In Quebec we get nervous when the first one arrivesum July, but the National Hockey League will be packing its bags at the trade deadline as teams who believe they have a shot at the playoffs sharpen their weapons.
In less than a week, on March 8, the players whose names are mentioned in the various transaction rumors will be identified.
Some teams have already started shopping. The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in late January and a few days later the Winnipeg Jets acquired Sean Monahan from the Canadiens. And this week, the Dallas Stars acquired Chris Tanev from the Flames, while the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team transaction.
There's also the Penguins, who acquired forward Emil Bemstrom from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Also: Will the aging Penguins be buyers or sellers next Friday? We will address the question in another text.
Choose
When we look at the players who should be available, we realize that there is a selection and interesting candidates who can help teams aiming for major honors.
Among the attackers we think of Vladimir Tarasenko, Jake Guentzel, Sean Kuraly, Anthony Mantha, Anthony Duclair, Jason Zucker, Jordan Eberle and Adam Henrique, to name a few.
At the back we can name Matt Dumba, Joel Edmundson, Noah Hanifin and Jakob Chychrun.
When it comes to goalkeepers, we naturally think of Jake Allen and Marc-André Fleury, but there are also Jacob Markström, Juuse Saros and Elvis Merzlikins.
Now let's take a look at the players most likely to move by next Friday.
Guardian
Archive photo, AFP
Jake Allen
33 years
Salary: $3,850,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
He no longer has the sparkle of his best years, he has been inconsistent this season but has been used little.
Archive photo, AFP
Juuse Saros
28 years
Salary: $5,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
A reliable goalkeeper with very respectable statistics.
Archive photo, AFP
Jacob Markstrom
34 years old
Salary: $6,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
His workload has decreased, but he has his best stats in recent years with an average team.
Archive photo, AFP
Elvis Merzlikins
29 years
Salary: $5,400,000
Free agent without compensation in 2027-2028
A .900+ save average on one of the worst teams in the NHL should get attention.
defender
Archive photo, AFP
Noah Hanifin
27 years old
Salary: $4,950,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He is an absolute defender. Reliable on defense and supports the offense.
Archive photo, AFP
David Savard
33 years
Salary: $3,500,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
He's reliable defensively, but he's not the fastest. He won the Stanley Cup and knows tobacco.
Archive photo, AFP
Joel Edmundson
30 years
Salary: $1,750,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
Defensive back with relatively limited talent but character.
Archive photo, AFP
Matt Dumba
29 years
Salary: $3,900,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He performs less offensively, but remains reliable defensively and brings the robustness that is necessary in the playoffs.
Archive photo, AFP
Justin Schultz
33 years
Salary: $3,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
Versatile and experienced defender who can help in attack and defense.
Photo Martin Chevalier
Eric Johnson
35 years
Salary: $3,250,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
Typical portrait of a loan player. Reliable defender who is no longer in his prime, but whose experience can be useful.
attacker
Archive photo, AFP
Sean Kuraly
center
31 years
Salary: $2,500,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
He can impress on offense, but primarily has a defensive calling.
Archive photo, AFP
Jake Guentzel
Left winger
29 years
Salary: $6,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He is certainly one of the most sought-after strikers. He is a good scorer, scoring more than one point per game this season.
Archive photo, AFP
Joel Armia
Right-winger
30 years
Salary: $3,400,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
He has good hands, he can get the puck out of the corners, but he's also inconsistent. There is a custom template for the series.
Archive photo, AFP
Vladimir Tarasenko
Right-winger
32 years old
Salary: $5,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He's slowed down a bit but can still be an offensive threat playing on the right line.
Archive photo, AFP
Lars Eller
center
34 years old
Salary: $2,450,000
Free agent without compensation in 2025-2026
He has found his niche in being reliable on defense and he maintains his ability to perform.
Archive photo, AFP
Anthony Mantha
Right-winger
29 years
Salary: $5,700,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He's having his best season since 2019-2020, he has defensive deficiencies, he's a big man, but his salary will be a hindrance.
Archive photo, AFP
Adam Henrique
center
34 years old
Salary: $5,825,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He continues to produce and may even have the best production of his career.
Archive photo, AFP
Jason Sugar
Left winger
32 years old
Salary: $5,300,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
Character player who can help offensively and still has good years ahead of him.
Archive photo, AFP
Jordan Eberle
Right-winger
33 years
Salary: $5,500,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
He is still producing at a decent pace and has plenty of experience.
Archive photo, AFP
Anthony Duclair
Left winger
28 years
Salary: $3,000,000
Free agent without compensation in 2024-2025
His production has declined significantly this year, but he has an offensive instinct that can be useful.
Other players who could change their address
Kaapo Kahkonen G 27 years old
John Gibson G 30 years
Alex Nedeljkovic G 28 years old
Jakob Chychrun D 25 years old
Sean Walker D 29 years old
Tyson Barrie D 32 years old
Nick Seeler D 30 years old
Tony DeAngelo D 28 years old
Brett Kulak D 30 years old
Cody Ceci D 30 years old
Mario Ferraro D 25 years old
Alexandre Carrier D 27 years old
Andrew Peeke D 25 years old
Colton Parayko D 30 years old
Adam Boqvist D 23 years old
Victor Olofsson AG 28 years old
Tanner Pearson AG 31 years old
Max Pacioretty AG 35 years
Tomas Tatar AG 33 years old
Warren Foegele AG 27 years old
Alexander Barabanov AG 29 years old
Pavel Buchnevich AG 28 years old
Dominik Kubalik AG 28 years old
Nic Robertson AG 22 years old
Pat Maroon AG 35 years
Nic Dowd C 33 years old
Mikael Granlund C 32 years old
Morgan Frost C 24 years old
Trevor Zegras C 22 years old
Scott Laughton C 29 years old
Tyler Johnson C 33 years old
Jack Roslovic C 27 years old
Alexander Wennberg C 29 years old
Casey Mittelstadt C 25 years old
Logan Couture C 34 years old
Boone Jenner C 30 years old
Nick Bjugstad C 31 years old
Sam Carrick C 32 years old
Mike Hoffman C 34 years old
Kevin Hayes AD 31 years old
Jonathan Berggren AD 23 years old
Philip Broberg D 22 years old
Reilly Smith AD 32 years old
Frank Vatrano AD 29 years old
Kaapo Kakko AD 23 years old
Arthur Kaliyev AD 22 years old
Brandon Duhaime AD 26 years old
Kasperi Kapanen AD 27 years old