
9. Troy Stecher 🆕
Right Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 28
Stats: 61 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.25 million AAV
Scoop: Stecher has rarely been talked up as a trade chip as teams have scoured the market. But in terms of overall impact on the game, how much less does Stecher make than some of the other names that have been traded already, such as Luke Schenn or Niko Mikkola? Relative to acquisition price, that makes Stecher a pretty decent depth value add for a team. Since Jakob Chychrun was pulled out of the Yotes lineup for trade-related reasons, Stecher has averaged north of 21 minutes a night in 9 games in Arizona and has posted three points, which is almost half of his season total.
10. Justin Holl 🆕
Right Defense, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 31
Stats: 61 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2 million AAV
Scoop: If the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to make a trade on Friday to re-balance their roster, and that’s still a big if, then it stands to reason that Holl will be on the move. He would not just alleviate the logjam on defense – with 10 bonafide NHLers since Jordie Benn is with the Marlies – but also provide a decent amount of salary cap flexibility with his $2 million cap hit. Holl is also a rental and might be a decent add for a team like Seattle, which is attempting to navigate the deadline as potentially both a buyer and a seller.
11. Dmitry Kulikov
Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 32
Stats: 61 GP, 3 G, 12 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.25 million AAV
Scoop: Kulikov has been traded three times in his NHL career already and a fourth may be in order. He is playing north of 20 minutes a night for the Ducks this season, which is more of an indictment on Anaheim’s roster than Kulikov. He is a third-pair defenseman or insurance piece for a playoff team. Kulikov’s issue is he is prone to the occasional home run mistake, but most nights, he isn’t noticeable – in a good way. He is an inexpensive deadline add, especially when compared to Gavrikov or other top-end guys.
12. Vladislav Namestnikov 🆕
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 30
Stats: 57 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.5 million AAV
Scoop: It was puzzling to see the Sharks acquire Namestnikov this week in exchange for analytics darling Mikey Eyssimont, particularly because Eyssimont seemed to have more value than Namestnikov. Either way, Namestnikov is now a decent flip opportunity for the Sharks. Tampa Bay retained half on Namestnikov’s $2.5 million cap hit, so he is now at a moveable price. What can the Sharks get for him? That’s the tough part. He only brought back a 2024 4th Round Pick for the Red Wings last year.
13. Logan Stanley 🆕
Left Defense, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 24
Stats: 13 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt
Contract: Pending RFA, $900,000 AAV
Scoop: It’s probably inaccurate to say that Stanley put in a trade request with the Jets. That hasn’t formally been communicated. However, it is fair to say that Stanley certainly wouldn’t mind a change of scenery – because he’d like the opportunity to play. The 2016 No. 18 overall pick has been a healthy scratch for the vast majority of the season in Winnipeg. He is 6-foot-6 and some teams wonder whether he might be the next version of Jamie Oleksiak, who is the same height, and didn’t break through with a full NHL season until eight years after his Draft. The Canucks might be one of those teams wondering.
14. Carson Soucy
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 28
Stats: 60 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.75 million AAV
Scoop: Teams have inquired about Soucy and the Kraken are intrigued. The truth is, Seattle has racked up enough points that their playoff position is strong. It isn’t likely to be significantly impacted by plucking off a defenseman who has alternated between second and third-pair minutes. Teams drool over Soucy’s 6-foot-5 frame – and if the Kraken can pry loose a first-round pick in what Draft experts believe is a historically strong crop? Well, they might just have to part ways with the Viking, Alberta native who is set to become a free agent this summer. Clearly, they’re also fine keeping Soucy for the stretch run, too. It’s a no-lose proposition for Seattle.
