NHL Trade Deadline 2023: Players to watch like Jakob Chychrun with deadline just four days away

The busiest time of year for National Hockey League General Managers is now, and there was no shortage of deals between clubs ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.

In January, DailyMail.com highlighted seven players who could move on or before time runs out. Since publication, five of those names have found new homes.

Canucks captain Bo Horvat moved to Long Island. The St. Louis Blues moved forward Vladimir Tarasenko and their captain forward Ryan O’Reilly. San Jose wished Timo Meier good luck when he was shipped to New Jersey. And today, Patrick Kane left Chicago to join the Rangers.

With all those names already off the board, DailyMail.com decided to look to the rest of the commercial market to see which other players could pack up soon.

While some teams are looking to prepare for a playoff run, and others are looking to bank on Connor Bedard’s generational perspective, these are some players to keep an eye on in the coming days.

Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona Coyotes and John Klingberg, D, Anaheim Ducks: Keep an eye out for the two yet-to-be-moved pieces from our last article, as Jakob Chychrun and John Klingberg have yet to find a home.

Chychrun was kept off the lineup for several weeks as ‘Yotes GM Bill Armstrong tries his hardest to find someone to rescue the hell defender from the Arizona desert.

As for Klingberg, his offensive production may have improved, but his defensive skills have stagnated – and in some cases dropped further.

He averaged the second most ice time per game of any player, behind captain Cam Fowler, but has an over/under rating of -28.

Klingberg is known for being a good puck mover, but this season he is on track for one of the worst offensive productions of his career.

Where could they go?: For Chychrun, deals are on the table with teams like Edmonton – who remain best positioned to acquire the Florida native. But new teams have entered the fray – with the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins seeking his services.

As for Klingberg, he’s about to have one of the worst defensive seasons of his playing career – but his environment isn’t the best for winning. Teams like the Buffalo Sabers could battle the Capitals and Hurricanes for their signature. However, it could be argued that the Ducks’ hopes for a tank could be better met with Klingberg in the lineup.

Referrals at The Vancouver Canucks: In general, the Canucks franchise looks like it’s teetering on the edge of an abyss, considering how its season under President Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin has gone.

From the start of the season – with some of the worst plays in team history – to the clown show that was their handling of the Bruce Boudreau situation, the Canucks could do well by blowing it up right now.

There are two players in particular to keep an eye on: Brock Boeser and JT Miller.

Boeser, 25, has two years remaining on a contract that will earn him $6.65 million a year. He’s struggled to find consistency in the Pacific Northwest, but perhaps a move to greener pastures might be what he needs.

Other players like Conor Garland and JT Miller have been rumored to be trades, but while Garland’s move isn’t likely, Miller appears to be attracting at least some interest from his hometown team: the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Where could they go?: For Boeser, rumors of the Burnsville, Minnesota native returning to his home state to play for the Wild had been floating around for years. Now may be the time it comes true.

As for Miller, if the Penguins deal doesn’t work out, it could be down to the lower-body injury that has him listed week-to-week on the team. However, he could attract interest from teams like the Vegas Golden Knights or Winnipeg Jets – who are looking to build momentum for a cup run – or teams that want him as the core of a rebuild, like the Nashville Predators.

Vladislav Gavrikov, defender, Columbus Blue Jackets: It almost seemed like a perfect deal to send 27-year-old Russian defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov from Columbus to the league-leading Boston Bruins.

However, Boston decided to turn its attention to a more proven commodity – trading Dmitry Orlov to the Washington Capitals.

This left Gavrikov in the equivalent of hockey purgatory. Like fellow defender Chychrun, Gavrikov was sidelined for a while to avoid injury ahead of a potential trade.

With Boston off the table, the fires on a Gavrikov trade have subsided – which isn’t good news for the Blue Jackets. Columbus is near the bottom of the league, and if they want a good chance of getting Bedard, they could do well by moving the Russian into the capital draft.

