Chris Johnston’s NHL trade board 6.0: Top targets for the final sprint as the action starts to pick up

Guentzel may ultimately yield the best return of any player at this deadline, and the Penguins are hoping to put the deal to bed by Wednesday night. They have multiple suitors for the pending unrestricted free agent and are looking for a package similar to what top forwards have fetched in previous years — built around a first-round pick, roster player and prospect(s), plus an added premium for salary retention.

Pittsburgh was fortunate that an upper-body injury suffered by Guentzel on Feb. 14 only ended up coming with a four-week recovery period. The initial fears were that it was much worse. While that will keep Guentzel from playing another game before the trade deadline, it’s allowed him to continue to skate while recovering. He’ll be ready to play shortly after joining his new team.

Guentzel was scoring at a 36-goal, 85-point pace prior to his injury. He’s an undersized winger who performs much bigger than his stature, especially when the stakes are highest, with an eye-popping 34 goals in 58 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

In a market short on players who can play center, Henrique stands out. The 34-year-old is well on his way to another 20-goal season and he’s done it while winning nearly 54 percent of his faceoffs.

Henrique is known for having excellent hockey sense and is thirsting for a chance to return to the playoffs after appearing just four postseason games since being part of the 2012 Devils team that lost to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup Final.

As a pending unrestricted free agent on a retooling team, Henrique profiles as a traditional trade-deadline rental.

There’s also versatility to his toolbox. He can chip in on the power play, kill penalties or play the wing, if needed.

Currently producing at a 40-goal, 66-point pace, Vatrano is having by far his most productive NHL season. That earned him a trip to the NHL All-Star Game as the Ducks’ representative.

He’s always had a nose for the net but has made some defensive improvements despite playing on one of the league’s weakest teams.

A competitive player under contract through next season at $3.65 million, Vatrano can be slotted on a second line or called on to add some scoring punch from the bottom six.

He’s also a threat to score a short-handed goal when used as part of the penalty kill.

After failing to reach a contract extension with Wennberg, the Kraken scratched him from Monday’s game in Calgary for “trade-related reasons.” It was a precautionary move, with Seattle still conducting trade talks with Colorado and the N.Y. Rangers, among others. Not known as a big point producer throughout his NHL career, the 29-year-old center can play in all situations and be trusted on the defensive side of the puck. As a bonus, Wennberg can be counted on in the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent earning $4.5 million and has a 10-team no-trade list.

It’s been a difficult season in the Canadian capital, and attention will soon turn toward reloading with future assets. Tarasenko should be an easy piece to sell. The Russian winger doesn’t generate scoring chances at the rate he once did, but he still possesses the kind of shot needed to put the puck in the net. Built like a tank, he can win puck battles along the wall and fight through the traffic we’re accustomed to seeing in playoff hockey.

Crucially, Tarasenko is also on an expiring contract and has experienced just about everything the game has to offer. The 2019 Stanley Cup winner was a trade-deadline pickup by the New York Rangers last year and shouldn’t have any trouble acclimating to a new environment.

Of note is the fact Tarasenko recently changed agents — for the fourth time in three years — which can be viewed as a sign he wants help navigating his way to a more appealing situation.

The veteran winger has been such a good fit in New Jersey that the sides have explored what an extension might look like. Still, the Devils may end up moving the 31-year-old sniper, who is well on his way to a second straight 30-plus goal season, because of the assets he could bring back.

Toffoli has put the puck in the net everywhere he’s played. A strong skater with a wicked release, he’s on the final year of a contract paying him $4.25 million.

He’d slide into the top six on most contending teams.

A strong skater who put up 27 goals last season in Pittsburgh, Zucker is an offensive catalyst. He’s battled consistency issues at points during his career but carries little risk as a deadline acquisition playing out the final year of his contract.

Zucker can help a power play and boost a middle-six group at even strength.

The Coyotes elected to keep him out of Tuesday night’s game against Chicago for “trade-related reasons.” Vegas, Nashville and Florida are among the teams believed to have interest here.

Nearly a point-per-game player across the past three years with the Blues, Buchnevich is a big, strong winger who skates well and possesses a high-end shot. That makes him the rare top-line talent who could be moved in the run-up to this deadline.

St. Louis has the ability to hold the line with its ask since Buchnevich’s contract runs through the end of next season. The Blues are going to need a haul to move him now — think a package that exceeds the return Calgary got from Vancouver for Elias Lindholm: a first-round pick, two prospects and winger Andrei Kuzmenko.

Buchnevich’s $5.8 million cap hit will be a challenge for some teams to accommodate, but at least he’s producing at a level commensurate with that number, on pace for a 33-goal, 66-point season.

Two years removed from a 31-goal season, Duclair has understandably been slowed by the torn Achilles tendon he had surgically repaired last year in Florida.

