NHL Trade Deadline 2015: Updating Top Suitors for Impact Targets

We've seen plenty of intrigue around the NHL this week as the clock ticks down to the 2015 trade deadline on March 2 at 3 p.m. ET.

This year's trade ticker sprung to life earlier than usual when the Winnipeg Jets' Evander Kane was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 11 in a multi-player blockbuster. Since that time, we've seen a steady stream of moves all around the league.

Some were expected, like seeing players from bottom-dwellers like the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs dealt to contenders. At the other end of the spectrum, Jaromir Jagr's move to the Florida Panthers defied expectations, while the David Clarkson for Nathan Horton deal landed on Thursday out of the clear blue sky.

The list of trade targets got one name shorter on Friday when veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen was acquired by the struggling Chicago Blackhawks.

With no clear favorite for the Stanley Cup as we head into the final stretch, plenty of general managers are still looking to land this year's Marian Gaborik before Monday—the final piece of the puzzle that will lead their team all the way to a championship in June.

Here's a look at the most talked about names at all positions and where the trade targets could land once the wheeling and dealing wraps up on Monday.

Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Profile: Center; 32 years old, 6'1", 198 lbs.

Stat Line: 814 games played, 194 goals, 236 assists and 430 points with the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes

What He Brings: A two-way center who has hit the 20-goal mark four times in his NHL career, Vermette's best stats this year come on the power play, where he's put up six goals and 13 of his 35 points. A true top-six forward, Vermette also boasts a dynamite 56.2 percent success rate in the face-off circle this season—eighth in the NHL.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Vermette's a rental player, in the last year of a five-year contract with a cap hit of $3.75 million.

Top Suitors: Phoenix radio host John Gambadoro reported Friday on Twitter that the bidding for Vermette was down to the two teams that met in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.

Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs

USA TODAY Sports

Profile: Left wing; 31 years old, 6'1", 206 lbs.

Stat Line: 634 games played, 193 goals, 211 assists and 404 points with the Anaheim Ducks (twice), Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs

What He Brings: When Toronto general manager Dave Nonis shocked us all by dealing David Clarkson on Thursday, he sent a clear message that no player on the current Leafs roster is safe from trade speculation.

Lupul's one of many players from the Leafs' core who could be on the way out of Big Smoke by Monday. At his heart, he's a goal-scorer. However, he's been injury-prone throughout his career.

Lupul is currently in the second year of a five-year contract with a cap hit of $5.25 million per season. He has a no-trade clause that limits his possible landing spots to 14 teams, according to James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail.

Top Suitors: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet suggested earlier in the week that the Pittsburgh Penguins might be interested in Lupul, based on an article from Ryan Wilson of HockeyBuzz. Since that time, it looks like Jim Rutherford settled for a different Leaf—the less-expensive Daniel Winnik.

Boston figures in the Lupul rumors, per Joe Haggarty of Comcast Sportsnet, as does Montreal. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period shrugs off the idea of a Brendan Gallagher transaction, but suggests the Leafs would be interested in big Danish center Lars Eller.

Matt Larkin of The Hockey News thinks Lupul could be a good fit for the Canadiens or on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom with the Washington Capitals.

Jeff Petry, Edmonton Oilers

USA TODAY Sports

Profile: Defense, shoots right; 27 years old, 6'3", 198 lbs.

Stat Line: 295 games played, 17 goals, 57 assists, 74 points all with the Edmonton Oilers

What He Brings: A rare example of an Edmonton draft pick who was brought along slowly, Jeff Petry's a good skater and a highly-coveted right-handed shot who could be on the verge of entering his prime as a defenseman.

Most comfortable in his own end, he won't produce many points or be much of a force on the power play.

Petry signed a one-year contract worth $3.075 million with Edmonton last season, which takes him to unrestricted free agency this summer. 

