On the Top 30 NHL trade bait board …
TSN: Top 30 players that could be traded by the trade deadline.
- Evander Kane – Buffalo Sabres – UFA
- Patrick Maroon – Edmonton Oilers – UFA
- Mike Green – Detroit Red Wings – UFA – NTC
- Mike Hoffman – Ottawa Senators – 2 years – M-NTC
- Max Pacioretty – Montreal Canadiens – 1 year
- Thomas Vanek – Vancouver Canucks – UFA
- Alex Galchenyuk – Montreal Canadiens – 2 years
- Michael Grabner – New York Rangers – UFA
- Zack Smith – Ottawa Senators – 3 years – M-NTC
- Ryan McDonagh – New York Rangers – 1 year – M-NTC
- James Neal – Vegas Golden Knights – UFA – M-NTC
- Ian Cole – Pittsburgh Penguins – UFA
- Jordan Kyrou – St. Louis Blues – 3 years – ELC
- Erik Gudbranson – Vancouver Canucks – UFA
- Rick Nash – New York Rangers – UFA – M-NTC
- Aaron Dell – San Jose Sharks – UFA
- Mark Letestu – Edmonton Oilers – UFA
- Andrew Shaw – Montreal Canadiens – 4 years
- Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Ottawa Senators – 2 years
- David Perron – Vegas Golden Knights – UFA – M-NTC
- Nic Petan – Winnipeg Jets – RFA
- Jack Johnson – Columbus Blue Jackets – UFA
- Nick Holden – New York Rangers – UFA
- Petr Mrazek – Detroit Red Wings – RFA
- Sam Reinhart – Buffalo Sabres – RFA
- Dion Phaneuf – Ottawa Senators – 3 years – M-NTC
- Blake Comeau – Colorado Avalanche – UFA
- Robin Lehner – Buffalo Sabres – RFA
- Cody Franson – Chicago Blackhawks – UFA
- Tyson Barrie – Colorado Avalanche – 2 years
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1260 talking about the Edmonton Oilers and if they would be looking to make bigger move at the trade deadline and not just moving out some pending free agents. Dreger thinks they do “just about anything.” Teams could call about some of their defensemen. They aren’t moving Darnell Nurse, but what about Adam Larsson or Oscar Klefbom?
“And then you look at the forwards. The Ryan Nugent-Hopkins rumors haven’t made a lot of sense to date, and he’s been a good player when healthy for the Edmonton Oilers this season, but at some point through sheer desperation does he need to be considered as trade bait between now and February 26.
“I mean, I think those conversations at least have to happen.”
Dreger notes that if the Oilers do move Nugent-Hopkins, they can’t lose on the return.
