Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back. This week, we're taking stock of four of the biggest names reportedly on the block ahead of the trade deadline.
▲ Matt Duchene
He's already arguably the most skilled asset being dangled in potential deals, and the Colorado Avalanche forward is helping to reinforce that assessment with solid play of late.
The club won only one of its four games over the last week, but Duchene picked up three points, including the tying goal in the final minute of regulation in an eventual overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.
He has four points in his last five games, and seven in his last 10.
Every subsequent Avalanche loss further justifies his potential departure, and the combination of their continued futility and his steady production makes a Duchene deal even more of a logical conclusion.
▼ Gabriel Landeskog
Unlike his Colorado teammate, Landeskog didn't exactly boost his value this week.
He was held pointless and registered only nine shots on goal in the four aforementioned games played by the Avalanche, and has only a single assist in his last six.
The Colorado captain certainly remains a hot commodity given his youth, his rare status as a six-year NHL veteran at 24, and his obvious talent, but he didn't do himself any favors in the penultimate week before the deadline.
▲ Kevin Shattenkirk
The St. Louis Blues had a less than ideal week, losing to the Buffalo Sabres and the resurgent Florida Panthers, but Shattenkirk had a major hand in the win over the Vancouver Canucks that preceded those two defeats.
He assisted on three of four Blues goals in the 4-3 victory last Thursday night, including power-play helpers on third-period markers by Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen that gave St. Louis a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
While it came against a less than formidable opponent, Shattenkirk's stellar performance proved just how much of an impact he can have on the offensive end.
His game isn't as appreciated as that of the two Avalanche forwards by virtue of his position, but he's actually been more productive than both of them this season, and is more likely to move because of his status as a pending unrestricted free agent.
▲ Martin Hanzal
We usually look at two figures trending up and two trending down, but most of the biggest names expected to move before the deadline had very productive weeks.
Hanzal is one such deadline target who's been turning it on at the right time, scoring the Coyotes' lone goal in a loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
That gave him five goals in five games, and while he didn't find the back of the net Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks, Hanzal is showing what he can do when he's healthy and motivated.
He's a streaky scorer, having notched only one goal in the nine games before his five-in-five stretch, but the veteran center is showcasing his skills for the visiting scouts nearly every night as the deadline approaches, and that's good news for his current club.
(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)
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