Clutch Performers NHL Contenders Should Be Targeting at the Trade Deadline

With the NHL trade deadline less than a month away, league general managers are working the phones and kicking tires. 

There are some big names that could be moved, like pending free agents Steven Stamkos and Eric Staal of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively. But there are far fewer flashy players potentially available who could make a difference to a contender.

Beyond the stars, both fading and current, there are some players who exhibit the always difficult-to-define "clutch" attributes that should be targeted by a shrewd GM. Whether it's a penchant for scoring game-winners, or the ability to keep those out of the net, these guys have something to offer despite falling outside the ranks of the league's top scorers.

For this slideshow, I'm putting on my GM cap and poring over the list of players who could be pried away from struggling squads with little hope of making the playoffs and those that look incapable of making a serious run at the Stanley Cup.

Click ahead to see who I'm making calls for, and why they're on my short list of potential bargains.

Play along with your own picks in the comments.

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

Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Toronto Maple Leafs

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What makes him clutch: Mike Babcock has been the motivator Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau so desperately needed this season, providing the spark to renew the 32-year-old's flame for the game after an awful 2014-15 season with the Montreal Canadiens resulted in a buyout of his contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have given him a chance to prove he still has skill as a shooter, and he's on pace for nearly 20 goals on one of the league's worst offensive teams.

Why he could be traded: Parenteau is a pending unrestricted free agent whom the Leafs could easily bid on in the offseason while getting something in return for him at the trade deadline this year.

Goal scorers—even those with some question marks—come at a premium with contenders looking to deepen rosters for the spring, so the value could be higher than expected for the veteran, who had a pair of 50-point seasons playing with John Tavares and the New York Islanders earlier in his career.

Alexandre Burrows, Vancouver Canucks

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What makes him clutch: Alexandre Burrows hasn't played in many playoff games over the past few seasons, and he was injured in the first-round series against the Calgary Flames last spring. But the Vancouver Canucks super pest put up five points in seven postseason games in 2013 and 2015.

Those performances were well above his regular-season career averages, proving he still has the ability to elevate his game when getting meaningful minutes.

Why he could be traded: With the Canucks gearing up for a youth movement and Burrows now part of a (solid) third line in Vancouver, the 34-year-old could save the team a significant amount of money next season if his $4.5 million cap hit comes off the books.

On the flip side, teams may be willing to take a chance on the veteran turning his game around with a change of scenery. He's shown in the past he can perform with top players like the Sedins—although that seems to be the case with any NHLer who gets a shot on a line with the twins.

Teddy Purcell, Edmonton Oilers

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What makes him clutch: At 30 years old, Teddy Purcell is on pace for his best offensive season since 2012. He has proved capable of playing a big role when required to chip in as a top-line player and has enjoyed suiting up alongside Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl for the Edmonton Oilers this season.

His chances of enjoying a playoff run with the Oilers are nonexistent, but teams looking at his postseason stats with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010-11 and 2013-14 seasons will see his clutch numbers. His 18 points in 22 games were well above his regular-season points-per-game average.

Why he could be traded: Purcell has been a nice player, but with the Oilers still unable to move forward in the rebuild, the pending UFA is not a critical piece of the puzzle in Edmonton. However, he could become a great complementary piece for a contender willing to part with a prospect or draft pick.

Kris Versteeg, Carolina Hurricanes

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What makes him clutch: Playoff experience is something Carolina Hurricanes winger Kris Versteeg amassed plenty of during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. The feisty forward won two Stanley Cups with Chicago and had his best statistical postseason performance in 2010, scoring six goals and 14 points in 22 games.

He has the ability to get hot down the stretch. He's been a streaky scorer who has put together multiple five-game point bursts throughout the year.

Why he could be traded: Versteeg is set to become a unrestricted free agent in July, and Carolina is a borderline playoff contender that could decide to trade captain Eric Staal and goaltender Cam Ward to shift into a full rebuild.

Acquiring young assets and draft picks for the coming spring rather than risking losing veterans for a chance at a postseason that likely wouldn't last more than a round seems prudent.

Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers

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What makes him clutch: Being a backup goaltender is one of the most difficult jobs in the NHL. Starts are infrequent, and there's always a chance you could get sent into a game completely cold.

Mentally, you have to be prepared to play at any time. Physically, you practise as hard as anyone on the team. Michal Neuvirth of the Philadelphia Flyers actually leads the league in save percentage and has been better than starter Steve Mason all season.

He has an 11-6-2 record with a .933 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average that ranks 10th in the league.

Why he could be traded: The Flyers are five points behind in the playoff race and still in need of some youthful high-level prospects. That means changes could be coming at the deadline, and any team in need of some goaltending insurance with the potential to become a long-term option might look to the Flyers first.

Kris Russell, Calgary Flames

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What makes him clutch: Kris Russell has emerged as one of the premier shot-blockers in the game. He  broke the league record with 283 blocks last season and is second in the category so far this season—on pace for an impressive 288 in 2015-16.

The 28-year-old was third in blocks in his first year as a member of the Calgary Flames and has grown into a solid top-four stay-at-home defenseman who can also move the puck efficiently. He played a bigger role when captain Mark Giordano went down with an injury last season and finished with career offensive numbers, too.

Why he could be traded: Considering the Flames have been working on his new contract since before the puck dropped to open the regular season back in October, the fact that nothing has been inked is bad news for the franchise, which already has almost $29 million locked up in blueliner salary for next season.

Russell is a pending unrestricted free agent who could fetch a pretty nice return for the Flames, given the importance of defensive depth down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Mikkel Boedker, Arizona Coyotes

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What makes him clutch: One-third of Mikkel Boedker's dozen goals this season have been game-winners. That's a pretty good percentage for the 26-year-old. He's also having the best year of his career and showing people why he was drafted eighth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2008.

The Dane ranks second in the league with three overtime winners and is tied for the team scoring lead with 34 points in 49 games. 

Why he could be traded: When a player this young gets to test the free-agent waters after a career season, it's a recipe for a successful contract with a team of choice. That's the situation Boedker will find himself in at the end of this season.

The Coyotes have a playoff spot right now, but other Pacific Division teams have been closing the gap. It's possible a few bad weeks could drop the Coyotes into the seller position come trade deadline day. If that happens, Boedker would be a big bargaining chip.

Comments from his agent to Craig Morgan of ArizonaSports.com in early January seem to suggest that difficulty negotiating the past couple of contracts with the Coyotes could play into Boedker's decision in the coming months—which might force the team's hand on the trade front.

Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes

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What makes him clutch: Enjoying a nice bounce-back season after concussions derailed his career, the most impressive part of Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner's year thus far is his total of six game-winning goals. The 23-year-old (yes, he's still that young) is tied for third in the NHL in that category. He also ranks 23rd in goal scoring so far with 18 in 51 games—putting him on pace for nearly 30.

Why he could be traded: Rumors involving Skinner being on the block go back to December, when Ottawa Sun reporter Bruce Garrioch wrote GM Ron Francis was hoping to get the nearly $6 million cap hit over the next four years off the books.

Things may be changing with Skinner showing signs of becoming the player he projected to be after a stellar rookie season that saw him score 31 goals and 63 points, but the injury risk may tip the scales in the direction of a trade if a strong offer is made.