Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews tumbles outside of Top 10 in latest Trade Targets – Daily Faceoff
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As Erik Karlsson once said, the time is nigh. Friday will mark two weeks until the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline. And while the hockey world is waiting with bated breath to see whether Karlsson will be moved, it’s not looking good for Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.
His illness, which has kept him out of the last six games, has teams questioning his health and potential effectiveness on the market. Where does Toews rank on the latest Trade Targets board?
2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 15 Days
Let’s find out with our fifth Trade Targets board of 2023 – now up to 45 names in play, including seven newcomers. Reminder, the board is a blend of a player’s potential value with his likelihood of a trade:
1. Timo Meier
Left Wing, San Jose Sharks
Age: 26
Stats: 55 GP, 31 G, 21 A, 52 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $6 million AAV (due $10 million Qualifying Offer)
Scoop: As much speculation as there’s been on the Carolina Hurricanes’ interest in Meier, many still believe the team to watch is the New Jersey Devils. It’d be awesome to see the Devils bulk up. Not only would they go tit-for-tat with the Rangers, but the Hudson River rivals appear to be on a collision course in the first round of the playoffs. There is an instant Swiss connection possible with Meier and Nico Hischier. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald wasn’t exactly cryptic when he said he’s looking for a “top six winger under team control.” While Meier’s qualifying offer due will diminish San Jose’s return, most teams believe they can negotiate a long-term deal and keep Meier in the fold. For more detail, read Meier’s Trade Deadline player profile.
2. 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: And so, we wait. The Coyotes plan to hold Chychrun out of the lineup until a trade materializes for asset protection purposes. Perhaps that makes sense given Chychrun’s injury history – and it’s best for player and team at this point that a deal materializes. Give him credit: Chychrun was inside the Top 10 on last year’s Trade Targets and he’s held up his end of the bargain, especially since returning from injury on Nov. 21. His point production has been outstanding, on track for a 64-point season over a full 82 games, and his mobility has been impressive. The ask has been high, but there is a new wrinkle in that teams now believe the Coyotes are willing to retain salary in order to juice the return. That might be the avenue Arizona needed to get what they circled as their ask. For more on Chychrun and his game, including a full scouting report, read Chychrun’s Trade Deadline player profile.
3. Ryan O’Reilly
Center, St. Louis Blues
Age: 31
Stats: 39 GP, 12 G, 6 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7.5 million AAV
Scoop: O’Reilly returned to the Blues’ lineup last weekend and has scored in both of his games back. That will help trade talks. Contract extension talks between O’Reilly’s camp and the Blues have been cordial, and Armstrong expressed his affinity for O’Reilly, but at this point in time it doesn’t feel like a deal is within reach. That means the smart money is still betting on the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner being on the move. This has not been O’Reilly’s best season. The entire Blues team has been inconsistent. But the Blues’ captain is a true competitor, still has plenty of game left and is the quintessential deadline add for a team looking to get over the hump.
4. Patrick Kane
Right Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 34
Stats: 50 GP, 9 G, 26 A, 35 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $10.5 million AAV
Scoop: As he picks up the pieces from what was a dramatic discovery to see Vladimir Tarasenko traded to the Rangers, Kane is desperately trying to find his game. He has really struggled in the last week, going four straight games without a point, and teams are now openly wondering how much his hip injury or the ongoing trade speculation has hampered his play. In the meantime, Kane is in the process of doing his due diligence, working to find information on potential fits and where he might like to continue his career. To date, there has been no substantive conversation with the Blackhawks, who are awaiting more information for No. 88. It’s entirely possible that Kane considers the market and decides to stay in Chicago. And ‘Showtime’ holds all the cards with full ‘no-move’ and ‘no-trade clauses. For a current evaluation of his game, read Kane’s Trade Deadline player profile.
5. 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: Like Chychrun, Gavrikov has been pulled from the Blue Jackets’ lineup for asset protection as the Columbus zeroes in on a trade. One NHL GM this week referred to Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen as “The Dentist,” because he drills down on you until you submit. 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. Gavrikov is younger, and a more mobile defender. Sources indicate the Boston Bruins are the front-runner for Gavrikov’s services, but they are not alone. For a breakdown of Gavrikov’s game, read his Trade Deadline player profile.
