Ranking the 50 Best NHL Players with a Chance to Be Traded Before the Deadline
Last week, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Willis wrote a comprehensive piece on the trade value of everyone in the NHL, namely the 50 players who have the most trade value. The list looked at the worth of the league's best players, including Sidney Crosby, Shea Weber and Tuukka Rask.
While Willis was able to discuss the superstars, welcome to a list where Antoine Vermette may be the most important name.
We are about three weeks from the March 2 trade deadline, and teams are beginning to understand if they will be buyers or sellers. Some teams are in that middle area, unsure if parting with pending unrestricted free agents or acquiring them is the way to go.
This list will rank the value of 50 players with a good to great chance of being dealt between now and March 2. Not everyone here will be traded, but there's reason to believe they could be on the move in the right scenario. There will be players dealt who aren't on this list, as, let's face it, we are not soothsayers—just professional educated-guessers offering free content on the World Wide Web.
All statistics via NHL.com or Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. Contract info via Spotrac.com.
50-46: Jay McClement-Tomas Fleischmann
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50. Jay McClement, Carolina Hurricanes: At $1 million, he is an inexpensive upgrade for someone on a fourth line. He has been dominant in the faceoff circle (55.2 percent), but with a 44.9 percent Fenwick, he's generally on the losing side of the possession game.
49. David Moss, Arizona Coyotes: The 33-year-old has one goal this season, but he's a decent possession player (49.5 percent) on a poor possession team. He has four goals in 17 career playoff games, although he hasn't been to the postseason since 2009.
48. Tomas Fleischmann, Florida Panthers: The 30-year-old has been a healthy scratch this season and has seen his offensive numbers fall off a cliff. Perhaps more minutes or a new setting can help him play like the 20-goal scorer he was in the past.
47. Torrey Mitchell, Buffalo Sabres: The 30-year-old is languishing in Buffalo, but maybe he could be a quiet addition of experience for a contender. Mitchell has participated in 60 career postseason games, although he has only three goals and 12 points.
46. Jordan Leopold, Columbus Blue Jackets: Leopold is more of a seventh defenseman for the Blue Jackets and could fill that role for a team looking for insurance. The 34-year-old has 71 career playoff games on his resume, although he somehow has zero postseason goals.
45-41: Patrick Dwyer-Sean Bergenheim
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45. Patrick Dwyer, Carolina Hurricanes: Dwyer could be a fourth-line upgrade. He is near the bottom in most possession metrics for the Hurricanes but can be a useful penalty-killer.
44. Tomas Kopecky, Florida Panthers: The 33-year-old was part of the Blackhawks' 2010 Cup team, so he's got that going for him, which is nice. He can bring experience and big body (6'3", 210 lbs) to any team lacking in those areas.
43. Tim Gleason, Carolina Hurricanes: This guy was a U.S. Olympian in 2010, which has to count for something, right? He's a veteran defenseman, and teams can't get enough of those at the deadline.
42. Andrej Meszaros, Buffalo Sabres: It feels like Meszaros has been around forever, but he's only 29 years old. He was part of the Senators team that lost to the Ducks in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final and has played in 50 career postseason games.
41. Sean Bergenheim, Florida Panthers: The checking forward made a run to the conference finals with the Lightning in 2011. The Panthers may view him as a retainable piece, but a team looking to improve defensively may pay a premium.
40-36: Drew Stafford-Andrew MacDonald
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40. Drew Stafford, Buffalo Sabres: In 2010-11, Stafford scored 31 goals. Playing for a moribund Sabres team, he has nine this season. The Sabres don't have to trade him, but after nine seasons of service, it would be nice of them.
39. Steve Bernier, New Jersey Devils: Bernier has made five postseason trips in his career and gotten to at least the second round all five times. Coincidence? Maybe, but the 29-year-old is an excellent depth forward who can be part of an excellent fourth line.
38. Martin Erat, Arizona Coyotes: The last time he was a trade-deadline acquisition he had zero goals in four postseason games and two goals in 62 regular-season games for the Capitals. The lesson here: If a team acquires him, it should not be the Capitals.
37. Danny Briere, Colorado Avalanche: This could be the 37-year-old's final NHL season. He has looked mostly done the past two regular seasons, but his value lies in the postseason. He has 116 points in 124 career playoff games, but can he still deliver?
