The list is back, with the trade deadline only six weeks away and trade rumours ramping up I have brought back the End to End Hockey’s trade bait list as I give my 25 player list as to who I think is most likely to be dealt before the deadline and I will expand the list as we get closer to the deadline but for now here is the End to End Hockey’s top 25 trade bait list.
The End to end hockey’s top 25 trade bait list.
1 Jacob Chychrun (ARI)
Contract status: 2 more years after this one at $4.6 Million
Stats: 5-18-23 in 29 games played
Position: LD/RD
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Los Angeles, St.Louis, Columbus
Quick Analysis: we’ve been talking about a Chychrun deal since the middle of last season and it seems like Arizona isn’t budging from their very steep asking price as they seem to really want 2 1RD picks in a Chychrun trade and while they aren’t budging I do think some teams will give the Coyotes packages close to their asking prices and maybe the Yotes will be willing to lower the asking price a tad, but definitely see Chychrun being the best defensemen available come the deadline and I think a team like LA who needs a left side defensemen and has the assets to pull of a trade could get it done, but even though a Chychrun trade would definitely be difficult with how much Arizona wants, with Chychrun now having only two years after this year on his contract and for teams I think the term on his good deal makes him so appealing I think Arizona will try and make this happen before the deadline to give a team as much opportunity as they can have with Chychrun on this good deal.
2 Brock Boeser (VAN)
Contract status: 2 more years after this one at $6.65 Million
Stats: 9-17-26 in 36 games played
Position: RW
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: Minnesota, New Jersey, Calgary
Quick Analysis: Boeser was in trade talks last year before he signed his 3 year extension, but after he was almost scratched and it came out that Boeser’a agent was given permission to seek a trade the trade conversion started to ramp up again. Boeser isn’t having the best of seasons (26 points in 36 games) but he is still doing well, and for a team who could use a top 9 sniper for the next few years, Boeser may be their guy and even though his contract isn’t the best I still think the upside will definitely lead to a trade and I think Vancouver could get a nice little package for him and definitely teams like the Wild and Flames who are in desperate need of a goal scoring forward would probably love to have Boeser and I think I would be more surprised if Boeser isn’t moved before the deadline.
3 John Klingberg (ANA)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $7 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 6-9-15 in 39 games played
Position: RD
Age: 30
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Seattle, Pittsburgh
Quick Analysis: it seems as though it is now a matter of is and not when John Klingberg says good bye to Anaheim as the Ducks should be full on sellers before the trade deadline and Klingberg is probably the teams best trade chip. Signed in the offseason to a 1 year deal, Klingberg hasn’t done all too well (15 points in 39 games) compared to some of his previous seasons but he is on a struggling Ducks team and would probably up his production on a contender. Now if Anaheim retains 50% of his salary I think there would be a lot of teams interested in the Pending UFA and although I am not overly confident the Ducks will be able to get a 1RD pick, I still think they will get a big return for him and I can almost guarantee that he won’t be with Anaheim past the deadline.
4 Timo Meier (SJ)
Contract status: Pending RFA with a $6 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 26-20-46 in 46 games played
Position: LW/RW
Age: 26
Potential landing spots: New Jersey, New York R, New York I
Quick Analysis: Meier was going to be a interesting name to watch before the season started and as the Sharks have not done good this season and already having some bad long term deals, the Sharks seem to be open to moving Meier and it could wind up being one of the first blockbuster deals of the season. Meier is a good top six winger and after a slow start is now producing at a point per game level, but with Meier being due a $10 Million dollar qualifying offer and the Sharks trying to gain assets for the future, trading Meier seems to be on the top of their priority list and it sounds like a team would rather try to extend him at a lower AAV then bringing him in as a Pending RFA so it will also be interesting if a acquiring team could work out a extension, my quests would be the Sharks want at least a 1RD pick and good prospect with probably a few more assets and it seems all three New York teams (NYI, NYR and NJ) have some serious interest so definitely a interesting name to watch as Meier looks destined to be moved prior to the deadline.
