K'Andre Miller spent his junior and college hockey years studying clips of NHL defensemen like Seth Jones and Roman Josi while trying to emulate aspects of their playing styles.

Now 23 years old and established, Miller doesn't view himself as Jones 2.0 or Josi 2.0.

"I'm my own player," Miller, the third-year New York Rangers blue-liner, told theScore last month. "I don't really believe anybody has the type of skill set that I do. I feel like I can bring a little bit of anything that you need to a team."

While it may be a slight exaggeration for Miller to suggest he's wholly unique, he does have a wide skill set to offer. His combination of skating, shooting, playmaking, strength, length, athleticism, and smarts is undoubtedly in short supply across the NHL. He's the full package for a modern defenseman.

Miller has tallied six goals and 24 assists in 54 games this season. He skates for 22 minutes a night while lining up alongside Jacob Trouba on the Rangers' second pair and top penalty-killing unit. The scary part is that Miller's still relatively raw, having switched from forward to defense in 2016.

"There's still a lot more we're going to see as far as his development goes because of the path he's taken," said Tony Granato, Miller's coach at the University of Wisconsin. "He's done it the right way, so he's got the base of being a guy who's reliable defensively and can get the puck to the forwards simply. Recently, he's added so many different aspects of the offensive part (of being a top-four defenseman) to that base and taken off."

"What's amazing to me," Granato added, "is the recoverability. If he finishes a check, or he's caught on the outside, he can get back in quickly because he's so athletic, such a strong skater, and he has great range with that wingspan."

Miller, who also caught the attention of Division I programs for his football-playing abilities, consistently wields his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame to eliminate the other team's offensive momentum both in-zone and off the rush. He's physical and also excels at subtler stick-on-puck methods.

On a per-game basis, Miller ranks first among Rangers defensemen in stick checks, second in blocked passes, puck-battle wins, and defensive-zone loose-puck recoveries, and third in zone-entry denials, according to Sportlogiq. He's eighth among all NHL D-men in takeaways per 60 minutes.

"That was one part of my game that I tried to master before getting here," said Miller, who spent two years each at the US National Team Development Program and Wisconsin before turning pro in 2020. "I did a lot of stick-checking drills and angling drills and learned how to use my feet to defend. I essentially learned how to use my stick as a weapon, learned how to catch people off guard, and to just be that annoying defenseman to play against."

Miller is a little overlooked on New York's back end. Adam Fox is a full-fledged superstar, and Trouba is a hit-machine captain. But whether it's the pending restricted free agent's next contract or his play down the stretch and into the playoffs, it's a safe bet Miller will soon fully emerge from the shadows.

His skill set is too tantalizing and his impact on the game is too large to ignore.

5 GMs who'll shape trade market

Sure, Bo Horvat and Vladimir Tarasenko have already changed addresses. But there's still plenty of business to get done before the March 3 trade deadline.

Here are five general managers who ought to be key buyers or sellers:

Bill Armstrong - The Arizona Coyotes executive is reportedly asking for two first-round picks and a prospect for Jakob Chychrun, the top defenseman in the rumor mill. Pending unrestricted free-agent forward Nick Bjugstad can fetch a mid-round pick, and goalie Karel Vejmelka could be in play as well. Arizona can also act as a third-party trade broker by taking on salary.

Don Waddell - The Carolina Hurricanes are highly motivated to wheel and deal - they are firmly in win-now mode, have holes to fill and assets to trade, and recently watched division rivals stock up. Waddell is tasked with deepening the blue line and finding a top-six forward to replace the injured Max Pacioretty. Unlike some contenders, Carolina is open to trading its 2023 first-round selection.

Tom Fitzgerald - The 35-14-5 New Jersey Devils are primed to make a big splash. Fitzgerald is reportedly hot after San Jose's Timo Meier, the top forward available. If Fitzgerald strikes out there, he'll likely be aggressive in executing Plan B, whatever that may be. He quickly pivoted to Ondrej Palat this past offseason after losing the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes.

