Clutch Performers NHL Contenders Should Be Targeting at the Trade Deadline

There are plenty of names being circulated around the NHL as possible trade bait. You can probably expect some surprises, too.

For this slideshow I'm playing the role of one of the league GMs in a playoff spot with an eye on the Stanley Cup and looking beyond the list of the most popular rental possibilities and seeking out some guys with a history of playoff performance or regular-season success that should translate into the coming postseason.

For the sake of keeping things relatively simple, the players must be on teams currently outside the playoff positions in both conferences.

The definition of clutch is somewhat loose. Strong performances in the playoffs are considered clutch whether you're scoring series-clinching, overtime goals or just consistently contributing to your team's offense. If you can drop the gloves, lay a heavy hit or shut down the opposing team's best player then you get points in my book, too.

Click ahead to see the names I'm making calls for and why.

As always, leave your own targets in the comments to play along.

All stats via NHL.com and salary-cap numbers via NHLnumbers.com unless otherwise noted

Sean Bergenheim, Florida Panthers

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What makes him clutch: Sean Bergenheim's numbers aren't eye-popping in the regular season. This year, he's racked up eight goals and 10 assists in 37 games, including two game-winners. It's his numbers in the playoffs in comparison to his career numbers that stand out.

He has a dozen goals and 17 points in 23 playoff contests with two different teams. His shooting percentage in the postseason is 17.1. In the regular season, it's 8.2. The sample size may be small but Bergenheim raises his game in the playoffs.

Why he could be traded: The Florida Panthers are within striking distance of a playoff spot but still face a significant gap and haven't been consistent enough to inspire confidence in their chances. Bergenheim is 30 and will be a UFA at the end of the season, which means they could lose him for nothing. Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel says he could be dangled for the best offer before March 2.

Brandon Dubinsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

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What makes him clutch: Becoming a thorn in Sidney Crosby's side in the first round of last year's playoffs was a great way to add to his impressive postseason upgrading. Like Bergenheim, Dubinsky seems to take his game to another level in the playoffs. His points-per-game percentage is .622 in the playoffs compared to .567 in the regular season.

Why he could be traded: Honestly, there is very little chance the Columbus Blue Jackets would trade away a 28-year-old whose extension kicks in next season. He's too big a part of the franchise's future. But if I'm an NHL GM scouring the rosters of teams out of the playoff picture, I'm making a call to see if I can afford him.

Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers

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What makes him clutch: Wayne Simmonds is in the top seven in the league this season with five game-winning goals. He's had more than 15 goals and 100 penalty minutes three times in seven seasons—four if you count his pace in the lockout-shortened season—which shows a willingness to do more than just score. He'll take on whatever role his team needs.

Why he could be traded: The Philadelphia Flyers are in a tough spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a glimmer of hope for a wild-card spot but a big deficit to bridge. They won't get a ton of salary-cap relief in the offseason either and continuously rely on putting Chris Pronger on long-term injured reserve to stay compliant.

Simmonds is a marketable guy who can score and adds grit to a playoff contender. He could demand a nice return and cap space for the Flyers, who will have to sign Jakub Voracek to an extension before he becomes a free agent after next season. The Edmonton Oilers coveted Simmonds last season.

Daniel Briere, Colorado Avalanche

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What makes him clutch: Daniel Briere is definitely past his prime as a regular-season performer, but he showed last year he can still shine in the playoffs. The 37-year-old took on an important role in getting the Montreal Canadiens to the conference final last spring with three goals and seven points in 16 games. He has 53 goals and 116 points in 124 playoff games in his career, including 13 game-winners.

Why he could be traded: He's a pending unrestricted free agent with a playoff pedigree on a team that could be looking at missing the playoffs a year after winning the division. He's the only Colorado Avalanche forward whose contract expires in the offseason.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes

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What makes him clutch: The Arizona Coyotes defenseman is tied for tops in the NHL with seven game-winning goals this season after netting six of them last year. In his only playoff run—a 16-game stretch in 2012—his one goal was a series-clincher in Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Why he could be traded: Well out of the Western Conference playoff picture, Coyotes GM Don Maloney said last month on Team 1260 radio in Ottawa, via NHL.com, that everyone is up for grabs. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is easily the team's most desirable asset on the team at 23 years old and it's possible Maloney gets an offer he can't refuse. 

Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs

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What makes him clutch: No fewer than three game-winning goals in eight straight seasons after none in his rookie year, and four campaigns with at least six clinchers scored by Phil Kessel in the regular season. His playoff totals in three appearances, although brief, are solid—13 goals and 21 points in 22 games.

Why he could be traded: The Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of a total overhaul and Kessel is an attractive piece for teams looking to add elite scoring to the roster. Even musician Tom Cochrane wants to see things blown up in Toronto, according to the National Post's Sean Fitz-Gerald.

Michael Cammalleri, New Jersey Devils

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What makes him clutch: Mike Cammalleri is arguably the best free-agent signing of the bunch last summer. He is tied for the NHL lead with seven game-winning goals and has scored 18 times in 42 games this season. His playoff history includes a spectacular 13-goal run through 19 games in 2010 with the Montreal Canadiens, which included three game-winners. He's got 32 points through 32 postseason games in his career.

Why he could be traded: It's a long shot because Cammalleri has a somewhat friendly contract with a $5 million cap hit for the next four seasons and he's only 32 on a team that has plenty of older veterans who would be on the list of trade bait before him. However, a contender would be wise to make a strong offer to Lou Lamoriello and pry his top sniper away. Mike Johnston of Sportsnet tossed Cammalleri's name in the mix for a potential package for the Winnipeg Jets' Evander Kane.

Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

What makes him clutch: Mr. Game 7 won the Conn Smythe Trophy last spring after helping the Los Angeles Kings to their second Stanley Cup win in three years—the third Cup of his career. His nine goals and 25 points in 26 games included two game-winners. One was in overtime in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the other in Game 6 of the dramatic seven-game opening series between the Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Why he could be traded: Justin Williams is set to become an unrestricted free agent and the Kings could have trouble bringing him back because of a salary-cap crunch that is going to get even tighter with extensions due to young restricted free agents Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli. The uncertainty on defense with the suspended Slava Voynov situation and potential of Williams walking away in free agency could lead to a deal for a defenseman.