6. Jake McCabe
Left Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 29
Stats: 50 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $4 million AAV
Scoop: The Blackhawks have received many more calls on McCabe, Connor Murphy and Sam Lafferty than they have for Toews and Kane. That’s not all that surprising. Throw in the fact that Chicago is willing to retain half on McCabe’s $4 million salary and their bet is this: Good luck trying to find a UFA on the market this summer at a better price than McCabe for 2 years at $2 million per. The Kings, Oilers, Penguins, Bruins and Maple Leafs are just a few of the teams interested. He is a cost-controlled, steady defenseman with a reasonable cap hit that is about to get juicy. For more, read McCabe’s Trade Deadline player profile.
7. Ivan Barbashev 📈
Left/Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
Age: 27
Stats: 53 GP, 10 G, 17 A, 27 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.25 million AAV
Scoop: Interest is growing in Barbashev, whom many teams see as the consolation prize to Meier on the scoring winger market. Blues GM Doug Armstrong is ready to dance, as evidenced by moving Tarasenko. He just needs a partner for Barbashev, who has been told to expect a trade before the deadline. Barbashev’s minutes were up prior to the All-Star break. He repaid the favor with a three-point night against Florida on Valentine’s Day. Teams are hoping to rehabilitate a player who collected 26 goals and 60 points last year. The biggest question surrounding his game is the consistency of his compete level, but his talent has never once been in question. He’s an intriguing deadline pickup for anyone on an inexpensive, expiring deal.
8. Carson Soucy 🆕
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 28
Stats: 54 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.75 million AAV
Scoop: Teams have inquired about Soucy and the Kraken haven’t slammed the phone down. 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.
9. Brock Boeser
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 25
Stats: 47 GP, 10 G, 25 A, 35 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $6.65 million AAV
Scoop: Word is beginning to circulate that 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.
10. Erik Karlsson
Right Defense, San Jose Sharks
Age: 32
Stats: 55 GP, 18 G, 55 A, 73 Pts
Contract: 4 more seasons, $11.5 million AAV
Scoop: The Edmonton Oilers have been linked again to Karlsson in recent days as his assault on the scoresheet continues. He is now averaging one assist per game and is on track to flirt with a 30-goal season. Karlsson’s season is utterly bananas. As other worldly as he’s been, there are significant hurdles to make one of the most complicated trades in NHL history happen in the next two weeks. The Sharks will need to be willing to retain more than just 20 percent of Karlsson’s salary, likely in the 40-percent range to knock him down to $7-7.5 million. And they will need to vastly re-adjust their expectation in terms of a return, because players with that type of term and contract simply don’t bring as much back historically. Consider: the Sharks’ reported ask was three first-round picks while retaining 18 percent. If that holds, or is ratcheted up with more retained, this is a transaction that will wait until the summer or beyond – particularly with no other reported interest outside of Edmonton. For more on Karlsson, read his in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
11. Jonathan Toews 📉
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 34
Stats: 46 GP, 14 G, 14 A, 28 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $10.5 million AAV
Scoop: Toews has fallen out of the Top 10 as his trade stock has plummeted over the last 10 days. He hasn’t played since before the All-Star break (Jan. 28), sitting out the last six games with an illness, and will not re-join the Blackhawks for the final game of their trip in Ottawa. Toews continues to workout, but there is no plan in place yet for him to return. That’s concerning because Toews missed the entire 2020-21 season with a chronic immune response syndrome believed to be related to long-COVID. How will he bounce back? Will he bounce back? When he’s played, Toews has been a shadow of himself, slowed significantly this season – and far off from the stingy, pain-in-the-ass center and unshakeable leader. This is increasingly looking like a difficult trade to pull off, if he even wants to be traded. For a deeper dive on his game, read Toews’ Trade Deadline player profile.
12. Sam Lafferty
Center/Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 27
Stats: 47 GP, 9 G, 11 A, 20 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $1.15 million AAV
Scoop: The interest Lafferty has generated has been significant for Chicago. Teams have said the asking price is believed to be a second-round pick now. Given the way Lafferty departed his hometown Pittsburgh Penguins, traded for AHL contract burden Alex Nylander, few could’ve seen his resurgence into a hot trade commodity. But his elite speed has turned heads – particularly on the penalty kill, where Lafferty has scored three shorthanded goals. That’s one off the league-lead, second only to Vegas’ Reilly Smith. For a look at Lafferty’s game and the potential comps, read Lafferty’s Trade Deadline player profile.
