We all know the high-profile players who could be on the move before the March 3 NHL trade deadline. But what about the lesser-known players who have been attracting attention? What can they bring to a new team?
Let’s take a look at five of them.
IVAN BARBASHEV, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Contract Status: Pending UFA
The Blues have punted on this season, trading Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly for future assets. The expectation is that Barbashev, 27, will be next.
After scoring a career-high 26 goals on 23.4 per cent shooting last season, Barbashev is on pace for 15 goals and shooting 11.6 per cent. He is generating scoring chances at roughly the same rate — around two per 20 minutes — so there is some bad luck involved there.
Barbashev forechecks hard, can play multiple positions and is capable of playing alongside skilled forwards at 5-on-5. Ideally, Barbashev slots in on the third line and contributes on special teams.
VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Contract Status: Pending UFA
Gavrikov has been held out of the Blue Jackets’ past four games for “trade-related reasons.” The 6-foot-3, 221-pound defenceman plays a shutdown role in Columbus, ranking in the 90th percentile in strength of opposition league-wide. He uses his size to short-circuit plays along the boards and his reach to knock away pucks. His 1.75 stick checks per 20 at 5-on-5 are 17th out of 266 defencemen with at least 100 minutes of ice time in that situation.
Gavrikov, 27, is most valuable on the penalty kill, where he plays 3:31 per game. He makes 0.98 shorthanded defensive plays — pass blocks, shot blocks, stick checks and body checks — per two minutes. That is 10th among 92 qualified defencemen (min. 100 minutes).
Injuries forced Gavrikov to take on a larger role for the Blue Jackets this season, which he handled well. He would be a solid addition to a contending team’s back end.
SAM LAFFERTY, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Contract Status: $1.15 million cap hit through 2023-24
Over his first three NHL seasons, Lafferty had 11 goals and 32 points in 140 games. Given a bigger opportunity on the rebuilding Blackhawks this season, he has produced 10 goals and 21 points in 50 games.
Four of Lafferty’s goals are shorthanded, tied for the league lead. The speedy 27-year-old forward, whose nine shorthanded scoring chances lead the Blackhawks, is also reliable in the faceoff circle, winning 56 per cent of his defensive-zone draws.
Lafferty fits the mold of an unsung player who becomes a key contributor during a playoff run and probably could be had for a mid-round draft pick.
“He’s starting to put the pieces together and really understand where he’s effective in the game with his speed and size,’’ Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson told the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘It’s unique. We had a guy like that in Montreal, Josh Anderson, and everybody in the league wants one of those guys.”
JAKE MCCABE, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Contract Status: $4 million cap hit through 2024-25
McCabe’s game is far from flashy, but that is why he is appealing to teams looking to shore up their blue line. Physicality is McCabe’s calling card, and he is great at getting in the way of pucks, blocking 1.59 shots per 20 minutes.
McCabe, 29, leads Blackhawks defencemen with a 43.9 xGF% at even strength, which is noteworthy considering the Blackhawks’ 39.7 xGF% is the second worst in the league. On a better team, McCabe will not be required to play heavy minutes, which would probably benefit him.
KAREL VEJMELKA, ARIZONA COYOTES
Contract Status: $2.725 million cap hit through 2024-25
No goaltender would look good behind the Coyotes’ defence, especially without Jakob Chychrun. But Vejmelka has put up decent numbers in his second NHL season. Vejmelka has faced 16.3 slot shots per 60 minutes — ninth-most out of 83 qualified goaltenders. He has stopped 84.4 per cent of them, which ranks 15th among that group.
Vejmelka, 26, would be a cost-effective upgrade at backup for most contending teams. If pressed into duty, he can provide competent play.
Stats via Sportlogiq
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