Kyle Davidson - The Blackhawks executive is currently in seller's limbo as he waits for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to decide whether to waive their no-trade clauses. If those Chicago legends end up on the market, and buying teams deem them healthy enough to acquire, Davidson's phone will be buzzing. Even if they don't, Max Domi, Andreas Athanasiou, Sam Lafferty, Jake McCabe, Connor Murphy, and Jarred Tinordi count as other trade chips.

Rob Blake - The 30-18-7 Kings have stockpiled a ton of picks and prospects in recent years. Offseason acquisition Kevin Fiala has been a tremendous fit. Veterans Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are still contributing. The Western Conference is wide-open. The time is now for Blake to make another trajectory-altering trade, whether it's acquiring Chychrun, an established goalie, or both. No team is better equipped to pull off a true blockbuster.

Bruins' doubly special tandem

The relationship between an NHL team's goalies can go one of three ways.

It can be rooted in brotherly support and healthy competition. It can be less amicable, with resentment and pettiness infiltrating the dressing room. And it can be pleasant, where the partners are on good terms but not best buddies.

Former Dallas Stars netminder Marty Turco once said he and the eclectic Ed Belfour were "partners only pretty much by title." Ouch. Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, meanwhile, are at the other end of the spectrum. The Boston Bruins goalies seemingly can't get enough of each other.

"When I met him," Ullmark said in an interview, "it was just hand in a glove."

Ullmark, a 29-year-old from northern Sweden, is in the running for the Vezina Trophy thanks to a .937 save percentage in 34 games. Swayman, a 24-year-old Alaskan, has posted a .918 in 23 games. Outside of stopping pucks, they continue to garner attention for a cute victory-hug ritual that reflects their bromance.

"There's no need to be sour with him," Ullmark said of vibing with Swayman. "I'm not the one telling him that I'm starting. I'm not making the decisions. That's someone else's decision, and whenever we hear about the decision, we're all down for whatever it is. If I'm starting or not starting, it doesn't matter. I'm going to do whatever needs to be done to help us win the game."

The duo plays golf together, will occasionally have a fika (the Swedish tradition of socializing over coffee and sweets), and aren't shy to contact each other if something happens away from the rink. For the affable Ullmark, the connection is "always genuine."

"I'm very thankful for how he is and how he embraced me for who I am," Ullmark said. "That made it a lot easier to open up toward him and really show him, OK, this is me and this is what you're going to get."

Contextualizing Huberdeau's year

Let's take a look at the offensive production from three forwards.

Player A - 52 games played, averaging 16:55 a night; 10 goals, 26 assists, 36 points (0.19, 0.50, 0.69 per game).

Player B - 54 games, 17:11; 14 goals, 25 assists, 39 points (0.26, 0.46, 0.72).

Player C - 49 games, 16:58, 15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points (0.31, 0.39, 0.69).

The stat lines almost mirror each other. Player A is Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau. Player B is Tampa Bay Lightning winger Alex Killorn. And Player C is Vegas Golden Knights veteran winger Jonathan Marchessault.

To put it bluntly, this is not the kind of company Huberdeau would like to keep, especially with an eight-year, $84-million extension kicking in next season.

Killorn is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, but he's part of Tampa Bay's supporting cast. Marchessault is a perfectly competent NHLer - a top-six winger all 32 teams would love to employ - yet he's no star or needle-mover.

Huberdeau was supposed to be a needle-mover in Calgary. He was the main reason why the Flames felt comfortable trading cornerstone winger Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers this past summer. Points aren't everything for every player, yet they're close to everything with Huberdeau, who'll never be mistaken for Selke Trophy king Patrice Bergeron.

It was unrealistic to expect Huberdeau to repeat last season's 115-point output, which he achieved by setting an NHL record for assists by a left winger. There's an adjustment period with a new team, and his percentages were bound to regress. But this level of production - the equivalent of 57 points over 82 games - falls woefully short of expectations.