13. John Klingberg
Right Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 30
Stats: 46 GP, 7 G, 13 A, 20 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
Scoop: This was always the plan when Klingberg signed in Anaheim: Check out the fit, see how the season started, and if things go sour, he’d be on the move as 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 this season. The decision to not sign a $56 million deal when it was on the table must haunt him. 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.
14. James van Riemsdyk
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Stats: 35 GP, 9 G, 13 A, 22 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
Scoop: Death, taxes and ‘JVR’ scoring at a 20-plus 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.
15. Luke Schenn
Right Defense, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 33
Stats: 54 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $850,000 AAV
Scoop: Schenn’s recent injury makes him day-to-day, no cause for concern. GM Patrik Allvin hasn’t ruled out the possibility that the Canucks re-sign Schenn. But the much more likely move is Vancouver seeks to maximize the return on Schenn. Word is the Canucks actually turned down a second-round pick for Schenn in last year’s deadline period. He’s a proven winner with Stanley Cup pedigree on an expiring, inexpensive deal. He has as many points as John Klingberg. 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.
16. Jesse Puljujarvi
Right Wing, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 24
Stats: 52 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Kailer Yamamoto is close to a return to the lineup and that could force a decision on Puljujarvi’s future in Edmonton. Last month, Yamamoto’s injury bought the Oilers some time. But prior to Yamamoto returning, Oilers GM Ken Holland sent a note to all 31 other clubs advising them that Puljujarvi was available for trade. A handful of teams reached out with interest. They ended up not needing to pull the trigger. Yamamoto is eligible to return to the lineup on Feb. 12 and once that happens, provided that everyone else is healthy, they may execute a trade. If he doesn’t go then, the 2016 No. 4 overall pick will likely need to be included in any sizable deal at the deadline in order to make the money work. In other words, Puljujarvi’s tenure in Edmonton is on borrowed time. For more on his potential, read Puljujarvi’s Trade Deadline player profile.
17. Lawson Crouse
Left Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 25
Stats: 50 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 slamming the phone down when asked about most roster players right now.
18. Noel Acciari
Center, St. Louis Blues
Age: 31
Stats: 53 GP, 10 G, 8 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.25 million AAV
Scoop: Acciari is one Blues player who has played up to his expectation this season. The one-time 20-goal scorer is enjoying the second-best season of his career, making it the perfect time for the Blues to cash in. He isn’t a big, flashy name but his hockey intelligence and awareness, coupled with his sneaky production, means that he almost always provides surplus value above his cap hit. He makes sense in Vegas, where he could be reunited with coach Bruce Cassidy. Acciari plays an important role and he plays it well, also appearing in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
19. 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.
20. Matt Dumba 📉
Right Defense, Minnesota Wild
Age: 28
Stats: 52 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 13 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: The Wild are in a serious slump. They’re 3-7-1 in their last 11 games and their playoff position is now precarious. They can’t score at even-strength. 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.
21. 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.
22. Jakub Vrana
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 26
Stats: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $5.25 million AAV
Scoop: Vrana was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids on Wednesday to replace the injured Lucas Raymond on the roster, but will have to wait his turn to enter the lineup, as he was made a healthy scratch against Edmonton. He posted 6 goals in 17 games (11 points) with Grand Rapids in his demotion. He only appeared in two NHL games this season after returning from the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Assistance program for what sources say was a substance abuse issue. That Vrana notched a goal and assist in those two games was par for the course. 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?
23. Max Domi
Center/Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 27
Stats: 53 GP, 14 G, 22 A, 36 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3 million AAV
Scoop: As teams watch closely on Kane, McCabe and Lafferty, what they might notice is Domi and Philipp Kurashev have been the Blackhawks’ best players over that 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.
24. Shayne Gostisbehere
Left Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 29
Stats: 48 GP, 9 G, 20 A, 29 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: Gostisbehere is likely to return over the next week as he is ahead of schedule on his four-to-six week timeline to return from an “upper-body” injury. He has been practicing and participating in battle drills. 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.
