Seravalli: All eyes on No. 1 Trade Target 🎯 Claude Giroux as deal nears

Claude Giroux is not one to show emotion, but there was no shortage of it in South Philadelphia on Thursday night. As he saluted the largest crowd of the season with a curtain call, it wasn’t so much a celebration of him becoming just the second Flyer to reach 1,000 games in the orange and black, more a moment to say goodbye.

“Tonight is one of the best nights I’ve ever had,” the longest-serving Flyers captain said postgame.

Giroux did not accompany the Flyers to Ottawa, instead staying behind to celebrate with family and friends at a private party. He will not play against the Senators and the Flyers are prepared to also have Giroux sit out on Sunday against the Islanders to protect him should a trade not materialize by then.

Two Stanley Cup heavyweights appear to be slugging it out for Giroux’s services: the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche. Other teams attempted to get in the mix but, as of Friday morning, all the other potential contenders indicated to Daily Faceoff they were out on Giroux.

There was plenty of speculation (and smoke) on Thursday night to suggest Giroux was destined for South Florida.

Sources in the Flyers and Panthers organizations poured cold water on that, saying no deal was in place. The Flyers have not been enthused about the package on the table, even if that might be Giroux’s preferred destination.

The Avalanche have one element the Panthers do not: a 2023 first-round pick. The Panthers’ next available one is in 2024; they traded their 2022 and 2023 firsts for Sam Reinhart and Ben Chiarot. Florida’s Owen Tippett (2017) and Michigan forward Mackie Samoskevich (2021) are recent top picks, but sources said they alone would not be enough.

Handicapping this two-horse race isn’t easy, but the Flyers are clearly hoping Colorado will up the ante ahead of Monday’s 3:00 p.m. ET deadline. Even then, it will be up to Giroux, as he must approve any transaction with his full no-move clause.

That hasn’t been easy for him. Thursday night was emotional, even though everyone knew where this was trending for months.

“To be honest, I’ve seen a lot of players [leave] that I’ve played with and that I liked. I know it’s tough when you leave a team, but I actually didn’t realize how tough it is. I wish I knew back then,” Giroux told reporters. “It’s not something that is really fun. But in saying that – all day we were just telling stories, things that happened the last few years. It was great.”

Trade Targets 🎯

1. Claude Giroux
Center / Wing, Philadelphia Flyers – ✅ TRADED TO FLORIDA PANTHERS
Age: 34
Contract: Pending UFA, $8.275 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 1st
Scoop: Giroux is the premier player available at the deadline and it isn’t particularly close. Since 2010, only three players have piled up more points than Giroux’s 826: Patrick Kane (926), Sidney Crosby (878) and Alex Ovechkin (865). That’s elite company. There is also some perfect numerology with Giroux closing out his career in Philadelphia with exactly 1,000 games and exactly 900 points. Giroux leaves the Flyers second only to Bobby Clarke in games played, assists and points. Giroux is also their longest-serving captain. What’s exciting about Giroux as an acquisition is not just his dogged compete and versatility to play center or wing, it’s also the possibility of freeing him to play without significant expectation. All of the focus has been on him for more than a decade to carry a team singlehandedly. In Florida or Colorado, that wouldn’t be the need or expectation, where he could blend in and pack a serious punch as a depth piece in his elusive chase for Lord Stanley.

2. Hampus Lindholm
Left Defense, Anaheim Ducks – ✅ TRADED TO BOSTON BRUINS
Age: 28
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.2 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 2nd
Scoop: Lindholm is on his way out. That much is clear. The Ducks and Lindholm were not able to find common ground on term, Anaheim believed to be not willing to go beyond five years. That cut short the total dollars in Lindholm’s pocket by an unmanageable margin. The ask for Lindholm has been a first-round pick, a Grade-A top prospect, plus another piece. The Ducks are willing to retain salary to make it happen. He is the premier defenseman available. Lindholm is well-rounded, does just about everything well, but doesn’t necessarily excel at any one specific area of the game. Surely, Lindholm will be due a raise from his $5.2-million AAV, but he doesn’t have the point production to command an extension like the eight-year, $60-million deal ($7.5-million AAV) signed by Morgan Rielly in Toronto earlier this season. Rielly was picked one spot ahead of Lindholm (No. 6 overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft.

