With most big name rentals gone, welcome to the NHL’s Wild Card Week

Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

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Buckle up.

You might think after watching a slew of trade chips slide off the table in a crazy weekend run-up to Friday’s trade deadline – from Timo Meier to Dmitry Orlov to Ivan Barbashev – that we will be in for a quiet week. Au contraire.

Welcome to the NHL’s Wild Card Week, where just about anything could happen. Now that most of the sought after rentals are off the board there are still more than a few teams looking to improve before 3 o’clock strikes on Friday afternoon. And that means they will be forced to consider the nontraditional deadline route of players with term on their contracts.

Yes, we’re talking about good, old-fashioned hockey trades. Think along the lines of Philadelphia’s Kevin Hayes, Arizona’s Nick Schmaltz and other impact players who could help contenders both now and in the future. There will be other names that surface. That is the one avenue left to find true difference makers.

2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 4 Days

With four days to go, here is our latest Trade Targets board with 50 names in play, including 12 newcomers. As a reminder, the board is a blend of a player’s perceived value with his likelihood of a trade:

(Chicago Blackhawks icon Patrick Kane is off the board as we understand he is no longer available and will be heading to the New York Rangers later this week once New York has accrued the requisite salary cap space.)

Trade Targets 🎯

1. Jakob Chychrun
Left Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 24
Stats: 36 GP, 7 G, 21 A, 28 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $4.6 million AAV
Scoop: We’ve got a new No. 1 because if there is any question about how this saga will play out this week in the desert, good luck putting the genie back in the bottle now. Chychrun will have sat almost three weeks by Friday for the dreaded “trade related reasons.” His trade request is long-standing. This has dragged on for 15 months now. The Coyotes have been holding out for a high asking price, and if they don’t get it now, it’s a near guarantee they won’t get it this summer – particularly if the salary cap goes up and squeezes out the excess value in Chychrun’s contract. For more on Chychrun and his game, including a full scouting report, read Chychrun’s Trade Deadline player profile.

2. Vladislav Gavrikov
Left Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 27
Stats: 52 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.8 million AAV
Scoop: Now what? With the Boston Bruins pivoting to Dmitry Orlov on Thursday, the Blue Jackets were reportedly left stunned and back at square one. We’ve known for months that Columbus is looking to match or exceed the package they received for David Savard in 2021: first and third-round picks. Do they get it? For comparison sake, that is only a notch below what the Coyotes are reportedly seeking for Chychrun, and Gavrikov is a rental. With the market changing and some questions marks about Gavrikov’s game, they may have to adjust on the fly. For a breakdown of Gavrikov’s game, read his Trade Deadline player profile.

3. Kevin Hayes 🆕
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 60 GP, 17 G, 31 A, 48 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $7,142,857 AAV
Scoop: The market has heated up on the rangy, All-Star center in the last 24-48 hours 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, and it’s a big ask for the Flyers to retain for the next three years. Carolina, Colorado and Minnesota are among the teams that have been in touch with the Flyers on Hayes. He has a 12-team ‘no-trade’ list and none of those aforementioned teams appear to be on it. 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.

4. Mattias Ekholm 📈
Left Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 32
Stats: 57 GP, 5 G, 13 A, 18 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $6.25 million AAV
Scoop: The great sell-off in Smashville have begun and Ekholm might be the next to go. This isn’t exactly a new development – Ekholm was one of the first prominent players added to our trade board back in January, when we’re told outgoing GM David Poile began to peruse the market for his hefty defender. The interesting factor of this exercise with Ekholm is what Nashville might be able to get in return. He has three more seasons left at a sizable $6.25 million. Ekholm has some wear on his tires, and has showed some signs of decline already. Will that limit the return? They just went through this in trading for Ryan McDonagh so they know the other end of it – and the bet is Nashville would much rather get something for Ekholm than be forced to pay to move him in a couple years. For more detail, read Ekholm’s in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.

