NHL Trade Deadline Preview: Who’s On The Block?

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The NHL trade deadline is now just two weeks away and the insiders are anticipating a ton of movement.

There haven’t been many deals to date this season, with all the general managers holding their cards until the moment of truth. The buyers and sellers are emerging, so it’s only a matter of time until the floodgates finally open.

Once the first shoe drops, there will definitely be a domino effect and an arm’s race amongst playoff-bound teams in hopes of becoming Stanley Cup contenders with the right upgrades.

Looking around the league, taking the time to scan all 31 rosters, it appears as many as 210 players could be on the block and potentially available between today and Feb. 26.

That includes 81 unrestricted free agents for 2018, 34 more UFAs for 2019, and 95 others with term left on their contracts or those under team control going forward as restricted free agents (RFAs).

Obviously there won’t be 100-plus trades before the deadline — the over/under can safely be set at 40 — but that many players could come up in negotiations, with some of those conversations carrying over to the offseason. That number of 210 still seems high, representing nearly one-third of the league’s total players — projected at 713 on any given day, thus 29 per cent.

Nevertheless, here are the names that could be on the block this month — ranked from 10 to 1 in terms of their likeliness to be traded, with 10 translating to 100 per cent and 1 to 10 per cent. They are listed by position, with their contract status in parenthesis.

Forwards

Rick Nash
(Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports)
Rick Nash has scored in back-to-back games, further driving up his trade value. Those goals came against two teams that could have interest in Nash in Boston and Calgary. He’s a sure bet to be dealt by the deadline.

10 — Rick Nash (2018 UFA)

10 — Evander Kane (2018 UFA)

10 — Thomas Vanek (2018 UFA)

10 — Michael Grabner (2018 UFA)

10 — Benoit Pouliot (2018 UFA)

10 — Radim Vrbata (2018 UFA)

10 — Jordan Nolan (2018 UFA)

Tobias Rieder
(Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Tobias Rieder has had a couple of difficult contract negotiations with the Arizona Coyotes. John Chayka will be looking to avoid another repeat by shopping Rieder at the deadline.

9 — Tobias Rieder ($2.225 million RFA)

9 — Chris Stewart (2018 UFA)

9 — Drew Stafford (2018 UFA)

9 — Dmitrij Jaskin ($1.0 million RFA)

9 — Josh Leivo (one more at $925,000 RFA)

9 — Frank Vatrano ($842,500 RFA)

9 — Brad Richardson (2018 UFA)

9 — Jacob Josefson (2018 UFA)

9 — Cody McLeod (2018 UFA)

Mike Hoffman
(Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
Pierre Dorion and the Ottawa Senators are going to blow it up, with Mike Hoffman arguably their best trade chip as a scoring winger with a reasonable contract.

8 — Mike Hoffman (two more at $5.1875 million UFA)

8 — Derick Brassard (2019 UFA)

8 — Tomas Plekanec (2018 UFA)

8 — Valtteri Filppula (2018 UFA)

8 — Mark Letestu (2018 UFA)

8 — Jean-Gabriel Pageau (two more at $3.1 million UFA)

8 — Zack Smith (three more at $3.25 million)

8 — Johan Larsson (one more at $1.475 million RFA)

8 — Jannik Hansen (2018 UFA)

8 — Joel Ward (2018 UFA)

8 — Patrick Sharp (2018 UFA)

8 — Mike Cammalleri (2018 UFA)

8 — Lee Stempniak (2018 UFA)

8 — Jason Chimera (2018 UFA)

8 — Shawn Matthias (2018 UFA)

8 — Colton Sceviour (2018 UFA)

8 — Nic Dowd (2018 UFA)

8 — Nikita Soshnikov ($800,000 RFA)

8 — Adam Cracknell (2018 UFA)

Gustav Nyqvist and Tomas Tatar
(Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
The Detroit Red Wings will also be trying to retool — if not rebuild — at the deadline, with Ken Holland planning to field offers for the likes of Gustav Nyqvist (14) and Tomas Tatar (21).

