With the trade deadline looming at month’s end, we’re close enough to look at some assets that could soon be on the move to Stanley Cup contenders. The following are players I’m assuming to have a strong chance at being in different area codes come the end of the month. Each of these players warrants utilization full-time or occasionally in the fantasy landscape based on league size and they certainly have provided assistance in one statistical category or more for their owners. Should they find themselves in greener pastures come the deadline, each of them stands to increase their contributions to your respective squads.

Rick Nash

If you follow my writings here at all you may recall several times how I have no problem verbally eviscerating my favorite team. The time to sell off the assets is upon the Rangers and commit to a full scale rebuild. Whether or not that happens is highly debatable with James Dolan writing the checks, but they need to listen in on offers for the likes of Henrik Lundqvist, Michael Grabner, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan McDonagh, and especially impending UFA Rick Nash. No question Nash is beyond his offensive prime but from a fantasy standpoint he is still a quality depth option with 15 goals on the season and providing a healthy dose of shots with 157 to this point, averaging to at least three per game.

The break was ill-timed for Nash as he was in the midst of one of his customary goal scoring hot streaks that owners have been waiting on for quite some time this campaign. Positively thinking though, this can only help bolster his attractiveness to a contender coupled with his well-rounded three-zone play. Whether or not the Rangers deal him away, Nash can still provide a 25-goal campaign coupled with 250 plus shots this year. Though he may not be as dangerous a goal scorer as he once was, there is still immense value in retaining his services on your fantasy roster as a viable depth option. Should he be dealt to an organization more potent offensively, these totals stand to increase.

David Perron

Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal, William Karlsson; these are the names that always seemingly arise when speaking of the impressive Golden Knights inaugural campaign. Yet unfathomably nobody seems to want to give David Perron his due justice being on pace for a 70-plus point year for several months now. In the 15 games prior to the break he had a seven-game point streak followed by a five-game point streak that he extended to six in the first game back. As someone who has owned Perron since relatively early on this campaign, it’s really shocking to me that he does not get much love despite his accomplishments. Beyond the fantastic pace he’s maintained all year, Perron’s also on track to provide his owners with 60-plus PIM, 135 hits, and around 15 PPP. What else could you possibly ask for from a multi-cat stud. Sorry his shots aren’t that high, but I’ll take solace in his chance at 50-plus assists.

George McPhee has a serious conundrum on his hands as the league approaches the deadline. A team nobody expected to be in the position they stand today in the Western Conference, he must decide whether to bolster for a playoff run or sell off assets in looking to the future of the organization. With Perron entering UFA territory in the summer at the age of 30, he could stand to be a player cast off for a handsome return on his production to this point in time. Perron’s one player nobody from a fantasy standpoint would hope to see moved at the deadline as he has meshed well in Las Vegas in a primary offensive role. Any contender he potentially moves to he would most likely be further down the depth chart and hence decreased production which doesn’t work for us as owners. Rather than speculate enjoy what has been a stellar campaign and pray this isn’t his last month in Sin City.

Aaron Dell

Paging the New York Islanders, this is your guy! Not to go off track but for a team that is but one above average goaltender away from being a formidable foe, Dell could be had for essentially a one-for-one swap of the likes of Jaroslav Halak. Though I am sure the Sharks will want to acquire more than just a replacement goalie, they really don’t have much sway with a guy that’s played a career 42 games in the league to this point. Regardless Dell has been serviceable behind Martin Jones and at times looks poised to contest for his starting position but for a team that's contention window is arguably closed, they’d be wise to utilize him as an asset to kick start the rebuild.

Dell is sporting a solid 12-4-3 record in 22 starts in 2017-18 with a respectable .917 SV%. His GAA leaves something to be desired at 2.51 but that can certainly be correlated to the team in front of him. Dell’s attractiveness comes with the fact that he is on a bargain $675,000 contract that ends after this season; making him a cheap rental with no strings attached should he flounder that could put a contender above the opposition. While I am not saying he is guaranteed to take the reins of a starter position and run with it, he’s certainly earned his shot in my opinion backing up Jones admirably and may be an excellent gamble. Going back to a team such as the Islanders, what you have in net isn’t going to cut it so perhaps a shot in the dark on the cheap rewards both them and you the fantasy owner profoundly.