5. James van Riemsdyk 📈
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Stats: 40 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. 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. If the Flyers are willing to retain half, which every indication is they would be willing to do, they can salvage a nice asset from a most disappointing season. That’s a long way from having to pay to move him last summer. For more on why JVR is a handy addition to a team’s toolbox, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.

6. Mikael Granlund 🆕
Left Wing, Nashville Predators
Age: 31
Stats: 57 GP, 9 G, 27 A, 36 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Granlund hails from Finland, but he might as well be from Switzerland because he is the perfect Swiss Army Knife for any contending team. He impacts the game in so many different ways. He skates well, he produces offense at even-strength, he can play on the power play and penalty kill. Granlund is also a tireless worker and gets in on the forecheck well. All of those things, and with some term and a salary cap hit that is in line with his production, and that makes him a very sought after commodity on the trade market as the Predators begin to tear it down.

7. Adam Henrique 🆕
Center, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 33
Stats: 57 GP, 19 G, 14 A, 33 Pts
Contract: One more season, $5.825 million AAV
Scoop: We’re told Ducks GM Pat Verbeek would like to make something happen prior to the deadline, but he doesn’t have much by way of assets to trade. Henrique is one. He hasn’t been widely talked about, but a few more teams have recently engaged – if not directly with Anaheim, then in internal team discussions. Chatter has increased. The Nino Niederreiter trade is a pretty direct comparable – although center instead of winger – because their production is similar. The Ducks might be able to get more than a second-round pick if they’re willing to retain half. That’s one way to do it.

8. Luke Schenn
Right Defense, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 33
Stats: 55 GP, 3 G, 18 A, 21 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $850,000 AAV
Scoop: Guess who has more or lessmatched the point production of John Klingberg this season? That would be Schenn, who is also being held out of the lineup for “trade-related reasons.” When the Canucks made the decision last Tuesday, there was nothing imminent, but they had received enough interest to know that he is likely to move. Schenn is a proven winner with Stanley Cup pedigree on an expiring, inexpensive deal. Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Minnesota and Boston are just a few of the teams Schenn has been linked to, but others have also expressed interest. They say you can never have too many defensemen on a playoff run and Schenn is a fit for just about every team, particularly as a right-shot who can also play the left if needed. For more, peruse Schenn’s Trade Deadline player profile.

9. Alex Kerfoot 📈
Center, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 28
Stats: 60 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: GM Kyle Dubas spoke about the importance the Leafs placed in not trading anyone from the roster last week. Here’s the thing: After acquiring Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty, they are out of space to activate Matt Murray. They will either have to stash Murray until the playoffs, which is unlikely since he practiced Sunday. Or they will have to waive multiple players from their roster. Or they are trading one of Kerfoot, Pierre Engvall or Justin Holl. Any of the three are possible. The Leafs like the no-fuss flexibility that Kerfoot adds to the lineup, but at $3.5 million on the fourth line, he is a luxury and not a necessity there. The Vancouver native has been connected to the Canucks in recent days.

10. Carson Soucy
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 28
Stats: 58 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.

11. John Klingberg
Right Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 30
Stats: 49 GP, 8 G, 15 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
Scoop: What a tough season it has been for Klingberg. He was always considered a flippable asset for the Ducks. It seemed to be a smart play at the time. 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. But it’s also been a miserable season for all in Anaheim. He isn’t long for the Ducks. The bigger question is the interest level and potential return. For a deep dive on the current status of Klingberg’s game, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.

12. Nick Schmaltz 🆕
Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 27
Stats: 43 GP, 17 G, 22 A, 39 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).

13. Colton Parayko 🆕
Right Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 29
Stats: 56 GP, 3 G, 16 A, 19 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 t

14. Shayne Gostisbehere
Left Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 29
Stats: 51 GP, 10 G, 20 A, 30 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: Gostisbehere returned to the Yotes’ lineup on Feb. 19 after a nearly month-long absence. Prior to injury, Ghost was trending toward a solid deadline addition. Gostisbehere found his confidence again in the desert after it crumbled in Philadelphia. Not surprisingly, the former 65-point defenseman can still play. He’s rejuvenated his game and was on track to hit 50 points again before the injury. He’s very efficient moving the puck and a solid addition to any power play. And this isn’t a recent phenomenon: Ghost’s underlying metrics were damn good last season. For more detail, see Gostisbehere’s trade deadline player profile.