3. Mark Giordano
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 38
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.75 million AAV – ✅ TRADED TO TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
📈 Last Rank: 7th
Scoop: The Maple Leafs are keeping a close eye on Giordano as a potential fit, and sources indicate if Giordano has his way, he’d like to head home to play for the blue and white. The key will be the price. Toronto is not interested in paying a first-round pick for just Giordano. That’s the asking price set by the Kraken. The Bruins are one of the other teams in on him, and he is clearly second in the pecking order behind Lindholm on the rental defense market. If all offers are equal, GM Ron Francis would like to send his captain to his desired destination. Officially, Giordano has input by submitting a 19-team “yes” list. Francis and Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas are close. Giordano is from Toronto. If the Leafs could launder Giordano’s money through a third-party broker in order to make the money work, he could be a fit to help settle down Toronto’s second pair.

4. Marc-Andre Fleury
Goaltender, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 37
Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 5th
Scoop: Fleury wants to win. Pure and simple. His goal is believed to be to get to an authentic Stanley Cup contender and help get it over the hump. Fleury also holds all the cards, with a 10-team no-trade list and a gentleman’s agreement with the Blackhawks that they’ll only send him where he wants to chase a Cup. Who needs a goaltender? Toronto, Edmonton, Vegas and Washington are the four teams looking for goaltenders. The question is: How has Fleury ranked these four teams in order of preference? And then the next question is: What will the acquisition cost be? The Blackhawks are looking for a first-round pick, but given the limiting factors discussed, that might not materialize.

5. Rickard Rakell
Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 28
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.789 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 9th
Scoop: If Monday’s trade of Josh Manson was any indication of GM Pat Verbeek’s direction, Rakell will soon follow out the door. Rakell was long considered the one of Anaheim’s three pending UFAs that seemed most likely to move. Lindholm and Manson get more fanfare, but Rakell has quietly just chugged along and continued to produce with an impressive consistency. In fact, through four fewer games, Rakell nearly doubled last season’s goal total (16) and collected the same number of points (28). Rakell’s talent has been on display, skating often with Trevor Zegras, and he’s part of Anaheim’s top power-play unit. With a relatively affordable cap hit, he’ll be a quality addition for a contending team.

6. Brandon Hagel
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks – ✅ TRADED TO TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Age: 23
Contract: 2 more seasons, $1.5 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 3rd
Scoop: Newly named GM Kyle Davidson did not mince words when he said that the Blackhawks are going to rebuild. What’s the best way to do that? Acquire as much draft capital as possible. If you’re looking for this year’s version of a Blake Coleman or Barclay Goodrow addition, look no further than Hagel, who has generated significant interest in Chicago. Hagel has an outside shot at 30 goals this season. But it’s his contract and cost certainty that are making teams drool. He is in first-round pick plus top prospect territory, which is understandable given the contract, his production and style of play. Provided that Davidson’s price is met, he’s a good bet to move.

[See also: Five candidates to be 2022’s version of Coleman and Goodrow.]

7. Nick Paul
Center / Left Wing, Ottawa Senators – ✅ TRADED TO TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Age: 26
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.35 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 8th
Scoop: The Sens have taken one last gasp at trying to keep Paul, but to this point, the two sides are not yet close. He appears to be trending toward hitting the market this summer. Ottawa’s January offer of a three-year deal at $6 million ($2 million per) was rebuffed. Paul is confident he can get a $3 million AAV this summer, and rightfully so. He is the Sens’ Swiss Army Knife. He is also on track to score 15 goals. The Sens value his contribution, his work ethic, his compete level. But they’ve got a lot of work to do to get to what the Paul camp believes is market value. This much is also clear: Given where the Senators are, they can ill afford to watch Paul walk for nothing.

8. Tyler Bertuzzi
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 27
Contract: 1 more season, $4.75 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 13th
Scoop: GM Steve Yzerman has let teams know that he is ‘Open for Business.’ The sense is just about everyone from the Wings roster is available aside from Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. That would include Bertuzzi, whose name first surfaced in rumors last summer. Bertuzzi has had a strong season, collecting a career-high 24 goals in just 50 games. He’s missed nine games as he’s unable to travel to Canada as one of two active NHL players to remain unvaccinated. Bertuzzi’s next point will mark a career best and he provides an edge, an element essential for playoff success. One team this week referred to Bertuzzi as “an incredibly annoying, slightly less skilled version of Brad Marchand.” That was a compliment.

