After a slow start to their season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have played some of their best hockey of late, winning nine of their last 12 games. The hot streak has elevated them to third place in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division.

Despite the recent success, the Pens still have one glaring weakness to fix if they plan on three-peating: a third-line center.

Here are five players who would slot in nicely behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin:

Derick Brassard: The ideal fit

The Ottawa Senators sit second-last in the Eastern Conference and are prime candidates to be sellers at the deadline. Derick Brassard is signed through 2018-19 with a $5-million cap hit, so there's no urgency to trade him before Feb. 26, but the Penguins would be smart to pursue him aggressively.

Brassard is a solid two-way center. He's responsible in his own end and can produce offensively when surrounded by the right talent. More importantly, he's a proven playoff performer, with 22 goals and 55 points in 78 postseason games.

The Penguins project to have just shy of $2 million in deadline cap space, per Cap Friendly, so they would have to get creative to take on his contract.

Kevin Hayes: The low-risk, high-reward choice

The Rangers have reportedly committed to being sellers at the trade deadline, and their clearance sale could include 25-year-old Kevin Hayes. He's on the last year of his contract ($2.6-million cap hit) and is set to hit restricted free agency.

Hayes is probably miscast as New York's second-line center, but would slot in nicely on Pittsburgh's third line, especially since they can surround the hulking 6-foot-5 forward with speedy wingers.

All but one of Hayes' 20 points this season have come at even strength. This is key because the Penguins don't need help on special teams (they own the league's best power play and fifth-best penalty kill), but could stand to improve their five-on-five play.

Tomas Plekanec: The veteran rental

At 35 years old, Tomas Plekanec is a shadow of his former self. He has just five goals and 15 assists this season and certainly lost a step or two.

Regardless, he would be an upgrade over Riley Sheahan. And with one year remaining on his contract and the Canadiens a sure bet to be deadline sellers, they would likely move him for next to nothing and swallow most of his $6-million cap hit in the process.

Plekanec would help an already strong penalty kill, and perhaps moving to a far superior offensive team would help him rediscover his lost offensive touch.

Derek Ryan: The unknown option

The average NHL fan probably has no idea who Derek Ryan is. After a solid junior career, he played CIS hockey, then played overseas in Hungary, Austria, and Sweden before returning to North America with Carolina's AHL team. He may be 31, but he's enjoying a solid sophomore campaign with 11 goals and 15 assists in 51 games for the Hurricanes.

If the Canes fall farther out of the playoff picture, they could become sellers at the deadline. That would make Ryan expendable, given he's a pending unrestricted free agent.

Not only does his $1.425-million cap hit fit nicely for the Penguins, but they could also use a right-handed center for faceoff purposes, and Ryan has won 56.1 percent of his draws this season.

Tyler Bozak: The long shot

Bozak would be an excellent fit in Pittsburgh. Like Ryan, he's a right-handed shot who's skilled at faceoffs, is a pending UFA, and can produce offensively. A move to Pittsburgh would also represent a reunion with his old buddy, Phil Kessel.

Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely the Leafs and Penguins - two contending teams - would agree on a deal. Instead of wanting picks and prospects for Bozak, the Leafs would want immediate help on the blue line or down the middle - something the Pens likely can't offer.

In order for this to work, a third team would have to be involved. Though three-team trades are rare, nothing can be ruled out with two veteran general managers in Jim Rutherford and Lou Lamoriello.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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A pair of hits Saturday in Nashville have left the New York Rangers down a couple players.

Forward Jimmy Vesey, who was hit by Filip Forsberg, is dealing with a concussion, the Rangers announced Monday. Head coach Alain Vigneault said there's no timetable for his recovery, per Steve Zipay from Newsday.

Forsberg was suspended three games for the hit.

In addition, defenseman Marc Staal, who was hit by Alexei Emelin, has been diagnosed with a cervical strain, and will be re-examined in New York. Emelin saw no supplemental discipline for the hit.

The Rangers face the Stars in Dallas on Monday, and head home to take on the Bruins on Wednesday.

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The Arizona Coyotes are not actively shopping forward Max Domi, general manager John Chayka confirmed to Richard Morin of AZCentral.com.