15. Ivan Provorov 🆕
Left Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 26
Stats: 62 GP, 4 G, 18 A, 22 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $6.75 million AAV
Scoop: Provorov’s name is new to this year’s board, but his name has shuffled through the market for the last few years as the Flyers have considered changes to their core. He came up in discussions with Winnipeg the year that they traded Patrik Laine and Provorov was part of the ask. That never materialized. Provorov isn’t happy with the way things have unfolded in Philadelphia and he’s open to moving on. He wants to win. He’s a competitor. And at the same time, his game has trended in the wrong direction. After his sophomore season, he was right on par with Zach Werenski and other burgeoning star defensemen. We’ve had a few seasons of sample size to know he isn’t on that level, but there is probably more there.
16. Nick Schmaltz
Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 27
Stats: 45 GP, 18 G, 24 A, 42 Pts
Contract: Three more seasons, $5.85 million AAV
Scoop: It’s fair to call Schmaltz one of the biggest wild cards of the Deadline. There has been increased conversation about Schmaltz in recent days. He seems to make perfect sense for a team like the Carolina Hurricanes. He fits their age scheme, he has three more seasons left at a very reasonable number, and his production has been under-the-radar because of the games he’s missed due to injury. Schmaltz has racked up 98 points in his last 106 games, which is pretty damn impressive. The Coyotes also traded for Shea Weber’s contract, which has everyone wondering if they needed it to get to the floor after moving Chychrun, and maybe Schmaltz or Lawson Crouse (see below).
17. Lawson Crouse
Left Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 25
Stats: 56 GP, 19 G, 12 A, 31 Pts
Contract: 4 more seasons, $4.3 million AAV
Scoop: Crouse is also a bit of a surprising name, given that he just inked a five-year extension in Arizona in August. Sources say Crouse has popped up in conversations – either internally or externally – as a fit. He’s grown into his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame nicely and has already put up 19 goals this season. That scoring pace, coupled with his cost certainty on the contract, might provide the kind of surplus value that teams were drooling over initially with guys like Chychrun and Brandon Hagel last year. The question is Crouse has never really played in the spotlight in a big market and he has little by way of playoff experience. Arizona is likely content on keeping him, but GM Bill Armstrong probably isn’t in the business of hanging up on anyone when asked about most roster players right now.
18. Jordan Greenway
Left Wing, Minnesota Wild
Age: 26
Stats: 45 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Greenway’s name has made its way through rival pro scouting meetings and front offices as one of interest. The Wild are considering their options. Greenway has struggled this season with just two goals and seven points, but teams are enamored by his 6-foot-6 frame and the different elements he provides. The win for Minnesota is in clearing out the next two seasons of Greenway’s deal at $3 million per, in a season where the dead cap space allotted to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter ratchets up. Greenway could be a difference maker in the playoffs, and the Wild are concerned about selling low when they could wait until the summer to see what the market brings.
19. Matt Dumba
Right Defense, Minnesota Wild
Age: 28
Stats: 60 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 13 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: We know that Matt Boldy’s extension last month officially spelled the end of Dumba’s run in Minnesota. But there hasn’t been all that much buzz around Dumba from other teams. It’s important to keep in mind that the Wild won’t be rushed. If the price isn’t right, they are more than willing to keep him for a playoff run before letting him walk. But they might not be making a playoff run now the way they’re playing. For a breakdown of Dumba’s game, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
20. Noah Gregor
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 24
Stats: 37 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $950,000 AAV
Scoop: Gregor quietly put in a trade request with the Sharks earlier this season, one that they haven’t been able to take him up on yet. He has frequently been a healthy scratch by coach David Quinn. When you compare him to Sam Lafferty, Gregor’s skillset is very similar in that he possesses (perhaps even better) straight-line speed, which is elite by NHL standards. Gregor can absolutely fly. Last year, Gregor got the opportunity, but struggled to score. This year, he hasn’t gotten the same opportunity. He may be a lower-cost find and comparable add to Sam Lafferty, who fetched a second-round pick for the Blackhawks this year.
