{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/chris_kreider.jpg","caption":"

The 2020 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away, and with many quality players rumored to be available, we could be in store for an exciting period of rumors and completed deals.

There is no clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup, and that means several teams could attempt bold moves ahead of the deadline in order to make the upgrades needed for a deep playoff run. One of those contenders is the Boston Bruins, who lost in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final but look poised to get there again with the league's best record entering Monday. The Bruins should be among the most aggressive buyers, and secondary scoring is their primary need.

Let's look at the top 10 players for teams to target ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Photo via USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":3,"title":"10. Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/joe_thornton_012620.jpg","caption":"

2019-20 stats: 56 GP, 2 G, 20 A
Contract: $2 million cap hit, UFA after this season

The Sharks have almost no shot to make the playoffs and Thornton is at the end of his contract, so is it time for him to chase his first Stanley Cup title on another team? Thornton is still a good playmaker and a large body in front of the net. He'd be a solid power play upgrade and an option for offensive-zone faceoffs. He's not an impact player anymore, but for a low cost he'd be a quality addition to a contender.

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"},{"index":5,"title":"9. Andreas Athanasiou, LW, Detroit Red Wings","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/usatsi_14051167_133468180_lowres.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 24): The Red Wings have traded Athanasiou to the Edmonton Oilers, per TSN's Gord Miller.

2019-20 stats: 40 GP, 7 G, 14 A
Contract: $3 million, RFA

Athanasiou is a speedy winger who could add offensive skill and scoring depth to a third or fourth line for a contender. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer and the Red Wings need to make a decision on whether he fits their long-term plans. If he's not a part of the rebuild, trading him now makes a lot of sense.

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"},{"index":7,"title":"8. Tony DeAngelo, D, New York Rangers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/usatsi_13918503_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

2019-20 stats: 55 GP, 13 G, 30 A
Contract: $925,000, RFA

Defensemen always are coveted at the deadline and DeAngelo is a good one. He's proven to be a capable offensive player with career highs in goals, assists and points this season. His ability to generate scoring chances on the power play also is quite valuable. He'll be an RFA this summer, so there's no rush for the Rangers to trade him unless a contender makes a strong offer.

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"},{"index":9,"title":"7. Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Montreal Canadiens","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/ilya_kovalchuk.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 23): The Canadiens traded Kovalchuk to the Capitals for a 2020 third-round draft pick.

2019-20 stats: 36 GP, 9 G, 12 A
Contract: $700,000, UFA

Any team could have signed Kovalchuk when his tenure with the Kings ended earlier this season, but he's bounced back in a huge way with the Canadiens. He's tallied 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 19 games for Montreal, and he's upgraded their scoring depth and power play. He'd likely do the same for a contender, and he has 32 games of playoff experience, including a run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils.

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"},{"index":11,"title":"6. Brenden Dillon, D, San Jose Sharks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/brenden_dillon.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 18): The Capitals have acquired Dillon for multiple draft picks.

2019-20 stats: 29 GP, 1 G, 13 A
Contract: $3.27 million, UFA

Dillon finds ways to make a positive impact on San Jose without putting up impressive scoring numbers. The Sharks have a plus-64 edge in shot attempts, a plus-34 advantage in shots on goal and a plus-42 mark in scoring chances at 5-on-5 when Dillon is on the ice. He also plays with the type of truculence and snarl the Bruins often bring to the playoffs.

The Sharks aren't going to make the playoffs, so there's no reason to keep a talented veteran defenseman like Dillon beyond the deadline when they can acquire some sort of asset.

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"},{"index":13,"title":"5. Sami Vatanen, D, New Jersey Devils","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/usatsi_13846507_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

2019-20 stats: 47 GP, 5 G, 18 A
Contract: $4.9 million, UFA

Vatanen is an offensive defenseman who skates well, make a good transition pass up ice and will generate scoring chances on the power play. In fact, almost half of his points (10) have come with the man advantage.