The good news is that Huberdeau's contract offers ample time for redemption. The bad news is that Calgary needs him to produce ASAP (and for goalie Jacob Markstrom to make more saves) to secure a playoff spot.

Parting shots

Zach Hyman: Michael Bunting's been praised in Toronto for being a cheap and effective replacement for Hyman, who left the Maple Leafs for the Edmonton Oilers in July 2021. But let's appreciate for a moment what Hyman has accomplished in Edmonton on a $5.5-million annual cap hit. A model of consistency as a smart, responsible, puck-retrieving winger, Hyman has recorded 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points in 54 games this season. He leads all NHLers with 31.87 expected goals, according to Sportlogiq's Feb. 16 leaderboard. Rounding out the top five: David Pastrnak (31.30), linemate Connor McDavid (29.45), Meier (27.15), and Matthew Tkachuk (26.75).

Henry Thrun: The OC Register reported Wednesday that the Harvard University captain and two-way defenseman has opted not to sign with the Anaheim Ducks and will become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15. (NHL teams lose contractual rights to college draftees after four years.) The Ducks drafted Thrun, who's averaging a point per game this season, in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. This is obviously a bummer to Ducks GM Pat Verbeek - though, as per usual, the organization is flush with blue-line prospects, led by Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, who both shoot left like Thrun. Trading the 21-year-old's rights sooner than later would soften the blow a bit.

Saddest teams: The advanced stats website HockeyViz keeps a "sadness" ranking. Teams with a high percentage of "sadness" are most likely to both miss the playoffs and not pick in the top five in the upcoming draft. Failing to make the postseason without fully tanking for Connor Bedard? Suboptimal! The Philadelphia Flyers (86%), Ottawa Senators (85%), St. Louis Blues (84%), Detroit Red Wings (84%), Buffalo Sabres (82%), and Panthers (79%) were the clubhouse leaders in sadness heading into Thursday's slate of games.

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Allan Walsh is taking aim at the Calgary Flames and perhaps head coach Darryl Sutter.

The outspoken agent, who represents Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau, tagged the club in a critical tweet Thursday night.

One day later, Huberdeau said he wasn't aware of Walsh's tweet until Friday morning.

"It doesn't come from me," Huberdeau told the media, including TSN. "Yeah, it's my agent, but it's from him. It's his account. He made that tweet, so that doesn't reflect on me or on the guys. We all love each other, we're a close team, and we've got to grind this out and make the playoffs."

The 29-year-old offered a playful response when asked if he would've preferred Walsh not put his team on blast.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be here right now, talking to you guys," Huberdeau said with a laugh, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I'd be on my way home."

Huberdeau also tried to downplay any potential concerns about his relationship with Sutter.

"Darryl is Darryl. Sometimes you won't like what the coach (does). Some nights you do like it," he said. "You're never 100% happy with the coach's decision ... but me and Darryl have a great connection, great friendship, and you know, he's good. He wants to win just like us."

When Sutter was asked specifically about Walsh's assertion that the joy was being sucked out of Flames players, he pointed out that Huberdeau is Walsh's only client on the team.

"That's not really 'players,' is it?" the bench boss asked.

Sutter also insisted tweets won't impact his team's chemistry.

"Social media and what anybody says doesn't affect a locker room ever. Ever," he said. "When you've got a tight group, you keep it tight."

The Flames were expected to be one of the best teams in the Pacific Division and the NHL as a whole this season following a wild summer in which they responded to Johnny Gaudreau's departure in free agency by acquiring Huberdeau and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers in a trade for Matthew Tkachuk.

However, Calgary has underachieved in 2022-23, as the squad sits fifth in the division after Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The Flames have matched the Minnesota Wild's 61 points through 55 games, but the Wild currently occupy the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference because they have a game in hand.

Huberdeau has been by far the club's most disappointing skater this campaign. He's produced only 10 goals and 26 assists in 52 games after tying a career high with 30 goals and obliterating his previous personal best with 85 assists across 80 contests.