21. Jonathan Drouin
Left Wing, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 27
Stats: 38 GP, 0 G, 18 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: If you’re looking for a buy-low, high-ceiling bet then Drouin is your guy. He hasn’t scored a goal this season, but he was recently on a tear, playing some of his best hockey in years. He went on a stretch from Dec. 29 to Feb. 14 with 12 points in 12 games. But there hasn’t been much buzz around Drouin. The Canadiens are hoping that chatter increases. They are willing to retain half on Drouin to make it work, but there are concerns about his dependability and injury history that won’t help. Nonetheless, Drouin remains a power play threat and potentially inexpensive addition. Wonder if the Avalanche would take a stab at reuniting Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon for some Mooseheads magic? It was exactly 10 years ago that the two of them captured the Memorial Cup.
22. Dante Fabbro
Right Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 24
Stats: 56 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $2.4 million AAV
Scoop: In recent days, Fabbro has linked to the San Jose Sharks, by nature of his connection to coach David Quinn – who recruited and then coached Fabbro in his last two seasons at Boston Univ. Fabbro’s game has slid a bit this season. His production is down. His minutes are down 3:06 from last year, when he was solidly placed in Nashville’s Top 4. The addition of Ryan McDonagh cut off some opportunity. It’s possible Fabbro, who needs a new deal as an RFA, gets that in the Bay Area with a familiar face. There is also a reality that the Preds will need some bodies for next season.
23. Craig Smith 🆕
Center, Washington Capitals
Age: 33
Stats: 45 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.1 million AAV
Scoop: Tough couple weeks for Smith. He was traded from the Boston Bruins as a salary cap dump, one of the few players removed from a juggernaut roster, and was robbed of perhaps one of the best chances of his career to win a Stanley Cup. Will he get another shot this season? Smith played the best hockey of his career under Washington’s Peter Laviolette in Nashville. But he may not be long for Washington. The Capitals could retain half of Smith’s salary and make him a flippable asset if there is a team out there interested in a depth add.
24. Morgan Geekie 🆕
Center, Seattle Kraken
Age: 24
Stats: 51 GP, 7 G, 13 A, 20 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $1.4 million AAV
Scoop: Geekie registered a two-goal game this week for the Kraken, which raised a couple eyebrows in league front offices this week as he has been made available by Seattle. He isn’t going to ‘wow’ a team in terms of point production, but he is a pending restricted free agent under team control and someone that maybe given a bigger opportunity, could do more. He’d be a decent fit on a team with roster room looking to add a body for this season and beyond.
25. Filip Zadina 🆕
Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 23
Stats: 20 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $1.825 million AAV
Scoop: Zadina was on our Trade Targets board last season at the deadline. He didn’t move then. There would have been more value, then, too as teams were pretty intrigued about the 2018 No. 6 overall pick. A lot of that intrigue has dissipated. He’s struggled to stay healthy this season. When he’s been in the lineup, he hasn’t produced much. And in a full, 74-game season last year, the pure shooter netted just 10 goals. It’s possible someone takes a flier as GM Steve Yzerman appears set on moving out bodies who won’t be there for the long haul.
26. Christian Dvorak 🆕
Center, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 27
Stats: 61 GP, 10 G, 17 A, 27 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $4.45 million AAV
Scoop: Dvorak is a bit of a surprise name. He hasn’t been talked about much, but the Canadiens have received a couple calls on Dvorak in the weeks leading up to the deadline. You might look at his production and see that it doesn’t jump off the page, but Dvorak is still just below 0.50 points per game on a team that has really struggled (27th) to score this season. He has two more seasons on his contract, so that means that Dvorak isn’t likely to move – this would wait until summer – but the Canadiens didn’t plan to move a couple of the guys that they did last year, too.
27. Marco Scandella
Left Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 33
Stats: 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $3.275 million AAV
Scoop: See No. 7 in Colton Parayko. The Blues are dying to create a little cap flexibility on their back end. They’d kill to break free from Scandella’s contract, which seemed to be a mistake signing from jump street. Playing on his third team in 2019-20, after trading 2nd and 4th round picks for him, the Blues signed Scandella to a four-year, $13.1 million deal just two months after acquiring him. It was signed just a few weeks into the pandemic. Scandella has been hurt, hasn’t lived up to his pay, but the Blues will have to pay to move him.
