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With a little over two weeks before the NHL's March 3rd trade deadline, hockey fans have already been treated to two blockbuster trades to wet their palette before the trade frenzy is sure to take off in the coming weeks.
Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders, and Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers already takes two major trade targets off the board, but don't get it twisted, there are still plenty of other top players who could very well be donning a new uniform by March 3rd.
Patrick Kane
I figured I'd start with the man who has the most buzz surrounding him right now. Patrick Kane has been in the spotlight over the last week since a report surfaced that he was "unhappy" with the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. Kane's top trade destination is obviously the Rangers; he wants to be in New York, he wants to be reunited with former line mate Artemi Panarin, and he wants to parade down the Canyon of Heroes with his fourth Stanley Cup raised above his head.
Kane, who has a full no-move clause included in his current contract, controls his fate right now. Kane has also added the Toronto Maple Leafs to his short list of preferred trade destinations. Will we see Patty force Chicago's hand and demand a trade to either New York or Toronto? It'll be extremely interesting to watch as the weeks progress.
Kane has also been linked to the Buffalo Sabres, since he is a Buffalo native. However, Kane himself has not explicitly expressed an interest in playing for his hometown team.
Erik Karlsson
Sharks defenseman, Erik Karlsson, is done in San Jose. You know it, I know it, he knows it, the Sharks know it, we all know it. San Jose's fire sale has yet to begin, but it's coming, trust me. Another major trade target from San Jose will be featured later on this list.
Karlsson is currently the front-runner for the Norris Trophy this year as the NHL's best defenseman, meaning that wherever he winds up, San Jose will be commanding a haul for him. Karlsson himself expressed to the media a few short weeks ago that he wants to go somewhere that he has a chance to win immediately. The 32 year old defenseman is still chasing his ever elusive Stanley Cup, so you can't blame the guy for wanting to win now.
Timo Meier
Here's that other top Sharks trade target that I mentioned above. Meier is quite possibly the No. 1 forward available on this year's trade block since the Vancouver Canucks dealt Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders. There isn't a single contending team in the league that isn't looking at Timo Meier right now. Meier is on pace to put up a 40-goal season this year, and is sure to put any contender he goes to over the top.
Meier has been heavily linked to the New Jersey Devils, and that was before Jack Hughes' injury. Now that New Jersey is without their best forward for the next few weeks, Meier becomes that much more important of a target to the Devils.
Brock Boeser
Expect Vancouver to continue their fire sale. After shipping Bo Horvat off, the basement dwelling Canucks have nothing left to lose. Their star veterans are on the block as Vancouver looks toward the future. They received prospect Aatu Raty and a conditional first round pick from the New York Islanders in the Horvat trade, so I'd expect them to be looking for a similar return for whoever Brock Boeser goes to. Building around their young guns like Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson through drafting correctly and developing prospects should be top priority for Vancouver in the coming years.
Jakob Chychrun
There was a rumor going around a few days ago that the Los Angeles Kings had worked out a trade for Arizona Coyotes defenseman, Jakob Chychrun, before LA reportedly pulled out, not wanting to trade away their 2021 8th overall pick, Brandt Clarke. The Coyotes announced that Chychrun will not be suiting up for the Coyotes anymore, as they will be benching him until he is traded.
Chychrun has been also linked to the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers.
Ryan O'Reilly
St. Louis folk hero, Ryan O'Reilly, may be saying goodbye to the city he won the 2019 Stanley Cup for. The Blues have struggled mightily this season, and it seems as if their days of competing are over for now. After shipping off Vladimir Tarasenko off to the New York Rangers, many believe that O'Reilly is next to come off the board for St. Louis
Jonathan Toews
Patrick Kane's longtime partner in crime in Chicago, captain Jonathan Toews, will most likely be on the move as well. The only thing the Blackhawks will be competing for over the next few years is a lottery pick, meaning that there's no reason to keep a 34 year old Toews around. Toews, as well as Kane, also has a full NMC in his contract, meaning he also controls his fate. The Blackhawks captain was also critical of the direction that his organization was heading in to begin the season, so trade rumors surrounding Toews have been ongoing for quite some time now. Go ahead and get yourself another Cup, Toews, it's time to move on from Chicago.
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