Here is my list of who I think are the top 20 trade candidates at the current time
1.) Jaycob Chychrun
Age: 23
Position: Left Defensemen
Contract: 3Y $4.6 Million
My team fit: Los Angeles
Analysis: I think Chychrun is the best trade chip anywhere. He hasn’t had the best season this year (2G-5A-7P) in 26 games and has the worst plus minus of any player in the NHL-29, but he is a stud top 4 defensemen plays high minutes and showed his scoring abilities last year. It will reportedly take three pieces to get a trade done (1RD pick, top prospect, young player), and in my eye L.A. not only has the draft capital and lots of prospects but would be the best fit for Chychrun in the NHL.
2.) John Klingberg
Age: 29
Position: Right Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA $4.25 million
My team fit: Boston
Analysis: the Stars have not had great contract discussions with Klingberg and he said that if there was no new deal then he wants out. Recent reports say that the Stars are being agressive in finding a trade in the near future and even though he is having a down year (1G-16A-17P) in 30 games played he is still a great top 4 defensemen and the best defensemen heading to free agency. It would probably take a 1RD pick and a top prospect to get a deal done and I like the Bruins as the favourite to land him.
3.) Ben Chiarot
Age: 30
Position: Left/Right Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA $3.5 million
My team fit: Florida
Analysis: Chiarot is probably the only certainty to be traded out of what could be a yard sale in Montreal. Chiarot is putting some good numbers (3G-5A-8P) in 33 games played this season but is a productive player and would be a great fit on a contenders third pair. Montreal could be asking at least a 1RD pick and I think that would be fair value and in my eyes the best fit for Chiarot would be the Panthers.
4.) Mark Giordano
Age: 38
Position: Left Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA $6.75 million
My team fit: New York R
Analysis: Giordano is the Krakens first ever NHL captain and is playing his first year in a different city. Giordano has been a solid defensemen for the Kraken (4G-8A-12P) in 31 games this year and still looks like he has lost left in the tank. The Kraken are not doing good so given they are a expansion team they should trade their captain in my opinion. They were possibly asking a first round pick to not take him in the expansion draft and is wouldn’t surprise me if they are still asking a first round pick and the team I see making the trade for him would be the Rangers.
5.) Tomas Hertl
Age: 28
Position: Center/Right Winger
Contract: Pending UFA $5.625
My team fit: New York R
Analysis: Hertl is probably the top forward who could get traded at this moment. Hertl is a solid second line center in San Jose and would be a solid second line center on just about any team. Hertl is having a great season (20G-11A-31P) in 39 games and is having one of his better seasons. Hertl would make any top six better and has been a name that a lot of people think will be moved me included and San Jose must be asking for a top prospect or a first round pick for him and if they do move him I think the best fit would be the Rangers.
6.) Lawson Crouse
Age: 24
Position: Left Winger
Contract: Pending RFA $1.53 million
My team fit: Nashville
Analysis: Crouse is a solid third line forward who will be a hot commodity before the trade deadline. Crouse has been playing in the top six this year for Arizona, and currently has (9G-9A-18P) in 35 games played this year and is on pace for career highs in goals and points. He would be a solid third line of winger on a contender and even though i would say that Tampa is a good fit I think Division rivals Nashville would be the best fit for Crouse.
7.) Marc-André Fleury
Age: 37
Position: Goalie
Contract: Pending UFA $7 Million
My team fit: Pittsburgh
Analysis: the Bad Blackhawks are in a position where they should wined up trading Fleury. Marc Andre Fleury is not having his best year ever (2.73 GAA-.915 SV%) in 26 games but even though he is getting up their in age he is still a solid goalie. Now in my opinion I wouldn’t call Fleury a full starter but I don’t think he is a absolute backup so in my opinion he is the best fit back in Pittsburgh being a 1B option to Jarry.
8.) Joonas Korpisalo
Age: 27
Position: Goalie
Contract: Pending UFA $2.8 million
My team fit: Edmonton
Analysis: a solid possible starting goalie who is in the final year of his deal and should be a solid trade candidate for any team who needs a goalie for a cup run. Korpisalo is a solid goalie who’s numbers have gone down this year after being a backup this season (3.95 GAA-.882 SV%) in 14 games this season. Korpisalo is definitely going to be a top candidate in the trade market and before free agency but before the trade deadline I think that Edmonton would be the best fit.
9.) Colin Miller
Age: 29
Position: Right Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA
My team fit: Calgary
Analysis: Miller has been great at teams with Buffalo but is currently going to free agency next offseason and where Buffalo is right now it would actually make sense to trade him and see what they can get for him. Miller has been a okay D-Men during this year production wise (2G-10A-12P) in 32 games played and has also been a top 4 D-Men for most of his time in Buffalo. Miller would make a solid third pairing defensemen and I would see him being traded to Calgary.
10.) Max Domi
Age: 26
Position: Center/Left Winger
Contract: Pending UFA $5.3
My team fit: Boston
Analysis: Domi is a solid player who has been injured for much of the last couple years and is on a solid Blue Jackets. Max Domi has had some injury trouble this year but is still putting up solid numbers (8G-9A-17P) in 26 games played and is starting to get healthier. Domi should be a solid trade candidate for any team looking for a solid middle six forward option bu in my eyes the Bruins who still have a bit of a hole at 2nd line center would be the best fit.