Walsh has a history of stirring the pot in service of his clients. In summer 2020, he tweeted a photo of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury - then of the Vegas Golden Knights - featuring a superimposed sword inscribed with head coach Peter DeBoer's name stabbing the netminder in the back.

Thursday's tweet wasn't Walsh's first time criticizing the Flames, either. In 2018, the agent questioned why Michael Frolik was a healthy scratch and wondered if his client was being run out of town.

Walsh's other clients include injured Carolina Hurricanes star Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin, and Red Wings skaters David Perron and Filip Hronek.

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Thursday night was a mixed bag for our best bets. We breezed over the 5.5 total in Seattle, but unfortunately, the Jets couldn't convert their abundance of chances into goals and dropped their game against the Blue Jackets.

Let's dive into a couple of games that stand out for the weekend ahead.

Kings (-250) @ Ducks (+210)
Feb. 17, 9:00 p.m. EST

The Ducks are an unmitigated disaster. Although they are ahead of a couple teams in the standings, nobody is nearly as inept as they are on the defensive side.

At five-on-five, they rank dead last in preventing shot attempts, shots on goal, scoring chances, high-danger chances, expected goals, and actual goals. In some categories, no other team is even close.

Take expected goals, for example. Anaheim is allowing 3.46 per 60 minutes at five-on-five. The Canadiens are the closest to them at 2.98 per 60 - it's night and day.

I think the Ducks are in for a tough night against the Kings. While Los Angeles isn't the flashiest, the team is very good at running its opponents into the ground at full strength.

The Kings certainly had no problem doing that against the Ducks in their lone meeting this season, outshooting them 41-25 en route to a three-goal victory.

I expect similar this time around, but the first-period market appears to be the best way to attack this matchup.

The Kings are a strong team out of the gate, ranking top 10 in opening-period goals, while the Ducks - as you'd expect - have struggled mightily in their efforts to hit the ground running.

Anaheim has conceded 70 goals in the opening period (31st) and is tied with the Blackhawks for last place with a -29 goal differential in the first.

Los Angeles is a veteran-heavy team in the thick of a heated race for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The Kings know the importance of every point, and this game is as close to a layup as they'll get. Expect them to come out swinging.

Bet: Kings first period -0.5 (+110)

Devils (TBD) @ Penguins
Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. EST

The Devils own an 11-2-2 record over the last 15 games, but they haven't played all that well. They have routinely lost the shot and/or chance battles but have gotten by on the backs of timely finishing and quality goaltending.

While New Jersey's five-on-five play has left a lot to be desired, there is reason to believe it'll significantly improve sooner rather than later. John Marino recently returned from an extended injury absence, and his presence solidifies the top four while making the blueline a lot deeper as a whole.

Jack Hughes also appears to be well ahead of schedule on his week-to-week injury and seems likely to return to the lineup against the Penguins.

The Pens have not been great defensively this season and have particularly struggled with centers. Hughes is as hot as anybody in hockey right now, having amassed 27 points and 82 shots over his last 15 games. He should be able to exploit Pittsburgh's weakness and drastically improve the Devils' ability to drive play at five-on-five.

I also like how favorable the Devils' schedule is in this spot. They'll be rested against a Penguins team that is playing an important divisional game on the road on Friday night.

It could also mean a date with Casey DeSmith, who is wildly inconsistent and has been blown up a handful of times since the calendar flipped.

Bet: Devils ML (would play to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Panic struck Wednesday afternoon. The Blackhawks - second-last in the league-wide standings - showed up in our venerable guide as valuable at a price of +460 on the road against the Maple Leafs.

In our last edition of the NHL betting guide, we drew a line of value for Chicago at +317 - a 24% implied win probability similar to its 6-17 moneyline record on the road - for a game three nights after publication.

Of course, we didn't know on Monday that Auston Matthews - one of a handful of players who'll significantly shift a game market - would be making his return. In fact, neither did the betting market - Toronto opened the Blackhawks as high as +375 underdogs Tuesday night. Once the Maple Leafs confirmed Matthews's availability, the market reacted aggressively, pushing them up over -600, while the Blackhawks went up through +450.

