The trade deadline is March 3rd, so we still have about five weeks left for some or most of the players on our list to be dealt. I'm going to list the players who I believe will bring back the highest returns. This season has the makings for some pretty big trades as quite a few of these players are top-line or top-pairing skaters.

Tier One:

Jakob Chychrun – D – Arizona 31-5-19-24

The 24-year-old Chychrun is near the top, even though he still has two years remaining at $4.6 million AAV after this season. He had asked the Coyotes to trade him at some point last season and continued that request into this year.

Teams that have a need or fit for him are Philadelphia, Ottawa, New Jersey, Seattle, Minnesota or Edmonton. In his past 78 games he has 12 goals and 33 assists while averaging 22:56 per game.

The Coyotes are rumored to be asking for two first-round picks and perhaps a second round pick or top prospect in return. This would put only Ottawa, Seattle and Minnesota in the running in my mind.

Patrick Kane -W-  Chicago 40-8-22-30 minus 24

Kane is in the final year of his contract which pays him $6.9 million this season but carries a cap hit of $10.5 million.  Before this season, Kane had averaged between 1.17 and 1.36 points per game in the four years prior. This year his production is down a little with just 30 points in 42 games (0.71/g), but on the right team he still has a lot to offer in the playoffs as a 34-year-old.

The Blackhawks would expect a 1st round pick and a top prospect back in return, if Kane even waives his NMC.

Teams in which he could be a fit are Colorado, Buffalo, Florida, NY Islanders, Philadelphia and Washington.

Timo Meier -W-  San Jose 48-27-20-47

The Sharks have painted themselves into a bit of a corner with the 26-year-old Meier who will be an RFA at the end of this season. He has a $6 million AAV cap hit, but is making $10 million in salary this season. The team can re-sign him at any time for the remainder of the year, but Meier could elect to force them to qualify him at $10 million or more or he would become an unrestricted free agent if they decline before 2023-24.

Meier has 27 goals and 20 assists in 48 games and would command a return very similar to Chychrun if not a little bit more. He would be a fit on teams like Carolina (Pacioretty LITR), Colorado, Edmonton, Florida and Washington but I'm not sure how any of these teams could afford the price tag.

Erik Karlsson -D- San Jose 48-15-47-62

Karlsson is having an incredible season, but the rumors say that he might want to play for a winning team sooner than later and that is not in San Jose.

He has four years remaining at $11.5 million AAV but 'only' $39 million over the four years in salary owing. It won't be easy to find a fit for him unless the Sharks retain some salary, but he won't come cheaply as he has 15 goals and 47 assists in 48 games and is on pace for 106 points. The 32-year-old has found a gear which he hasn't had since 2016-17. The rumored ask is three first round draft picks, which is not likely.

Teams that might be a fit are Toronto, Seattle and Minnesota. The list is relatively short for need and becomes even shorter for being able to add his remaining salary. I just can't see how a team would be able to add him. 

Vladimir Tarasenko -W- St. Louis 34-10-19-29 6.56

Tarasenko missed more than 90 games with a shoulder injury from 2019 through 2021. He played 75 games last season and put a lot of doubts to rest with 34 goals and 48 assists. This season he has played 34 games with 10 goals and 19 assists and is in the final season of his contract which has a cap hit of $7.5 million and a salary of $5.5 million this year. The 31-year-old will be unrestricted and the Blues will still need to fall out of the playoff race to be sellers, but if so, they will expect a first-round pick and a prospect in return.

Tarasenko could be a fit in Carolina, Colorado, Edmonton, Florida or Washington.

Bo Horvat -C- Vancouver 46-30-19-49

Horvat appears to be on move from Vancouver after nine seasons and four seasons as their team captain. He is in the final year of his contract which has a cap hit of $5.5 million and a salary of $4.45 million this year. The 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and the Canucks will try to get as much value as they can in return. The rumored asking price is two first-round picks and a top prospect.

Horvat has 30 goals and 19 assists in 46 games and also has a 56.1 faceoff winning percentage. Teams that are a fit are Seattle, Colorado, Boston, Minnesota and Philadelphia.

Tier Two

This tier might have a return of a 1st or 2nd round draft pick or a top prospect or 21-24 year-old regular who hasn't panned out yet.