9. Nick Leddy
Left Defense, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 30
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 32nd
Scoop: The Red Wings held Leddy out of Thursday’s game in Vancouver for asset protection and plan to do the same on Saturday night to wrap their road trip if a trade doesn’t materialize by then. At the right price, there will be considerable interest in Leddy, who has won a Stanley Cup and skated in four conference finals. He’s still only 30 and has already logged 830 career games. It’d be interesting to ask Barry Trotz if the Islanders miss him. He was a salary-cap casualty on the Island, but he’s been just about exactly as advertised in Detroit. Leddy is dependable, steady and can chip in the odd point from the point as a capable second unit power play guy. Leddy has missed only a small handful of games in his career and he’d be a solid option on the rental defense market.

10. Jakob Chychrun
Left Defense, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 23
Contract: 3 more seasons, $4.6 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 10th
Scoop: The Coyotes received good news on Chychrun’s ankle injury, it’s not expected to keep him out beyond two weeks. After watching the price paid for pending UFA Ben Chiarot this week, would teams be willing to spend a bit more to get a better player with three more years left on his deal at a manageable number? There has been no shortage of interested parties, including the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins. Perhaps it depends on Arizona’s willingness to make a deal. That has always been the confusing part: Why do the Coyotes want to move on from Chychrun? He was GM Bill Armstrong’s only ‘untouchable’ last season, coming off an 18-goal campaign as a defenseman in a shortened season. If Chychrun is gone, especially for more futures, it becomes difficult to imagine what Arizona would have to build around in future years. That’s also why the reported ask from Arizona has also been high: four pieces, including a first-round pick, prospects, and maybe an NHL-ready goaltender.

11. Max Domi
Left Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.3 million
📈 Last Rank: 17th
Scoop: The expectation is talk on Domi will heat up in the coming days before the deadline. There’s no doubt the Blue Jackets are interested in moving Domi to a suitor before the deadline as an expiring contract. They gave up a lot (Josh Anderson) to get him two years ago. Properly slotted, Domi could be a fantastic addition for a playoff team in a middle-six role. Domi is three years removed from a 28-goal and 72-point campaign in Montreal. If there is a silver lining, it’s that Domi has remained relatively productive this season and he’s done it all at even strength with relatively limited ice time (13:29). He’s collected four points in his last four games leading up to March 21.

12. Brock Boeser
Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 24
Contract: Pending RFA, $5.875 million AAV ($7.5 mil. minimum qualifying offer)
↔️ Last Rank: 12th
Scoop: There is no rush to trade Boeser. Also no guarantee that it happens before the deadline. Few Canucks have benefitted more from Bruce Boudreau than Boeser, who has 13 goals in 34 games. Keep in mind: Jim Rutherford has repeatedly stressed that creating salary-cap flexibility is key. There are other roster players that can achieve space and freedom, but there is a sense the Canucks are not sold Boeser’s play will be commensurate with the large qualifying offer due to him this summer, which makes him a prime candidate to move.

13. Tyler Motte
Left/Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.225 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 16th
Scoop: To this point, there has been little progress made on extension talks with Motte to suggest an extension is in short order. The Canucks are in the playoff chase, but hanging by a thread and the math is not in their favor. Motte is the only player, only rental the Canucks truly have to make a decision on this spring ahead of the deadline. The fan favorite has proven he can reliably drive his own line, he’s versatile in Vancouver, and he’s been more productive than most would realize. Motte, 27, has scored 14 goals in his last 82 games played. There is a deal to be had to keep Motte, but it will depend if Vancouver is philosophically inclined to essentially double the salary of a bottom-six forward.

14. Damon Severson
Right Defense, New Jersey Devils
Age: 27
Contract: 1 more season, $4.17 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 14th
Scoop: Severson is a homegrown Devil and has played all 545 of his NHL games with New Jersey since being drafted in the second round back in 2012. He has played top-pair minutes for each of the last four seasons, averaging 23:29 this season. He is seen as a No. 2 defenseman, a blueliner who can move the puck well and is efficient exiting the zone. At the other end of the ice, Severson can make things happen by finding seams and excels at walking the blueline to create opportunity. With P.K. Subban unlikely to return, why would the Devils move Severson? He may not be the best stylistic fit, because, like Dougie Hamilton, Severson struggles to defend at times. And, when Severson’s six-year deal expires after next season, he will be due a sizable raise. There is value in Severson now.

