Trade deadline dealings?
The NHL trade deadline is Monday, Feb. 24. Plenty of teams are selling and players are on the market, but it’s getting to the point where teams should know where they are in the standings and might make a run for it, too.
Here’s a preview of some action we might see, from every perspective. Teams are listed alphabetically.
Anaheim Ducks
Restricted free agent right winger Ondrej Kase has been connected to the Bruins, and he’s making just $2.6 million this year. He doesn’t have double-digit goals yet, but has some upside.
Michael Del Zotto is perfect for a team that wants a cheap veteran defender.
Arizona Coyotes
Michael Grabner has seen his ice time go down, so they could ship him off, and believe it or not they could use more scoring, too. If they keep falling, though, maybe they flip Taylor Hall and start over.
Boston Bruins
They need a right winger and everyone knows it, but what would it take? Danton Heinen might be the odd man out, or perhaps they’re shopping young defender Jeremy Lauzon, even after he signed a team-friendly extension this week.
David Backes is still floating out there, too, but that’s going to be a nearly impossible contract to get rid of.
Buffalo Sabres
Where to begin.
Evan Rodrigues has been a major disappointment and is a perfect candidate for someone who could use a change of scenery. He’s an RFA at the end of the year and is making $3.1 million, and a team could mold the young forward in a different environment. Conor Sheary is in the same boat, but as an unrestricted free agent.
Michael Frolik can play both wings, is defensively responsible, and might be the perfect rental for a team missing that one piece. Defenseman Zach Bogosian would also like out.
Calgary Flames
They haven’t been in too many rumor mills aside from perhaps making a move for Ottawa’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Gardiner just has not been the guy for the Canes, so even with three seasons left at $4.05 million, he could be on the move.
Chicago Blackhawks
Robin Lehner or Corey Crawford are the big fish on the goalie market. Lehner costs $5 million and Crawford $6 million, but both are pending UFAs. Whomever goes, they’ll likely extend the other.
Brandon Saad could be on the move again if a team can take on his $6 million for another year.
Colorado Avalanche
Perhaps they make a run at Ranger Chris Kreider, but this is a team that doesn’t have to do too much.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets are in the race and Josh Anderson has been a huge disappointment. He’s an RFA rental with just a single goal, but word is they’re trying to shop the former 27goal scorer.
Dallas Stars
Like so many other teams, they need goal-scoring if they’re going to make a move, and New Jersey’s Blake Coleman seems to be the best fit if they do decide to go get someone.
Detroit Red Wings
They don’t have a ton of assets for a team that could sell, but Andreas Athanasiou is the most intriguing. He’s an RFA at the end of the year and has fallen off a cliff from last season.
Might they even think of trading pending UFA goalie Jimmy Howard?
Edmonton Oilers
If the Oilers are still in the race, Tomas Tatar of the Canadiens could be an intriguing option for them. They still have Jesse Puljujarvi to use as a piece if they want to go for it with a more long-term option like Coleman.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers are in it so they might be looking to add pieces, especially on defense, but Mike Hoffman could bring back a good return as a rental if they need someone badly enough.
Los Angeles Kings
A full fire sale is expected in Southern California.
Jeff Carter has two seasons left, is 35 and making more than $5 million, so it might not take too much to add him. He’s still scoring 15-plus goals even though he’s in a bit of a decline, so a team with room willing to see the deal out could be a fit.
Tyler Toffoli has been connected to the Bruins for years and is now an upcoming UFA. Versatile winger Trevor Lewis — a pending UFA costing just $2 million — might be another obvious trade candidate.
Alec Martinez has a year left at $4 million and could be solid for a team that wants more than a rental.
Minnesota Wild
No one seems safe in St. Paul, but a familiar name who could be out again is Ryan Donato, who just hasn’t seemed to fit in with the Wild.
Matt Dumba is one of their more attractive pieces with three seasons left but at a $6 million hit. A team that needs a defenseman — see, Toronto — could make a big move.
Montreal Canadiens
The Habs are essentially out of the race but could fleece the entire league if they want to flip Ilya Kovalchuk after signing him for nothing a couple months ago. He’s shown he can still be productive.
They might also be willing to take Tatar’s $4.8 million off the books.
Nashville Predators
The Predators are still in the race but could drop at any moment, and Mikael Granlund is a UFA at the end of the season. He carries a cap hit of $5.75 million and is an obvious candidate to be on the move for a team that needs a left shot. He has 10plus goals and has been playing better since John Hynes took over as head coach.
Kyle Turris is under contract through 2023-24 and is going to be tougher to move with a $6 million hit, especially with his sudden lack of production, but he’s only 30 and has a history of being a good player. Pending UFA Craig Smith also seems like someone who could use a change.
New Jersey Devils
Their season is over, they shipped Taylor Hall out months ago, and GM Ray Shero is out, too.
Wayne Simmonds seems to be a trade possibility every season and that remains true in New Jersey. He’s a UFA this summer. Coleman has a year left and at just $1.8 million is an attractive option with 20-plus goals.
Kyle Palmieri has a year left at $4.65 million at right wing and should be a hot commodity, Bruins included. Sami Vatanen might also be the best defensive option on the market as a rental.
New York Islanders
The Isles could use scoring, of course. They’ve been connected to Palmieri and Coleman like seemingly everyone else, and they have the cap space to fit one of them under it.
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider is one of the biggest names being floated out there and plenty of teams have been connected to him, including the Bruins. Recently, the Avalanche appear to be in the running, as well.
Jesper Fast is a more marginal player who could be on the move as a UFA with a light cap hit. He’d be a good depth add for a competing team.
Alexandar Georgiev is an intriguing RFA goalie.
Ottawa Senators
The Sens are one of the teams obviously not going to be in the postseason so there are myriad possibilities. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was an All-Star this season and is a UFA at the end of the year with a $3.1 million cap hit and has no trade protection. He’d be one of their more desirable commodities.
Philadelphia Flyers
Do the Flyers give up on Shayne Gostisbehere? If a team is willing to give up a lot for three seasons of him at $4.5 million, it might not be a bad idea.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Their add of Jason Zucker last week might be it for a Penguins team that’s in great shape.
San Jose Sharks
Who isn’t available is the question? It’s a lost season and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have been floated. Upcoming UFA Melker Karlsson has a light cap hit and could be attractive, as well.
Brendan Dillon on defense is also a big candidate to be on the move.
St. Louis Blues
They’ve been connected to Kreider as much as the Bruins have, but that’s been the big one for them.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning, it appears, are all set.
Toronto Maple Leafs
They got their backup goalie, so what’s next?
Andreas Johnsson would be a big piece to give up if they go for a defenseman but pending RFA Kasperi Kapanen might be even more attractive for some teams. Maybe Dumba is a target.
Vancouver Canucks
They’ve been connected to Simmonds, but the Canucks have to decide if they want to go all-out this season or if they just want to keep building.
Vegas Golden Knights
They should be in the rental market for Sami Vantanen, but likely wouldn’t splurge on a bigger deal like Dumba or Martinez unless Gostisbehere perhaps becomes available to help their puck-moving.
Washington Capitals
There’s a minor storyline with their goaltending since Braden Holtby is a UFA and rookie Ilya Samsonov has played well, but the Caps are likely set. They might go for a right-handed defenseman on the cheap, because of their tight cap, if they can find a middle-to-bottom pairing guy.
Winnipeg Jets
If they really feel like they’re still in the race, they could use a defender.