25. Mattias Ekholm
Left Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 32
Stats: 51 GP, 5 G, 12 A, 17 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $6.25 million AAV
Scoop: Preds GM David Poile confirmed this week his team would not be a buyer at the deadline and said if they continued to trend this way, he’d have to consider being a seller. Toward the top of that list would Ekholm, with Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter close by. We’re told Poile began to peruse the market for Ekholm earlier in January. He did that a couple seasons back with Mikael Granlund and Calle Jarnkrok, but pulled them back when his team went on a run. We’re not sure Poile could do the same this time around, but it remains to be seen whether there will be a taker for Ekholm or Nashville’s other expensive, term-laden contracts. For more detail, read Ekholm’s in-depth Trade Deadline player profile.
26. Nick Seeler
Left Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 29
Stats: 52 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.
27. Jake Walman 🆕
Left Defense, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 26
Stats: 34 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.05 million AAV
Scoop: Walman is currently day-to-day with an injury but expected to be back soon. The Red Wings have interest in re-signing him, but to this point have not pulled the trigger, leaving open the question as to whether GM Steve Yzerman will move him. There is interest in Walman, who is inexpensive, has a little size and is playing nearly 19 minutes a night this season in Detroit. Walman was part of a deadline deal last year, going from St. Louis to Detroit as part of the Nick Leddy trade.
28. Tyler Bertuzzi
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 27
Stats: 22 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.75 million AAV
Scoop: What’s the best way to describe the interest level in Bertuzzi? GM Steve Yzerman is intrigued. Why wouldn’t he be? Bertuzzi has missed a significant chunk of the season with injury, but he had a monster season last year with 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games. His contract is also up and that means a massive raise, at a time when the Winged Wheel will need to balance a new deal for Dylan Larkin (or trade him) as well as future contracts for Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, et. al. Bertuzzi has plenty of game and most importantly, he has bite. He seems like a prime playoff player. He’s just never gotten a taste of it at the NHL level.
29. Nick Bonino
Center, San Jose Sharks
Age: 34
Stats: 52 GP, 9 G, 9 A, 18 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. He’s got plenty of game left and would be a valuable add for any playoff-bound team.
30. Jonathan Drouin 🆕
Left Wing, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 27
Stats: 31 GP, 0 G, 17 A, 17 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 12 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.
31. Karel Vejmelka
Goaltender, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 26
Stats: 38 GP, 3.20 GAA, .906 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.
32. Nick Bjugstad
Center, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 30
Stats: 55 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.
33. Conor Garland
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 54 GP, 11 G, 18 A, 29 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.
34. Sean Walker or Matt Roy
Right Defense, Los Angeles Kings
Ages: 28 | 27
Stats: 48 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts | 55 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 17 Pts
Contracts: Both 1 more season, $2.65m | $3.15m AAVs
Scoop: One NHL GM referred to the Kings this week 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’ blue line. 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.
35. Cal Foote 🆕
Right Defense, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 24
Stats: 24 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $850,000 AAV
Scoop: In recent weeks, the Lightning have perused the market for Foote, who has sat for long stretches this season as a healthy scratch. He re-entered the Bolts’ lineup on Feb. 9 and had perhaps his best game of the season on Feb. 14 in his hometown of Denver. Tampa Bay’s 2017 first-round pick could fetch an asset that Tampa Bay might then be able to parlay into another deal at the deadline. Would a team like the Canucks be willing to take a swing on Foote now that his dad, Adam, has been added as an assistant coach? They’d know him better than anyone.
36. Vitali Kravtsov 🆕
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 23
Stats: 28 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $875,000 AAV
Scoop: Shortly after the Rangers acquired fellow Russian and right winger Vladimir Tarasenko, word of Kravtsov’s trade request emanated from New York. This isn’t necessarily a new development. Kravtsov played in Russia’s KHL last season when he refused a demotion to AHL Hartford. He hasn’t been productive in his 28-game run back with the Rangers and clearly believes he is better than what New York is willing to provide him in opportunity. The Rangers will oblige this time around.