"Am I going to have to bet the Blackhawks?!" was an appropriate, terror-filled question.

In Monday's guide, we hadn't adjusted the Leafs' win probability up 10% - for Matthews' return along with the Hawks playing on a back-to-back with travel - so once that was the case, the odds moved from +317 (24% IWP) to +610 (14%).

Strict guide followers could be let off the hook, even if the idea of any hockey team - let alone one that just lost at home to the Blue Jackets and isn't in first place in its own division - should be a -600 favorite.

There are two big takeaways from this game example. First: You should never be forced to do anything when it comes to betting. Our advantage is that we can be picky. If you don't want to bet the Blackhawks, regardless of price, you don't have to. Second: If a line doesn't look right, maybe there's a reason - like the return of a superstar.

Of course, the Leafs manhandled the Blackhawks that night with advantages of 78% in even-strength high-danger chances and more than 70% of the expected goals at five-on-five, confirming that an 80% win probability wasn't far off. They'll meet again Sunday, and the Leafs will be at the disadvantage of playing the second game of a back-to-back. How much the market will care about that tough schedule spot will decide whether bettors have another tough decision to make.

The recipe

We started the campaign using regular-season point totals as a baseline for rating teams since it's our best measurement. Throughout the campaign, we adjust club ratings using on-ice metrics to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss records, which can be skewed by outliers like special-teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events.

The cheat sheet

There are no bad bets at the right price, but how do we know what a good price is?

The following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel. When it comes to injured players, I do my best to estimate the impact on their team's win probability.

When the betting markets open up the night before, you can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's also a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between market open and puck drop.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.

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The 2022-23 NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and we've already seen some significant moves.

Bo Horvat and Vladimir Tarasenko were two of the best players available before they were sent packing by their former teams, but plenty of other big names could join them in being shipped out before March 3. Many of them are pending unrestricted free agents, as usual, but some - including the No. 1 player on the market - are either pending restricted free agents or still have term left on their contracts beyond this season.

On this list, we've taken the talent of each player into account but also considered their likelihood of being dealt. For example, Erik Karlsson would be near the top of the rankings if not for an expensive and lengthy contract that makes an offseason trade more likely.

Here are the top candidates to be dealt before deadline day:

1. Timo Meier

Meier is unquestionably the top dog on the list, and that's noteworthy, considering who else appears to be available. The San Jose Sharks sniper reportedly has no shortage of suitors. He's already hit the 30-goal mark this season for the third time in his career, impressively building off a 2021-22 campaign in which he scored 35 times while adding 41 assists.

2. Jakob Chychrun

It seems like Chychrun's been on the trade block forever, but at least the saga appears to be nearing a conclusion. The Arizona Coyotes are holding him out of games for trade-related reasons "until something happens," so his days in the desert certainly appear numbered. As has been the case for a while now, the term and digestive cap hit on the skilled blue-liner's pact further enhance his value.

3. Patrick Kane

Kane still hasn't decided whether to waive his no-move clause, but the Chicago Blackhawks playmaker seemed genuinely disappointed when the New York Rangers landed Tarasenko. Numerous other teams have expressed interest in Kane, which isn't surprising given his track record. The accomplished veteran could still give a contender an offensive boost even if his best days are behind him.

4. Ryan O'Reilly

The Tarasenko trade was a clear sign that the St. Louis Blues have accepted the fact that they're unlikely to make the playoffs this season. Dealing O'Reilly would be a logical next step, as painful as it would be for the club to ship out its captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner from their 2019 championship run. Given his experience and two-way prowess, the versatile pivot would significantly bolster a contender if the Blues choose that route rather than extend him.

5. Vladislav Gavrikov

Chychrun isn't the only defenseman being scratched to avoid sustaining an injury that would scuttle a trade. The Columbus Blue Jackets are doing the same with Gavrikov, a steady defensive blue-liner offering stability on the back end. He's a little older than Chychrun and doesn't have the term, but his even more team-friendly cap hit should help him attract plenty of interest.