36. Andrew MacDonald, Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers will likely try to move big contracts, and few are bigger (and worse) than MacDonald's. He has a $5 million cap hit through 2020, so whatever team takes him has to hang onto him until the end of the decade. Phew.
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35-31: Cam Ward-Jan Hejda
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35. Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes: He has one more year remaining on a contract with a $6.3 million cap hit. His .913 save percentage is his best since 2011-12, but does anyone need a starter this badly? Perhaps if an injury hits a team, Ward will become an option.
34. Vinny Lecavalier, Philadelphia Flyers: The 34-year-old has seen his minutes and points reduced in Philadelphia. He has a contract the Flyers have to be dying to move; Lecavalier has a $4.5 million cap hit through 2018. If they move him, they will likely have to eat some salary.
33. Scott Gomez, New Jersey Devils: Gomez makes just $550,000 and has 18 points in 30 games. The 35-year-old has 101 points in 149 career playoffs and two Stanley Cups. Montreal probably won't want him, but there's postseason value here.
32. Shawn Horcoff, Dallas Stars: If the Stars are out of it, Horcoff will be available. The Stars will likely have to absorb part of the cap hit ($5.5 million) to make it work, but he could be a valuable depth center for someone.
31. Jan Hejda, Colorado Avalanche: Hejda is another player whose availability will be based on how his team performs over the next few weeks. The 36-year-old is capable of playing 20 minutes per night.
30-26: Erik Cole-Brett Connolly
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30. Erik Cole, Dallas Stars: Even at 36, Cole can still skate. He has 14 goals in 49 games and is a viable option as a top-six forward in the right setting. The $4.5 million cap hit he brings along could be an issue, but if the Stars fade between now and March 2, teams will come calling for Cole.
29. J.T. Miller, New York Rangers: The 15th pick in the 2011 draft has yet to find a regular spot with the Rangers. He's a top-six forward trying to make it on the fourth line, but his future should be as a top-six player. If the Rangers want to upgrade for now, he could be a chip.
28. Scottie Upshall, Florida Panthers: Upshall is one of the many pending UFAs on the Panthers roster who could fetch something of value at the deadline. He can be a 15-goal player when healthy, but he dealt with ankle injury earlier this season.
27. Derek Roy, Edmonton Oilers: Maybe the Oilers want to keep him? After all, finding a center has been an issue for them, and he's been pretty good since he was acquired from Nashville this season. If Roy and the Oilers aren't a match, the Oilers should be able to get something for him.
26. Brett Connolly, Tampa Bay Lightning: The sixth pick in the 2010 draft can snipe with the best of them, but he hasn't been able to find a regular, meaningful role on a deep, talented Lightning squad. If the Lightning are going for it, Connolly could fetch something of great value.
25-21: Jhonas Enroth-Jiri Tlusty
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25. Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres: This section could just as easily be about Michal Neuvirth, as both are the same age and have nearly identical save percentages this season. If the Sabres feel Neuvirth can be a starter, Enroth could help a team such as the Rangers, who are in desperate need of a goaltender.
24. Marc Methot, Ottawa Senators: Methot missed most of the season because of a back issue but is effective when healthy. The Senators may understandably opt to re-sign him, but if an agreement can't be reached, he will probably be headed elsewhere.
23. Erik Condra, Ottawa Senators: Of all the cheap, depth forwards who could be available, Condra may be the best of the bunch. His possession numbers are down this season, but he's been very good in that area in the past. Perhaps he can be that player again on a better team.
22. Marek Zidlicky, New Jersey Devils: The 38-year-old is at a stage of his career where playing 20-plus minutes a night isn't a good thing, but in a smaller role on a lower pairing, he could be effective. He can also bomb it from the point on the power play.
21. Jiri Tlusty, Carolina Hurricanes: Tlusty is 26 and has 12 goals in 45 games. He had 23 goals in the 48-game 2013 season. He has yet to play in a postseason game, but with a $2.95 million cap hit, he's a very attractive option.
20. Emerson Etem
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Vital Statistics: 22 years old, RFA in 2015, $870,000 cap hit
Emerson Etem—partly because of his own struggles, partly because of the Ducks' depth at forward—has been squeezed out of the picture in Anaheim. Etem is immensely talented and could have a future in Orange County, but if the Ducks want to make a run for the Stanley Cup, he's an enticing trade piece for a team looking to rebuild.
