The NHL Trade Bait list at the All-Star Break has been updated with the top 30 candidates likely to be moved by the trade deadline on March 3, 2023.
Timo Meier is the name that skyrockets to the top of this list as the most likely to be dealt after Bo Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders. His situation is similar to Horvat’s even though he’ll be an RFA in July and not a UFA. Any team that’s trading for Meier has long-term plans in mind.
Jakob Chychrun also stays near the top of the list and probably would have been traded by now if not for the Arizona Coyotes high asking price. For New York Rangers fans, you’ll see that two Blueshirts have been added.
Let’s look at the latest names on the trade list.
NHL Trade Bait Tracker
| Rank | Player (Team) | POS | AGE | TERM – AAV |
| 1 | Timo Meier (SJS) | F | 26 | 1 YEAR – $6M (RFA) |
| 2 | Jakob Chychrun (ARI) | D | 24 | 3 YEARS – $4.6M |
| 3 | Patrick Kane (CHI) | F | 34 | 1 YEAR – $10.5M |
| 4 | Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) | F | 31 | 1 YEAR – $7.5M |
| 5 | Ryan O’Reilly (STL) | F | 31 | 1 YEAR – $7.5M |
| 6 | James van Riemsdyk (PHI) | F | 34 | 1 YEAR – $7M |
| 7 | Vladislav Gavrikov (CBJ) | D | 27 | 1 YEAR – $2.8M |
| 8 | Matt Dumba (MIN) | D | 28 | 1 YEAR – $6M |
| 9 | Jonathan Toews (CHI) | C | 34 | 1 YEAR – $10.5M |
| 10 | John Klingberg (ANA) | D | 30 | 1 YEAR – $7M |
| 11 | Sean Monahan (MTL) | C | 28 | 1 YEAR – $6.375M |
| 12 | Ivan Barbashev (STL) | F | 27 | 1 YEAR – $2.25M |
| 13 | Max Domi (CHI) | F | 27 | 1 YEAR – $3M |
| 14 | Brock Boeser (VAN) | F | 25 | 2 YEARS – $6.65M |
| 15 | Tyler Bertuzzi (DET) | F | 28 | 1 YEAR – $4.75M |
| 16 | Dmitri Kulikov (ANA) | D | 32 | 1 YEAR – $2.25M |
| 17 | Kevin Shattenkirk (ANA) | D | 34 | 1 YEAR – $3.9M |
| 18 | Patric Hornqvist (FLA) | F | 36 | 1 YEAR – $5.3M |
| 19 | Nick Bjugstad (ARI) | F | 30 | 1 YEAR – $900K |
| 20 | Joel Edmundson (MTL) | D | 29 | 2 YEARS – $3.5M |
| 21 | Jack Roslovic (CBJ) | F | 25 | 2 YEARS – $4M |
| 22 | Luke Schenn (VAN) | D | 33 | 1 YEAR – $850K |
| 23 | Vitali Kravtsov (NYR) | F | 23 | 1 YEAR – $875K (RFA) |
| 24 | James Reimer (SJS) | G | 34 | 1 YEAR – $2.25M |
| 25 | Tyler Motte (OTT) | F | 27 | 1 YEAR – $1.35M |
| 26 | Dylan Larkin (DET) | F | 26 | 1 YEAR – $6.1M |
| 27 | Shayne Gostisbehere (ARI) | D | 29 | 1 YEAR – $4.5M |
| 28 | Jesse Puljujarvi (EDM) | D | 24 | 1 YEAR – $3M (RFA) |
| 29 | Nathan Beaulieu (ANA) | D | 30 | 1 YEAR – $850K |
| 30 | Zac Jones (NYR) | D | 22 | 1 YEAR – $925K (RFA) |
Notable Trades:
Bo Horvat to New York Islanders
A look at the top trade candidates
Timo Meier: The 26-year-old is having a great year with 28 goals and 48 points in 51 games. The New Jersey Devils are linked as the strongest suitor to acquire him but the Buffalo Sabers could also be a contender for his services. According to Pierre LeBrun, the extension for Timo Meier is expected to be at least $9 million per season.
Jakob Chychrun: Arizona’s most valuable commodity is playing great after being plagued by injuries that delayed the start of his season. Through 34 games, he’s notched 25 points. With 3 years remaining on his contract (this season plus two more) and an excellent AAV of $4.6 million, he’s a great cost-controlled top 4 d-man.
Patrick Kane: The future hall of famer has 34 points in 45 games for a really bad Blackhawks team this season. Kane will be a UFA this summer and has a full no-move clause to control where he lands. The Blackhawks will also need to retain 50% of his $10.5M cap hit for potential suitors like the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, and Edmonton Oilers. Although recent injury concerns make his status at the deadline murky.
Vladimir Tarasenko: The 31-year-old forward has 29 points in 38 games and just came off the injured list. The pending UFA is believed to be testing the market this summer and has yet to rescind a public request to be traded prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. So is this going to be a showcase for the big right wing until the March 3 NHL Trade deadline? It sure seems that way.
Ryan O’Reilly: St. Louis’ captain is currently on LTIR and wants to stay with the Blues. Of course, St. Louis’ playoffs hopes are growing dimmer by the day and they’ll likely want to retool this lineup with younger players. The 31-year-old has 16 points in 37 games and is expected to be back by the trade deadline.
Note: This article originally appeared on our NHL site The Daily Goal Horn