6. Ivan Barbashev

If the Blues opt to re-sign O'Reilly, shipping Barbashev out would make sense given his potential free agency, his trade value thanks to an extremely team-friendly contract, and considering the Russian is much more expendable despite his skill set. He's come back down to earth after a breakout 2021-22 season, but St. Louis has struggled as a whole. Competitive clubs would be wise to consider adding him for depth.

7. Brock Boeser

The Vancouver Canucks already parted with their biggest trade chip in Horvat, but Boeser should also garner some interest. He's having a somewhat disappointing season, though so are the Canucks as a whole. Other teams may figure he'd rediscover his scoring touch with a change of scenery, and while the American's AAV isn't ideal, the fact that he's under contract for two more seasons could make him more of a target.

8. Jake McCabe

The Blackhawks are clearly open for business, and their franchise icons aren't the only ones who could be headed elsewhere. McCabe has decent value as a left-shot blue-liner with both term and a palatable AAV. He's playing on Chicago's top pairing and would be a capable top-four rearguard on a contender.

9. Erik Karlsson

Karlsson is obviously the best offensive defenseman on this list, but again, he's not the most likely blue-liner to be traded. That being said, the Edmonton Oilers reportedly got back in touch with the Sharks to discuss acquiring him after touching base earlier in the campaign. A summer swap would make far more sense given the Norris Trophy favorite's hefty contract, but a deadline deal's not completely far-fetched if San Jose can find a legit trade partner (or two) to make the money work.

10. Jonathan Toews

Toews is in the exact same boat as Kane, both in terms of his contract and the fact that "Captain Serious" has yet to decide on his future. Toews would be higher on this list, but an illness has kept him out of action since before the All-Star break, and that may be giving previously interested teams pause - especially given he missed an entire season due to illness in 2021.

11. Tyler Bertuzzi

Bertuzzi's 2022-23 season has been marred by injuries, and the Detroit Red Wings forward's production has suffered as result. But we doubt other teams have forgotten the 30 goals and 32 assists he notched in only 68 games last season or the two other 21-goal campaigns he produced earlier in his career. The Ontario-born winger's health is a concern, but he's contributing again now that he's healthy and is a legitimate trade candidate as a result.

12. Sam Lafferty

Yet another Blackhawks skater appears likely to be moved. While Lafferty doesn't have the name recognition of his more coveted teammates, the versatile forward has an extremely team-friendly AAV along with term, which could entice cap-constrained clubs looking to solidify their bottom six.

13. James van Riemsdyk

Some of the Philadelphia Flyers have flown under the radar this season amid the team's struggles, and one of those players is van Riemsdyk. He's Philly's second-highest-paid forward and will turn 34 in May, but he's posted favorable underlying numbers despite the Flyers' lackluster play. The American winger missed all of November with a broken finger, but he's been healthy for a while now and offers a combination of playmaking ability and experience.

14. John Klingberg

Klingberg's failed bet on himself has been well-documented, but he's still appealing for a couple of reasons. Since the calendar flipped to 2023, the Anaheim Ducks rearguard has raised his offensive game and started to play like he has for most of his career. Also, it may not be a coincidence that as of Jan. 1, his previously full no-trade clause turned into a modified one with a 10-team list of teams he'd be willing to join.

15. Shayne Gostisbehere

Gostisbehere has been surprisingly productive for the Coyotes in 2022-23, and he's in the final season of the six-year deal Philadelphia gave him in 2017 before trading him to Arizona in 2021. The market for defensemen is robust, but Gostisbehere is worth a longer look than many other options.

16. Luke Schenn

The fact that there's a market for Schenn isn't too surprising. He's a grizzled vet with playoff experience and a couple of Stanley Cup rings, to boot, not to mention an ideal AAV. Contenders looking to bolster their top four on the back end should probably look elsewhere, but he'd be a decent addition as a third-pairing guy.

