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<p>The NHL trade deadline isn’t until March 3, but the rumor mill has been in full force for a few months now.</p>



<p>With just over a month to go until the deadline, we’ve got you covered every day at <em>Daily Faceoff</em> with one trade-focused story leading up to Deadline Day.</p>



<p>With the battle for Connor Bedard heating up, many of the league’s bottom feeders will be in heavy sell mode this year – and a few of them own coveted trade targets, too. Frank Seravalli has done an excellent job breaking down trade targets over the past month, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/trade-talks-heating-up-with-canucks-bo-horvat-no-1-on-latest-trade-targets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">so check out his board here.</a></p>



<p>Today, we’re looking at five sellers with substantial assets available. Most of the players are pending UFAs – potential rentals, or others just needing a change of scenery. Others are players on deals past this season that could provide the missing piece for contenders looking to solidify their core. So let’s get to it:</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2023-trade-deadline-countdown-33-days">2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 33 days</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-vancouver-canucks">1. Vancouver Canucks</h2>



<p><em>Who’s available: Bo Horvat (F, 27), Luke Schenn (D, 33), Brock Boeser (F, 25)</em></p>



<p>The Canucks should be the busiest seller at the deadline – and if fans had their say, it would be a complete firesale. <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/rental-or-trade-and-sign-the-potential-trade-paths-of-vancouver-canucks-bo-horvat/">Bo Horvat is the top player on the market</a> this year after already surpassing the 30-goal barrier and is in the last year of a deal that pays him $5 million. The goal for GM Patrik Allvin will be maximizing their return for Horvat, and it’s not going to be easy with so many contenders so close to the salary cap.</p>



<p>Defenseman Luke Schenn has been excellent for the Canucks this year and has a cap hit of just $850,000. His physicality, leadership and Stanley Cup experience make him a valuable, inexpensive depth option for just about any team. He’ll be the easiest to move, but, again, it’s all about maximizing value for a fan favorite.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p>Brock Boeser has less of a chance of being moved but is worth keeping an eye on. Boeser’s $6.65 million cap hit until 2025 would be a good one to move to clear cap space, but that’s a tougher contract to unload due to the remaining term. Still, he’s on pace for more than 50 points, so a team with extra space might be willing to take a look and hope he recaptures the potential he showed when he first entered the league. Breakout KHL import Andrei Kuzmenko was a pending UFA <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/vancouver-canucks-sign-andrei-kuzmenko-to-two-year-extension/">but signed a two-year deal on Thursday</a>, so he likely he isn’t going anywhere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-chicago-blackhawks">2. Chicago Blackhawks</h2>



<p><em>Who’s available: Patrick Kane (F, 34), Jonathan Toews (F, 34), Max Domi (F, 27), Jake McCabe (D, 29) Andreas Athanasiou (F, 28), Jack Johnson (D, 36)</em></p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<p>To trade Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews or not to trade Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews? Shakespeare’s age-old question will keep Chicago Blackhawks fans on edge until the deadline hits. The team still isn’t sure if either will be moved or if they’ll end up finishing their careers with the only team they’ve ever played for. Both are 34, pending UFAs and coming off $10.5 million AAV deals. There’s no way either makes close to that ever again, regardless of where they go. The Hawks would have to eat a lot of the salary to move them, and they can definitely afford to do it, but it has to make sense if they’re going to say goodbye to two of the best players in franchise history.</p>



<p>Max Domi and Jake McCabe are two players who look like they’ll be on the move. Domi has been revitalized a bit in Chicago, sitting on pace for just under 60 points – something he hasn’t done since getting 72 in Montreal in 2018-19. He looks comfortable in Chicago, but his type of production – plus his $3 million AAV until the summer – makes him an excellent scoring addition for teams needing extra help. And then there’s McCabe, with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHcNMmXSmmA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seravalli saying several teams</a>, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, are interested in McCabe’s services. He is 29 and has three years left on his $4 million AAV deal, but he’s playing well and should maintain value for the duration of his contract.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="248"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-arizona-coyotes">3. Arizona Coyotes</h2>



<p><em>Who’s available:</em> <em>Jakob Chychrun (D, 24), Shayne Gostisbehere (D, 29), Nick Bjugstad (F, 30)</em></p>



<p>The Coyotes have been in a rebuild for as long as anyone can remember, and it might finally be the year that they move 24-year-old defenseman Jakob Chychrun. He’s signed for another two seasons, so the Coyotes haven’t been willing to move him just for the sake of moving him, but they know they can get the most assets out of a trade sooner rather than later, whether it be a couple of first-rounders or a noteworthy prospect. The biggest issue is Chychrun’s injury history, including a wrist ailment that made him miss a large chunk to start the season. When healthy, Chychrun can be an offensive leader from the point – but are teams willing to pay the price for someone who has never cracked the 70-game mark?</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>