15. Nick Jensen 🆕
Right Defense, Washington Capitals
Age: 32
Stats: 62 GP, 2 G, 22 A, 24 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.5 million AAV
Scoop: So many playoff-bound teams would be wise to circle in on Jensen, who does a masterful job at managing the forecheck in pressure situations. Jensen is also an efficient puck mover. He is also a pending free agent. The Capitals would have an outside shot at a late first-round pick with the interest level in Jensen. A second-round pick is more likely. He is definitely a name to watch as the week progresses and Washington charts a new path forward.

16. Trevor van Riemsdyk 🆕
Right Defense, Washington Capitals
Age: 31
Stats: 62 GP, 6 G, 11 A, 17 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $950,000 AAV
Scoop: Could we see a deadline in which both of the Van Riemsdyk brothers move? It’s entirely possible, but less likely for ‘TvR’ than ‘JvR,’ though the market will be examined for him. The reason why he’s less likely is the Caps will need someone to play defense there next season. John Carlson is their only bonafide NHL defenseman under contract. Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev are also RFAs. But the point is: Washington would be wise to keep the steady, no-frills defender in ‘TvR’ for next season and beyond on another reasonable contract. All of those facets are also what makes him valuable on the market.

17. Brock Boeser
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 51 GP, 11 G, 27 A, 38 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $6.65 million AAV
Scoop: 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. Their push to finally, once and for all, create some salary cap flexibility is real. 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 at his typical rate this season, but he’s still at 0.73 points per game (61-point pace), 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.

18. Jordan Greenway
Left Wing, Minnesota Wild
Age: 26
Stats: 43 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 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 six 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. Jesse Puljujarvi
Right Wing, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 24
Stats: 57 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Puljujarvi seems to have nine lives in the Edmonton lineup. First, it was an injury to Kailer Yamamoto that kept him around. Now, it’s an injury to Evander Kane, who could miss the next couple of weeks. That has bought GM Ken Holland and the Oilers time to figure out what to do next with Puljujarvi. The expectation is that he will be traded somewhere else (Florida, St. Louis, Anaheim) or included as part of a package that the Oilers would need in order to pull off a trade. In other words, it still feels like a question of when and where, not if, Puljujarvi’s tenure in Edmonton comes to a close. For more on his potential, read Puljujarvi’s Trade Deadline player profile.

20. J.T. Miller
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 29
Stats: 59 GP, 20 G, 34 A, 54 Pts
Contract: 7 more seasons, $8 million AAV
Scoop: Vancouver’s announcement Monday that Miller is week-to-week with an injury likely kills any pre-deadline trade. However, if you’re shocked to see Miller’s name on the list before his extension kicks in, 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. It still seems like a longshot that Miller is moved before this deadline, but enough teams have talked about him internally that it is impossible to ignore the possibility.

21. Conor Sheary 🆕
Left Wing, Washington Capitals
Age: 30
Stats: 62 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 productive, 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.

22. Nick Bonino 📈
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 34
Stats: 57 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 19 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.05 million AAV
Scoop: Two Stanley Cup brothers-in-arms right next to each other at No. 21 and No. 22. 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.

23. Jakub Vrana
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 26
Stats: 4 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $5.25 million AAV
Scoop: Vrana has yo-yoed between Detroit and AHL Grand Rapids in paper transactions in the last days as the Red Wings seek relief from waiver requirements on him. He’s played two NHL games since returning from the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program for what sources say was a substance abuse issue. He posted 6 goals in 17 games (11 points) with Grand Rapids in his demotion. He is a gifted goal scorer, fourth in the league in goals-per-60 minutes at even-strength over the last three 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?

24. Lawson Crouse
Left Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 25
Stats: 54 GP, 19 G, 12 A, 31 Pts
Contract: 4 more seasons, $4.3 million AAV
Scoop: Crouse is 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.