Still, he’s playing on an expiring contract carrying a reasonable cap hit and looks like a promising buy-low candidate from a Sharks team that is headed nowhere this season and hungry to add future assets.

Duclair has good hands and can play either wing. He was part of the Panthers’ run to the Cup Final last spring, scoring 11 points in 20 playoff games.

He’s been reasonably productive since returning from a second surgery to repair a torn Achilles, putting up 15 points in 25 games for the Caps.

Part of the attraction with Pacioretty is the fact that he comes with a pro-rated cap hit of just $2 million because Washington will be on the hook for all of his game-played bonuses.

A high-end scoring winger with a heavy shot in his prime, he’s more of a secondary scoring option at this stage of his career. He has full control of where he ends up with a no-movement clause.

A fourth-line center who makes a strong defensive impact, Dowd is far from the biggest name available at this deadline period. But he’s a strong candidate to become a useful under-the-radar acquisition.

The Capitals absolutely bury Dowd with defensive zone starts at five-on-five, and they still manage to more than hold their own when he’s on the ice. He’s a trusted penalty killer and is decent in the faceoff circle. He’s even got good hands when he finds himself with a scoring opportunity.

Dowd also carries a $1.3 million cap charge that can easily be squeezed under the salary cap ceiling.

A hard-hitting depth forward who can chip in the odd goal, Duhaime is one of the few pending unrestricted free agents the Wild have to sell. The 2016 fourth-round pick has spent his entire professional career with the organization but is likely pricing himself out of Minnesota with free agency on the horizon.

Duhaime possesses the tools that appeal to teams gearing up for a long playoff run. A strong skater with size at 6-foot-2, he brings energy at the bottom end of the lineup and is an experienced penalty-killer.

The fit hasn’t been quite right in Pittsburgh since Smith arrived in a trade shortly after celebrating a Stanley Cup win with the Golden Knights last summer. He’s well off the pace of last season’s 26-goal, 56-point campaign.

Still, Smith is an intriguing player because of a strong two-way game. He can contribute on both special-teams units and be trusted with a role on a line that handles tough matchups at even strength.

The 32-year-old is signed through the 2024-25 season at a $5 million cap hit, which may bring added appeal since he could be added for multiple playoff runs.

The goals have returned after a cold start to the season, and they’ve made Eberle a pretty marketable commodity.

He is best deployed on a skilled line counted on to produce offensively. He’s scored above a 20-goal-per-82-game pace in every NHL season and appears likely to keep that streak alive.

Contenders will find some comfort in Eberle’s history of scoring big goals. He also gained valuable experience during two long playoff runs with the New York Islanders. A return to Edmonton could make sense from all sides here.

Contenders have been scouting the 32-year-old center, who can be acquired for depth at minimal cost. He is defensively responsible and handles himself well in the faceoff dot. He’s also got penalty-killing chops and a strong work ethic.

Carrick’s $850,000 cap hit and expiring contract add to the appeal here.

The fit has never been quite right in Washington for Mantha, who acknowledged during training camp, “I feel like I haven’t been the player they wanted so far.”

At least the big winger has rediscovered a scoring touch, with 20 goals this season — his highest total in six years.

Even though Mantha has been available on the trade market since last year, his contract should become easier to move as he gets closer to unrestricted free agency this summer.

Mantha is a one-shot scorer who needs a lot of help getting the puck in shooting areas. Motivation shouldn’t be an issue with the direction his career has gone since being traded to the Capitals from Detroit in 2021.

Currently serving as the top-line center on a rebuilding Sharks outfit, he’d slot deeper down the roster on a stronger team.

Granlund has switched teams a couple of times in the past year, but he’s been reasonably productive in San Jose. A versatile forward with good vision, he’s an all-situations player with more than 50 games of playoff experience.

He’s also not a pure rental with a $5 million contract running through the end of next season.

Now on the way to the AHL for the first time in his career after clearing waivers Sunday, any trade involving Kuznetsov will have a significant financial component. The 31-year-old center carries a $7.8 million cap hit through the end of next season and saw his play fall off considerably before leaving the Capitals in early February to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

However, he’s hoping for a fresh start and a chance to re-establish himself. Kuznetsov is just two years removed from a 78-point season. He was an elite playmaker in his prime. It wouldn’t be surprising to see someone take a chance on his skillset.

A streaky scorer, historically, who has seen his offensive totals dip this season primarily due to a drop in power-play output, Kubalik is a rental on a reasonable contract who hasn’t found a great fit in Ottawa. He could be a low-cost addition with upside potential for a team looking for help with the man advantage.

Kubalik put up strong numbers during his only playoff appearance with Chicago during the 2020 pandemic bubble.

The biggest complication here is the fact Eller has another season beyond this one on his contract carrying a $2.425 million cap hit. Otherwise, he profiles as an ideal depth addition for a contending team.