7 — Mats Zuccarello (2019 UFA)

7 — Gustav Nyquist (2019 UFA)

7 — Tomas Tatar (three more at $5.3 million)

7 — Boone Jenner ($2.9 million RFA)

7 — Zemgus Girgensons (one more at $1.6 million RFA)

7 — Matt Martin (two more at $2.5 million)

7 — Jordan Martinook (2019 UFA)

7 — Nail Yakupov ($875,000 RFA)

7 — Marko Dano ($850,000 RFA)

7 — Austin Czarnik ($675,000 RFA)

7 — Logan Shaw ($650,000 RFA)

7 — Nate Thompson (2019 UFA)

7 — Lance Bouma (2018 UFA)

7 — Tommy Wingels (2018 UFA)

7 — Gabriel Bourque (2018 UFA)

7 — Alex Chiasson (2018 UFA)

7 — Curtis McKenzie (2018 UFA)

7 — Tomas Jurco ($800,000 RFA)

7 — Laurent Dauphin ($750,000 RFA)

7 — Seth Griffith ($650,000 RFA)

7 — Nick Paul ($650,000 RFA)

Jeff Skinner
(Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jeff Skinner was able to smile on Saturday after scoring for the first time in seven games, but he’s been limited to four goals over 18 games in 2018. That slump, by his standards, has other teams hoping to buy low, but Ron Francis won’t move Skinner unless it’s a hockey deal with the right return for Carolina.

6 — Jeff Skinner (2019 UFA)

6 — Andreas Athanasiou ($1.388 million RFA)

6 — Max Domi ($863,333 RFA)

6 — Brandon Dubinsky (three more at $5.85 million)

6 — Andrew Shaw (four more at $3.9 million)

6 — Ryan Spooner ($2.825 million RFA)

6 — Paul Byron (2019 UFA)

6 — Alex Burrows (2019 UFA)

6 — Ryan Dzingel (2019 UFA)

6 — Markus Granlund ($900,000 RFA)

6 — Martin Frk ($650,000 RFA)

6 — Blake Comeau (2018 UFA)

6 — Matt Calvert (2018 UFA)

6 — Jimmy Hayes (2018 UFA)

6 — Richard Panik (2019 UFA)

6 — Jacob De La Rose ($725,000 RFA)

6 — Chris DiDomenico (2018 UFA)

6 — Carter Rowney (2018 UFA)

6 — David Booth (2018 UFA)

6 — Beau Bennett ($650,000 RFA)

6 — Shane Prince ($850,000 RFA)

6 — Alan Quine ($650,000 RFA)

6 — Rocco Grimaldi ($750,000 RFA)

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty
(Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)
Max Pacioretty might want a change of scenery after carrying the weight of another disappointing season as captain of the Montreal Canadiens. Marc Bergevin is staying open-minded on any and every potential move, but the chances of Pacioretty getting traded are still 50-50 at most.

5 — Max Pacioretty (2019 UFA)

5 — Alex Galchenyuk (two more at $4.9 million UFA)

5 — Patrick Maroon (2018 UFA)

5 — Tanner Pearson (three more at $3.75 million)

5 — Brock Nelson ($2.5 million RFA)

5 — J.T. Miller ($2.75 million RFA)

5 — Leo Komarov (2018 UFA)

5 — Colin Wilson (2019 UFA)

5 — Jason Spezza (2019 UFA)

5 — Jason Pominville (2019 UFA)

5 — Jesper Fast (two more at $1.85 million UFA)

5 — Jared McCann ($894,167 RFA)

5 — John Hayden ($925,000 RFA)

5 — Ryan Hartman ($832,500 RFA)

5 — Jamie McGinn (2019 UFA)

5 — Drake Caggiula ($925,000 RFA)

5 — Anton Slepyshev ($925,000 RFA)

5 — Matt Nieto ($1 million RFA)

5 — Nick Shore ($925,000 RFA)

5 — Daniel Carr ($725,000 RFA)

5 — Iiro Pakarinen ($725,000 RFA)

5 — Brian Gibbons (2018 UFA)

5 — Derek MacKenzie (2019 UFA)

5 — Andy Andreoff (2019 UFA)

5 — Ales Hemsky (2018 UFA)

David Perron #57 of the Vegas Golden Knights
(David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
Prior to the season, David Perron and James Neal would have been 10s on this trade-bait board, but with the Vegas Golden Knights topping the Pacific Division and Western Conference standings, it’s sounding less and less likely that either of them will be moved.

