NHL Trade Deadline: Which top trade targets will be moved
Anthony Scultore
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The NHL Trade Deadline set for the March 21st and the countdown is on as we get set to turn the calendar. In our latest Trade Bait Tracker we ranked 30 players rumored to be on the move.
For the purpose of this article, the focus is on the Top 5 out of 10 biggest names in the rumor mill. Today, we will look at the latest info regarding players 1-5 on the list and determine if they will be traded by the deadline or not.
Let’s dive in.
NHL Trade Deadline Top 10
| Rank | Player (Team) | POS | AGE | STATUS/AAV | LINKED TO: |
| 1 | Jakob Chychrun (ARI) | D | 23 | 3 YEARS/$4.6M | ANA, LAK, NYI |
| 2 | Claude Giroux (PHI) | C | 34 | UFA/$8.275M | COL, STL, FLA |
| 3 | J.T. Miller (VAN) | F | 29 | 1 YEAR/$5.25M | NYR, CAR, TOR |
| 4 | Tomas Hertl (SJS) | C | 28 | UFA/$5.625M | MIN, BOS, NYR |
| 5 | John Klingberg (DAL) | D | 29 | UFA/$4.25M | CAR, TOR, FLA |
| 6 | Marc-Andre Fleury (CHI) | G | 37 | UFA/$7M | WSH, COL, PIT |
| 7 | Filip Forsberg (NSH) | F | 26 | UFA/$6M | TBD |
| 8 | Ben Chiarot (MTL) | D | 30 | UFA/$3.5M | STL, NYR, FLA |
| 9 | Phil Kessel (ARI) | RW | 34 | UFA/$6.8M | PIT, BOS, NYR |
| 10 | Mark Giordano (SEA) | D | 38 | UFA/$6.75M | CGY, FLA, NYR |
Jakob Chychrun
Jakob Chychrun is at the top of our list because of his age, ability, contract, and affordable AAV of $4.6M. The asking price on the Coyotes defender is reportedly high. “The Coyotes are looking for a package that includes a young player, a prospect, and a first round pick,” Jeff Marek said on 32 Thoughts. “And they do have that package from one team in the NHL. Essentially, two former first round players, and a first round draft pick.”
NHL Trade Deadline Verdict: NO! It’s unlikely any contender is going to gut their team/prospects to acquire Chychrun at the deadline. This will be THE trade story of the offseason. Especially, at the NHL Draft.
Claude Giroux
The Philadelphia Flyers captain is in no rush to leave the only city he’s ever played for. However, reality is starting to settle in for Claude Giroux and a trade for the pending UFA is growing increasingly likely. The most talked about landing spot for Giroux are the Colorado Avalanche but there appears to be two more teams to keep an eye out on in the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers.
NHL Trade Deadline Verdict: YES! Giroux will waive his no-move clause and go for a chance to win a Stanley Cup. What will be interesting is if the Flyers and Giroux would like to rekindle the relationship in July.
J.T. Miller
The jury is out on what the Canucks will do here, but if Miller is still scoring at this pace and they stay in the playoff hunt they’ll keep him. Vancouver is just three points out of the last wild card spot in the West. Another factor is the ask, which has reportedly grown to four pieces. It’s basically a player, a top prospect, and a first round pick for starters.
NHL Trade Deadline Verdict: NO! The Canucks have Miller under contract and need to make the playoffs to recover lost revenue from the pandemic. Plus the ask is crazy.
Tomas Hertl
Tomas Hertl is the trade target almost every contending team’s general managers is looking to add. His versatility to play center or the wing is something most of them could certainly use. The reality is that the Sharks have plenty of cap space to retain him with the termination of Evander Kane’s contract.
NHL Trade Deadline Verdict: NO! I think both sides want to continue the relationship in San Jose and the they will come to terms before the deadline.
John Klingberg
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been a few frustrating years individually,” Klingberg said about his contract situation. “As a player, it all ends up coming to your next contract, obviously. I’ve been a Dallas Star since Day One. At the end of the day, it’s a business. I understand it’s a business on both sides.” The Stars simply don’t have the cap space to meet his ask of 8 years at around $8M per season.
NHL Trade Deadline Verdict: YES! He may not even make it to the week of the NHL Trade Deadline. I expect the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes to battle it out for his services.
Read More: Check out the latest NHL Power Rankings.