5 Bo Horvat (VAN)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $5.5 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 30-19-49 in 44 games played
Position: C
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Seattle, Boston, Colorado
Quick Analysis: Horvat may wind up being the biggest name available right now for the deadline as it seems inevitable that Horvat will be moved. Now the Canucks chose to sign Miller first instead of Horvat and I think they are regretting that decision as Miller hasn’t done well and Horvat is pricing himself out of Vancouver and he even rejected the Canucks most recent offer so it seems like a divorce will happen and could happen sooner especially since Jim Rutherford likes to take care of business earlier then the deadline and I think they could easily get a first round pick, good prospect and good young player for Horvat and it seems that with talks intensifying and teams like Seattle and Boston having serious interest, Horvat will be dealt and dealt in short order by Vancouver and even though the Captain likes Vancouver, re-signing him seems near impossible right now and getting assets back for him should be a top priority.
6 Patrick Kane (CHI)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $10.5 Million dollar cap hit (NMC)
Stats: 8-20-28 in 38 games played
Position: RW
Age: 34
Potential landing spots: New Jersey, New York R, Boston
Quick Analysis: maybe the most interesting name approaching the deadline, it seems likely that the Blackhawks would like to move long time Hawk Patrick Kane but could not get the best return possible due to a few reasons. Now Kane has had a down year in production and some think it could have something to do with a lingering injury that could need to be “cleaned up” at a later date but another reason the Hawks might not get the return they want is Kane calls his shots with a NMC and he will pick where the Hawks can trade him so it is similar to the Giroux situation from last year, and I think that the Hawks could still get a 1RD pick and good prospect but they may not get the return they want but still if Kane can show he can play well I expect him to be moved before the deadline and it seems like a New York team (especially the Rangers) could be a good landing spot for him.
7 Vladislav Gavrikov (COLU)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $2.8 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 3-7-10 in 42 games played
Position: LD
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Los Angeles, Toronto
Quick Analysis: another interesting situation as the Jackets like Gavrikov and would probably want to re-sign him but they would also like to get some more draft capital and they could get a good few picks if they were to move on from Gavrikov. Gavrikov has played amazing in the absence of Zach Wereinski and could definitely bring in a nice haul as reports say he could bring a similar return to what CBJ got for Savard a few years ago which was a 1RD and 3RD pick and the Jackets are sure to have interest in the defensmen but they also like how he has played and would also like to possibly keep him and sign him to a extension so I would not say he is a guarantee by any means to be moved but if he was to be moved before the deadline the Jackets would get a haul for him so definitely a intriguing situation to watch.
8 Joel Edmundson (MON)
Contract status: 1 more year after this one at $3.5 Million
Stats: 1-5-6 in 34 games played
Position: LD/RD
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Ottawa, Los Angeles
Quick Analysis: in Edmundson the Canadiens are not in a rush to move and it doesn’t sound like they will for sure move him at the deadline but if they were it seems that there would have to be a hell of a package involved. Edmundson has had a up and down past few years dealing with injuries and off ice stuff but he is still a good 2nd or 3rd pair defensemen who knows what it takes to win in the playoffs so getting a experienced D-Men would be appealing to a lot of contenders but Edmundson does have a extra year on his contract so if the Canadiens don’t move him before the deadline then they could move him next year, so if a team in desperate need of a defensemen were to acquire him before the deadline they would probably have to give a 1RD pick and another asset to pry Edmundson from Montreal so while I would say he probably doesn’t get moved before the deadline, I think he could and the Canadiens would be able to get quite a haul for the veteran defensemen.