11.) Jake DeBrusk
Age: 25
Position: Left Winger
Contract: Pending RFA $3.675 million
My team fit: Seattle
Analysis: Jake DeBrusk has actually requested to be traded from the Bruins organization as things have turned sour their and he needs a fresh start. Debrusk is having yet another down season (5G-5A-10P) 30 games played and could be doing better production wise. After the Bruins got Hall, DeBrusk has been more of a bottom six player and that has also hurt his production levels but if he can go to a team that could fit him in a top six that would be lovely and I seas Seattle as they beat fit for DeBrusk.
12.) Phil Kessel
Age: 34
Position: Right Winger
Contract: Pending UFA $6.8
My team fit: New York R
Analysis: the Veteran forward Kessel will be a welcomed addition to any contending team with interest. The Coyotes are complete sellers and Kessel should definitely be traded. Kessel is having a less productive season then normal (5G-20A-25P) in 36 games played but is still a solid player. Kessel’s days of a top 6 forward are over but is still a solid third line forward for a contender and the best fit in my opinion would be the Rangers.
13.) Nick Leddy
Age: 30
Position: Left Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA $5.5 million
My team fit: St.Louis
Analysis: a solid top 4 defensemen Leddy will probably be traded to a contender some time in the near future. Leddy had been a solid defensemen once again (1G-9A-10P) in 37 games played and has been a great mentor to the young players in Detroit. Now they probably should get at least a 2RD pick from Greg team they wined up trading with and I would say that St.Louis would be the most likely landing spot.
14.) Reilly Smith
Age: 30
Position: Right/Left Winger
Contract: Pending UFA $5 million
My team fit: New York R
Analysis: due to cap constraints for the Golden Knights whenever they become a fully healthy group they will need to move salary out and Smith should be the first one out. Reilly Smith is having another solid season (11G-18A-29P) in 39 games and continues to produce. Smith is still a middle six forward and would probably leave in the offseason anyway so to avoid that the Knights should trade him and I think the Rangers would be a good for given his ties to head coach Gallant.
15.) Artturi Lehkonen
Age: 26
Position: Left/Right Winger
Contract: Pending RFA $2.3 million
My team fit: Winnipeg
Analysis: Artturi Lehkonen was one of the Canadiens that has reportedly garnered interest from teams around the NHL and is a solid bottom six forward. Lehkonen has been okay with the point production (4G-8A-12P) 33 games played, and should definitely be having interest. Lehkonen is a Pending RFA and would definitely be looking for a start with more playing time and in my opinion a great fir for the young bottom six forward would be Winnipeg.
16.) Semyon Varlamov
Age: 33
Position: Goalie
Contract: 1 year left $5 million
My team fit: Edmonton
Analysis: the Islanders are a team who hasn’t played up to their potential but if they were to move any player before the trade deadline my guess would have to be Varlamov. Varlamov has had a definite down year with injuries and being backup (2.59 GAA-.917 SV%) in 10 games this year. Varlamov still has term after this year so a team would be getting him for multiple years and in my eyes the Oilers would be the best fit if Edmonton can’t get anyone else.
17.) Calvin De Haan
Age: 30
Position: Left/Right Defensemen
Contract: Pending UFA $4.5 million
My team fit: St.Louis
Analysis: Calvin De Haan is yet another pending UFA D-Men who should be moved before the March deadline. De Haan is still a solid 3rd pair defensemen who has had a decent season this year (1G-3A-4P) in 34 games played. De Haan should be on a 3rd pair of a contending team after the deadline and even though they are division rivals I think the best fit for De Haan would be the Blues.
18.) Kailer Yamamoto
Age: 23
Position: Right Winger/ Center
Contract: Pending RFA $1.175
My team fit: Columbus
Analysis: Yamamoto is a solid young player who has shown flashes of brilliance at times but given the cap space the Oilers currently have it is safe to say that they could have a difficult time signing him so they could try and trade him. Yamamoto has had a strong season this year (8G-5A-13P) 35 games played but could probably do better. Now with the cap space and them wanting to sign Puljujarvi I could see Edmonton trading him for a need like at goaltending and I good fit for Yamamoto would be Columbus.
19.) Bryan Rust
Age: 29
Position: Right/Left Winger
Contract: Pending UFA $3.5 million
My team fit: San Jose
Analysis: Rust is a solid forward but might want to much money in the offseason for Pittsburgh and they are already pressed for cap space so the Penguins could wined up trading. Rust is having over a point per game this season but has been injured a lot (9G-11A-20P) and is playing amazingly. The only way Rust is moved by the deadline is if the Penguins are looking to acquire someone better or if they are worried about cap problems but if they do end up moving him I think he should go to San Jose.
20.) Dominik Kubalik
Age: 26
Position: Left/Right Winger
Contract: Pending RFA
My team fit: Detroit
Analysis: Kubalik is a young forward who is a possibility to be moved by the NHL trade deadline. Kubalik is a solid top six forward and has the ability to score 30+ goals and with him being a RFA at the end of the year it might make sense for Chicago to trade him if there is no long term future. Kubalik has had a solid season (8G-6A-14P) in 38 games played and should definitely garner interest. Kubalik would fit on any teams top 2 lines and in my opinion Detroit is the best fit.
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