4 — David Perron (2018 UFA)

4 — Tyler Bozak (2018 UFA)

4 — James van Riemsdyk (2018 UFA)

4 — Loui Eriksson (four more at $6 million)

4 — Antoine Roussel (2018 UFA)

4 — Marian Gaborik (three more at $4.875)

4 — Kevin Hayes ($2.6 million RFA)

4 — Jimmy Vesey ($925,000 RFA)

4 — Ryan Strome ($2.5 million RFA)

4 — Michael Raffl (2019 UFA)

4 — Michael McCarron ($832,500 RFA)

Sam Reinhart Sabres
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
For a while there, it looked like Sam Reinhart could be available in Buffalo, but now that he’s back on a line with Jack Eichel and putting up numbers, those rumblings have quieted down.

3 — James Neal (2018 UFA)

3 — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (three more at $6 million)

3 — Sam Reinhart ($894,167 RFA)

3 — Ty Rattie ($700,000 RFA)

3 — Reid Boucher ($687,500 RFA)

3 — Matt Puempel ($725,000 RFA)

2 — Joe Colborne (2018 UFA)

2 — Peter Holland (2019 UFA)

1 — Bobby Ryan (four more at $7.25 million)

Defencemen

Mike Green Red Wings
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Mike Green is the big fish among the free-agent blueliners, so the Red Wings should receive a nice package of picks and prospects if that’s what they are seeking.

10 — Mike Green (2018 UFA)

10 — Jack Johnson (2018 UFA)

10 — Nick Holden (2018 UFA)

10 — Johnny Oduya (2018 UFA)

9 — Luke Schenn (2018 UFA)

9 — Josh Gorges (2018 UFA)

Ryan McDonagh Mats Zuccarello Rangers
(Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports)
Ryan McDonagh, right, and Mats Zuccarello are key players for the New York Rangers, but the only untouchable player on that roster is said to be goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. McDonagh is definitely available and should fetch a hefty return.

8 — Ryan McDonagh (2019 UFA)

8 — Ian Cole (2018 UFA)

8 — Alex Petrovic ($1.85 million RFA)

8 — Cody Franson (2018 UFA)

8 — Slater Koekkoek ($800,000 RFA)

Dion Phaneuf #2, Ottawa Senators
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Dion Phaneuf’s name is being tossed around again and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get traded. The question is whether Eugene Melnyk would be willing to retain salary to accommodate that move?

7 — Dion Phaneuf (three more at $7 million)

7 — Erik Gudbranson (2018 UFA)

7 — Ryan Murray ($2.825 million RFA)

7 — Michael Del Zotto (2019 UFA)

7 — Niklas Hjalmarsson (2019 UFA)

7 — Mark Pysyk (two more at $2.733 million UFA)

7 — Luca Sbisa (2018 UFA)

7 — Dennis Seidenberg (2018 UFA)

7 — Ben Lovejoy (2019 UFA)

7 — Paul Martin (2019 UFA)

7 — Brad Hunt (2019 UFA)

7 — Ben Hutton (one more at $2.8 million RFA)

7 — Kevin Connauton (2018 UFA)

7 — Nick Jensen (2019 UFA)

7 — Martin Marincin ($1.3 million RFA)

Thomas Hickey Islanders
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
The Islanders may be looking to add, not subtract, on defence since they have already lost Calvin de Haan for the season, but Thomas Hickey could be going the other way in a hockey deal.