9 Vladimir Tarasenko (ST.L)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $7.5 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 10-19-29 in 34 games played
Position: RW
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: New York I, Calgary, Carolina
Quick Analysis: this move really depends on where the Blues are and how they are doing prior to the deadline as the Blues are sort of a bubble team right now and if they continue to be a bubble team I think Tarasenko would definitely be gone. Now Tarasenko has wanted out of St.Louis tor the past two years now as at first he was coming off of shoulder surgery and a lot of teams didn’t want to take a chance and then last offseason the Blues wanted to keep him to go for it again this year but they are a fringe team right now and as we saw a few years ago with Stastny, the Blues aren’t afraid to move a significant Pending UFA to gain assets if they are a bubble team so if St.Louis can get in a comfortable playoff spot I think that they will probably keep him but if they continue to be a fringe playoff team as they are right now then I definitely believe that Tarasenko would get his wish and finally be able to leave St.Louis and a team who is looking for a top six sniper would probably have some serious interest in Tarasenko and I could even see a 1RD or 2RD pick and young player be moved back to St.Louis so definitely a interesting situation in St.Louis.
10 Pierre Oliver Joseph (PIT)
Contract status: 1 more year after this one at $.825 Thousand
Stats: 2-10-12 in 39 games played
Position: LD
Age: 23
Potential landing spots: Ottawa, Los Angeles, Florida
Quick Analysis: the Penguins have been looking to possibly try and upgrade their blueline and I think that even though they made some offseason moves and it may be a bit less likely now, I think there is still a possibility that Joseph is moved by the Penguins. Now Pittsburgh made some moves in the offseason and were able to play Joseph consistently on the 3rd pair but with Friedman still doing good and Smith showing he should be playing at the NHL level after being recalled I think the Penguins still have a pretty crowded blueline and with the Penguins injured right now they probably aren’t looking to subtract but when Letang is back and if the Pens want to upgrade on the blueline I think they would trade Joseph as he is a good 3rd pair or 2nd pair defensemen and I think if he was traded he could possibly get a bigger role so I am not sure if he would be moved before the deadline but I still think Pittsburgh has a crowded blueline and long term maybe Joseph is the odd man out.
11 James Van Riemsdyk (PHI)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $7 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 7-11-18 in 24 games played
Position: LW/RW
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Winnipeg, New Jersey, Toronto
Quick Analysis: now here is someone who is almost a guarantee to be moved ahead of the trade deadline and that is James Van Reimsdyk. Riemsdyk has been a very productive goal scorer ever since signing back with Philadelphia and has definitely been one of their better forwards over the past few years and one of the locker room leaders but after trying to move on from him in the offseason and the asking price being too high for Philly, it does seem that with Philly probably not making the playoffs and the Flyers looking to gain assets and are now willing to retain salary it seems like there is a market for the winger, I definitely think a team who needs a 3rd line scorer and is going to the playoffs would have interest in JVR and I think a 2ND or 3RD round pick and maybe another asset would get a deal done, so while JVR isn’t the flashiest of forwards who could be moved I do think that he could be a good backup option if a team strikes out on a different player.
12 Ryan O’Reilly (ST.L)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $7.5 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 10-6-16 in 37 games played
Position: C
Age: 31
Potential landing spots Toronto, Colorado, Minnesota
Quick Analysis: O’Reilly is another huge name who could find himself on his way out of St.Louis before the trade deadline. O’Reilly has been a huge piece for the Blues ever since coming over from Buffalo and helped the team to win the cup a couple years ago (and got the Conn Smythe Trophy) but while I think it isn’t a guarantee he gets moved and of him and Tarasenko I think he would be the more likely to Re-Sign, he hasn’t looked as good offensively as he has in recent years and we know St.Louis isn’t afraid of moving Pending UFA’s at the deadline so I think we could wind up seeing O’Reilly moved and I know a team like Toronto seems to definitely be interested and the Center I think could bring in a 1st or 2nd round pick and decent prospect for St.Louis so definitely not as likely to be moved as Tarasenko but I definitely think that he will be a extremely interesting name to watch especially with O’Reilly still injured right now.