Where could he go?: Gavrikov is believed to still have plenty of potential suitors – with the Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes all interested in him. However, GM Jarmo Kekalainen may have placed too high a price on Gavrikov, meaning he will either have to step down from that spot or be forced to keep it.

James van Riemsdyk, forward, Philadelphia Flyers: JVR has seen its commercial value skyrocket over the past week as teams look to pick the second-worst team in the Metropolitan Division.

Philadelphia has been in need of a rebuild for several years after being shortchanged for a decent playoff bubble in 2020.

Now GM Chuck Fletcher is in a position to potentially sell several of his top performers and van Riemsdyk is no exception.

Though his numbers have dropped this season (9G/14a for 23 points in 40 games), he’s still a leading veteran on an expiring contract.

Where could he go?: JVR’s pedigree argues that he could fit in the second row of a team fighting for a berth or the third row of a team that has already booked its travel plans for the playoffs. In the first category, we have teams like Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado. In the latter, we have Vegas and Carolina. Wherever he goes, he will gain a valuable two-way presence from veterans.

Joonas Korpisalo, goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets: It has just been announced that the best goalkeeper on the market would be played by the Blue Jacketsawaiting a potential deal.

Korpisalo currently boasts a GAA of 3.17 and a save percentage of . 913 over 28 games – totaling 845 saves.

Although this GAA is high, it is important to highlight that the Blue Jackets are one of the worst teams in the league and are very committed defensively.

Columbus expects a tank in their midst and there are plenty of teams in the playoffs that are in dire need of good goaltending options.

Where could he go? Vegas. Vegas is in desperate need of a goaltender right now, due to injuries to Logan Thompson and Adin Hill recently. Other options include Los Angeles and Seattle.

Tyler Bertuzzi, forward, Detroit Red Wings: That’s kind of a wild card, because while Bertuzzi is an attractive asset to many teams, Detroit could still need him.

For starters, Bertuzzi has missed a lot of games this season – scoring just four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 28 games played. His -10 rating isn’t doing him any favors either.

However, his body of work proves that the 28-year-old Sudbury, Ontario native can score after recording 62 points in 68 games last season.

While Bertuzzi could be a buy-and-sign option for several teams, Detroit is at a crossroads in the standings. They currently have 64 points – just three behind a Wild Card spot. Detroit has games on hand on the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, so they can still compete.

It will be a tough decision for GM Steve Yzerman to make in the coming days, but trading Bertuzzi doesn’t necessarily mean the team is fully flying the white flag for the season.

Where could he go?: Rumors of Bertuzzi’s move have only started to come to life in the last 24-36 hours, so teams that just acquired parts could still be after him. Carolina, Edmonton and Winnipeg may be interested in your talent now and in the future.

Others to keep an eye on

• Erik Karlsson, defenseman, San Jose Sharks: San Jose is busy trying to run into the back for Connor Bedard, but moving Karlsson could be tricky. He is in the midst of an incredible season and is four years old at an exorbitant price of $11.5 million a year. However, if a team wants him, Karlsson could waive his no-trade clause to go there and the Sharks would get a lot in return. While Karlsson himself has said it’s not likely, this term season has proven wild enough for a move to Edmonton or Seattle.
• Jordan Greenway, forward, Minnesota Wild: The Wild is in an awkward spot this season. They are close to a playoff berth, but continue to keep wages from teams like Boston in the Orlov deal and New Jersey in the Meier deal. With younger players struggling for top-tier minutes, Greenway could be moved. He’s likely heading to Vancouver as part of a trade for the aforementioned Boeser, but teams like the Sabers, Islanders and Jets could be interested.
• Arizona Coyotes Attackers: There may be no team hugging their tank more tightly than the Coyotes, so there are plenty of players that can be on the move from their forward ranks. Two names in particular come to mind. Nick Bjugstad is a reliable two-way forward who has 23 points in 59 games. Teams like Boston, Tampa Bay, Edmonton, New York and Toronto have all been linked with moves for him. Nick Schmaltz could also be moved – with 39 points in 43 games this season. Strong links to Carolina have been ruled out, but other teams like Detroit could be in the mix.