Reports surfaced over the weekend, including one from Larry Brooks of the New York Post, that the Coyotes had let it be known Domi was available via trade.

Chayka dismissed that talk, but did note that while the team might not be actively seeking a deal, they will "listen on anything," according to Morin.

Domi is currently in the midst of his least productive season since entering the league two years ago. With three goals and 22 points in 52 games, he's on pace to finish with just four goals and 34 points, which would both be lower than the respective marks he set last season, despite only playing in 59 games.

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist is week to week with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.

Hornqvist didn't play in the team's last game against the Devils on Saturday, and has now missed a total of five games on the year.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan explained the magnitude of Hornqvist's absence.

"We're going to miss Hornqvist's energy," he said. "This game is rooted in emotion and passion. Hornqvist epitomizes that. We need to bring that up in order to be successful."

Hornqvist ranks fourth on the team with 16 goals, 31 points, and 96 hits in 49 games.

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Evgeni Malkin is on his way to claiming his second straight Player of the Month title.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward had a monster seven days, pacing all skaters with six goals and eight points in three games to earn first-star honors.

Last week, Malkin was named January's first star after putting up 12 goals and 19 points in 12 games. His recent surge has him up to 60 points on the season, just six back of Nikita Kucherov for the league lead.

Florida Panthers netminder Harri Sateri was named the second star after going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. The trio of victories were the first three of his career and come after a difficult stretch that saw the Finn concede 14 goals in three contests.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith rounds out the three stars after putting up four goals and five points in four games. Smith sits fourth in team scoring with 41 points.

The 26-year-old is on pace to match his career-high of 25 goals and surpass his career-best 51 points, both set during the 2013-14 season.

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Rick Nash provided the New York Rangers with his 18-team no-trade list yesterday upon their request, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. He can now be traded to the 12 omitted clubs.

The Rangers have already reportedly made it clear they intend to be sellers at this year's trade deadline, so asking for Nash's no-trade list isn't all that surprising.

The 33-year-old winger is in the final year of a contract that comes with a cap hit of $7.8 million. He has 15 goals and 10 assists in 52 games, but has been marred by an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage of 9.3.

The veteran has never won a Stanley Cup in his career, so the 12 teams left off his no-trade list are likely the ones he feels give him the best chance of a ring.

There are several contending teams in need of a top-six winger, so a proven goal-scorer such as Nash will certainly be in high demand from now until Feb. 26.

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Josh Leivo just wants to play hockey, plain and simple.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has served largely as a healthy scratch this season - dressing in just 12 games - and hasn't seen game action since Dec. 31. Subsequently, he's reportedly requested a trade, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos said Saturday during Hockey Night in Canada's "Headlines" segment.

Leivo's agent Ian Pulver wouldn't confirm the report, but noted that the 24-year-old wants to get back to playing regularly, per The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.

"Josh is a player who would stand in front of a train for the Toronto Maple Leafs," Pulver said. "Josh was drafted by the Leafs and he wants to be a long-time Leaf. He would love to be in the lineup Monday night, and every night thereafter. Having said that, he hasn't been in the lineup for a long time, and hasn't played much in the past two seasons. He has reached a point in his career where he simply needs to play regularly.

"Lou Lamoriello has had open lines of communication with Josh on this issue. Not unexpectedly, the Maple Leafs in general and Lou in particular have been nothing but first class."

Leivo has struggled to become a regular for the Maple Leafs, having suited up for 53 games during his five-year career, and just 25 since the start of last season.

The Innisfil, Ontario native is signed through next season, when he will earn $925,000.

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Mike Fisher disagrees.

The Nashville Predators forward rejoined the team Wednesday after coming out of retirement and is wasting little time making his voice heard.

The veteran center tweeted Sunday after teammate Filip Forsberg was handed a three-game suspension for interference, calling the ban a "joke."

A penalty wasn't called on the play in question, and the suspension marks the first time Forsberg has faced supplemental discipline. He is eligible to return to the lineup Feb. 10 against the Montreal Canadiens.

As for Fisher, he hopes to return to the lineup later in February. The 37-year-old plans to rejoin the Predators in practice once they return from their upcoming four-game road trip.

Fisher tallied 42 points in 72 games with the Predators last season.

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