<p>With less than a week until the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline, we continue to provide at least one deadline-focused story per day on Daily Faceoff. Today, we try to predict which depth addition might be that final piece of someone’s Stanley Cup puzzle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2024-nhl-trade-deadline-countdown-6-days">2024 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 6 days</h2>



<p>We’re six days out from the Trade Deadline. Maybe <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/trade-targets-noah-hanifin-is-holding-the-calgary-flames-hostage-in-trade-talks/">the list of potentially available names</a> isn’t as sexy as it was a year ago. But there are undoubtedly difference makers out there.</p>



<p>No name pops more than Jake Guentzel’s. But historically, the Stanley Cup-winning teams are already full of elite talent and trade for complementary pieces to put them over the top rather than reaching on the big stars.</p>



<p>So who is that complementary piece this year?&nbsp;<strong>Who will be the Trade Deadline acquisition that puts an elite team over the top</strong>? Think Artturi Lehkonen in 2022 and Ivan Barbashev in 2023.</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="145"></div>



<p><strong>MATT LARKIN: </strong>For the record, my original answer was Chris Tanev, but he was traded before this story was published. My new pick: <strong>Anthony Duclair.&nbsp;</strong>He’s been a forgotten man in San Jose this season. But he’s a different player when placed in a winning situation. His speed made him dangerous during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. During one stretch&nbsp;last postseason he had 11 points in a 14-game span. He’s not the most consistent player&nbsp;but he has the ability to put opponents on their heels with his wheels and could be a nice addition to a contender’s top nine.</p>



<p><strong>SCOTT MAXWELL:&nbsp;</strong>Thankfully, this is an easy answer for me because <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/seven-nhl-players-scoring-at-elite-levels-of-efficiency-this-season/">my most recent piece</a> revealed it to me. As Matt said, sometimes the biggest difference makers are the complementary pieces that a team can add for a lesser cost, and for me, that’s&nbsp;<strong>Anthony Mantha</strong>&nbsp;this season. If a team looking to add offense strikes out on Guentzel or Pavel Buchnevich, Mantha is a sneaky good add as a depth-scoring option. While his 18 goals in 54 games isn’t overly crazy, it’s the rate at which he’s scoring that is more impressive, as his 1.55 5v5 goals per 60 minutes ranks fifth&nbsp;in the league. Imagine him scoring at that pace in Edmonton on Leon Draisaitl’s wing instead of Warren Foegele, or giving the Colorado Avalanche another scoring option beyond their top line. It might be tough to make the money work, but if a team has the space, you could probably nab him without giving up a first-round pick or a top prospect since the Capitals have been trying to give him away for years.</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="276"></div>



<p><strong>COLBY COHEN: </strong>Frank’s off the cuff bold prediction that I asked him for in the final minutes of<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU--hi_aUxNDuwfV6VnZbI21KcIbuNyCZ"> Morning Cuppa Hockey</a> this week was that the Rangers would be the most active team come trade deadline. Well now imagine <strong>Scott Laughton</strong> in that lineup? He’s a fierce two-way guy who’s not afraid to go into high-danger areas. He’d sacrifice himself on a penalty kill, not to mention the former first-round pick can move up the lineup in a pinch. He’s the type of player that fits anywhere with anyone immediately. With the new habits he’s learned from playing under Torts, I think he could walk into New York and help push them over the edge to the Cup.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>STEVEN ELLIS:</strong>&nbsp;I’m going with&nbsp;<strong>Brandon Duhaime</strong>. Yeah, I know, not a big name. But the teams that acquire the bigger names typically don’t end up winning the Stanley Cup, anyways. It’s the depth guys that tend to make the biggest impact. With Duhaime, a contending team is getting someone you don’t need to use every game, but as your lineup gets more tired and worn out, he’ll go out and bring the energy and the speed you need. He can shoot the puck for sure, but offense isn’t his game – and he won’t cost much, either.</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="214"></div>



<p><strong>FRANK SERAVALLLI: </strong>Those were some interesting choices here, boys.&nbsp; I’m going to go with&nbsp;<strong>Pavel Buchnevich</strong>. He’s not a traditional deadline guy because he has one more year left at $5.8 million, but that makes him the perfect addition. You get the best of both worlds – a huge bump for this year’s playoff run, then one more year of a point-per-game player at south of $6 million. It’s wild to me how little attention Buchnevich receives for being at that level. In 193 games with the St. Louis Blues, Buchnevich has 191 points. Why would they trade him? Here’s the thing: As soon as this summer, he’s due for an extension, which you can easily see stretching to $8 million per year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see Doug Armstrong ponying up to pay him that raise. It could always wait until the summer, but if that’s the case, why not cash in now with a little extra value in a year in which he’s going to set a new career high in goals? Buchnevich would be excellent in Vegas, Edmonton, Carolina or back in New York with the Rangers.</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="193"></div>



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<p>Get ready for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dailyfaceoff2563" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Faceoff Live Trade Deadline Show</a>, coming to you on March 8th LIVE from 11 AM to 3 PM EST!! Join Tyler Yaremchuk, Frank Seravalli and friends for 4 hours of non-stop action as they dive deep into the heart of the trade deadline. They will be breaking down every trade, discussing the impact on teams, predicting the playoff picture, and giving you the inside scoop on all the wheeling and dealing happening around the league. Tune in live on March 8th from 11 AM to 3 PM EST for the The Daily Faceoff Live Trade Deadline special you won’t want to miss!</p>



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