15. Sean Monahan
Center, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Contract: 1 more season, $6.375 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 15th
Scoop: It’s not the Flames’ preference to move Monahan now, at the lowest his trade value has ever been. But the Flames are lurking in the weeds as a sneaky team that could take another big swing over the next six days. Calgary would need to move money in order to make that happen and the hard truth is, Monahan is a $6.4 million luxury they cannot afford (now, or next season if they’re keeping Johnny Gaudreau) as a fourth-line center. It’s been a tough couple seasons for Monahan. Teams are intrigued to see if they could reboot the 27-year-old that you used to be able to reliably pencil in for 30 and 30 every season.

16. Jack McBain
Center, Minnesota Wild
Age: 22
Contract: Pending UFA, unsigned prospect – ✅ TRADED TO ARIZONA COYOTES
📈 Last Rank: 21st
Scoop: The Canadian Olympian and Boston College Eagles leading scorer, McBain, is just a few months away from UFA status on Aug. 15 and won’t be signing with the Wild. Minnesota has given his advisor permission to speak to other NHL teams to broker a trade. It’s possible the Wild could then flip those assets to acquire rental help at the deadline. That would be ideal. It’s also important to point out: There is no absolute need to get this done before March 21; McBain’s rights can be traded beyond the deadline and he could still play in the NHL this season to burn the first year of his contract. He just wouldn’t be eligible for the playoffs.

17. Andrew Copp
Left Wing / Center, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.64 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 18th
Scoop: It’s gotten more interesting in the last couple weeks, but the math is still daunting for Winnipeg to make the playoffs. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said a couple weeks back it was too early to have those conversations, but it feels like the time is nigh for a squad with Stanley Cup aspirations that is on pace for 89 points. The Jets have given Cheveldayoff and their fanbase little reason to believe it’s not in the franchise’s best interest to sell off pieces like Copp, a conscientious player who was off to by far the best start of his career with 20 points in his first 24 games. The Jets and Copp settled on a one-year deal after an arbitration filing last summer, which walked him to free agency this year.

18. Alexandar Georgiev
Goaltender, New York Rangers
Age: 25
Contract: Pending RFA, $2.425 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 20th
Scoop: We previously reported that, in addition to checking in on Fleury, the Golden Knights also inquired about Georgiev. The Rangers have been making calls in an attempt to move Georgiev, provided GM Chris Drury can find another veteran that he’d be comfortable with as an insurance policy on Hart Trophy candidate Igor Shesterkin. There is almost no path to Georgiev being a Ranger next season. Georgiev was a staple on the Trade Target board last summer after placing what we’d call a ‘soft’ trade request with the Rangers. He let the team be known he was open to a change of scenery, ready for a starter’s workload elsewhere. He’s not wrong: Over five NHL seasons, Georgiev has a career save percentage of .908. The league average is .904 this season.

19. Pavel Zacha
Left Wing / Center, New Jersey Devils
Age: 24
Contract: Pending RFA, Arbitration Eligible
↔️ Last Rank: 19th
Scoop: Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is exploring a whole host of options to shake up the roster over the next number of months and Zacha is one of those intriguing options. He has value. He views himself as a center, but he’s more often been slotted as a winger on a team that has plenty of center depth. There’s seemingly no room for him. He’s also going to be due a somewhat significant raise this summer and is arbitration eligible, so the question is: Are the Devils comfortable paying Zacha the bump? Zacha is on track for his first career 20-goal season. He has reportedly been connected to the Vancouver Canucks. He could be part of a package that includes Boeser (No. 6 above) as the Devils were believed to have gone deep on Boeser in the last couple years on deals that never quite got done.

20. Anton Forsberg
Goaltender, Ottawa Senators
Age: 29
Contract: Pending UFA, $900,000 AAV
📈 Last Rank: 28th
Scoop: A number of teams are interested in Forsberg’s services as a potentially less expensive deadline option in net. Forsberg has quietly put together an excellent season. He has a winning record (13-12-2) on the 29th-place team with a .916 save percentage, well above league average. Perhaps the Sens would like to re-sign Forsberg, which would make sense for next season and beyond, as they’d like to shore up their goaltending once and for all. But it might be too tempting to get something in return for Forsberg now.

21. Owen Tippett
Right Wing, Florida Panthers – ✅ TRADED TO PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Age: 23
Contract: Pending RFA, $863,000 AAV
📈 Last Rank: 40th
Scoop: The Panthers held Tippett out of the AHL Charlotte Checkers lineup on Thursday to protect the asset ahead of a likely trade. Is he heading to the Flyers’ organization? Tippett is a name Florida has previously dangled, a high draft pick dating back to a previous regime who has not been able carve out a regular role for himself in the NHL after 94 career games. He is an exceptional shooter, working to fill out other parts of his game. He’s also likely motivated for an opportunity. Tippett is the reigning AHL player of the week after posting four goals and eight points in four games last week.