As a 19-year-old, Etem scored 61 goals in 2011-12 for Medicine Hat of the WHL. He has 27 points in 94 regular-season games and five points in 11 postseason games. Etem hasn't played in the NHL since Dec. 31, so perhaps his next NHL game will be with a new team after the deadline.
19. Zbynek Michalek
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Vital Statistics: 32 years old, UFA in 2015, $4 million cap hit
The Coyotes are looking to move pending UFAs, and the defensively steady Zbynek Michalek is likely to be headed somewhere. Michalek won't be providing offense—he hasn't cracked two goals in a season since 2010-11—but he can be a boost on the back end.
Michalek can kill penalties and eat minutes. Right-handed defensemen are a rare commodity—the Stars' acquisition of Jason Demers for Brendon Dillon was partly because Demers is righty—so any team looking for blue-line balance will be after Michalek.
18. Tyler Myers
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Vital Statistics: 25 years old, UFA in 2019, $5.5 million cap hit
It's probably not in the cards for Tyler Myers to be dealt. After all, his contract is cumbersome and his play hasn't been all that great—although there's potential for him to be better as the team around him improves. The Sabres can only go up from here, so with Myers already locked up, why not just hold onto him?
If a team makes the right offer, sure, Myers could be on the move and perhaps help a team that isn't hockey's version of a laugh track.
17. Michael Ryder
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Vital Statistics: 34 years old, UFA in 2015, $3.5 million cap hit
It's easy to forget how much Michael Ryder meant to the Bruins' run to a Stanley Cup in 2011. He had eight goals and 17 points in 25 games, which ranked third and fourth, respectively. Ryder has Stanley Cup experience and is as close to a hired goal-scoring gun that's available.
Can Ryder still be that guy at age 34? He's been a healthy scratch for the Devils this season and is one year removed from an 18-goal campaign, which his how many he scored for the Bruins in the 2010-11 regular season.
In a thin market, Ryder could be a cheap, valuable addition for a team that needs scoring.
16. Zack Kassian, Vancouver Canucks
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Vital Statistics: 24 years old, RFA in 2017, $1.75 million cap hit
Zack Kassian has not lived up to expectations since arriving in a trade for Cody Hodgson three years ago. The 13th pick in the 2009 draft is big (6'3", 214 lbs) and provides a physical force, but he hasn't been the power forward the Canucks hoped he'd be.
If the Canucks want to make a push for the playoffs, trading Kassian for immediate help may be the answer. It also may be the answer for getting Kassian a fresh start.
15. Jeff Petry, Edmonton Oilers
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Vital Statistics: 27 years old, UFA in 2015, $3.075 million cap hit
Jeff Petry has been the best of an underwhelming bunch on the Oilers blue line this season and would be a nice depth piece for the team that acquires him. Petry's 97.0 PDO speaks to the bad shooting luck he's experienced while on the ice at five-on-five: At 2.67 percent, only Nail Yakupov and Boyd Gordon have experienced worse shooting luck than Petry.
Petry isn't a puck-mover and won't be a boon to anyone's power play, but he can offer a steady presence to any team lacking in that department heading into the homestretch.
14. Mike Santorelli, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Vital Statistics: 29 years old, UFA in 2015, $1.5 million cap hit
Mike Santorelli scored 20 goals with the Panthers in 2010-11, fell to nine goals the following year, had 2013 ruined by the lockout (like so many did) and has been a guy packing his bag for a new team on a consistent basis ever since. The Leafs made the wise of move of snatching him up on a bargain contract this summer, and he's been the rare bright spot in Toronto.
It makes sense that the Leafs would look to see what they could get for Santorelli. Then again, why not keep him? He makes the most of his minutes and would likely welcome a little location security on a two- or three-year deal.
But if Santorelli wants to go to a contender, then that's what will happen. He's yet to experience a playoff game in his career, and that's not going to happen for a while in Toronto.
13. Chris Stewart, Buffalo Sabres
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Vital Statistics: 27 years old, UFA in 2015, $4.15 million cap hit
This poor guy. Chris Stewart went from contender (St. Louis) to banishment (Buffalo) in last year's Ryan Miller trade. As a pending free agent, he's about to experience parole to a contender as the Sabres look to unload any expiring contracts.