17. Joel Edmundson

Edmundson's not the most appealing defenseman available, but he's a good bet to be traded as the Montreal Canadiens' rebuild continues. His defensive metrics aren't pretty this season, but that could be partially a result of playing for one of the worst teams in the league. He's got term and a reasonable AAV. Plus, he helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019.

18. Max Domi

The list of likely available Blackhawks doesn't end with Lafferty. Domi has been streaky but fairly effective while playing primarily as Chicago's top-line center, and he also occupies the net-front position on the team's top power-play unit. The former Coyote, Canadien, Blue Jacket, and Carolina Hurricane's positional flexibility makes him even more intriguing as a potential addition.

19. Sean Monahan

The Canadiens could look to move Monahan, considering he's playing on an expiring deal. His AAV won't make that easy, though, and he can also submit a 10-team no-trade list. The ex-Calgary Flames forward has been out since December due to injury but is nearing a return and could fetch the Habs an asset if he heals up before the deadline.

20. Jesse Puljujarvi

Speaking of once-promising players who've fizzled out over the years, Puljujarvi's time with the Oilers could be drawing to a close. As with Monahan, the Swedish-born Finn's AAV isn't ideal, but teams may believe a change of scenery can help Puljujarvi unlock his true potential.

21. Matt Dumba

Much like with Chychrun, it's hard to remember when Dumba wasn't on the trade block. It's been another uncertain season for the Minnesota Wild rearguard, who head coach Dean Evason twice made a healthy scratch earlier in the campaign. Dumba isn't playing like he has in the past, and both his AAV and 10-team no-trade list make a deal more difficult. He could be a worthwhile depth addition, though the Wild may not become sellers if they stay in a playoff spot.

22. Karel Vejmelka

It's pretty rare that a relatively young goaltender with term and a team-friendly cap hit gets traded, but this is the Coyotes we're talking about. Vejmelka's underlying numbers have been stellar this season, too. His favorable contract and commendable performance on a subpar Arizona squad make him an intriguing option for contenders looking for stability in the crease.

23. Nick Bjugstad

The Coyotes may not stop there, as Bjugstad could be another Arizona trade chip. The veteran forward comes at a cost that's just above the league minimum, and he plays on both the power play and penalty kill for the Desert Dogs. Bjugstad would likely improve a contender's bottom six and could probably be had for a reasonable price.

24. Nick Seeler

Another Nick may get a call or two before the deadline, and for good reason. Seeler has emerged as a potential trade candidate because of the Flyers' struggles, his bargain-bin price tag, and the fact he's under team control for another season after this one. The Minnesota-born defenseman has impressive underlying figures considering his club's woes.

25. Gustav Nyquist

Nyquist is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury but may return for the playoffs. That means another team could acquire him, stash him on long-term injured reserve, and then activate him for the postseason - when there's no longer a salary cap - if he's able to play. The Swede isn't what he once was, and who knows how capable he'll be coming off the extended absence, but it would be a low-risk move.

(Contracts source: CapFriendly)

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Chris Tanev is fed up with the up-and-down nature of the Calgary Flames' season.

"We've been a roller coaster all year," the defenseman said following Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. "Good one game, suck the next."

He added: "We needed to win the game, and we lost to the same team twice in a week. We need to be better everywhere."

Calgary's loss dropped the club to 4-4-1 in its last 10 games and kept it at 61 points, tied with the Minnesota Wild in the fight for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with an extra game played.

The Flames have only won more than two games in a row twice this season: a three-game streak to start the regular season and then another in early December. Last season's club won at least three straight contests five separate times, including 10-, six-, and five-game runs en route to winning the Pacific Division.

Head coach Darryl Sutter pointed to goaltending as a key reason why Calgary lost its latest appearance. Starter Dan Vladar allowed five goals on 24 shots.

"It certainly didn't give us an opportunity to win, did it?" he said.

Calgary returns to the ice Saturday at home against a New York Rangers squad riding a six-game win streak.

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