22. Filip Zadina
Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 22
Contract: Pending RFA, $894,167 AAV
📉 Last Rank: 15th
Scoop: There was no shortage of excitement around Zadina when the Red Wings selected him at No. 6 overall in 2018. GM Steve Yzerman doesn’t tip his hand, but the sense league-wide is a change of scenery is in order for Zadina. Teams perked up when Zadina spent six games on the top line from Feb. 9-26, seeing it as a ‘showcase’ opportunity ahead of a potential trade. He scored twice in those six games, putting him on track for 11 goals in 79 games. Zadina is a gifted shooter, but the knock on him is that he’s become more of a perimeter player – and only a select few players (Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos) can consistently score in today’s NHL from the outside. Zadina was also a healthy scratch on Jan. 4 and his ice time is down more than two and a half minutes from last season, which is a lot considering the recent bump on the first line is already factored into the equation.

23. Carson Soucy
Left Defense, Seattle Kraken
Age: 27
Contract: 1 more season, $2.75 million AAV
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: Soucy seems to check a lot of boxes for playoff teams. He has size (6-foot-5), the perfect build to be a hard-nosed, third-pairing blueliner on a contending team. Soucy can chip in a little offense from the back end, and he’s on track for 13 goals over an 82-game season. He’s got term on his contract at a manageable $2.75 million hit for next season. There’s certainly no harm in the Kraken keeping him, but he probably has more value elsewhere.

24. Alexander Barabanov
Left Wing, San Jose Sharks
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $1 million AAV
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: The Sharks were rightfully focused on Tomas Hertl, but Barabanov is another pending UFA who should generate some interest. They’d ideally like to re-sign him. Barabanov has been a solid fit since the Sharks acquired him at last year’s deadline, scoring 12 goals and 37 points in 61 games in teal. He is also currently prominently featured on San Jose’s top line alongside Hertl. Is that to showcase Barabanov, or to give Hertl a look at a potential linemate for future years?

25. Calvin de Haan
Left Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 30
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.55 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 38th
Scoop: The Bruins are one of the teams that has been eyeing de Haan, but teams say the asking price is high from Chicago. The left side of Boston’s defense has been a black hole, so that makes sense. He’s struggled at times this season, like most of Chicago’s blueline, but would be an decent third-pair option on a strong team. de Haan is 20th in the NHL in blocked shots since the start of the 2013-14 season.

26. Justin Braun
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 35
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.8 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 35th
Scoop: Like most Flyers, Braun has struggled at times this season. However, he is one of just four right-shooting defensemen available on the Trade Target board, and that means something. There can never be enough righties on the roster. He also has 100 games of playoff experience. Braun’s minutes have actually increased this season, which probably wasn’t in the Flyers’ plans, and he’s managed a plus-three on a team that has the 30th-best goal differential (minus-57) in the NHL.

27. Colin Miller
Right Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 29
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.875 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 33rd
Scoop: Scouts got an eye on Miller on Thursday night in Edmonton, playing his first game since Jan. 15 as a result of an “upper-body” injury. He collected an assist in 17:27 of ice time. It doesn’t feel that long ago, but Miller is four years removed from an incredibly impressive 41-point season as an Original Misfit with the Golden Knights. He’s languished a bit in Buffalo and would appreciate a chance to bounce back on a playoff team as a right-shooting defenseman in a contract year.

28. Joonas Donskoi
Right Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 29
Contract: 1 more season, $3.9 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 25th
Scoop: The Kraken opted for Donskoi over J.T. Compher in last summer’s Expansion Draft, taking the older and slightly more expensive player, who has also had much higher scoring. This season probably could not have gone much worse for Donskoi, who feels like a square peg in a round hole. After seasons with 14, 14, 16 and 17 goals (the latter of which was a 27-goal pace last year in Colorado in a shortened season), Donskoi has just two goals in 57 games. Two goals. Given his track record, teams would certainly be interested in a player likely to rebound from an abysmal 3.0-percent shooting mark, who has term on his contract and has scored four Stanley Cup playoff game-winning goals. Just scoring one GWG in the playoffs would make a trade worth it – and would probably feel pretty damn good for Donskoi, too.

