It seems no matter what goes down on Apr. 3, the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline will be overshadowed by the deal that sent Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
However, there will in all likelihood be many more players that move before the deadline arrives.
Players like Tampa Bay Lightning veteran Martin St. Louis and New Jersey Devils power forward David Clarkson will have their names bandied about, but it would be a surprise to many if they were actually dealt.
Plus, established players such as Jay Bouwmeester, Jaromir Jagr, Mike Ribero and Ales Hemsky should garner lots of attention from teams around the league.
However, there are dozens of less flashy options for teams looking to make a deep playoff run to consider.
At last season’s deadline the Nashville Predators acquired Paul Gaustad (along with a fourth-round pick in 2013) from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a first-round pick. Gaustad did help the Preds get past the first round, but this deal also showed that the asking price for role players can be quite high.
So with that in mind, here are a handful of skaters that could be valuable role players and may be in play on deadline day:
FORWARDS
DEREK ROY, Dallas Stars
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $4 million
Breakdown: With Dallas trading away their captain Brenden Morrow, the Stars are willing to part ways with some of their top talent. Roy is the type of player that teams could use to add a scoring punch. The 29-year-old has 14 assists and 18 points in 26 games this season and has the hands and hockey sense to quarterback a power play unit. Depth playmaking centres are extremely valuable all year round and that’s magnified in the playoffs.
Good fits: Vancouver, Anaheim, Nashville, New Jersey
RYANE CLOWE, San Jose Sharks
Contract status: UFA on July 5, no-trade clause
Cap Hit: $3.625 million
Breakdown: Clowe has been one of the best power forwards in the NHL over the last four seasons, but has not produced at his usual output this season. The Newfoundlander has a paltry 11 assists in 27 games this season without registering a goal. Still, much like a Milan Lucic in Boston, Clowe is a big body that will add a perfect physical presence for playoff-type hockey. Teams will undoubtedly inquire.
Good fits: Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Carolina, Philadelphia
LEE STEMPNIAK, Calgary Flames
Contract status: One year remaining
Cap Hit: $2.5 million
Breakdown: Stempniak is once again quietly having a solid season with 23 points in 32 games. The 30-year-old American has consistently produced valuable secondary scoring throughout his NHL career and would fit in nicely on a second or third line. He is one of only two players on the Flames with a plus rating, which shows he’s not a defensive liability.’
Good fits: Boston, Washington, NY Rangers
VINNY PROSPAL, Columbus Blue Jackets
Contract status: UFA on July 5, no-movement clause
Cap Hit: $2.5 million
Breakdown: Prospal has never won a Stanley Cup in his 17-year NHL career and the chance to go on a deep playoff run with a contender could be enough for the Czech forward to waive his no-movement clause. He leads the Blue Jackets in points with nine goals and nine assists in 34 games this season. He can play centre or on the wing and that flexibility can come in handy.
Good fits: Vancouver, Detroit, Nashville
MARCEL GOC, Florida Panthers
Contract status: One year remaining
Cap Hit: $1.7 million
Breakdown: The German is a solid two-way player that can play upwards of 20 quality minutes a night. And on a team where Shawn Matthias has the best plus/minus rating at a mere plus-1, Goc’s minus-9 isn’t something that will scare teams away. Goc is a quality player that flies under the radar.
Good fits: Edmonton, Los Angeles, Detroit, St. Louis
JOCHEN HECHT, Buffalo Sabres
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $1.25 million
Breakdown: Hecht has been with the Sabres since 2002, but was upset about being a healthy scratch early in March and would possibly welcome a change in scenery. He has just eight points in 33 games this season with a struggling Buffalo squad but could supply secondary scoring on deeper teams.
Good fits: Nashville, Detroit, Minnesota, Edmonton
RAFFI TORRES, Phoenix Coyotes
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $1.75 million
Breakdown: He is known as one of the biggest agitators in the game, but his 13 penalty minutes in 26 games this season suggests something has changed with Torres. He is a grinder that can get under the skin of opposing teams’ top players. When he doesn’t cross the line, he can be a very valuable asset.
Good fits: Boston, Anaheim, Vancouver
STEVE SULLIVAN, Phoenix Coyotes
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $2.6 million
Breakdown: Sullivan played his 1,000th career NHL game Thursday and at age 38, he can still get it done, albeit maybe not in a top-six role. Not only could he chip in offensively, but he would provide veteran leadership, which is always needed in the post-season.
Good fits: New Jersey, Montreal, Chicago
DEFENCEMEN
RYAN WHITNEY, Edmonton Oilers
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $4 million
Breakdown: Whitney is an accomplished blueliner with Stanley Cup experience, advancing to the finals in 2007-08 with the Penguins. His offensive output has diminished in recent years, but with 10 points in 25 games this year he can still produce from the back end. He can still be a top-four defenceman on many teams and eat up around 20 minutes per game.
Good fits: Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Detroit, San Jose
RYAN O’BYRNE, Colorado Avalanche
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $1.8 million
Breakdown: O’Byrne is a rugged defenceman that can provide the type of physicality necessary for a long playoff run. He won’t step into a top-four role necessarily but can provide depth on the third pair for a contending team.
Good fits: Boston, Minnesota, NY Rangers, Anaheim
JORDAN LEOPOLD, Buffalo Sabres
Contract status: UFA on July 5
Cap Hit: $3 million
Breakdown: Leopold is a serviceable defenceman that could use a change in scenery. In a different system, Leopold could thrive and improve on his eight points and minus-6 rating in 24 games this season.
Good fits: Detroit, St. Louis, San Jose