25. Gustav Nyquist
Left Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 33
Stats: 48 GP, 10 G, 12 A, 22 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: This is going to sound crazy, but the Blue Jackets announcing recently that Nyquist will miss the remainder of the regular season – that has actually increased his likelihood of a trade. He is essentially a FREE addition. The return may have been diminished for Columbus, of course. But think back to what the Toronto Maple Leafs did a few years back with Riley Nash. They traded a sixth-round pick for him (also from Columbus). He never appeared in a regular season game, but returned from his injury for the playoffs. There was no risk. He was no salary cap consequence since he was on LTIR for the duration of the regular season. And Nyquist is a much better player than Nash. For more on how he can boost a third line, read Nyquist’s Trade Deadline player profile.

26. Joel Farabee
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 23
Stats: 61 GP, 9 G, 17 A, 26 Pts
Contract: 5 more seasons, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Coach John Tortorella told Farabee’s agent more or less to “shut yer yap,” as only Torts can do, after news of our report last week surfaced. The fact of the matter is Farabee’s camp did voice their their displeasure to Flyers management as to how this season has unfolded under Torts. Things came to a boil when Farabee skated just 3:52 in Calgary earlier this week. Farabee is a talented kid but has struggled this season after undergoing artificial disk replacement late in the summer, which limited his training. That prompted Tortorella to say he wasn’t going to “let Farabee hide behind that,” which didn’t help. He’s also played on the fourth line. The Flyers don’t want to trade Farabee at his lowest value. There is no formal trade request made from Farabee’s camp, but they’re seeking answers on a solution, especially since it’s clear that Torts isn’t going anywhere. And he isn’t changing.

27. Max Domi
Center/Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 27
Stats: 58 GP, 18 G, 29 A, 47 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3 million AAV
Scoop: As teams watched closely on McCabe, Lafferty and Kane, what they might have noticed is Domi and Philipp Kurashev have been some of the Blackhawks’ best players over this stretch. To this point, though, the market has been pretty quiet on Domi. That should heat up, as it did on Deadline Day last year when he was moved to Carolina. Domi has delivered for Chicago in an impressive way, certainly better than some of the bigger name top-six forwards on this board who would theoretically be more expensive. Keep in mind: Domi netted a game-winner for the Hurricanes last year in the playoffs. One playoff contribution like that, winning one postseason game, would be more than enough to justify an acquisition.

28. Lars Eller
Center, Washington Capitals
Age: 33
Stats: 60 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Add Eller to the list of potential pieces for the Caps to sell. His game and impact have slowed, but he’s still valuable for a playoff run. He’s a flexible center who is rarely rattled. He has Stanley Cup pedigree. And he’s well-respected in any locker room he steps into.

29. Noah Gregor
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 24
Stats: 35 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 Lafferty.

30. Matt Dumba
Right Defense, Minnesota Wild
Age: 28
Stats: 58 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.

31. Joonas Korpisalo
Goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 28
Stats: 28 GP, 3.13 GAA, .913 Sv%
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.3 million AAV
Scoop: No free agent goaltender has had a better year that Korpisalo, who has bounced back in a big way after an injury-riddled run. Korpisalo seems to be playing at a level now that hearkens back to the bubble when he helped extinguish the Toronto Maple Leafs in the play-in round in 2020. He then stopped 85 pucks on 88 shots against the Lightning in Game 1 of the next round. After a couple down seasons, Korpisalo’s numbers are now better than they were in 2019-20, and he is a free agent with a cheap cap hit. The issue is the goalie market isn’t overflowing with interested teams.

32. Cam Talbot 📈
Goaltender, Ottawa Senators
Age: 35
Stats: 29 GP, 2.90 GAA, .905 Sv%
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.67 million AAV
Scoop: Talbot has pushed hard to return from injury for both the sake of the Sens’ playoff chances, but also for his own career fortunes as he might be a valuable deadline commodity for a team seeking goaltending insurance. His return on Feb. 24 was important to show he’s healthy now. Talbot took over for Marc-Andre Fleury last spring in the first round and lost the deciding game of the series in his only appearance of the playoffs. Talk about entering in a pressure cooker scenario – starting in an elimination game. But Talbot has plenty of experience to rely on and offers a consistency that few people at that position can claim.