13 Kevin Shattenkirk (ANA)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $3.9 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 0-9-9 in 39 games played
Position: RD
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Carolina, Pittsburgh, Seattle
Quick Analysis: the second Duck on the list happens to be another good Pending UFA defensemen as the Ducks seem to also be willing to move on from Kevin Shattenkirk before the deadline for the right price. The Duck signed Shattenkirk 3 years agir and he has been playing for a majority of his time in Anaheim on their 3rd pair and has shown he can still be a good offensive defensemen and even though his production isn’t the best right now, I think going to a contender should help his production as Shattenkirk is a really solid 3rd pair D-Men and would really boost a teams blueline and I don’t think it would take a overly big package to acquire him but with the Ducks doing so poorly right now and with them probably not being back Shattenkirk it does seem like he is also going to be on his way out of Anaheim.
14 Anthony Duclair (FLO)
Contract statuts: 1 more year after this one at $3 Million
Stats: 0-0-0 in 0 games played
Position: LW/RW
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Calgary, Minnesota, Winnipeg
Quick Analysis: with the Panthers needing to clear cap space when they get back to being healthy, Florida will have a tough decision to make as to who they might need to trade away to keep themselves under the cap and a lot of people have pointed at Duclair as the one the Panthers will move on from. Now over the past few seasons Duclair has showed he could be a very good middle six forward in Florida and has produced well especially with the Panthers but a injury has kept him out all season long so far, but there is a possibility that he could return before the all star break and while the Panthers wouldn’t need to move out cap at that point, once Hornqvist is healthy they would and that offense has done pretty well this year without Duclair so moving him to regain some cap space might be the right move for Florida, I don’t know exactly what they would ask for in a trade but he has shown he is a speedy middle six forward and a team who needs offense could definitely use him so he will be a intriguing name to keep our eye on.
15 Jesse Puljujarvi (EDM)
Contract status: Pending RFA with a $3 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 4-6-10 in 45 games played
Position: RW
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Anaheim, Montreal, Arizona.
Quick Analysis: now trade rumours have surrounded Puljujarvi since this past offseason and while nothing has happened yet and the Oilers seem intent to move on from him as they could create some cap space and give Puljujarvi a much needed fresh start. There was a lot of speculation in the offseason that the Oilers would move on from Puljujarvi as he was a UFA but then signed him to a 1 year deal and hoped that would help trade interest but it didn’t and he has played with the Oilers for the first half of the year and has played almost always in a bottom six role so it seems like if the Oilers could move him to maybe a bottom dwelling team who could give him a bigger role it may help his confidence and production and I don’t think it would take to much to get him out of Edmonton as I think a 3rd or 4th round pick would probably do it but with Puljujarvi not playing well and Edmonton needing cap space a Puljujarvi trade should happen before the trade deadline.
16 Andreas Athanasiou (CHI)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $3 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 9-4-13 in 41 games played
Position: LW/RW
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Carolina, Winnipeg, New York I
Quick Analysis: another Blackhawk on the list as Athanasiou hasn’t been the most productive of the Blackhawks players this season but is a good middle six forward on a not too expensive deal and I think for a contender looking for some more depth scoring he could be of great interest. Now Athanasiou had a injury riddled last year with LA but when he was healthy he played well and was able to earn a 1 year contract with the lowly Blackhawks and while he hasn’t been as productive as he was with LA last year he has still done quite well and is showing he can still be a solid middle six forward in the NHLand I think that if a contending team were to call the Blackhawks would most likely be willing to move him as I think they could get a mid round pick and decent prospect for him and Athanasiou could help a contending team as a 3rd line forward who can put up some depth scoring so I for one think that Athanasiou is as good as gone from Chicago and should be moved before the deadline.
17 Sean Walker (LA)
Contract status: 1 more year after this one at $2.65 Million
Stats: 2-7-9 in 39 games played
Position: RD
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Boston, Buffalo, Seattle
Quick Analysis: the Kings look really good this year and seem to want to upgrade at a couple of positions but don’t have the cap space so with LA having a ton of good and capable right side defensemen, they may be willing to move Walker so they can get a upgrade. Now Walker had a injury riddled season last year and didn’t play much in the 2nd half but has played pretty well this year in a 3rd pair role and I don’t think the Kings really want to get rid of him because he is a good defensemen, but they lack a good top 4 defensemen who can play on the left side and with guys like Clarke who is a righty who should play full time NHL minutes next year coming in and grabbing spots, it seems like Walker’s future won’t be with LA and I also don’t think it would take a big package to get Walker and I also think he could be used in a deal to get a defensive upgrade and I think he would fit well on a lot of teams 3rd pair, so while he is a good defensemen and plays well on pair 3 I think that he will most likely find himself on his way out prior to the deadline.