28. Conor Garland
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 60 GP, 12 G, 22 A, 34 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $4.95 million AAV
Scoop: For all of the hemming and hawing about the money the Canucks have spent on wingers, Garland quietly lived up to his end of the bargain last season with 19 goals and 52 points. He burst onto the scene under Rick Tocchet in Arizona, the guy who gave him his shot. His ice time is virtually unchanged under Tocchet. Nonetheless, the fact remains the Canucks committed $10 million more to wingers for next season in Anthony Beauvillier and Andrei Kuzmenko. And Garland has never fit quite right in Vancouver, signed by the previous regime. He is a prime candidate to try and create salary cap flexibility for the Canucks, but the term may be a sticking point.
29. Will Borgen
Right Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 26
Stats: 61 GP, 2 G, 14 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $900,000 AAV
Scoop: Talk about dealing from a position of strength. The Kraken have two very valuable trade chips on their back-end in Soucy (No. 8) and Borgen. They don’t have to deal either one of them, opting instead to keep them. Unlike Soucy, Borgen is an RFA. However, he will be due a sizable raise and when faced with a similar situation last year, the Kraken traded Jeremy Lauzon to the Predators the day before the deadline. It’s a different year, with the Kraken firmly entrenched in a playoff spot, but it bears watching.
30. Sean Walker or Matt Roy
Right Defense, Los Angeles Kings
Ages: 28 | 27
Stats: 56 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts | 63 GP, 9 G, 11 A, 20 Pts
Contracts: Both 1 more season, $2.65m | $3.15m AAVs
Scoop: One NHL GM referred to the Kings recently as the “bullpen for right-shot defensemen.” He isn’t wrong. It’s a luxury, for sure, and maybe even a bit of a logjam on the right side of Los Angeles’ blueline. The problem is that neither Walker or Roy is really moving the Kings in a contending direction. They both have another year on their contracts, Jordan Spence is waiting in the wings in AHL Ontario, and ideally they’d eventually like to move Sean Durzi back to his natural side. If the Kings want to better balance that group out after acquiring Vladislav Gavrikov this week, then one of these guys is a prime candidate to go. And it’s interesting that the Kings have kept so much cap space – what do they have up their sleeves on Friday?
31. Colin White
Center, Florida Panthers
Age: 26
Stats: 49 GP, 7 G, 7 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $1.2 million AAV
Scoop: White’s name has popped up in trade conversations in recent days as the Panthers have sought some salary cap flexibility. He is by no means a lock to get traded, but he is playing fourth line minutes and likely believes he has a little more to give. If the Panthers trend toward missing the playoffs by Deadline Day, they may consider moving him.
32. Sean Monahan
Center, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 28
Stats: 25 GP, 6 G, 11 A, 17 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.375 million AAV
Scoop: Monahan did not accompany the Habs on their California road trip, and after returning to practice recently, that indicates he just isn’t ready to go. That’s such a disappointment for the Habs. Monahan’s last game was all the way back on Dec. 5. Teams would’ve liked to get some sort of view on him in action before committing any assets to him – and even then, the injury risk is significant. Nonetheless, Monahan had a really solid first quarter of the season. If his salary is run through a third-party broker, it will be down to the $1.6 million range, which is doable for a quality fourth line center piece on a championship team. If healthy. And that’s a big if.
33. Radko Gudas
Right Defense, Florida Panthers
Age: 32
Stats: 53 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.5 million AAV
Scoop: There’s been plenty of chatter around Gudas, but to this point, the Panthers have resisted the urge to move him. They were trying to hold out hope that they can claw their way into a playoff spot. That hasn’t happened pre-deadline – and Gudas’ tenure in Florida is up in the air. He is an intimidating disruptor of a defenseman and one of the few players who actually makes forwards nervous coming through the neutral zone and entering the zone with his thundering hits. That has value in and of itself, not to mention at an inexpensive cap hit on an expiring deal.
