We're closing in on one of the most exciting dates of the season for fantasy owners, the trade deadline. Players can switch fantasy teams faster than Alex Galchenyuk in the days leading up to the deadline. If you think NHL teams can make mistakes at a deadline, they have nothing on fantasy owners.

As exciting as it is being a top team going for the league championship it's important to really take stock of your team. I like referring to this process as a 'team autopsy.' I will do a player-by-player autopsy of my roster several times a year, specifically as soon as the season has ended, a couple weeks before the season starts, and two weeks before the deadline. In my multi-cat pools I'm looking for specific categories I'm deficient in. Once I identify an area of weakness I'll then make a list of potential trade targets. I'll also look at free agents as you never know when someone has been overlooked. 

It's a personal decision to swing for the fences and go for the homerun deal by landing one, two, three, or even more studs at one deadline. In a dynasty pool you'll end up liquidating every asset you have to make it happen. Pulling off a that monster deal though, that's why we play.

There are players playing well over their head that will come with inflated prices based on current production, two examples are Joe Pavelski and Jordan Staal.  At 27 percent and 23.7 percent shooting percentage they're in for serious regression. This being a shortened season there looms the possibility the full affect of regression doesn't show its ugly head before the games are done. At $7 million (M) and $6M, buyer beware.   In multi-cat pools Staal does provides over two hits per game and almost 59 percent on the dot. That production is sustainable with career averages. The offensive bubble is more likely to burst on Staal than Pavelski considering he has never had more than 50 points in a season.

There are some real bargains around the league that will come significantly cheaper than Pavelski and Staal. They don't have the flair of a blockbuster deal either. If you have a strong prospect pool tinkering rather than swinging for the fence like Sammy Sosa (baseball reference) will allow you to be competitive for years. 

Here's a few depth options to consider.

Joe Thornton, Toronto Maple Leafs ($1M) – This one is for points only pools or deep, deep multi-cat pools. He's had a couple injuries limiting his games, but he has still rolled out 10 points in 11 games. It's been four years since he's provided an owner with anything other than pure points. With 11 shots and two hits that trend didn't change with his Toronto rejuvenation. At 41 years old and a 1M price-tag you shouldn't have to pay more than a draft pick or a 'B' level prospect for him.

It's highly unlikely Thornton continues at a 76-point pace. Yet with him glued to Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner on the top line and Sheldon Keefe running more of 1A and 1B power play units his pace may not fall off drastically. A real sneaky bottom-of-the roster addition at a rock-bottom price.  

Alex Iafallo, Los Angeles Kings (2.425M) – I covered Iafallo in depth a few weeks ago while writing the 'Geek of the Week' column. You can read about him here.  At 2.425M and quietly riding a 54-point pace Iafallo adds some solid bottom of the roster value. At 27, he's a piece that would help the bottom of a fantasy roster for years.

Viktor Arvidsson, Nashville Predators (4.25M) – It's been a disappointing season for Arvidsson and his entire team so far this season. Yet with two goals on 72 SOG and being a career 11.5 percent shooter he sits on the precipice of positive regression. In points-only pools Arvidsson is worth his $4.25M cap hit. In multi-cat pools it's Arvidsson's goals and shot volume that makes him attractive. It would be nice to see him figure out the power play just once in his career. He has never had 10 power play points in a single season. At his 11.5 percent career SH percent Arvidsson would be sitting with seven goals and 13 points. Still below his career point per game average but much closer to being on track. Nashville is trending to move several players at the deadline. Arvidsson is unlikely to be one of them. Fresh faces in Nashville might be all Arvidsson needs to catch fire.

Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins ($3.5M) – Oh Rusty! He doesn't get the respect he deserves and after a 73-game run over .9 points per game you need to take his production seriously. At the beginning of the 2019-20 season Rust sat at 250 career games; just beyond his break-out threshold. A couple injuries and a sustained look on Evgeni Malkin's wing culminated in one of the most underrated point producing forwards over the last year. Rust has split his 5×5 ice time pretty evenly between Malkin and Sidney Crosby this year with over 90 percent of it skating with one or the other.

Over the last few games Rust has cooled with only two points in his last six. Without the name value of most players producing at a .8 point per game clip (or better), this cool streak offers a slight opening to buy him below normal value. For multi-cat pools 'Rusty' offers over a hit per game so there's solid all-around value.  With a cap hit of $3.5M he really is a bargain. He is under contract for 2021-22 which creates really good short to medium term value. Compared to players offering similar stat-lines (Dustin Brown $5.8M, Christian Dvorak $4.45M; Max Pacioretty $7M) you should be paying less to acquire Rust. That said, you should still be prepared to part with a quality asset or two.

Frank Vatrano, Florida Panthers – Considering he is only owned in 21 percent of Fantrax pools and five percent of Yahoo! Pools you might be wondering why I am including him on this list. Well, bargains are bargains wherever you find them. You should be looking into whether he improves your team period. Add in the that Vatrano and Jonathan Huberdeau are flip-flopping lines you can see how Vatrano's stock is one to watch more closely.

At $2.533M this year and next Vatrano brings good value to the table with upside. He's currently on an 82-game pace of 27 goals, 240 shots and 90 hits. Vatrano's ice time has jumped the last two games to over 18 minutes per game. Those stat projections are based on 15:01 ATOI. Volume shooters with a cap hit of $2.533M should help any salary cap roster. If his ice-time remains at 18 minutes per game, we'll see an uptick in his point per game as well. Afterall he does sit with just 2 second hand assists in 21 games. Eventually someone has to tap in one of his rebounds for a primary assist.  If he's not a free agent, he won't break the bank to acquire.

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins – I will leave you with a blockbuster big-cap hit option that you probably won't have to entirely break the bank to acquire. Malkin owners are notoriously frustrated by his annual games missed down the stretch for 'overall body soreness'. I'm not sure if there's an official stat tracking games missed due to this but I feel confident in saying he holds the NHL record.

If you visit the Dobber Forums (you should anyway. There is no better place to build up a fantasy edge over your pool) and search for Malkin trades you'll find a recurring theme – Malkin owners frustrated they cannot trade him for his true value. It is hard to believe that a future hall of famer comes with warts, but he does. At $9.5M you'll more than likely need to move salary out to bring him in. He is under contract for only one more season after this which makes his acquisition an easier pill to swallow.

Right now, Malkin sits at 14 points in 22 games, .64 points per game. 2010-11 is the only time in his career he has been below a point per game in his career. If you watched early season Penguins games Malkin looked slow and gassed after only a couple shifts. He came to camp out of shape and with the short camp didn't get into game shape.

This is the time to strike on Malkin. He won't end the season averaging .64 points per game. It is a big salary to swallow but Pittsburgh will be in a dog fight for a playoff spot for the remaining 34 games of the season and Malkin will share the spotlight and shoulder much of the load to get them in.

Next week we'll look at defencemen and goalies that I've identified as low cost – good value trade deadline targets and likely one or larger cap-hit options.

(All stats from www.frozenpools.com; All salaries from capfriendly.com)

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