The 34-year-old is strong in the faceoff dot and can be counted on defensively in five-on-five situations. He kills penalties, too. Eller also has more than 100 games of playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup win with Washington in 2018.

With the Oilers on the hunt for a top-six winger, Foegele could be the odd man out with his $2.75 million in cap space potentially needed for the upgrade.

He’s a big, competitive winger who is producing at the best rate of his NHL career. But he’s also a pending unrestricted free agent.

Foegele is versatile and can be slotted across the lineup and used on both specialty teams.

The man with a year-round playoff beard has appeared in 150 postseason games and lifted the Stanley Cup on three separate occasions. The list of active NHL players with a resume that matches that is incredibly short.

Maroon also knows a thing or two about how best to fit in with a new team — he’s on his sixth NHL organization — which should bring a measure of comfort to anyone who considers adding him as a rental.

Ultimately, Maroon is a culture guy whose impact is best measured by more than goals, points or minutes played.

One potential complication to moving him is the fact that Maroon won’t play again before the trade deadline because of a back issue. He has begun to skate lightly, per The Athletic’s Joe Smith.

Laughton is under contract for two seasons beyond this one, so the Flyers are under no pressure to trade him. But you can understand why contenders would come calling on a glue guy who kills penalties and plays with an edge to his game.

It’s been a challenging season for the 11-year NHL veteran — an “inconsistent” one in the words of Flyers coach John Tortorella — and that’s reflected in a drop in his goals, points and ice time. Still, Laughton accounts for just $3 million against the cap and represents a bottom-six upgrade for most teams.

The Flyers are willing to listen to offers on just about any of their players.

Still just 22 years old, Kaliyev has had a disappointing season that’s seen his playing time reduced alongside his offensive production.

An elite shooter, he’s currently residing on the fourth line in Los Angeles. While he could benefit from a fresh start, the Kings will have to be enticed to move the 2019 second-round pick who carries upside.

The well-traveled forward has already been moved once this season, going from Colorado to Seattle, and he rediscovered his production while playing in a system better suited for his game with the Kraken.

Tatar is a one-dimensional offensive player who still has decent speed and hands. He’s worth a look from teams hoping to add some secondary scoring.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, there are intangibles that come with Johnson’s 116 games of playoff experience. When healthy this season, he’s played up the lineup on a rebuilding Chicago squad, but he will more comfortably slot into the bottom six on a deeper roster.

Johnson has made up for a lack of size with his speed and smarts throughout his NHL career.

He’s one of a handful of pending UFAs the Blackhawks have to peddle at this year’s deadline.

The big winger has regained his footing in the NHL after starting the season in the AHL. He is known for his defensive instincts and solid 200-foot play but has a chance to surpass his previous high of 16 goals this season.

One thing is that he’s not a rental, with a $3.4 million cap hit that extends through the end of next season.

A bottom-six forward with a competitive streak, Dewar makes up for his small frame with a strong work ethic.

The 24-year-old doesn’t carry much offensive upside, but he can kill penalties and be trusted with his play away from the puck. He also comes with team control as a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights who is due a qualifying offer of $892,500 this summer.

A winger with the offensive instincts to complement a line counted on to score, Barabanov has established himself as a reliable NHLer during his three seasons in San Jose. But with the Sharks more focused on future assets than players who can help now, and with Barabanov slated to hit free agency this summer, he’ll be available on the trade market.

Barabanov’s start to this season was interrupted by a broken finger, and the production was slow to return once he got back in the lineup. Still, with an expiring contract, there isn’t a whole lot of risk here.

While his offensive output has flat-lined in recent seasons, Kapanen remains a top-end skater with an appealing set of tools. The 27-year-old is also playing out the final year of a contract paying him $3.2 million and carries little risk as a rental addition.

The acquisition cost shouldn’t be too high here, and a fresh start could be beneficial to a winger who does have a 20-goal season on his resume.

A consistent scorer across his NHL career, albeit now a declining one, Hoffman holds a limited amount of appeal for two main reasons. 1) He’s on an expiring contract, and the cost to acquire him won’t be very high. And 2) It is not unreasonable to surmise that he’s currently in a difficult spot to maximize his abilities on a Sharks team lacking high-end offensive players.

Put it together, and he might be worth rolling the dice on. There’s not much to lose.

An offensive specialist with his prime years still ahead, Zegras is certainly not a player the Ducks have to move — either at this deadline or beyond it. But it’s believed they’re at least willing to listen on a forward the organization has been pushing to round out his game. And four or five teams are believe to have called.

Given the unique circumstances at play — Zegras is still just 22, signed for two more years and already has a pair of 60-point seasons under his belt — Anaheim would need something significant in return to make a deal work.

Zegras is currently recovering from surgery on a broken ankle, which could turn this trade talk into a summer discussion.