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NHL Trade Deadline: Top Players on Move as Cup Contenders Eye Roster Upgrades

ESPN NHL •
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As the NHL trade deadline approaches, Greg Wyshynski ranks the biggest names that could shake up the Stanley Cup race. With the New York Rangers already signaling a retool after trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, the market is heating up for contenders looking to make a final push.

Several teams are weighing whether to buy or sell, with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks under pressure to compensate for disappointing seasons. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets have surged under new coach Rick Bowness, potentially keeping players like Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle in play rather than trading them. Wyshynski's rankings highlight both pending free agents and players with term left on their deals.

Among the most intriguing possibilities are Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, whose playoff hero status could make him a deadline target if Florida falls out of contention, and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, whose availability could spark a retool. Other names like Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks add to the speculation, though trade protection complicates potential moves. With just days until the March 6 deadline, teams must decide whether to go all-in or start planning for the future.