Stewart hasn't done much in Buffalo, although the contractor asked to build a high-rise out of popsicle sticks hasn't done much either. Stewart isn't all that far off his scoring pace from a season ago with the Blues and has shown the ability to score 25 goals a season. He can help a team in a second- or third-line role and could produce more with more talented players around him.
12. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Vital Statistics: 29 years old, UFA in 2021, $7 million cap hit
Dion Phaneuf is probably impossible to trade unless the Maple Leafs take a bath in the deal. He's a No. 3 or 4 D-man making No. 1 money and not doing a very good job in that role. Your average night at the rink with Phaneuf includes him being beaten a few times for glorious scoring chances and, if those chances result in goals, him fighting someone to show the Leafs won't be pushed around or whatever.
David Clarkson's contract catches all the heat in Toronto, but man, this contract is longer, more expensive and belongs to a player who has way more effect on the fortunes of the team. The Leafs may have to eat a portion of the contract to make a deal happen.
Phaneuf can help someone, but there are so many years left on this deal. Related: Dave Nonis is still the general manager of the Leafs.
11. Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils
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Vital Statistics: 42 years old, UFA in 2015, $3.5 million cap hit
Jaromir Jagr will be 43 years old at the deadline, and while he's not scoring at his 2013-14 pace, he's still a very useful piece. He leads the Devils in Fenwick (51.3 percent), which says a lot about how he's playing on a team that is losing the possession battle on an almost nightly basis.
The only issue about Jagr is his playoff production at his advanced age. In his past two playoff appearances, in 2012 and 2013, he had one goal in 33 games, which included an 0-for-22 run with the Bruins in 2013. Will Jagr have enough in the tank in April, May and June to help a contender?
10. Cody Franson, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Vital Statistics: 27 years old, UFA in 2015, $3.3 million cap hit
It wouldn't be the worst idea in the world for the Maple Leafs to lock up Cody Franson to a long-term deal, but when you have a bad defenseman getting $7 million a year through 2021 (Dion Phaneuf) and you're looking to rebuild, it's not an attractive situation for either party.
So the end game that makes the most sense is Franson being dealt before the deadline, perhaps to the Red Wings, who have been chasing a right-handed defenseman for so long it may as well be a white whale. Franson brings the ability to work the right point on a power play and a possession game that is pretty good relative to the rest of the Leafs.
9. Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes
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Vital Statistics: 32 years old, UFA in 2015, $3.75 million cap hit
It's quite possible that Antoine Vermette will be the best player actually dealt between now and the deadline. There's no chance Vermette is a Coyote after the deadline, and although he's on pace to fall short of 20 goals this season, he should fetch something nice in return.
There are better players than Vermette who could be dealt, sure, but as a pending UFA on a tanking team, he's definitely on the move. The Coyotes are going to want the world for him, as is their right, but they'll likely have to settle for a hemisphere or maybe a continent or two.
8. Andrej Sekera, Carolina Hurricanes
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Vital Statistics: 28 years old, UFA in 2015, $2.75 million cap hit
Andrej Sekera will be on the move, and with such a cheap cap hit, he will be coveted by almost every team near the top of the standings. The pending free agent plays about 23 minutes per night and is in the black possession-wise on a team sitting 28th in the standings.
Seeker can work the power play and is a big part of the penalty kill. He's not productive from an offensive standpoint (he's well below his career-high 44 points of a season ago) but could do more on a better team.
7. Keith Yandle, Arizona Coyotes
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Vital Statistics: 28 years old, UFA in 2016, $5.25 million cap hit
Keith Yandle is probably the best defenseman on the market who could actually be dealt during the season. His cap hit is reasonable, his talent is undeniable and the Coyotes are in full-on sell mode. Yandle can log big minutes and quarterback a power play. There isn't a contender that couldn't use him.
But as is the case with so many players on this list more than a year from free agency, waiting until the summer will probably yield better trade results. Sure, the Coyotes are all about that tank, but if trading Yandle doesn't sink them behind Edmonton and Buffalo, why rush to deal him?
Many of the players near the top of the list are "You'd have to blow them away to make a deal" guys. If there's anyone on this list who could meet that requirement, it's Yandle.
6. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
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Vital Statistics: 23 years old, UFA in 2019, $5.5 million cap hit
It's still a stretch to even have Oliver Ekman-Larsson on this list, as he is young, talented and on what is essentially a bargain contract that's only going to get better as time progresses. The only reason his name is on this list is because general manager Don Maloney went on Ottawa radio station TSN 1200 and said he wouldn't rule out dealing him, which is like me saying I wouldn't rule out dating Heidi Klum.
Neither will ever happen.
At least not between now and March 2.
Ekman-Larsson is a premiere defenseman in the league, and not just for his age. It's smart for the Coyotes to do everything they can to get into the Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel mix, but dealing Ekman-Larsson would be catastrophically stupid.
5. Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets
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Vital Statistics: 23 years old, UFA in 2018, $5.25 million cap hit
The Evander Kane-Winnipeg Jets relationship has all the markings of a relationship gone awry between two lovers. One person is being passive aggressively defiant; the other person is destroying clothes to show how disappointed they are. Clearly, it's best if everyone involved moves on.
Not sure how Kane being out four to six months after shoulder surgery plays into that analogy. Maybe he's swearing off hockey the way men and women swear off dating for a while.
Kane's in-season value is severely limited by the fact he's out for the season. That wouldn't prevent, say, Buffalo from acquiring him, as it wouldn't hurt a tank job and would make them better next season, but the market is small right now.
Waiting until the summer when teams have their salary-cap plan in place for 2015-16 is probably the best course of action for the Jets, although that may make the Sabres push harder to land Kane now before more teams get involved.
4. Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche
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Vital Statistics: 24 years old, UFA in 2016, $6 million cap hit
Ryan O'Reilly attempted a prison break of sorts two years ago when he signed an offer sheet with the Calgary Flames, only to have it matched by the Avalanche in the role of U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard. The Avs seem a long shot for the postseason (they have 15 regulation/overtime wins in 54 games), so getting something of value for O'Reilly may behoove the club.
O'Reilly is young and can play in all three zones. He can score and kill penalties. His cap hit isn't cumbersome, although the team acquiring him probably wants to know if re-signing him long term is possible.
A team looking for help with center depth could offer a defenseman to make a deal happen.
3. Mike Green, Washington Capitals
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Vital Statistics: 29 years old, UFA after this season, $6.08 million cap hit
The trading of Mike Green seems inevitable, but as long as the Capitals continue to win, a deal probably won't take place until the offseason, when the team will probably ship his rights to another team before the start of free agency.
Green is the No. 3 right-handed defenseman on the Capitals, nestled behind John Carlson and Matt Niskanen, which makes him an excess part. Excess, sure, but he's also been incredibly productive despite his drop in ice time this season. If the Capitals fancy themselves a team that can make a deep postseason run, can they really part with Green?
The only way a deal can occur is if the Capitals get something back that helps them now. Green for a pick or prospect doesn't make any sense.
2. Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Vital Statistics: 27 years old, UFA in 2022, $8 million cap hit
To acquire Phil Kessel is to enter into a long-term marriage. This isn't a rental. The Leafs are fledgling and won't be contending for anything for quite some time, so does it make sense to hang onto Kessel when he won't make a difference on a roster this poor?
Kessel isn't the problem in Toronto. He's a potential 40-goal scorer, and that's with Tyler Bozak swinging from his neck like an anchor dipped in cement. Things will probably get worse in Toronto before they get better, so the Leafs may want to get maximum value on Kessel by dealing him after the season.
That doesn't preclude the Leafs from dealing him before the deadline.
1. Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
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Vital Statistics: 30 years old, one year to UFA, $8.25 million cap hit through 2015-16
There's no doubt that Eric Staal will be the best player on the move should the Hurricanes trade him, but there are a few things standing in the way of a deal.
By all accounts, Staal isn't looking to leave the Hurricanes, and he has no-trade clause. If GM Ron Francis is blown away by a team looking to acquire his captain, he'd then have to do some convincing.
The other issue is that contract—Staal is still productive, but that's quite the cap hit to absorb for next season. Staal is headed for a 25-goal season on a destitute Hurricanes team, and perhaps he could be more productive in a new setting, but that's an $8.25 million gamble some may not want to take.
Teams can't get enough defensemen and centers at this time of the year. The likelihood of Staal being traded isn't high, but he'd be the prize of the deadline.
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