33. Dante Fabbro 🆕
Right Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 24
Stats: 54 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.

34. Nick Seeler
Left Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 29
Stats: 58 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $775,000 AAV
Scoop: Seeler is a human nail gun. He’s tough, physical and has flown under the radar as a late-blooming, late-round pick. The Flyers have raved about Seeler’s competitive drive, ability to make a simple outlet pass and patience with the puck. Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher drafted Seeler in Minnesota and brought him to Philadelphia. Now he may have to part with him as Seeler has some real value on the trade market with one more season remaining at league minimum. He is a similar story to Jacob Middleton, who was trending in the second-round pick return range last year in San Jose.

35. Jonathan Drouin
Left Wing, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 27
Stats: 36 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’s currently playing some of his best hockey in years, posting 12 points in his last 15 games. But there hasn’t been much buzz around Drouin yet. 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.

36. Marco Scandella 🆕
Left Defense, St. Louis Blues
Age: 33
Stats: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $3.275 million AAV
Scoop: See No. 13 in Colton Parayko. The Blues are dying to create a little cap flexibility on their backend. 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.

37. Brock McGinn 🆕
Left Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 29
Stats: 59 GP, 10 G, 5 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Two more seasons, $2.75 million AAV
Scoop: As the Penguins look for ways to try and create more salary cap space after Kasperi Kapanen was claimed off waivers, McGinn presents one avenue to do so – and improve Pittsburgh’s bottom six at the same time. Center Teddy Blueger is another option, although GM Ron Hextall really values building through the middle. The complicating factor for McGinn is the two more seasons remaining on his deal.

38. Nick Bjugstad
Center, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 30
Stats: 59 GP, 13 G, 10 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $900,000 AAV
Scoop: Arizona has been the land of opportunity for Bjugstad, who has cashed in on more ice time with his best offensive season since 2018-19 in Florida. His ice time is up more than six minutes from last year. By now, we probably have a pretty complete picture of what Bjugstad is at the NHL level – a big body with skill but lacking the consistent competitiveness to be a difference maker. The Wild made him a healthy scratch for all six of their first-round games last year against St. Louis. Still, at that contract and relatively low acquisition cost, a GM will always be willing to take a flier on a 6-foot-6 center.

39. Karel Vejmelka
Goaltender, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 26
Stats: 40 GP, 3.38 GAA, .903 Sv%
Contract: 2 more seasons, $2.75 million AAV
Scoop: Aside from having one of the great nicknames in the league, “Veggie” also is perhaps the premier goaltender available on the market. He’s closing in on almost 100 career NHL games played and has a .902 save percentage over the last two years on some pretty putrid Coyotes teams. His high-danger and shorthanded save percentages are pretty strong. And he’s signed for the next two years at high-level backup money, making him an affordable 1A or 1B tandem option for a team looking to right its goalie situation. The Coyotes are listening to understand the market on him, but there are only so many teams in the goalie carousel come this deadline – even though Vejmelka could be a longer-term solution.

40. Conor Garland
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 58 GP, 12 G, 20 A, 32 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.

41. Sean Walker or Matt Roy
Right Defense, Los Angeles Kings
Ages: 28 | 27
Stats: 54 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts | 61 GP, 9 G, 10 A, 19 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. There is no guarantee that one of them will move. But there is room for improvement and better balance between the right and left sides, and acquiring someone like Jakob Chychrun would help alleviate some of that.

