Pros and Cons for the Top Available Players Ahead of the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL trade deadline might as well take place as an event in Las Vegas. Deals made under the duress of making a Stanley Cup run are a gamble.

All of the players at the top of the list of those available through March 2 have warts. Some are bigger than others. They have their attractive qualities, too.

It comes down to price versus what they can ultimately provide their potential new employer.

Click ahead to take a look at the pros and cons of each of the top available players ahead of next week's NHL trade deadline.

All stats via NHL.com and salaries from NHLnumbers.com.

Marek Zidlicky, New Jersey Devils

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Pros: Even at age 38, Marek Zidlicky is showing he can be a nice complementary piece on the back end for a contender. He's got 23 points through 60 games with the New Jersey Devils. He's a right-handed shot—a rarity that's in high demand on deadline day.

Cons: Zidlicky has a no-movement clause in his contract, which means he could turn down any trade the Devils come up with. He is also known to have some lapses in his own end.

Andrej Sekera, Carolina Hurricanes

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Pros: A smooth-skating and puck-moving defenseman, Andrej Sekera is a sound defensive player as well. He put up a career high 44 points last season. The 28-year-old pending UFA makes a modest $2.75 million a year, which is easy to fit under the cap for many teams for the rest of the season. He was seventh in the league in takeaways last year.

Cons: Sekera hasn't posted offensive numbers nearly as attractive as last year's career highs. He is a pure rental who will test the market next summer and pick his next spot.

Sean Bergenheim, Florida Panthers

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Pros: The 31-year-old winger is a solid depth addition, capable of chipping in offensively while also playing a gritty style of game. Sean Bergenheim's playoff numbers are impressive despite a small sample size. He has 12 goals and 17 points in 23 playoff appearances.

Cons: It's never good when you're sitting out as a healthy scratch because of what the coach suggests is a lack of effort, via the Sun Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov. It could affect his trade value.

Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs

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Pros: The 29-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs captain has a heavy shot from the blue line and has earned 22 points in 48 games this season, a dozen of which have come on the power play.

Cons: Dion Phaneuf has a long contract with big money, a seven-year deal with seven million per season. That's a big burden to bare for any team looking for another top-four defenseman.

Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils

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Pros: Jaromir Jagr has plenty of playoff experience, including a pair of Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 43-year-old still has game, too. Jagr has 11 goals and 29 points in 56 games for the New Jersey Devils this year and is willing to take whatever ice time he gets and make something happen. There are few players stronger on the puck than the big Czech.

Cons: Jagr is definitely slowing down on the offensive front, posting his lowest point-per-game totals in two decades of NHL hockey. At some point, it seems logical that he will hit a wall despite the fact he keeps himself in great shape.

Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes

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Pros: The 32-year-old veteran is versatile as they come, able to play any of the forward positions. He's been an under-the-radar player for much of his career, toiling for Ottawa, Columbus and now the Arizona Coyotes. Antoine Vermette has scored 20 or more goals in four of his eight previous full seasons and hit 19 twice.

Cons: The asking price is extremely high for the pending UFA, with the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch suggesting a first-round pick and prospect are what Coyotes general manager Don Maloney is waiting for. He has also been ice-cold since the calendar turned to 2015, netting just three of his 13 goals and 10 of his 35 points in the past 23 games.

Chris Stewart, Buffalo Sabres

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Pros: The 6'2", 231-pound power winger has twice scored 28 goals in a season and can play a physical, mean game to complement the scoring touch. He's a tough guy to remove from the front of the net and at 27 should have plenty of productive hockey left in him. He is a pending unrestricted free agent, so any commitment could be short-lived.

Cons: Chris Stewart has played his way off four different franchises in seven seasons, with the last expected to come by the March 2 deadline. He's streaky—no points in his last five games after 10 points in his previous 10 games—and his soft play has earned him time on the bench in Buffalo.

Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche

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Pros: Ryan O'Reilly is a big, young center who can play against the top lines of any opponent, and he's signed for one more season before becoming a UFA. He nearly cracked the 30-goal mark last season, and a fresh start could inspire much stronger offensive numbers somewhere else after contract talks seem to have soured the relationship.

Cons: The 24-year-old might be a big baby who isn't playing up to his potential because he feels like the Colorado Avalanche don't consider him a star. He has just 10 goals and 34 points in 60 games this year after career numbers a year ago.

Keith Yandle, Arizona Coyotes

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Pros: For a team averaging just 2.19 goals per game, third lowest in the NHL, Keith Yandle has put up another 40-point season, his sixth straight if you prorate the lockout-shortened year. He is 28 and under contract for one more season at $5.5 million, which is a nice window for a contender going for it this year and next.

Cons: Of Yandle's 36 assists this year, third among defensemen, only a dozen are primary, or "first" assists. That drops him into a tie for 17th. The cost of acquiring him would be high. ESPN's Scott Burnside suggests a top-end forward would be a starting point. A high pick, top prospect and roster player with upside might also work. His plus/minus is U-G-L-Y, and that risk in his game got him left off the U.S. 2014 Olympic team.

Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs

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Pros: Phil Kessel has elite offensive skill, with five 30-plus-goal seasons and another pair with at least 20—including the current campaign. He's got 22 goals and 48 points through 60 games this season. Also attractive is the fact Kessel is locked up contractually for another seven years at $8 million per, which is market rate for a guy with his abilities.

Cons: The Toronto Maple Leafs winger has had a difficult time dealing with the media pressure in the hockey hotbed, and his commitment to defense has been questionable as his plus/minus rating seems to indicate. And his possession stats are equally awful, down among the league's worst, according to Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.