Shayne Gostisbehere -D- Arizona 47-9-20-29

The 29-year-old Gostisbehere is an impending UFA who has a cap hit of $4.5 million and a salary of $3.25 million this season which could be an enticing number for some teams looking for an offensive defenseman.

Gostisbehere has nine goals and 20 assists in 47 games while averaging 22:31 per game.

He could command a first round or second round pick and a prospect. Teams that he would be a fit in are Minnesota, Seattle, Edmonton, Dallas, St. Louis (if they turn things around), Pittsburgh (if Letang is injured) and Toronto. Most of these teams would use him in a secondary role with perhaps Minnesota being the only team that might need him as he's being used now.

Andrei Kuzmenko -W- Vancouver 45-18-22-40

While it appears that Kuzmenko might re-sign in Vancouver, it might be prudent for the Canucks to deal him and get back some future returns which might help them in two or three years.

Kuzmenko is an attractive piece for a lot of teams because his cap hit is only $950k to go along with the offense he can provide which is 18 goals and 22 assists in 45 games.

The Canucks would hope that he could fetch a first or second round draft pick or a top prospect. There will be 16 to 20 teams who are in the playoff hunt, who would be interested in Kuzmenko.

Ryan O'Reilly -C- St. Louis 37-10-6-16 minus 28

We will have to see where the Blues are closer to the deadline, but O'Reilly is an impending UFA and at the age of 31, he's having one of his least productive seasons since 2010-11 when he was with Colorado. He has a cap hit of $7.5 million and a salary of $6 million this year.

He is still one of the best centers in the faceoff circle at 53.4 percent (55.7 career) and can kill penalties, while providing some offense as well.

He has lowered his value a little but should still get a first or second round pick and a prospect in return. He is out with an injury until at least February.

He would be a fit for the same teams as Bo Horvat as they are the two centers who I believe have the most to add to a team. O'Reilly might have an edge in terms of experience and playoff pedigree, but Horvat is more productive at this point. I think teams will be able to get O'Reilly cheaper than Horvat.

Honorable Mentions who should/could be dealt but won't bring as much return as the above:

Nick Bjugstad -C/W- Arizona 47-11-10-21 salary $900k, 30y UFA

Bjugstad is healthy, big, cheap and plays center. He could command a second or third round pick this year.

Jonathan Toews -C- Chicago 44-13-14-27 minus 20; salary $6.9M 34y UFA

Toews is not the player he was four years ago, but he might be a tremendous addition for a playoff team. He has a no movement clause and has a high salary, which are two big hurdles. He could command anywhere from a first to third round pick if he makes himself available.

Max Domi -C- Chicago 45-14-18-32 minus 11; salary $3.0M 27y UFA $3M

Domi has been one of the most productive Blackhawks this season. Last season he was a salary dump from Columbus to Carolina at the trade deadline, but this year he has more value and is less of a cap hit. He could command a second or third round pick or prospect equivalent.

Alex Stalock -G- Chicago 91.8 6-6-1 GSAA 5.1; $750k 35y UFA

If healthy, I would put Stalock as perhaps the second most attractive goalie for a team to add down the stretch. He has played well in 14 games this year on a fairly bad team. He has played only eight playoff games in his career in the NHL.

Jake McCabe -D- Chicago 42-2-11-13 plus 5; three years remaining $4.0M, 29y

McCabe isn't necessarily on Chicago's list of players to be dealt, but apparently teams have been asking about his availability. With his remaining three years at $4 million he might get a first or second round pick or prospect equivalent in return.

Mattias Ekholm -D- Nashville 46-5-12-17;  32y four years remaining $6.25M

Dealing Ekholm would only be realistic if the Predators fell out of the playoff hunt and felt they could get more value for him now than at a later point. He could surely get a first or second round pick back.

Dante Fabbro -D- Nashville 43-1-7-8; 24y RFA $2.4M

Fabbro has seen his average ice time go down to just 16:10 per game this season after being above 19 minutes in each of his first three seasons. This could be a player a team like Vancouver targets as he fits the mold of what the team is looking for in their re-alignment (not rebuild).

Jesse Puljujarvi -W- Edmonton 47-4-6-10 minus 14; 24y RFA $3M

One must assume that the Oilers will dangle Puljujarvi to get a regular skater back who will help them in their push to get into the playoffs and do some damage there. The Oilers needs are on the wing and on defense.