18 Mike Reilly (BOS)
Contract status: 1 more year after this one at $3 Million
Stats: 0-1-1 in 10 games played
Position: LD
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Anaheim, New York R, Washington
Quick Analysis: the Bruins have a healthy D-Corp now and while they started banged up they are now fully healthy and with that in mind they don’t have a spot for Reilly on the roster so to free up some cap space and get Reilly playing time elsewhere I think Reilly could be moved before the deadline. Now Reilly started the season on the 3rd pair and looked pretty good but after the Bruins got back McAvoy and Grzelyck they didn’t have the room of space for Reilly so they sent him to the minors and with so many bodies ahead of him he seems to want to go somewhere where he could get more playing time so I think losing him before the deadline to clear some cap space would definitely help the Bruins and I think a team who could use a 3RD pair D-Men for this year and next could use him and it wouldn’t take much at all to acquire him so I definitely think Reilly will most likely be moved prior to the deadline.
19 Mike Hoffman (MON)
Contract status: 1 more year after this one at $4.5 Million
Stats: 8-5-13 in 31 games played
Position: LW,RW
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Winnipeg, Edmonton, New York I
Quick Analysis: now the Canadiens have a deep forward group and even though they are banged up right now there is a high probability they move 1 or 2 forwards before the deadline and I think the most likely of the handful of players in Montreal to get moved will probably be Mike Hoffman. Now Hoffman has done okay since coming over to Montreal and between him and Drouin and Dadonov he has probably been the most productive this year and I think that even though his cap hit isn’t all too appealing and he has next year on his contract as well I think that there would definitely be a team or two who would love to have Hoffman on their 3rd line and be a good sniper and depth scorer for them and I think it wouldn’t take a huge package to get Hoffman from Montreal, so I definitely think a player or two will be moved by Montreal before the deadline and I wouldn’t be half surprised if Hoffman was one of the players moved.
20 Dante Fabbro (NAS)
Contract status: Pending RFA with a $2.4 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 1-7-8 in 41 games played
Position: RD
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Columbus, Seattle, Ottawa
Quick Analysis: the Predators have had a up and down season this year and with them barely making the playoffs the past few seasons I think they could be on the verge of maybe a shakeup in the near future and one guy who I could see being moved would be Fabbro. Now there was a lot of talk earlier in the year that the Predators might consider changing some things on their roster and try to make it better and there was even talk about Ekholm being on the block, but they have been doing better as of late and I don’t think it is a guarantee they move some players but I think it would be good for their future and maybe moving Fabbro is on their radar. Both young defensemen in Fabbro and Carrier haven’t done well this year and we’re occasionally healthy scratches and I don’t think Nashville would move either one unless they got a good enough offer but I think that after not having as good of a impact as some might have thought, I think Fabbro could be a trade piece before the deadline for the Predators, I think the Preds could get a nice package for the young defensemen and a young up and coming team would probably have interest in him so while I definitely think that he is not guaranteed to be moved, I do think Fabbri will be a interesting name around the deadline.
21 Gustav Nyquist (COLU)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $5.5 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 9-11-20 in 44 games played
Position: LW,RW
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Boston, Calgary
Quick Analysis: another Pending UFA on a low end team who is almost for sure to be moved as Nyquist has shown while he isn’t the top 6 forward he once was, he can still be a good middle six forward especially for a contending team. Now Nyquist has spent the past few seasons with the Blue Jackets and has played mostly as a top six forward but when Columbus has been somewhat healthy this year he has spent time on the 3rd line and looked like a really good depth scorer for the Jackets and I think that with a lot of teams needing some goal scorers who can contribute with the depth scoring, Nyquist will be a hot commodity come deadline time and if a team could convince Columbus to eat some salary then he might even be more appealing and I think a 2ND or 3RD round pick and decent prospect could get a Nyquist deal done, but I would say that Nyquist is another player I would say will for sure be moved prior to the deadline.