Top Suitors:  With the Washington Capitals almost certainly hanging on to Mike Green for their playoff push, Petry's the most tempting defensive rental left on the market this week. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman weighed in on Petry on CHED radio in Edmonton on Friday (via Nichols on Hockey): "I definitely believe Montreal. I definitely believe Tampa Bay. I would think—Detroit is an obvious one. We’ve all been predicting that for months. Anaheim is the one team I wonder if they’re still in this or not."

Zbynek Michalek, Arizona Coyotes

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Profile: Defense, shoots right; 32 years old, 6'2", 210 lbs.

Stat Line: 696 games played, 38 goals, 139 assists and 167 points with the Minnesota Wild, Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (twice) and Pittsburgh Penguins

What He Brings: Keith Yandle is the big trade prize on the Arizona Coyotes' blue line, but steady veteran Zbynek Michalek could be available for a much more reasonable price. 

He has good size, a good point shot and is an excellent shot-blocker who can be used in a shutdown role.

Michalek is on the cusp of unrestricted free agency, in the last year of a five-year contract that paid him $4 million per season. He has been sidelined since Feb. 16 with an upper-body injury. 

Top Suitors: As another right-shot defensemen, you can bet that every team considering Jeff Petry is also inquiring about Michalek.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal says that Montreal offered their 2013 first-round pick, winger Michael McCarron, for Michalek, while Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail puts Michalek and teammate Yandle high on the list of defensemen that the Calgary Flames should consider as fill-ins for ailing captain Mark Giordano.

Jan Hejda, Colorado Avalanche

USA TODAY Sports

Profile: Defense, shoots left; 36 years old, 6'4", 230 lbs.

Stat Line: 606 games played, 25 goals, 106 assists and 131 points with the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche

What He Brings: Hejda's a big body—a shutdown defenseman with plenty of NHL experience. At age 36, he's still second in ice time on the Colorado Avalanche, averaging 21:15 a game.

On his way to unrestricted free agency, Hejda's wrapping up a four-year deal that he signed with the Avalanche, which pays him $3.25 million per season.

Top Suitors: Forward Daniel Briere and injured defenseman Ryan Wilson are Colorado's other impending unrestricted free agents who could be on the move. Joe Sakic might be able to maximize his return with a package deal—especially with Briere's remarkable propensity for scoring big playoff goals.

Since the Blackhawks snatched up veteran left-side defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, Washington might be a logical fit for Hejda. He'd be a steady veteran who could offer a solid foundation alongside the sometimes flighty Mike Green.

Michal Neuvirth, Buffalo Sabres

USA TODAY Sports

Profile: Goal, catches left; 26 years old, 6'1", 209 lbs.

Stat Line: 162 games played, 65-59-16 record, 2.72 goals-against average, .912 save percentage with the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres

What He Brings: If there's one thing standing between the Buffalo Sabres and their destiny as the NHL's last-place team this season, it's Neuvirth's recent hot streak, which has seen the Sabres collect points in five of their last six games.

Buffalo has one last chance to move out some talent before the end of the season and try to secure the best chance of landing the No. 1 pick in this year's draft lottery. In additional to Neuvirth, the Sabres' unrestricted free-agent list includes forwards Chris Stewart and Torrey Mitchell and defenseman Andrej Meszaros.

Top Suitors: The goalie market has been pretty cool this spring, but Boston could be looking for help in net—as well as at other positions. With its tight salary-cap situation, a deal for short-term rentals could be Boston's best hope of shoring up its roster. 

The New York Rangers were considering goaltending help, but they've managed just fine while Henrik Lundqvist has been sidelined. Consider them out of the market for now.

The San Jose Sharks might be a possibility—Antti Niemi's also an unrestricted free agent this summer. While there's no guarantee that Neuvirth would re-sign with the Sharks if they acquired him, he could provide a late-season spark for a team that's struggling to stay in playoff contention—and possibly become part of their imminent rebuild if he was to re-sign this summer.

All stats from NHL.com. Salary and contract information from NHLNumbers.