Five Players to keep an eye on for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline
The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline might not be for more than a few months, but it is never too early to look ahead at some of the big players that could be on the move.
The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline is scheduled for March 3, 2023, which is early from years past due to the COVID schedule change and Olympic break in last year’s schedule. There are a ton of names available to be moved this year, especially after the craziness of last season.
Last year we saw players like Max Domi, Marc-Andre Fleury, Nick Leddy and Claude Giroux all get moved around the deadline, and this year should be no different with teams hoping to bolster their roster for a playoff run.
Five Players to keep an eye on for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline
Today we are going to look at five players to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline. Fans of teams that these players are on right now, they want to see these players do very well so that their trade near the deadline can net a bigger return. As for the fans of teams that could trade for these players, they want to get an idea of what they can bring to the table this upcoming year and hopefully in the playoffs.
There are a lot of big name players that could be available near the deadline, a lot of Stanley Cup Champions with experience winning could be on the move, including some franchise players in places like Chicago. So let’s dive in with the five players to keep an eye on.
John Klingberg
John Klingberg signed with the Anaheim Ducks this offseason on a one-year deal worth seven million. This came after the Dallas Stars did not offer Klingberg a good enough contract to keep him in Dallas.
Klingberg went to Anaheim this offseason after spending the first eight years and 552 games of his career with the Stars, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2010. For Klingberg, the opportunity to join the Ducks gave him a chance to bet on his success for the future.
Klingberg was only given a one-year deal this offseason. He is betting on himself that he can be a quarterback of a power play and be a top defenseman in Anaheim this season to secure a big contract down the line and possibly put him on a contending team this season.
The Anaheim Ducks are not going to be in a playoff spot this year. The team just is not there yet, and while Klingberg was a good addition this offseason, he could be worth more to them on the move near the deadline.
He currently has two assists in his first eight games with the Ducks so keep an eye on how he does the rest of the way. If a contending team is looking for extra help on the back end, adding Klingberg to your top four could be a good move, even if it is just as a rental till the end of the year.
Matt Dumba
Matt Dumba is in the final year of his current contract on a team that is going to have some cap issues for the next few seasons as the Wild sit through the buyout penalty from Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. One player that could be a casualty of that cap issue is Matt Dumba.
Dumba was drafted seventh overall in 2012 by the Wild. He has spent his entire 526-game career with the team and has been one of the best offensive defensemen for several years.
During his best showing, he put up 50 points in 2017-18, and he scored a big goal for the Wild against the St. Louis Blues during their round one matchup last year.
Dumba probably is not someone the Wild would like to trade this deadline, but he is someone that could have to leave considering the cap uncertainty for the next few years. If the Wild can trade Dumba to a team outside of the Western Conference who are looking for some extra help on the back end then they could be in a better position to succeed down the line.
Dumba currently has two assists in seven games for the Wild, but last season he had 27 points in 57 games, so there is potential there for a team looking to add some more depth to their backend.
Vladimir Tarasenko
It has been over a year since Vladimir Tarasenko asked for a trade from the Blues, yet he is currently on the team. Last season in 2021-22, Tarasenko put up 34 goals and 82 points in a terrific showing with the team, the best season he has ever had point-wise.
Now a year later, he is on the final year of his current contract and considering he asked for a trade, it wouldn’t be that hard to imagine that he chooses to walk in free agency. If the Blues want to make sure they get some type of return on Tarasenko, they could be forced to trade him at the deadline.
Tarasenko would be a great deadline addition for a team looking to add a star to their top six. He has experience and could be worth a reasonable salary if the Blues hold back some salary at the deadline.
Tarasenko is a former Stanley Cup Champion, and some teams like the Hurricanes or Panthers could use some experience in winning heading into the playoffs. Maybe even a team like New York could find room for Tarasenko unless they choose to add another player on this list that we will get to a bit later.
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews controls his future with a full no-movement clause in his contract. However, if he does choose to leave the Blackhawks, he could be a great deadline addition to the team.
The Chicago Blackhawks are rebuilding, and captain Jonathan Toews might not fit into the franchise’s long-term plans. He is 34 years old, and if he wants to win another championship before hanging up his skates, Chicago might not be the place for him.
That being said, he is a leader and has shown so far this season that he still has a lot of hockey ahead of him. In seven games he has four goals and has looked great. Check out one of his goals against the Florida Panthers this past week.
Jonathan Toews has not had the best past few seasons with the Hawks. He had a long-term injury that kept him out of the 2020-21 season entirely and only put up 37 points in 71 games last season, the worst total in his entire career. That being said, he could be a great second or third-line center for a team that wants to win a championship.
Toews has not played in a true playoff game in a long time, and when he did play in the bubble during the COVID playoff experience, he looked really good against the Edmonton Oilers. Any team that adds Toews could be in for a long playoff run if they use him correctly.
Patrick Kane
Last and certainly not least on this list is Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks. Patrick Kane could be the biggest name available at the deadline over the past handful of years. Kane is a franchise-altering player and still is in Chicago despite the team’s lack of success.
Last year in 2021-22, Kane registered 92 points in 78 games. Throughout his entire career, he has been near the top of the league in points and he has constantly found ways to score goals or set up his linemates for success.
Any team that trades for Kane could find their way into the Stanley Cup Final this year. I think teams like the New York Rangers or Edmonton Oilers make sense for Kane as he has an opportunity to play with some of the best players like McDavid in Edmonton or Panarin in New York.
The biggest thing fans will want to keep an eye on is how he does this season. If Kane continues to put up a lot of points and play at an above-a-point-per-game pace, then the Blackhawks could be demanding a lot in return for Kane, or he could decide to remain in Chicago.
Kane is definitely going to be one of the most interesting players to watch this season. If he decides to, he could go win another championship with pretty much any contending team in the league. Now we just have to wait and see what he decides to do.
The trade deadline might be over four months away, but with so many big names potentially available, it will be fun to watch!