Top 5 players most likely to be traded this coming deadline
5- Ryan McDonagh - New York Rangers
According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning have shown some interest in acquiring the Rangers' captain. According to some reports, the New York Rangers are expected to do a fire sale before the Feb. 26th trade deadline and McDonagh could be a casualty. Brooks added that both team, Tampa Bay and Boston, haven't sent a offer that could make this a believable deal as New York's organization "feels no urgency" to trade the number 27 defenseman, especially if they could catch a bigger fish at the NHL Entry Draft this June. So far this season, the 28-year old Saint Paul, Minnesota native has tallied 2 goals and 24 assists for a total of 26 points in 49 games. McDonagh could get the Rangers a massive return if he were traded. Although, he is still under contract through next season with a cap hit of $4.7M.
4- Mike Green - Detroit Red Wings
As the Red Wings seem to watch their playoff chances fade game after game, they could use a trade to better their team. That trade could be trading away their defender Mike Green who will be an unrestricted free agent this July 1st and Ken Holland will almost certainly shop his top defender. Green could suit any team that offers him and one of those teams is his former team, the Washington Capitals. This past All-Star game, Capitals' captain Alex Ovechkin made some comments about his former teammate Mike Green stating that he and Green still have a good a good relationship and he's a great player and he wishes all the best to him and that he can't wait to see what's going to happen in the future. The Russian Machine also stated that he would love a reunion with his former teammate. The Caps could go in and acquire him as this could be Carlson's last season with the organization. Another team to have shown interest is the Vegas Golden Knights as it was reported by Brad Galli on Twitter that the Golden Knights' GM George McPhee was in Detroit during the Flyers - Red Wings game.
3- Tomas Plekanec - Montreal Canadiens
Even though Plekanec's offensive stats have dropped tremendously the past 2 seasons, don't underestimate the value he could bring to any team. Assuming that the Canadiens would be ready to retain some of his contract (he stands with a $6-million cap hit on an expiring contract) so they can acquire what they need it wouldn't be such a surprise to see this defensive-forward leave the team he has played for since 2001, when the team drafted him 71st overall. There have been some rumbling that the Minnesota Wild could go and offer something decent to the Canadian team as they are currently using 21-year old Joel Eriksson-Ek as their fourth line centreman, which is far from being a decent role or ice time for the rookie. Also, some rumors have suggested that they could trade their third line centre Matt Cullen before the deadline, whichever way you look at it, the Minnesota Wild could use Plekanec.
2- Rick Nash - New York Rangers
The rumor mill is in full swing ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, there has been some chatter that the New York Rangers would trade Rick Nash. The rumor came out when Nash was asked to submit 18 teams to whom he wouldn't accept a trade. According to some comments made by Nash, he would be open to go teams that he thinks has the best chances of winning the Stanley Cup and are also places he believes could be ideal for his family. Including teams in Canada, where he is not excluding it as a possibility. Currently, the top Canadian teams are the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames, who are currently all sitting in a playoff spot and have 73, 73 and 66 points respectively. Although, the Jets are currently the Canadian team with the most cap space available ($18.6-million according to CapFriendly). Although the veteran is open to return home for the next part of his career, the Nashville Predators are currently the front-runners on acquiring the winger.
1- Evander Kane - Buffalo Sabres
Rumors of Kane being traded out of Buffalo have been around for months now, as he was labeled by former teammate Dustin Byfuglien as a 'self-centered player' in the locker room. RDS' Pierre LeBrun has stated that he is 100 percent certain that Kane will be traded before this deadline. He stated that teams are just waiting to see if they are going to make the playoffs and that they wouldn't want to add Kane if they don't make the playoffs. That whether Kane gets traded or not would be very close the Feb. 26th trade deadline. He also added that the Sabres won't sign him and that they are looking to see what they could acquire in trading away Kane.
What trade will surprise you the most this coming NHL Trade Deadline?
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