29. Phil Kessel
Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 34
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.8 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 36th
Scoop: The New York Rangers are one team interested in Kessel. The NHL’s second all-time ironman has ground it out in the desert, on pace for the lowest goal output of his career (eight) including his rookie season. Could a trade potentially rekindle some of the Kessel playoff magic that nearly netted him a Conn Smythe Trophy? He’ll cost mere pennies in actual dollars, since his salary this season due by the Coyotes is just $850,000 ($150,000 paid by Leafs) – it could cost somewhere around $250,000 in cash plus acquisition cost to roll the dice on Phil the Thrill, depending on when the trigger is pulled.

30. Kasperi Kapanen
Right Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 25
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.2 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 26th
Scoop: Kapanen was a healthy scratch last Friday for the first time this season. The Penguins are in a tough spot: They don’t have cap space, they don’t want to trade future assets to help a core long in the tooth chase one last Cup, yet they’d probably like to try to improve. Who can they move? Enter Kapanen. To be sure, the Penguins would be more than fine keeping Kapanen through the deadline. His arbitration case likely starts with a $4 (million) in front of it. When this mercurial winger is on, he’s incredibly talented and can be a significant contributor to a winning team, but there are many stretches where he goes missing.

31. Jeff Petry
Right Defense, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 34
Contract: 3 more seasons, $6.25 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 27th
Scoop: A trade for Petry may well wait until the summer to materialize, but Habs GM Kent Hughes is trying. He said: “If we can find a trade that works for us and another team, we’re going to do it. But it has to work.” Translation: We’re not giving him away. Yes, it’s been a disastrous season for Petry (and the Canadiens) for a whole host of reasons. Some of them probably are personal; Petry’s family is living back in the U.S. in part because of the coronavirus restrictions in Quebec. The other part is the total erosion of support on the ice. Petry scored 170 points over the last four seasons. His salary cap hit may require some massaging by Montreal, but teams aren’t under the disillusion that he forgot how to play hockey this season.

32. Mackenzie Blackwood
Goaltender, New Jersey Devils
Age: 25
Contract: 1 more season, $2.8 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 29th
Scoop: Two years ago, Blackwood appeared to be on a trajectory similar to that of Igor Shesterkin, his Rangers counterpart across the Hudson River. Blackwood could have carried the torch for Martin Brodeur in an organization that’s been blessed in net. Now, there are significant question marks about Blackwood’s game and his long-term future in New Jersey as the Devils explore all of their options. Blackwood is working his way back to the lineup after a left heel injury. He may be ready to go before the trade deadline. The Devils are in the process of asking themselves: When healthy, what are the odds Blackwood’s game rebounds to the level we saw a couple years ago? Or will they find the answer to that question watching him play elsewhere?

33. Jake DeBrusk
Left Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 25
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.675 million AAV ($4.41 mil. minimum qualifying offer)
📉 Last Rank: 30th
Scoop: DeBrusk has cooled off again, going five straight without a point after netting eight goals in an eight-game stretch. His December trade request was well publicized, grabbing headlines and generating interest. Four months ago, as many 12 teams were reportedly interested – and he has not changed his mind. The trade request still stands. Bruins GM Don Sweeney went around team to team offering DeBrusk for another (mostly) maligned or imperfect player on that team’s roster but, to this point, hasn’t found a deal that’s worked for the Bruins. Will that change now? Or will the Bruins suddenly need to keep the productive winger?

34. Artturi Lehkonen
Left Wing, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 26
Contract: Pending RFA, $2.3 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 31st
Scoop: The Habs seem to have little appetite to trade Lehkonen. However, they have received calls, and we have to at least allow for the possibility that the Canadiens get an offer they cannot refuse. Lehkonen is also one of the hottest players in the league over the last stretch. He plays the game with a Selke-style fervor in his own end, a true 200-foot compete level that is hard to find. Lehkonen also seems to have found the offensive side of his game under Marty St. Louis, now producing at a level last seen during his 18-goal rookie season. That also means he will not be cheap to re-sign as an RFA with arbitration rights.

35. Ryan Carpenter
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 31
Contract: Pending UFA, $1 million AAV
📉 Last Rank: 34th
Scoop: Carpenter has begun to percolate on the list of potential fits for playoff teams. His salary cap hit is the right price, he’s been on a deep playoff run before in Vegas, and he’s reliable. Would a reunion with Gerard Gallant in Manhattan be in order? Carpenter is a hard-working, defensive-minded center who blocks shots, wins draws, kills penalties and is always in the right position in the defensive zone. Sounds like a prototypical deadline acquisition.

