This trade deadline will be like no other. I know sports networks will use that tag line often. The bachelor/bachelorette uses it for every season finale (I only know because my wife watches it). The North division complicates things immensely. The 14-day quarantine period the Canadian teams require all players coming from the United States is a big roadblock in this condensed and shortened season.

It is harder to gauge this year than most others when trades will take place, how many trades we will take place or if anyone will go 'all-in'.

As we approach the trade deadline and rumours swirl there seemed no better time to look some of the biggest names and speculate on how a move will affect that players fantasy value.

I can't help myself, I have to go 'homer' first. I am not sure any player has had more rumours swirling about him than this player. I know, I know, Toronto media… yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, with no further a due:

Mikael Granlund, Nashville Predators ($3.75M) – Lead Rumour: Toronto Maple Leafs

I would like to source this rumour but I'm not sure how to source everyone with a twitter account that follows hockey. This rumour is everywhere.

I think a trade to almost any team will be a win for Granlund and Granlund owners. It just hasn't worked in Nashville. A team like Toronto would be an awakening. He plays the Leafs' style and plays a complete 200-foot game. This in and of itself would be a huge addition to the roster. I mean, John Tavares is trying really hard to become that complete 200-foot player. He's just not there yet.

Interestingly, that is where he is projected to line up, next to Tavares and William Nylander. In the Leafs' high-octane offence we could see an immediate return to that 60-plus point player. He should sneak into the Leafs second power play unit which has been pretty efficient this year.

If he goes to any other team, it should still be a win for Granlund and owners alike. I don't think he'll see the same bump in production if he lands elsewhere.

Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks ($3.79M) 

Personally, I'm not sold on Rakell being traded. He's 27 and under a team-friendly contract for another year.  The kids have finally taken a step forward and Rakell would seem to fit within the timeline of the Ducks becoming competitive again.

That said, for cap-strapped contending teams, he is really attractive. If he were traded he would be a top six option wherever he landed. A team like the Boston Bruins or New York Islanders would benefit greatly from Rakell's gritty play and offensive abilities.

A trade likely provides a slight boost to Rakell down the stretch and eliminates some of those large valleys he loses himself in at times as a Duck. If I were a betting man, I suspect he'll remain a Duck. As the Ducks get older and start scoring more, Rakell's value rise next season.

Eric Staal, Buffalo Sabres ($3.25M) –

With a 10-team limited no-trade clause Staal can somewhat control his destiny. I read somewhere a few months ago he used his no-trade clause to block at least one trade to a contending team. He wanted to stay in Minnesota. Then Buffalo swooped in. 

I think anyone leaving Buffalo this season would see an increase in production. Staal might be the type of player that could benefit to a move to wing at this stage of his career (ala Claude Giroux & Jeff Carter). One can't help but think a move to Pittsburgh or Vegas would boost his production, even on a third line.

For deeper pools there should be a modest increase in his production if he moves. Top teams are top teams for a reason, which usually means a locked in first power play unit and a strong top six. He should continue to get second power play exposure.  

Someone to consider rounding out the bottom of your roster with if he moves.

Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators ($3.75M) –

I can't really believe Nashville is willing to trade him. Whenever there is an injury to Ryan Ellis or Roman Josi, annually is seems, there is a massive swarm across fantasy hockey to waiver wires to scoop Ekholm.

He is a top-pairing-caliber defenceman. He can run a power-play, and with that cap hit even the most cap-strapped teams believe they can make his salary work.

I am hard pressed to think of a contending team that wouldn't immediately benefit from acquiring Ekholm. The best fit for him, fantasy wise will be a team needing a boost on one of their power-play units. He is like a swiss-army knife on the back end.

He might benefit the most from a trade. Being stuck behind Ellis and Josi on the power play has limited his offensive potential. Wherever he goes he'll continue to chew minutes at five on five. It is the potential to increase his power play minutes that makes this a real intriguing option for fantasy owners.

Taylor Hall, Buffalo Sabres ($8M) –

I had to look twice after seeing he was given a no movement clause with Buffalo. Nothing related to the player himself. Often a player of his caliber will get such an offer. It is that he was given this clause on a one-year deal. Moving to a new team this is a rare thing to see.

It seems likely he entered Buffalo looking to re-sign on a larger payday. I'm sure he expected a different result for himself and the Sabres. 

He has seen so little playoff action in his career you have to believe he's starved to play meaningful hockey. The season ending injury to Anders Lee opens up almost enough cap space to make a deal work. I'm just not convinced the Islanders are looking his direction. Several top teams are though, book it.

Hall played his best hockey in New Jersey the year following his trade to New Jersey. He played with a chip on his shoulder. You have to think he has a huge chip on his shoulder right now. Personally, I'd be more than upset with how this season has gone. A trade to a contender would be a chance at real redemption.

I know trade deadlines are passing in leagues as you read this. His value is really limited if he remains in Buffalo. That no-movement clause is a real wild card. If you're wanting to take a run at Hall thinking a trade for him and for you, could put your team over the top. There are some contending teams starving for a scoring winger.

It is a good time to target Hall for future years. His production has not done his next contract any favors. This might be a real good buy low option on Hall.

I, for one, would take a swing at Hall considering the up-side here. Fantasy hockey is all about taking chances. If Hall gets traded to a contending team this is one situation that could pay off in a big, big way.

Conor Garland, Arizona Coyotes (775k)

Just the fact he is being discussed shows how dysfunctional Arizona is. I can't see this happening. Finally, an exciting young player and they want to trade him. Mind-blow.  Garland is a buy all day, whether he stays or goes in the desert. Even with 25 points in 30 games you can still get him below market value when comparing him to similar players.

He's only going to get better.

Alexander Radulov, Dallas Stars ($6.25M) – Perennial day-to-day

Sell, sell, sell. If you're contending it should be pretty a clear decision.

This is such an odd situation. You have to feel for everyone here, especially Radulov. Not only is he day-to-day for most of the rest of the season, but he is also likely a game-time decision most nights.

 It doesn't sound like an injury of normal sorts. A muscle, tendon or ligament would seem much more straight forward as to whether he injured or healthy. To me it sounds like something else entirely. I don't want to speculate on what it could be. I can only hope it is something that he can figure out sooner than later.

He has been productive when he has been in the line-up which is where things get even more frustrating.  You want that production. That said, you need to maximize your return on cap-dollar to its greatest extent. A point per game player playing every other, or every third game, quickly becomes an expensive waiver wire caliber player.

This is a player I would try to cut bait with if you are a serious contender. You need to maximize your games played in the playoffs and your cap space. This is a worse than a long-term injury because unless your league allows for IR+ he chews up a roster spot. Even with the ability to put Radulov on IR with day to day status, he loses that injury flag every so often which makes him ineligible. Trying to manage Radulov right now is as difficult as keeping track of alliances in a season of Survivor.

Sometimes keeping things simple is the clear path.

All stats are from FrozenTools and all salary info is from Capfriendly.

Follow me on twitter @doylelb4