42. Nils Hoglander
Left Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 22
Stats: 25 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $891,667 AAV
Scoop: No surprise, but teams say the Canucks have been rather cavalier in their interest in shaking things up – to the point where they’ve essentially said: “Tell us who you’re interested in.” There has been interest in Hoglander before and teams are very intrigued about him now. Down in AHL Abbotsford, the 22-year-old has posted 17 points in 24 games. Given that Vancouver is on the prowl for NHL-ready players who are age 25 and under, it would seem like a longshot that they decide to move on from Hoglander at this exact juncture in time. But the possibility cannot be ruled out, as they’re going to be considering lots of different proposals as they field interest in their players.

43. Will Borgen
Right Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 26
Stats: 59 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.

44. Taylor Raddysh
Right Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 25
Stats: 58 GP, 14 G, 11 A, 25 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $758,333 AAV
Scoop: The season Raddysh has put together has probably surprised most. He’s an under-the-radar type addition for a playoff team where money is tight. Raddysh has fresh legs. He’s piled up 14 goals, putting him on-pace for 23 over a full season on a mostly miserable Blackhawks team. With one more season on a cap hit that will technically be under league minimum next season, Raddysh is a steal. He’ll remain under team control after that, too, as a restricted free agent. That means the acquisition cost wouldn’t necessarily be cheap. The Blackhawks are more than happy to keep him – they still need to ice a team next year – but the truth is Raddysh has more value elsewhere than he does to Chicago.

45. Jack Roslovic
Center, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26
Stats: 57 GP, 6 G, 28 A, 34 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $4 million AAV
Scoop: There have been some rumblings that the Blue Jackets are curious about the market for Roslovic, who was a big part of the deal for Pierre-Luc Dubois back in 2021. Was he part of a potential push for Bo Horvat? Unlike rentals Gavrikov and Nyquist, Roslovic would represent a hockey trade. Roslovic’s point production has been solid, touching 20 goals for the first time last year, but his effort and work rate have been described as inconsistent. The difficult part for Columbus is they’d be trading when his value is low – and he’s a homegrown Columbus kid. This feels like a summer trade if it were to materialize.

46. Dmitry Kulikov
Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 32
Stats: 60 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.

47. Radko Gudas
Right Defense, Florida Panthers
Age: 32
Stats: 51 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 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’re trying to hold out hope that they can claw their way into a playoff spot. The next few games will go a long way toward determining that – and Gudas’ tenure in Florida. 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.

48. Colin White
Center, Florida Panthers
Age: 26
Stats: 47 GP, 7 G, 7 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $1.2 million
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.

49. Joel Edmundson
Left Defense, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 29
Stats: 39 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 Pts
Contract: One more season, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Edmundson traveled with the Canadiens to California for their road trip and practiced on Monday, 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. 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.

50. 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 participated in Canadiens practice on Thursday, albeit wearing a non-contact jersey, which was a critical step forward in getting him moved before the NHL’s trade deadline. Monahan’s last game was all the way back on Dec. 5. Teams would like to see him in action again 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.

TRADED: No. 1 Timo Meier; No. 1 Bo Horvat; No. 3 Ryan O’Reilly; No. 3 Jake McCabe; No. 6 Dmitry Orlov; No. 7 Ivan Barbashev; No. 7 Sam Lafferty; No. 16 Vladimir Tarasenko; No. 18 Noel Acciari; No. 18 Ryan Reaves; No. 26 Niko Mikkola; No. 27 Jaycob Megna; No. 28 Craig Smith; No. 29 Tanner Jeannot; No. 30 Ryan Merkley; No. 32 Garnet Hathaway; No. 42 Cal Foote; No. 45 Vitali Kravtsov; No. 45 Nikita Zaitsev.

Off the board: Jonathan Toews, Chicago; Erik Karlsson, San Jose; Tyler Bertuzzi, Detroit; Jake Walman, Detroit; Olli Maatta, Detroit (Re-signed 2 years x $3 million).

Claimed off waivers: No. 18 Kasperi Kapanen.

Next up: Justin Braun, Philadelphia.

Previous versions: Feb. 23, Feb. 16, Feb. 10, Feb. 5, Jan. 20, Jan. 3, Nov. 22.

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With most big name rentals gone, welcome to the NHL’s Wild Card Week

2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 4 Days

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