22 Sam Bennett (FLO)
Contract status: 2 more years after this one at $4.43 Million
Stats: 10-18-28 in 46 games played
Position: C
Age: 26
Potential landing spots: Colorado, Minnesota, New York I
Quick Analysis: another Panther on the list as some have said that if the Panthers wanted to free up some money and maybe go out and acquire a defensemen before the deadline then maybe moving Bennett would be the right play. Now since arriving in Florida Bennett has done fantastic as 2nd line Center and really did good last year and has even done pretty well this year but I think one of the reasons Bennett might be moved would be because they have a player who is their long term 2nd line Center in Lundell and if Bennett was to be moved I think Lundell could fit right in at 2nd line Center, so I could see them move Bennett as they could also get a nice return for the good middle six winger and maybe improve their draft capital a bit as it does look pretty bleak right now and some team who may need a 2nd line Center for the next couple of years would surely be interested in Bennett so it will definitely be interesting to see if the Panthers wind up moving on from Bennett and if so what return they could get.
23 Nick Ritchie (ARI)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $2.5 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 8-10-18 in 42 games played
Position: LW
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: St.Louis, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh
Quick Analysis: a very interesting name who i think is almost a given to get moved before the deadline as another Coyote player is on the trade list in Nick Ritchie who I think would be a prefect bottom six forward for a contending team. Now Ritchie started the season very well but has since slowed down a bit but even then he is on pace for one of his better seasons in the last couple of years and has been a force on the power play this year with Arizona and given he is a Pending UFA on a bad Coyotes team i expect him to absolutely be moved before the deadline and I don’t think Arizona would get too much for him, maybe a 3RD pick and decent prospect but to get something for someone they were given a pick to take on would be wonderful and any contending team who could use a 3rd line forward who could do wonders on maybe a 2nd power play unit would definitely have interest in him and I think that in a few weeks Ritchie is going to be a hot topic as there will definitely be trade interest in the winger.
24 Martin Kaut (COL)
Contract status: Pending RFA with a $.863 Thousand dollar cap hit
Stats: 1-2-3 in 27 games played
Position: RW
Age: 23
Potential landing spots: Vancouver, Chicago, Montreal
Quick Analysis: now I know this is probably the most surprising name that I have on my trade list but I think with the Avalanche trying to upgrade their team and maybe not wanting to give up too many picks they may be willing to trade one or two prospects and I think they would be willing to part with Kaut. Now Kaut has played very well in the AHL over the past few years and he has even gotten some NHL opportunities this season with the Avalanche dealing with a few injuries and he was able to have a okay showing but I think with a bigger role he could do better and maybe a fresh start would wind up benefiting him, and I think he could be used as a trade chip for Colorado to get a player who could immediately help upgrade the team for a playoff run this year and I don’t think Kaut has too much future with the Avalanche so with the Avalanche trying to improve as much as they can I think that Kaut being moved out of Colorado before the deadline is a strong possibility.
25 Oskar Sundqvist (DET)
Contract status: Pending UFA with a $2.75 Million dollar cap hit
Stats: 6-11-17 in 36 games played
Position: C,RW
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Minnesota, Vegas, Tampa Bay
Quick Analysis: another depth player who could bring in a decent return prior to the trade deadline, with the Red Wings slipping right now and more likely being sellers before the deadline, I think they could move a Pending UFA or 2 and I wouldn’t be surprised if Sundqvist was one of them. Now Sundqvist came over from St.Louis at last years trade deadline and for in really nicely before the end of the season and has showed he can be a really productive 3rd line forward this year in Detroit, and with a lot of teams looking for some depth scoring before the deadline I think that Sundqvist would definitely have interest to be acquired and I think the Red Wings could get a couple of assets in return for him but definitely another 3rd line forward who can provide depth scoring who should draw lots of interest prior to the deadline.
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