34. Joel Edmundson
Left Defense, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 29
Stats: 40 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 Pts
Contract: One more season, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: On Thursday night, Edmundson played his first game since Jan. 26, in the hopes that the Habs might be able to parlay him into a deal before the deadline. We’re not entirely sure that’s going to happen. He played just over 16 minutes for the Habs, leaving the door open. One rival GM referred to Edmundson’s wonky back as a “ticking time bomb,” and with one more season left on his deal, that doesn’t appear to be a bet than any team is overly excited to make.
35. J.T. Miller
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 29
Stats: 60 GP, 20 G, 34 A, 54 Pts
Contract: 7 more seasons, $8 million AAV
Scoop: What a weird week for Miller, to go from “week-to-week” to back in the lineup. There is no doubt Miller’s name has been in trade talks. If that shocks you, consider the following: 1) The Canucks are open to just about anything at this point in time outside of Elias Pettersson and maybe Quinn Hughes; 2) Miller may have real value this summer as teams begin to realize there are so few impact players scheduled to hit free agency; 3) His ‘no-trade’ clause kicks in on July 1 and if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it before the player gains more control. Talks have cooled considerably on Miller in recent days. The Canucks were asking for two first-round picks, or a first-round pick and a prospect. That didn’t happen, and it seems like a real long-shot he is traded before 3 o’clock, but you have to at least allow for the possibility.
TRADED: No. 1 Timo Meier; No. 1 Bo Horvat; No. 1 Jakob Chychrun; No. 2 Vladislav Gavrikov; No. 3 Ryan O’Reilly; No. 3 Jake McCabe; No. 4 Mattias Ekholm; No. 6 Dmitry Orlov; No. 6 Mikael Granlund; No. 7 Ivan Barbashev; No. 7 Sam Lafferty; No. 8 Luke Schenn; No. 14 Shayne Gostisbehere; No. 16 Vladimir Tarasenko; No. 18 Noel Acciari; No. 18 Ryan Reaves; No. 19 Jesse Puljujarvi; No. 25 Gustav Nyquist; No. 26 Niko Mikkola; No. 27 Max Domi; No. 27 Tyler Bertuzzi; No. 27 Jaycob Megna; No. 28 Craig Smith; No. 28 Lars Eller; No. 29 Tanner Jeannot; No. 30 Ryan Merkley; No. 31 Joonas Korpisalo; No. 32 Garnet Hathaway; No. 38 Nick Bjugstad; No. 42 Cal Foote; No. 45 Vitali Kravtsov; No. 45 Nikita Zaitsev.
Off the board: Jonathan Toews, Chicago; Erik Karlsson, San Jose; Jake Walman, Detroit (Re-signed 3 years x $3.4 million); Olli Maatta, Detroit (Re-signed 2 years x $3 million); Nick Jensen, Washington (Re-Signed 3 years x $4.05 million).
Claimed off waivers: No. 18 Kasperi Kapanen.
Previous versions: Feb. 27, Feb. 23, Feb. 16, Feb. 10, Feb. 5, Jan. 20, Jan. 3, Nov. 22.
____
CLICK HERE to access the DFO Trade Tracker!
Recently by Frank Seravalli
- Six Salary Cap Agenda Items that will drive the action on Deadline Day
- Which Western Conference teams are still shopping ahead of Friday’s trade deadline?
- With most big name rentals gone, welcome to the NHL’s Wild Card Week
- Minnesota Wild’s Jordan Greenway an intriguing Deadline reclamation project
- Will the division-leading Dallas Stars take a swing at the Trade Deadline?
- Flyers’ James van Riemsdyk a handy addition to a contender’s toolbox at Trade Deadline