The Devils are one of the league's worst teams and cannot afford to let Vatanen walk in free agency without getting any value in return. Vatanen would be a solid second- or third-pairing defenseman for a contender who could be deployed in offensive situations. Vatanen's playoff résumé is pretty good, too. He's tallied 23 points in 44 career postseason games, with most of that coming on some really talented Anaheim Ducks teams.

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"},{"index":15,"title":"4. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, Ottawa Senators","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/usatsi_14007727_133468180_lowres.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 24): Pageau has been traded to the Islanders for three draft picks, including a 2020 first-rounder, per the Ottawa Sun.

2019-20 stats: 57 GP, 22 G, 14 A
Contract: $3.1 million, UFA

Pageau has set a career-high in goals and is on pace to hit the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. The Senators are in a rebuild, and they should take full advantage of Pageau's best season to date. He would add tremendous depth and goal scoring down the middle for a contender. His ability to excel on both the power play (eight points) and penalty kill (three shorthanded goals) highlights his special teams value, which is pretty important come playoff time. Pageau also has 35 games of postseason experience.

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"},{"index":17,"title":"3. Alec Martinez, D, Los Angeles Kings","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/usatsi_14048555_133468180_lowres_0.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 19): Martinez has been traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.

2019-20 stats: 39 GP, 1 G, 7 A
Contract: $4 million, signed through 2020-21

The Kings are one of the league's worst teams and capitalizing on Martinez's value would be a smart approach to the trade deadline. Martinez knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. He's played in 64 playoff games with the Kings and was a valuable component of their blue line on the 2011-12 and 2013-14 title-winning teams. He actually scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in the 2014 Cup Final.

The veteran defenseman won't provide a ton of scoring, but he can give a team 20 solid minutes per game against quality competition and be relied on to not make bone-headed mistakes in the defensive zone.

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"},{"index":19,"title":"2. Tyler Toffoli, RW, Los Angeles Kings","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/tyler_toffoli.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 17): Toffoli has been traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

2019-20 stats: 56 GP, 14 G, 16 A
Contract: $4.6 million, UFA

Toffoli played an important role as a depth player on a Kings team that won the Stanley Cup in 2013-14 (including at least one point in the cliching game of all four rounds), and he could do the same for another club this spring. The veteran forward soon will hit the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in the last six seasons. He'd be an ideal second- or third-line winger for a contender in need of scoring depth, and his power-play ability also is impressive.

Toffoli put his offensive skills on display Sunday night with a hat trick in the Kings' Stadium Series win over the Colorado Avalanche, making him the first player to score three goals in an outdoor NHL game. Any team that lacks scoring depth should be all over Toffoli. He's a scorer, he plays physical, and he has played well in high-pressure moments throughout his career.

UPDATE (Feb. 17): Toffoli has reportedly been traded to the Vancouver Canucks, per TSN's Darren Dreger.

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"},{"index":21,"title":"1. Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/17/chris_kreider_trade.jpg","caption":"

UPDATE (Feb. 23): Chris Kreider has signed a seven-year extension with the Rangers. His salary cap hit will be $6.5 million, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

2019-20 stats: 53 GP, 20 G, 18 A
Contract: $4.63 million, UFA

It's no secret why Kreider is the top player rumored to be available. He's a big, strong winger who plays a power forward style of hockey that perfectly fits the playoffs. He has scored 20-plus goals in five of the last six seasons, including a career-high nine power-play goals this year. Kreider also has scored 23 goals in 73 career playoff games.

From a Bruins perspective, Kreider would be a tremendous fit for Boston's lineup as a top-six forward or even a great third-line upgrade. He also was born in Massachusetts and played at Boston College, so he knows the passion of Bruins fans and the pressure that comes with playing in the Boston market.

Photo via USA TODAY Sports

"}]}

NHL trade deadline: Ranking top 10 targets for contenders to pursue