NHL trade deadline 2020-21: Top 10 potential targets
Ranking the Top 10 players that could potentially be moved ahead of the 2020-21 NHL trade deadline on April 12.
It's unclear whether the Devils are going to move him, but if they do, Palmieri would strengthen the scoring depth of a contender looking to spread the wealth. The 29-year-old winger is a four-time 25-plus goal scorer and is in the final year of a contract that carries a $4.65 million cap hit.
Granlund is a playmaking-type forward who can play center or wing and would boost a team's middle-six depth. The 29-year-old Finnish native is a two-time 60-point-producer and is averaging 19:27 of ice time this season, which is a career-high. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and carries a cap hit of $3.75 million.
Merzlikins has had a terrific start to his NHL career. He's 18-12-10 with a 2.49 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and six shutouts in 45 appearances over the last two seasons. He's only 26 years old and has one more year left on his contract after this season that carries a $4 million cap hit.
Bernier has had a really good season in Detroit and would be a reliable option for a team aiming to strengthen their goaltending tandem. He's 8-6-0 with a 2.78 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and 5.20 goals saved above average this season. His $3 million contract expires at the end of the season.
Foligno isn't the player he used to be, but he can still be an effective top-nine forward for a contender looking to shore up their depth and add a veteran presence to the locker room. The 33-year-old Blue Jackets captain is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. His cap hit is $5.5 million.
Rakell is one of the top offensive players on the market. His best season came in 2017-18 when he set a career-high in goals (34), assists (35) and points (69) in 77 games for the Ducks. The 27-year-old versatile winger has one more year left on his contract after this season that carries a cap hit of $3.789 million.
Savard hasn't scored a goal since the 2018-19 season, but he's known to be a shutdown-type defenseman who can log heavy minutes and is a shot-blocking machine. The 30-year-old right-handed shot defenseman is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He carries a cap hit of $4.25 million.
The 2018 Hart Trophy winner isn't exactly living up to his standards this season with only two goals in 30 games for the Sabres, but he's still a three-time 60-plus-point scorer and can immediately impact a team's top-six forward group on the right team.
Ekholm is one of the best all-around defensemen in the league and has one more year left on his contract after this season with a cap hit of $3.75 million, which is a bargain. The 30-year-old defenseman has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 26 games this season.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Ellis was originally off-limits but the Predators aren't necessarily calling him an untouchable anymore. The 30-year-old right-handed shot defenseman has six years left on his contract that carries a $6.25 million cap hit. He's a terrific two-way blue liner who eats a ton of minutes.
