Your PHT trade deadline day primer

The trade deadline hits at 3 p.m. ET Monday and it’s generally been a day filled with action big and small. This year’s deadline could be more of the same. Small tweaks or franchise-changing moves could happen just the same. Who might be on the move this year? Here’s a list of ten names you might see us writing about tomorrow.

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1. Rick Nash, RW – Columbus Blue Jackets
He’s the big prize to be had and with at least three teams (Toronto, San Jose and Philly) and perhaps other sneaky suitors (Nashville). His agent wants to see him moved and Nash wants this ordeal done. Whether or not Scott Howson bites and gets things done is the million dollar question.

2. Steve Ott, LW – Dallas Stars
Dallas’ sandpaper-like forward has earned a lot of interest of late. With Vancouver and Philadelphia appearing to be the front-runners for the 29-year-old and the Canucks in particular freeing up cap space recently, Ott could be had. Dallas hanging around in the playoff race might mean he doesn’t go anywhere which would suit Ott just fine.

3. Evgeni Nabokov, G – New York Islanders
Some teams could use some veteran goaltending help (Toronto, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay) and whether Nabokov signs a contract extension with the Isles will likely decide whether he can be had or not. If Nabokov is off limits, perhaps Tampa Bay’s Dwayne Roloson would make a nice booby prize despite his rough season.

4. Dustin Brown, RW – Los Angeles Kings
It was a bombshell when it was made known that Dustin Brown could be had via trade. After seeing him blow up for a hat trick and four points against Chicago, however, perhaps word of him being available was meant to be the kick in the butt he needed to get going and probably stick in Los Angeles.

5. Andrei Kostitsyn, LW – Montreal Canadiens
Is your team in need of a depth forward with scoring touch that’s tired of the rat race in Montreal? Kostitsyn is your guy. Nashville (where his brother Sergei is), Detroit, who’s sniffing around for forward depth, and others in need of scoring help could be in the mix here.

6. Bryan Allen, D – Carolina Hurricanes
With Carolina re-signing Tuomo Ruutu to a whopper of a deal and things not going as smoothly between these two sides, Allen is shaping up to be the guy headed out of town. We’ve already seen Niklas Grossman and Hal Gill get moved and Allen is the next in line to be had. He’s physical and a defensive-defenseman that will give you about 19 minutes a game. Don’t expect any offense here though.

7. Nikolai Khabibulin, G – Edmonton Oilers
If your team needs goaltending help, perhaps kicking the tires on this aging Stanley Cup winner is what would fit the bill. With the issues Toronto has had in goal, would Brian Burke dare deviate from the plan to pick up an old warhorse like the ‘Bulin Wall? (No, probably not)

8. Jonathan Bernier, G – Los Angeles Kings
Teams with long-term issues in goal (Columbus, Tampa Bay) might choose now to address those problems. While those teams would also covet Vancouver’s Cory Schneider and may wait til summer to make a run at him, Bernier is also a young and potential franchise goalie that will get attention, especially if there’s a scoring forward to be had in the deal.

9. Derick Brassard, C – Columbus Blue Jackets
Speaking of young players potentially on the move, Columbus’ Derick Brassard is believed to still be out there and available at the right price. It won’t be easy to pull him away, but with Columbus in “anything goes” mode, the right deal could net a team with a need at center a young playmaker.

10. Shane O’Brien, D – Colorado Avalanche
If there’s a team desperate for physical defense and wants a guy on an expiring contract, O’Brien could garner interest. He’s been on playoff teams before and has that experience. Problem here is that Colorado is still in the hunt for the postseason and may not want to sell too much.

Related

PHT’s Trade Deadline Tracker