<p>Shayne Gostisbehere and his $4.5 million cap hit might be of interest if you’re craving puck-moving blueliners. He’s a talented blueliner that has proven he can put up 50 points a year, but he is currently <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/arizona-coyotes-defenseman-shayne-gostisbehere-to-miss-more-than-a-month-with-injury/">out with an injury himself</a>. After a couple of tough years in Philadelphia, he has seemingly found his mojo again with the Coyotes but would be a good pickup for teams in the Cup hunt.</p>



<p>On a lesser scale, Nick Bjugstad could be of use. He’s making just $900,00 and can be a 30-point player. He’s got a massive frame at 6-foot-6 and 209 pounds, so he can be the rugged, Nick Paul-esque player you can throw in for some extra scoring and added toughness. I think he’s got the best chance of being moved of the three, but he’s not the high-profile catch teams are looking for. Regardless, there should be no shortage of suitors here.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-st-louis-blues">4. St. Louis Blues</h2>



<p><em>Who’s available: Vladimir Tarasenko (F, 31), Ivan Barbashev (F, 27), Ryan O’Reilly (F, 31)</em></p>



<p>From a pure quality perspective, the Blues have one of the deepest pending UFA groups around. But the Blues are still in the playoff hunt, and while they’ll need a killer second half to make it work, they could elect to stay status quo or add instead of subtracting if GM Doug Armstrong believes they still have a shot.</p>



<p>Vladimir Tarasenko’s name has been in the rumor mill for a few seasons now. He was on pace for around 70 points before getting injured on New Year’s Eve and, when healthy, he’s still a top winger in the league. Staying healthy has been an incredible challenge, but you can’t get much better out of a rental player right now.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<p>Ryan O’Reilly is another notable rental, but he’s still out with a broken foot. He’s having a miserable season and, on many contenders, might only be a No. 3 center at this point. There’s a risk taking on a player coming back from an injury, especially when the previous workload proved too much for him. You can do so much worse deep in your lineup, though; a change of scenery could do wonders for the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner.</p>



<p>Ivan Barbashev is also struggling compared to his 60-point output a year ago, but that’s not all his fault. Barbashev could still hit 40 points this year and, given his $2.25 million cap hit, he’s a piece you might add in addition to something else. Barbashev might be one of the most undervalued players this year due to his poor production, but if I’m a contending team needing some inexpensive scoring depth, I’m calling about Barbashev.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="156"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-montreal-canadiens">5. Montreal Canadiens</h2>



<p><em>Who’s available: Sean Monahan (F, 28), Evgenii Dadonov (F, 33), Jonathan Drouin (F, 27)</em>,<em> Joel Edmundson (D, 29)</em></p>



<p>With Cole Caufield out for the year and Juraj Slafkovsky out three months, the Canadiens have as good of an opportunity as possible of landing the first overall pick. The Canadiens could have two picks in the top 10 after acquiring Florida’s pick in a trade last year. </p>



<p>So, with the Habs taking the evident long-term approach here, the team managed to acquire two solid trade assets over the summer in Sean Monahan and Evgenii Dadonov. Monahan has missed some significant time due to injury, but he has 17 points in 25 games and has been an otherwise bright spot for a team that clearly has one thing on its mind. Monahan is on pace for his first 40-point season since 2019-20, a year after he had 82 points. As a pending UFA, you can do far worse in adding a middle-six forward that can win faceoffs and bring size and creativity. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="8" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="172"></div>



<p>As for Dadonov and Drouin, both have struggled this season, with Drouin failing to score in 28 games this year. He’s out until February, so he won’t have much runway before a trade. In Dadonov’s case, he won’t draw much of a return with a $5 million AAV and just 13 points to show for. He had 43 a year ago with Vegas, but long gone are the days when he was putting up 65-70 points a year.</p>



<p>Joel Edmundson’s name has been in trade rumors for a while, given his status as a big, shutdown defenseman. He’s day to day with<a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/montreal-canadiens-joel-edmundson-out-day-to-day-with-injury/"> a mysterious upper-or-lower-body injury</a>. It would benefit the Canadiens to keep him around to offset the young blueline the team currently has, but GM Kent Hughes will need to listen to every offer.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="9" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p><strong>Honorable mention: </strong>The San Jose Sharks have some potentially high-impact assets in forward Timo Meier and defenseman Erik Karlsson, not to mention goaltender James Reimer as a depth piece to dangle. But with a Karlsson trade <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/why-an-erik-karlsson-trade-is-a-tall-order-for-the-san-jose-sharks/">too complicated to be likely</a>, the Sharks narrowly miss the top five.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recently-by-steven-ellis">Recently by Steven Ellis</h2>



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