Thomas Vanek

A star of yesteryear much like Rick Nash, the Austrian Death Machine is having a quietly solid season in British Columbia on pace for 58 points by year’s end. One all too familiar with being a trade deadline rental in his career, he looks to be heading for said title once again come the end of February. Life in Vancouver is serving Vanek well now playing alongside up and coming center Bo Horvat while exceeding last season’s 3.0 PTS/60 (3.1). Vanek certainly isn’t blowing away his owners with his production but outside that ugly minus-15 you can’t really complain about the solid depth he provides you.

The Canucks surely aren’t going to contend this season or the next but the promise of Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat as pieces to build around at the end of the Sedin era should entice them to kick the tires on a return for Vanek. He’s always had the aura around him of being that piece that can take a contender up a notch and Vancouver would be wise to cash in as now 34 years of age we have certainly seen his best and this 55-point pace is seemingly the ceiling. Going to a more formidable offense where he gets a legitimate top-six role should sustain his level of production if not increase it towards the 60-point threshold. Though he’s surely lost a gear with age the man still has his release that can bury the biscuit with enough regularity.

Sam Reinhart

Though it might be insane to consider a team in rebuild casting off what is supposed to be one of the building blocks, the Sabres should certainly consider if the return is right. The thought process here is much along the lines of the Ryan Strome trade that netted the Islanders a 27-year old Jordan Eberle, which everyone by now should certainly perceive as an absolute steal for New York and an underscore for Edmonton. Sam Reinhart is but 22 years of age therefore like Strome, you can still sell him under the “potential” label. Though he has immense hockey IQ and solid stick skills, he is a bad skater that one may never perceive as being anything special in this league. But who’s to say some owner/GM/coach out there thinks otherwise and is willing to give the Sabres a legitimate top-four defender which they desperately need alongside Rasmus Ristolainen in return for him?

Reinhart boasts solid enough stats through his first two campaigns coupled with his age to look past this dumpster fire of a season thus far for him.  With season of 42 and 47 points in the two campaigns prior, there is no doubt if made available someone would come calling. Should the Sabres be dying to offload an asset such as Reinhart? No, but with the eventual arrival of Alexander Nylander and Casey Mittelstadt, he is easily replaceable and if he nets you the defender you need direly then one must consider giving him his walking papers. A change of scenery could kickstart Reinhart’s production alongside capable linemates, mutually benefitting both sides of the trade. A Central Division team looking to make a move to get ahead in their tight playoff race could be a possibility.

Cam Ward

There is no doubt that due to the heinous contract the Hurricanes handed Scott Darling, Cam Ward will always be second fiddle in Raleigh. Though his stretch of play was nothing spectacular overall in his games played over the second half of January, if Ward can replicate his stretch of play from December 12th through the end of 2017, the Hurricanes have a sell high candidate on their hands. His first game back from the break is a great start with a stellar showing at home against the Senators. Though he would be nothing more than a stopgap option for a postseason contender, the importance of depth is all too apparent in recent times, case in point Marc-Andre Fleury buoying the Penguins in net until Murray returned in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final.

Though he’ll never produce the workhorse results of his past from 2006-2011 again, there is no question Ward would be an instantaneous backup upgrade for a contender looking to safeguard the position. Not incredibly past his prime at 33 years of age, he’s managed to collect 14 wins with two overtime losses in 24 starts this season behind an up-and-down Hurricanes squad. Going to an improved cast in front of him that suppresses shots well could easily remedy his lackluster statistics. One could argue prying away Ward would not be all that difficult as the Hurricanes are currently paying $7.45 million collectively this year for what has been average goaltending at best from their duo. Not far outside of contention for a wildcard spot, the Hurricanes should not be kidding themselves that they can run with the big dogs just yet in the postseason. Offloading an asset like Ward to build towards the future is something the Hurricanes must consider if the return is right for them.