36. Zach Sanford
Left Wing, Ottawa Senators
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $2 million AAV
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: Sanford finds himself on the fourth line in the nation’s capital, playing out the string in what’s probably been a disappointing season for all involved. He was acquired for a fourth-round pick and Logan Brown in September. Sanford hit 30 points two seasons ago in St. Louis, where he helped the Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019 by scoring in Game 7.

37. Paul Stastny
Center, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 36
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.75 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: NR
Scoop: There seemingly has not been as much buzz about Stastny, who has quietly turned back the clock and put up some of the best numbers over his last decade in his 36-year-old season with Winnipeg. The steady Stastny is reliable and has appeared in 103 Stanley Cup playoff games. He’s been on three runs to the Western Conference final, but has never broken through to the Final, still chasing that elusive Cup.

38. Joonas Korpisalo
Goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.8 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 16th
Scoop: The Blue Jackets have struggled to find a suitor for Korpisalo, whom they’d accept a late-round pick for at this point. It’s difficult to envision Columbus not at least getting something for him in a season in which they’re not going to make the playoffs. Because it’s the Elvis Merzlikins Show in Columbus, now and for the foreseeable future. Merzlikins has carried the Blue Jackets and next year begins a fresh five-year, $27-million deal. Plus, the Blue Jackets have Daniil Tarasov eventually waiting in the wings. Korpisalo has not put in a formal trade request, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen is aware that Korpisalo would be open to an opportunity to play elsewhere.

39. Brenden Dillon
Left Defense, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 31
Contract: 2 more seasons, $3.9 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 39th
Scoop: How might the Jets shake up their roster outside of their available UFAs? Dillon may be one option, as he’s essentially Ben Chiarot, but with two more seasons of term on his contract. They are similar stylistic players, although Dillon is a year older. Winnipeg acquired Dillon for two second-round picks last summer. Could they potentially get one first-round pick for Dillon now, if Chiarot is going to fetch the same but on an expiring contract?

40. Alexandre Texier
Winger / Center, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 22
Contract: 1 year remaining, $1.525 million AAV
📈 Last Rank: 42nd
Scoop: The Blue Jackets granted Texier an indefinite leave of absence last week for personal reasons. Texier has missed the last six weeks with a finger injury, but he appeared to be inching closer to a return to the ice. When healthy, he has shown the top-end skill and panache that make him an intriguing player with potential for more. He isn’t yet an elite-level facilitator or goal scorer, but could continue to develop into one or the other, or both. His current rate of production is impressive, on track for 25 goals over a full 82-game slate at this pace. Texier’s effort and compete level are solid, too – which is a nice complement to the flash and dash that’s a big part of his game. The acquisition cost would be significant. The opportunity for Columbus might be to sell Texier at the highest his value has ever been in the NHL.

41. Victor Olofsson
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 26
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.05 million AAV ($3.25 mil. minimum qualifying offer)
📈 Last Rank: 43rd
Scoop: Olofsson burst onto the scene two seasons ago with a surprising 20-goal season in just 54 games. A big chunk of those goals were on the power play with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart feeding him the puck. They’ve both moved on and Olofsson could be next. Olofsson’s production has dwindled; his 82-game pace is 18 goals. Despite that, Olofsson is likely due a raise by virtue of being arbitration eligible this summer. Will the Sabres want to pay him? Arbitration was already filed once. With his career numbers (46 goals in 167 games), he’s likely looking at an award in the $4.25-million range.

42. Mason Appleton
Right Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 26
Contract: Pending RFA, $900,000 AAV
📈 Last Rank: 44th
Scoop: Appleton has popped up on the radar of some teams as a player with potential to do more. The 2015 sixth-round pick, once considered one of the bright young prospects in Winnipeg’s organization, is already now 26. His numbers (like many others) have gone the other way in Seattle, with his goal production cut in half this year with the Kraken. Seattle is willing to listen on just about everyone on their roster and Appleton has intrigue since he’s under team control.