Samuel Girard -D- Colorado 39-3-9-12 minus 12; 24y four years remaining $5M

Girard being dealt only makes sense if Bowen Byram is back and healthy. The Avalanche have had their forward depth decimated this season through injuries and those who left as free agents from last year. Perhaps Girard could be used to bring in a productive forward with a similar cap hit?

John Klingberg -D- Anaheim 40-6-9-15 minus 26; 30y UFA $7M

Klingberg has a large cap hit and is a bit of a mess in his own end but he has proven he can run a power play and run it well. In the 2019-20 playoffs while with Dallas he had 21 points in 26 games with seven of those points on the power play. I'm not sure he will get the Ducks much more than a third round pick this year.

Kevin Shattenkirk -D- Anaheim 42-0-10-10 minus 12; 33y UFA $3.9M

I'm not sure what kind of offense Shattenkirk will provide another team as he has had the opportunity in Anaheim and has only two power play points while playing 36.7% of the time on the power play. His ice time is down from 21 minutes last season to 18 this year. He might garner a third or fourth round pick.

Andreas Athanasiou -W- Chicago 44-10-4-14 minus 13; 28y UFA $3M

Athanasiou can score goals if he's healthy. He has 21 goals in his past 72 games. He might get a third to fifth round pick.

Connor Murphy -D- Chicago 45-4-2-6; 29y three years remaining $4.4M

Murphy is a hitting and blocking machine with 94 hits and 99 blocked shots in 45 games this season. He has three years remaining at $4.4 million AAV so his price tag would be a little higher for the acquiring team with perhaps a third round pick being the price tag.

Denis Gurianov -W- Dallas 32-2-5-7; 25y RFA $2.9M

Gurianov had nine goals and eight assists and 96 hits in 27 playoff games in 2019-20. This season he has struggled mightily and there are all sorts of rumors of him being traded out of Dallas. Another team might hope he becomes the player he showed from the bubble playoffs.

Matt Dumba -D- Minnesota 43-4-8-12; 28y UFA $6M

Any offense Dumba had in Minnesota seems to have disappeared entirely. For a player who had defensive misgiving when he was productive, I'm not sure how much value a $6 million player has without. If the Wild can somehow get some value in a trade for Dumba, they have done well.

Kevin Lankinen -G- Nashville 5-4-1 92.4 GSAA 7.06 27y UFA $1.5M

I have Lankinen as the top goalie who might be involved in a trade to a contender. This rests entirely on how the Predators do from here to the trade deadline of course. Lankinen has been an excellent backup to Juuse Saros this season and could shore up a team like Seattle or Winnipeg.

James Reimer -G- San Jose 8-14-4 89.5 GSAA minus 7.86 34y UFA $2.25M

I'm not sure Reimer is an upgrade for many playoff bound teams. Surprisingly he has only 11 playoff games compared to his 458 career games.

Ivan Barbashev -W- St. Louis 47-7-15-22; 27y UFA $2.25M

Barbashev had 26 goals and 34 assists last season, so he can produce even though he has struggled a little this season. In 50 career playoff games he has just three goals and six assists with 155 hits. He can be physical and put up some offense, so a team might like to add him. He might get back a third or fourth round pick.

Noel Acciari -W- St. Louis 47-10-8-18; 31y UFA $1.4M

Acciari plays a playoff style of game when he is healthy. Before this season he had 54 career playoff games with just four goals and three assists, but 203 hits. He might get back a fourth or fifth round pick.

Brock Boeser -W- Vancouver 38-9-18-27; 25y two years remaining $6.65M

How far has Boeser fallen in two seasons? The Canucks can't trade him without adding to the deal. Any hopes of a first or second round pick in return for Boeser are gone. This team might have to eat some salary and throw in a Jack Rathbone type prospect to even get Boeser off the payroll.

Luke Schenn -D- Vancouver 46-2-12-14; 33y UFA $850k

Schenn leads the league in hits with 221 after 46 games. He has played well in Vancouver this year and last but his ice time is limited and he will be a sixth or seventh defender on most playoff bound teams. He might get the Canucks a third or fourth rounder in return. Teams that he would be a fit for are Colorado, Edmonton, Buffalo, Florida, (again) and Tampa Bay (again).

Thank you very much for reading and if you have any comments, please leave below or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15