NHL Trade Deadline Bait

NHL Trade Deadline Bait

Ryan Miller, G, Sabres

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The 2010 Vezina Trophy-winning goalie was the marquee name in Buffalo's expected fire sale ahead of the NHL's March 5 trade deadline. Rumors of an imminent move percolated for the last year, and on Feb. 28 the Sabres dealt the 11-year veteran to the St. Louis Blues for goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, QMJHL winger William Carrier, a 2015 first round pick and a 2016 third rounder. -- <italics>Sarah Kwak</italics>

Thomas Vanek, LW, Islanders

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Yes, the Austrian winger's already been dealt this season (from Buffalo, in October). But with his contract up at season's end, and his reported rejection of an extension with New York, the Islanders will be looking to shop the winger. The problem may be that interested buyers would have trouble fitting his $7.14 million price tag under their caps?even pro-rated. However, It may be easier for the team to ship defenseman Andrew MacDonald, a minutes-eating blueliner who has put up 24 points this season. The 27-year-old, with his supremely easy $550,000 cap hit, will garner huge interest in advance of the deadline, but the asking price out of the Island is high, reportedly a first-round pick. -- <italics>Sarah Kwak</italics>

Jaromir Jagr, RW, Devils

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The ageless winger, who turned 42 on Feb. 15, leads the Devils with 17 goals and 32 assists. Jagr has said that he wants to stay in New Jersey to help his team in its push for the playoffs, but his one-year contract is up at the end of the season, at which point he'll become an unrestricted free agent. Still, if the Devils cut their best player (this season, anyway) loose, they will basically be giving up any chance they have of making the postseason. Possible suitors for Jagr include the Avalanche. -- <italics>Mark Beech</italics>

Martin Brodeur, G, Devils

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Another aging member of the Devils -- he's 41 -- Brodeur is the NHL's all-time wins leader and the counterbalance to the trade rumors swirling around Jaromir Jagr. There's always the chance that New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello could trade Brodeur, now the backup to starting goalie Cary Schneider and an unrestricted free agent after this season, for some added scoring punch to help his team in its push for the playoffs. -- <italics>Mark Beech</italics>

Martin St. Louis, RW, Lightning

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The 38-year-old veteran has called Tampa Bay home for the last 13 years, and he still has another season left on his contract, but he has reportedly asked GM Steve Yzerman for a trade?ostensibly because he's peeved by his original omission from the Canadian Olympic squad, which Yzerman also managed. Though St. Louis went to Sochi as an injury replacement and won a gold medal, that fact hasn't quieted the rumors of a rift between him and Yzeman. St. Louis, the team's leading scorer and Art Ross Trophy winner last season, will demand a pretty penny from any suitors, and he will have the final say about where he ends up. His contract has a no movement clause that he can exercise. -- <italics>Sarah Kwak</italics>

Ryan Callahan, RW, Rangers

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What is Martin St. Louis's preferred destination? Reportedly, it's the Rangers. So that has apparently opened up talks about New York's 28-year-old captain, a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. There hasn't been any progress in re-signing Callahan, so as the New York Post's Larry Brooks reported, the Rangers inquired about a Callahan-for-St. Louis swap. Understandably, Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman has little interest in shipping off a franchise player for a rental. Still, Callahan could still be a trade target if the reported gap between him (he's asking for $6.75 million per season for seven years) and the team (which is willing to go $6 million for five) doesn't close up. And it likely won't. If Callahan, a Rochester, N.Y., native, hits the free market, expect the Sabres to pony up for the hometown guy. -- <italics>Sarah Kwak</italics>

Matt Moulson, LW, Sabres

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Moulson landed in Buffalo in the trade that sent Thomas Vanek to Long Island earlier this season. But it turns out that neither team benefitted too much from that deal, so with Moulson set to hit free agency this summer, his name will too be on Buffalo's block. A three-time 30-goal scorer, he is an interesting case. He offers offense, a history of thriving with ultra-talented players like John Tavares, and he comes at a reasonable price (his cap hit is $3.13 million), making him a very enticing target for teams looking for more goals down the stretch. Los Angeles and Minnesota, for instance, could certainly use his scoring touch. <italics>-- Sarah Kwak</italics>

Mike Cammalleri, C, Flames

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With 13 goals in 41 games, he is the Flames' biggest bargaining chip at the deadline. Calgary, which is in the midst of rebuilding, has offered him an extension, but there's no word yet on whether the 31-year-old Cammalleri--who is in the final season of a five-year, $30 million deal and set to become an unrestricted free agent--has reached an agreement with the club. His contract has a limited no-trade clause. -- <italics>Mark Beech</italics>

Ryan Kesler, C, Canucks

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Reports during the Olympic break suggested that the longtime Canuck was looking for a ticket out of Vancouver, but Kesler has denied the rumors, saying, "I am a Canuck and I am happy to be here." Still, there is no question that teams looking for a versatile, two-way center would be happy to take on the two-time Olympian and one-time 40-goal scorer. The 29-year-old still has two years left on his contract, at $5 million per year, and a no-trade clause, which he insists he has not waived, but with the cap expected to rise to $71 million next season, a handful of teams could have some room to fit Kesler into longer term plans. -- <italics>Sarah Kwak</italics>

Sam Gagner, C, Oilers

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The 24-year-old center has long been rumored to be on the trading block for an Oilers team that's in need of quality blueliners. Gagner has produced just six goals and 24 points in 48 games, but he scored 14 in 48 last season and was the No. 6 pick in the 2006 draft. He's also entering his prime as a player. Teams that could be interested in his services include the Blue Jackets, the Kings and the Maple Leafs. -- <italics>Mark Beech</italics>

Dave Bolland, C, Maple Leafs

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The hero of last spring's Stanley Cup Final, later traded by the Blackhawks to Toronto, is in the final season of his three-year deal and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Bolland, 27, sidelined since November by a severed ankle tendon, has scored only six goals so far and may want more money than Toronto is willing to pay. With the team in the market for defensemen, that makes him a viable bargaining chip. <italics>-- Mark Beech</italics>

David Legwand, C, Predators

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He's possible trade bait because, like so many other players on this list, he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. If the Predators don't deal Legwand, who says that contract talks with the team "aren't anywhere" at the moment, they could lose the 33-year-old center this summer for nothing. With 10 goals and 40 points, he is Nashville's leading scorer, in addition to being the franchise's first-ever draft pick -- a sentimental reason for the club to keep him. His no-trade clause will make it tough to get a deal done. -- <italics>Mark Beech</italics>