43. Jack Roslovic
Center, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 24
Contract: Pending RFA, $1.838 million AAV ($2.21 mil. minimum qualifying offer)
📈 Last Rank: 45th
Scoop: Roslovic is a name that may surprise some. The Blue Jackets brought the Columbus kid home as part of the Patrik Laine for Pierre-Luc Dubois swap. Dubois has flourished in Winnipeg this season. Roslovic started hot last season, with 29 points in his first 35 games as a Jacket. But he’s cooled off since then. This year, Roslovic has 29 points in 61 games. We’re told Roslovic is available in Columbus. Perhaps the biggest telltale sign is his ice time. It’s down more than four full minutes per game this season – a huge drop – from 16:54 to 12:42. Teams have questions about Roslovic’s work ethic, and maybe Columbus does, too.

44. Jaroslav Halak
Goaltender, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 36
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.5 million AAV ($1.5 million potential bonus)
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: The Canucks have been working the phones in an attempt to move Halak, though he still holds the hammer with a full no-move veto. The sense is he would accept a trade under the right circumstances. He would like a chance to win, of course, but his real goal is to play games. Vancouver can negotiate to move part of his $1.25 million bonus payable at the end of the season off their cap to a new team in a trade.

45. Michael Del Zotto
Left Defense, Ottawa Senators
Age: 31
Contract: 1 more season, $2 million AAV
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: Del Zotto hasn’t played in the NHL since U.S. Thanksgiving in November and there are still only four Senators defensemen with more points than him this season. He collected six in his first 10 games after signing a two-year, $4 million deal, and was promptly buried in Belleville. He’s been north of a point-per-game since the AHL and the Sens would save $500,000 by retaining half on a trade instead of buying him out this summer.

46. Brett Kulak
Left Defense, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.8 million
↔️ Last Rank: 46th
Scoop: The Habs’ ask for Kulak was a reportedly a second-round pick not long ago. Shoot your shot, I guess, if you’re the Canadiens. This deadline is shaping up to be a buyer’s market, though, and it sure feels like left-shooting, rental blueliners who can make the same impact as Kulak will be available for much less in the last hour of the deadline.

47. Robert Hagg
Left Defense, Buffalo Sabres – ✅ TRADED TO FLORIDA PANTHERS
Age: 27
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.6 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 47th
Scoop: Hagg is a serviceable third-pairing defenseman, or an excellent depth option on a contending team. He was included in last summer’s trade from Philadelphia to Buffalo for Rasmus Ristolainen and his minutes have increased with the Sabres. Perhaps most importantly, His acquisition cost should be reasonable for a depth add.

48. Dominik Kubalik
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 26
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.7 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 48th
Scoop: Looking back, it was only two seasons ago that Kubalik burst onto the scene with a 30-goal season out of the clear blue. That was only in 68 games, too. Kubalik hasn’t been able to get back to that level, but perhaps the Hawks can drum up some interest in the Czech who has still managed to hit the double digit goal mark in each of his three NHL seasons.

49. Johan Larsson
Left Wing / Center, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 29
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.4 million AAV
🆕 Last Rank: NR
Scoop: Larsson has generated some interest in the last days ahead of the deadline as a relatively inexpensive depth add. His offensive numbers are never going to wow anyone, but he’s a conscientious 200-foot player who can play both left wing and center. He’s close to returning from injury, his cap hit is affordable and the price may be right.

50. J.T. Miller
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 28
Contract: 1 more season, $5.25 million AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 50th
Scoop: There is no evidence to suggest that Miller is available right now in Vancouver. His play, his contract, his status as one of the drivers of that Canucks team make him indispensable – particularly in the the thick of a playoff chase. There is also no rush. So why does he land on the list? Considering the Canucks had previously entertained conversations, you have to at least allow for the possibility that a team like the New York Rangers comes along with a Godfather-type offer.

Next Up: Vitali Kravtsov
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 21
Contract: Pending RFA, $925,000 AAV
↔️ Last Rank: 49th
Scoop: There is no change to Kravtsov’s status with the NHL, even after the league severed all ties with Russia’s KHL on Monday. Kravtsov is under NHL contract. The No. 9 overall pick from the 2018 NHL Draft has been on loan with KHL Chelyabinsk after refusing an assignment to the AHL in October. Kravtsov has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 19 games since returning to Russia. New agent Dan Milstein has permission to find a new home for Kravtsov, but it hasn’t been easy.

After him: RW Nicolas Deslauriers, Anaheim – ✅ TRADED TO MINNESOTA WILD

Traded: Ben Chiarot (No. 4), Calle Jarnkrok (No. 11).

Re-Signed: Tomas Hertl, Joe Pavelski.

Previous Editions: March 15, March 10, March 3, Feb. 21, Feb. 17, Jan. 6, Dec. 2.