Best Players Who Could Be Dealt Before NHL Trade Deadline

With Jason Zucker, Brenden Dillon and Blake Coleman already having been dealt, the pressure is on for the NHL's buyers and sellers to establish themselves ahead of Monday's trade deadline. Some of this season's top deadline targets are no longer on the market but that doesn't mean there's not talent for sale around the league. Here are the best players still available likely to garner a lot of trade interest between now and Monday.

5. Alec Martinez, Los Angeles Kings

Kings defender Alec Martinez loiters around the blue line against the Devils. / Elsa/Getty Images

An Alec Martinez rebound, overtime goal won the 2014 Stanley Cup for Los Angeles, but now the Kings are likely to part ways with the 32-year-old defender. Martinez, whose contract ends after next season, is still a reliable two-way player that can contribute on offense. With LA in the cellar of the league standings, it's time for the Kings to deal Martinez while they can still get something decent in return for him.

4. Sami Vatanen, New Jersey Devils

Devils defender Sami Vantanen carries the puck up the ice against the Capitals. / Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Sami Vatanen will miss his eighth straight game tonight with an undisclosed injury, and the next time he suits up could be for an entirely different team. An unrestricted free agent this offseason, the 28-year-old defender has five goals and 18 assists this season in 47 games played. With New Jersey in a similar position as Los Angeles, the Devils are likely to move on from Vatanen after trading away Blake Coleman and Andy Greene to continue their current rebuild.

3. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottowa Senators

Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau eyes the ref before a face-off against the Canadiens. / Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

It's tough making the business decision to trade away one of your best homegrown players, and that's something the Senators can't afford to mess up with Jean-Gabriel Pageau this trade deadline. Pageau was born in Ottawa, drafted to the Senators and is just eight points shy of a career-high total this season. With his contract set to expire this summer, Ottawa would be wise to float his name around the front offices of postseason-contending teams before Monday.

2. Ilya Kovalchuk, Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens forward Ilya Kovalchuk fires a shot on net against the Maple Leafs. / Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

36-year-old forward Ilya Kovalchuk is starting to recapture some of the same offensive magic with the Canadiens as he did with the Kings in his initial NHL return. Kovalchuk played in 17 games last season before LA let him go and he has 12 points since Montreal signed him to a one-year, minimum deal on Jan. 3. A playoff run doesn't seem likely for the Canadiens and Kovalchuk isn't exactly part of their long-term plans, so they could easily net a package with prospects or draft picks in exchange for him.

1. Chris Kreider, New York Rangers

Rangers forward Chris Kreider slides the puck past Golden Knights goalie Malcolm Subban. / Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There's not a more coveted rental target this NHL trade deadline than Chris Kreider. The 28-year-old forward just earned his first All-Star selection and is on pace for career-high marks in goals and assists. The New York Rangers took Kreider with a first-round pick in 2009 and have held onto him ever since. Kreider is considered the biggest offensive threat of major trade candidates, and the market to acquire him is littered with playoff-bound teams. It could take time to orchestrate but the Rangers will have no trouble finding a trade partner interested in Kreider.