37. Jack Roslovic
Center, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 25
Stats: 51 GP, 4 G, 24 A, 28 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.
38. Andreas Athanasiou
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 28
Stats: 52 GP, 11 G, 8 A, 19 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Feels like we’re a long ways away from Feb. 2020, just before the pandemic hit, when Athanasiou garnered two second-round picks from Edmonton. He struggled with injury in L.A. Now, he’s back to flying around again in Chicago with incredibly valuable speed. He was among the league leaders in breakaways earlier this season, according to Stathletes, and generates a league-leading number of scoring chances off the rush. He is the perfect flippable asset for Chicago.
39. James Reimer
Goaltender, San Jose Sharks
Age: 34
Stats: 28 GP, 3.31 GAA, .895 Sv%
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.25 million AAV
Scoop: It’s still a little early to map out the goaltending market, but if any team runs into a pinch with goaltending, Reimer is the perfect solution. He’s as rock solid as they come in the most fickle position in pro sports. Here’s an incredible stat: In 13 full seasons in the NHL, Reimer has never finished a season with a sub-.900 save percentage. This would be the first if it holds up. But it’s hard to place the blame at his feet with the group in front of him. Reimer is steady, durable and comes with a cap hit and contract that make him no-risk. Other netminders potentially available: Alex Stalock, Cam Talbot.
40. Anthony Duclair
Left Wing, Florida Panthers
Age: 27
Stats: 0 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $3 million AAV
Scoop: Duclair is still slowly making his way back from an offseason surgery to repair a torn Achilles. It’s been a long road since July. The Panthers are definitely fans of Duclair, but a few teams have called to inquire about his availability. Surely, they’d like to see him in action before the trade deadline to have him test that Achilles after watching what just happened to Max Pacioretty. Will they get the chance to see him? It’s unclear at this point with no definitive timeline. And there is no timeline for Patric Hornqvist (concussion). But if both were to be healthy at the same time, the Cats would need to make a trade for cap compliance.
41. Teddy Blueger
Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 26
Stats: 38 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.2 million AAV
Scoop: If the Penguins are looking to make a move at the deadline to bolster Sidney Crosby’s squad, they’re going to have to get creative. They have no salary cap space and limited prospects of interest. It’s unlikely a team is willing to take on Kasperi Kapanen unless the Penguins pay to do so. That might mean someone like Blueger could be on the move to clear space, or he’s included in a deal to make it work. GM Ron Hextall is loath to part ways with centers, but Blueger’s ice time is down almost three minutes from last season and teams would find his versatile skillset valuable. He is smart, but has struggled at even-strength this season.
42. Justin Braun
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 36
Stats: 35 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1 million AAV
Scoop: We’re just one season removed from the Flyers sending Braun to the New York Rangers for a third-round pick at the deadline. There have been teams keep a close eye on Braun this year, who has no doubt had his struggles, as a potential deadline add again this time around. The acquisition cost will be lower. But the salary cap hit is also low. And he’s an insurance piece who has maintained his confidence despite a rocky season or two. That is a steady veteran presence. He also has exactly zero points in 556 minutes of ice time, which is hard to do.
43. Joel Edmundson 📉
Left Defense, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 29
Stats: 39 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 Pts
Contract: 1 more season, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Edmundson hasn’t played since Jan. 26 and the Canadiens are being cagey about his injury status, but sources indicate Edmundson has had multiple back ailments over the years, which is a big cause for concern. There is interest in a healthy Edmundson, who has Stanley Cup pedigree. But as the Maple Leafs learned with Nick Foligno, the back is a big red flag. Because of that, Edmundson’s value has plummeted on the market.
44. Taylor Raddysh
Right Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 24
Stats: 53 GP, 14 G, 10 A, 24 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. 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 Bo Horvat; No. 16 Vladimir Tarasenko; No. 18 Ryan Reaves; No. 26 Niko Mikkola; No. 27 Jaycob Megna; No. 30 Ryan Merkley.
Off the board: Olli Maatta, Detroit Red Wings (Re-signed 2 years x $3 million).
Next up: Nikita Zaitsev, Ottawa Senators.
Previous versions: Feb. 10, Feb. 5, Jan. 20, Jan. 3, Nov. 22.
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