2022 NHL Trade Deadline: 11 wingers who could be on the move

Arizona Coyotes right wing Phil Kessel (81). (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

For various reasons — most notably, a global pandemic — the NHL trade deadline falls much later this season. By March 21, some teams will have less than 20 games remaining on their schedule, meaning the buyers and sellers should be more clear than normal.

Teams are always looking for depth and adding a good winger could provide the extra layer of protection needed during the attrition that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With that in mind, here are some of the best wingers who could be available in the lead-up to the 3 p.m. ET / noon PT deadline on Monday.

All contract information can be sourced to CapFriendly.com.

1. Phil Kessel, Arizona Coyotes

Age: 34

Cap hit: $8 million (pending UFA)

Any team looking for a winner should consider adding Phil Kessel to their squad. The two-time Stanley Cup champion is one of the most durable players in the NHL, having not missed a game since the 2009-10 season. His scoring totals have dropped this season to only six goals but — as he showed with the Penguins — he can be very effective in a third-line role on a good team.

The Coyotes haven't been shy about the fact that they're turning over a new leaf by making plenty of seller-type trades in recent months. With Kessel due to sign somewhere else this summer, the team will take whatever it can get for him as a rental. Further to that, if a sweetener is included, the Coyotes could retain some of his salary to make his cap hit more manageable.

2. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks

Age: 25

Cap hit: $5.875 million (pending RFA)

New Canucks president Jim Rutherford has never been shy about swinging big in trades when needed, and rumours have been swirling around almost every player on the team in recent weeks. One of the more interesting possible trade candidates is Brock Boeser, a high-profile scorer who might be pricing himself out of Vancouver.

Boeser's three-year contract is backloaded, meaning his qualifying offer in the summer is valued at $7.5 million. Boeser is on pace for his fourth 20-goal season, but at his age and for that price, expectations are rising for him to take the next step as an elite scorer.

If the Canucks make this move, they would likely try to acquire a player of similar age who can contribute right away. And the team adding Boeser will have to account for his next contract when deciding whether to seal the deal.

3. Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks

Age: 26

Cap hit: $4.95 million (signed through 2025-26)

The Canucks acquired Conor Garland before this season and immediately signed him to a five-year, $24.75-million contract. But that was the old regime. Now with Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin calling the shots, it seems that nearly everyone is available for the right price.

Garland is a speedy forward who would add energy to any lineup. He's on pace for his first 40-point season and has increased his aggression with career highs in hits and takeaways this season.

Any team acquiring Garland would have him for four more seasons after this one, so the Canucks will likely ask for a piece that is NHL-ready — possibly a defenceman — to close this deal.

4. Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks

Age: 28

Cap hit: $3,789,444 (pending UFA)

There is a distinct changing of the guard in Anaheim, with Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry making highlights every week. For that reason, it might be time for Rakell to move on, and with the Ducks not in the playoff picture, renting him out to a playoff team makes a lot of sense.

Rakell can play all three forward positions — although he hasn't spent significant time at centre since 2017-18. He has two 30-or-more-goal seasons on his resume and is nearing the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career.

For a team priced out on Kessel but still looking to add offence, Rakell represents a more affordable option for a similar acquisition cost.

5. Jake DeBrusk, Boston Bruins

Age: 25

Cap hit: $3.760 million (pending RFA)

Jake DeBrusk's trade request was made public in November but he remains with the Bruins as the deadline draws near. With Boston fairly comfortable in a wild-card spot but still pushing the Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic, the team will likely try to add. But could DeBrusk be the internal "add" they need?

With the 25-year-old still under team control at the end of the season, the Bruins have no pressure to trade him if the right deal doesn't present itself. His 15 goals show he can provide finish in a depth role, something the Bruins need beyond their top line.

6. Artturi Lehkonen, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 26

Cap hit: $2.3 million (pending RFA)

Already in his sixth season, Artturi Lehkonen is on pace for a new career high in points and has been a bright spot in a mostly disappointing Canadiens season. Montreal has a number of players on the market but of their forwards, Lehkonen is the only one with an expiring contract who could command some sort of return in a trade.

Beyond the uptick in points, Lehkonen has been a fixture on the penalty kill for a few seasons and leads all Canadiens forwards in shorthanded ice time. He's fairly disciplined too for someone used in a checking role, recording only 12 penalty minutes this season.

7. Max Comtois, Anaheim Ducks

Age: 23

Cap hit: $2,037,500 (RFA after 2022-23 season)

The Anaheim Ducks are turning to younger players, and Max Comtois is one of those talents. In fact, he led the team in scoring last season with 16 goals and 33 points. But this year he has struggled to find a role — due in part to hand surgery in November and a stint in COVID-19 protocols. It has been suggested in some reports that Comtois is looking for a new start with a different team.

Any team looking to make a move for Comtois will have to balance his high pedigree as a prospect with his recent lower-counting stats to find a fair offer. At age 23, he's certainly worth taking a flyer on and many teams — not just traditional deadline buyers — should be calling to see what the Ducks are planning to do with Comtois.

8. Vitali Kravtsov, New York Rangers

Age: 22

Cap hit: $925,000 (pending RFA)

Vitali Kravtsov is a former top-10 draft pick who hasn't found a full-time spot in the Rangers lineup yet. With the team in a solid playoff spot and looking to add, he could be one of their more valuable trade chips.

Kravtsov was given permission to seek a trade after he failed to crack the lineup in training camp. Since November, he has been playing in the KHL for Chelyabinsk Traktor and is currently competing in the league playoffs with them. It remains to be seen whether he would return to the NHL after this season but he's still a young player who could find his footing in a new environment.

10. Marcus Johansson, Seattle Kraken

Age: 31

Cap hit: $1.5 million (pending UFA)

The Seattle Kraken are near the basement of the NHL and will be looking to sell any of their expiring contracts for draft picks to stock the cupboard. With Calle Jarnkrok shipped off to Calgary, Marcus Johansson just might be the best UFA forward on the team and could provide veteran experience to another club.

Johansson is not putting up the points he once did but the acquisition cost for him will be low. At just $1.5 million, his contract is manageable, and that alone could be enough for a team close to the cap ceiling to consider making the move.

9. Nick Paul, Ottawa Senators

Nick Paul is the longest-tenured Senators player, having been originally acquired in the 2014 Jason Spezza trade. At 27, he is a veteran on the rebuilding Senators but is just hitting his prime while on pace this season for a career high in points.

Age: Turns 27 on March 20

Cap hit: $1.35 million (pending UFA)

Multiple reports out of Ottawa suggest Paul's agent is attempting to negotiate a new contract with the Sens. But if a deal isn't struck by the trade deadline, the Senators would have no choice but to consider a trade. Although Paul doesn't score at the same rate as others on this list, he is a big body who can move and disrupt the play — skills that could be effective in the bottom six of a contending team.

11. Owen Tippett, Florida Panthers

Age: 23

Cap Hit: $863,333 (pending RFA)

The Florida Panthers are all in this season and have been tied to some of the bigger names available. But to get, you have to give, and Owen Tippett might be the premium young player the Panthers are comfortable parting with.

The 10th-overall pick in the 2017 draft, Tippett has a lightning-quick shot but has struggled to secure a spot in the Panthers' top six with all the other talented forwards there. His point totals should only rise with a larger opportunity on a younger team while the Panthers could get someone in return (maybe a defenceman) who can help them win now.

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