6 — Thomas Hickey (2018 UFA)

6 — Trevor Daley (two more at $3.167 million)

6 — Matt Benning ($925,000 RFA)

6 — Trevor van Riemsdyk ($825,000 RFA)

6 — Jordie Benn (2019 UFA)

6 — Andrej Sustr (2018 UFA)

6 — Xavier Ouellet (one more at $1.25 million RFA)

6 — Ville Pokka ($650,000 RFA)

6 — Ryan Murphy ($700,000 RFA)

6 — Kyle Quincey (2018 UFA)

6 — Yohann Auvitu (2018 UFA)

6 — Frank Corrado ($650,000 RFA)

6 — Ryan Sproul ($650,000 RFA)

Tyson Barrie
(Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)
After the Avs moved Matt Duchene, some pundits expected Tyson Barrie to be next, but with Colorado surging into the playoff mix, Barrie could be staying put — at least until the offseason.

5 — Tyson Barrie (two more at $5.5 million)

5 — Jason Demers (three more at $4.5 million)

5 — Andrej Sekera (three more at $5.5 million NMC)

5 — Marco Scandella (two more at $4.0 million UFA)

5 — Jake McCabe (one more at $1.6 million RFA)

5 — Nathan Beaulieu (one more at $2.4 million RFA)

5 — David Savard (three more at $4.25 million)

5 — Brendan Smith (three more at $4.35 million)

5 — Nikita Zadorov (one more at $2.15 million RFA)

5 — Brandon Manning (2018 UFA)

5 — Brandon Davidson ($1.425 million RFA)

5 — Patrik Nemeth ($945,000 RFA)

5 — Tyler Wotherspoon ($650,000 RFA)

Erik Karlsson #65, Ottawa Senators
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Erik Karlsson insists that he’d like to stay in Ottawa and sign another long-term extension, but the Senators’ franchise defenceman has also made it known that he won’t accept a hometown discount. Depending how far apart the team and agent are in those negotiations, his tenure there could end in a trade sooner than later.

4 — Erik Karlsson (2019 UFA)

4 — Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2019 UFA)

4 — John Moore (2018 UFA)

4 — Damon Severson (five more at $4.167 million)

4 — Cody Ceci ($2.8 million RFA)

4 — Mark Barberio (2018 UFA)

4 — Alexei Emelin (2018 UFA)

4 — Francois Beauchemin (2018 UFA)

4 — Eric Gryba (2019 UFA)

3 — Jay Bouwmeester (2019 UFA)

3 — Brett Kulak ($650,000 RFA)

3 — Patrick Wiercioch (2018 UFA)

3 — Jason Garrison (2018 UFA)

3 — Mark Fayne (2018 UFA)

3 — Jamie McBain (2018 UFA)

3 — Aaron Ness (2018 UFA)

3 — Petteri Lindbohm ($650,000 RFA)

3 — David Warsofsky (2019 UFA)

3 — Duncan Siemens ($750,000 RFA)

Goaltenders

7 — Michal Neuvirth (2019 UFA)

7 — Michael Hutchinson (2018 UFA)

7 — Laurent Brossoit ($850,000 RFA)

Robin Lehner Sabres
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Robin Lehner has been hit-and-miss in Buffalo and the Sabres may want to go in a different direction with their goaltending next season.

6 — Robin Lehner ($4.0 million RFA)

6 — Petr Mrazek ($4.0 million RFA)

6 — Philipp Grubauer ($1.5 million RFA)

6 — Chad Johnson (2018 UFA)

6 — Antti Niemi (2018 UFA)

6 — Ondrej Pavelec (2018 UFA)

6 — Calvin Pickard ($1.075 million RFA)

6 — Zach Fucale ($700,000 RFA)

5 — Antti Raanta (2018 UFA)

5 — Jonathan Bernier (2018 UFA)

5 — Andrew Hammond (2018 UFA)

4 — Jean-Francois Berube (2019 UFA)

3 — Jeff Glass (2018 UFA)

2 — Eddie Lack (2018 UFA)

Well, there you have it — 210 trade candidates ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline. Is anybody missing? Agree or disagree on the rankings? Join the discussion in the comments below.