NHL Trade Deadline: Nine Top Prospects To Watch

Andrew Cristall shoots on Carson Bjarnason

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The NHL trade deadline is about six weeks away, but with the 4 Nations Face-Off coming up in mid-February, there could be some impact trades going down over the next couple of weeks.

The buyers will be sending out draft picks and prospects to upgrade their teams in hopes of a long playoff run.

Among the rumors around the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks could potentially trade J.T. Miller, the New York Rangers are antsy to make changes, which means Chris Kreider could be on his way out, and Brock Nelson looks like his days could be numbered with the New York Islanders. Those are just some potential deals we could see over the next few weeks.

While we are sure to see a few first-round picks and countless later picks exchange hands in the runup to the deadline, let’s look at nine NHL prospects that could be on the move as teams look to mortgage their future for a chance at immediate glory.

Easton Cowan, W/C, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs have a pretty solid roster and lead the Atlantic Division, but they could use some added depth, particularly down the middle.

With John Tavares out of the lineup, the center depth is being tested as Max Domi and 20-year-old Fraser Minten are currently filling in as their middle six centers. Ideally, Domi would be on the wing and Minten would be in the AHL, but Toronto is making the best of the situation.

Trading Cowan isn’t (and probably shouldn’t be) Plan A for the Maple Leafs, but if they can get a player with term or even a center who is a quality No. 2 who can be interchangeable with Tavares in the middle six, moving their top prospect could be worth it.

Cowan is a highly intelligent, tactical forward who plays with a non-stop motor and a knack for making the best play possible. He is dominating the OHL with a historic points streak, so his stock is at an all-time high. Two weeks at the world juniors don’t change that.

Andrew Cristall, LW, Washington Capitals

It’s remarkable what Cristall has done at the WHL level. Since the 1999-2000 season, he is fourth in career WHL scoring. Simply put, the kid has been a machine. He isn’t without weaknesses – he needs to up the tempo a bit to get to the NHL level, and his skating could use a bit of improvement, but the numbers don’t lie.

The Washington Capitals have quietly gathered a nice collection of prospects. Ryan Leonard is unlikely to go anywhere, Cole Hutson’s stock is skyrocketing, and Ivan Miroshnichenko seems like a great fit. That leaves Cristall as the possible odd-man out if they need to use their prospect pool to acquire a piece to help Alexander Ovechkin go on a long playoff run, possibly as the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

Scott Morrow, RD, Carolina Hurricanes

Just because the dynamic blueliner Scott Morrow is listed here doesn’t mean he’s the only prospect the Hurricanes could trade.

The Hurricanes have several prospects who could be included in a deal on top of Morrow, one of the Chicago Wolves’ representatives at the AHL All-Star Classic. Nikita Artamonov’s stock has rocketed to the moon. Defender Aleksi Heimosalmi and winger Felix Unger-Sorum have had soild years in the AHL. Rookie Jackson Blake could also be included in a deal despite fitting in quite nicely.

Much like last year when they made a deal for Jake Guentzel, they could use a lethal offensive threat to bolster their attack heading into the post-season. Could they be a potential destination for Vancouver’s Miller or Nelson from the Islanders? Both could be among the most interesting options.

Seamus Casey, RD, New Jersey Devils

Although he’s currently rehabbing an injury, Seamus Casey had a fantastic start to the season in the NHL and then went to the AHL, where he was immediately almost a point-per-game player.

We could also mention Simon Nemec here, as the 2022 second-overall pick was reportedly unhappy in the AHL after a solid rookie year in the NHL last year. The Devils have options on the blueline when it comes to trade chips if they want to upgrade the NHL club.

Jacob Markstrom has been stellar in the net, and he’s proven that all this team has needed for quite some time has been a netminder. But after being crashed into and forced out of the game against the Boston Bruins, there will be concern in the net once again.

Could they look for help in net? Could they look to leverage one of their high-end defensive prospects into some goalie insurance and depth in the lineup? The Devils have plenty of questions to answer, and Markstrom’s health will play a major role in the answer.

Isaac Howard, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning don’t have many trade assets, but they will likely look to make a move to bolster their lineup and keep the window of contention open as long as they can. They’ve made bold moves throughout this run of success, and trading picks and prospects have long been a part of the process.

Isaac Howard could be an interesting piece for a trade partner. Howard is a speedy left winger who has improved every year in the NCAA, and his goal-scoring touch has finally materialized. He’s already matched his total scoring output from last season and has plenty of room to improve on those numbers. He may not be a top-tier prospect, but he would be a nice acquisition in any deal with the Lightning.

Colby Barlow, RW, Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have looked like a juggernaut at times this season. They have one of the best goalies in the world, Connor Hellebuyck, giving them incredible performances nearly every night. They also have five players who have hit the 40-point mark already, led by Kyle Connor (60) and Mark Scheifele (54). This is the year for the Jets to go all-in.

They have a few prospects they could look to deal. Brad Lambert has been so good at times, but he has moments when he disappears. Nikita Chibrikov is incredibly skilled and fun to watch, and he looked solid in his stint with the big club earlier this year, but it was just announced that he would miss the rest of the year with a lower-body injury.

Colby Barlow has plenty of hype around him thanks to his north-south attacking style of play, which brings a bit of grit and a wicked shot. Barlow seems like the prospect they would likely use to try and bolster the lineup for a run.

Mavrik Bourque, C/W, Dallas Stars

Bourque has been good in spurts for the Stars this year after leading the AHL in scoring and winning league MVP last season. But the flashes haven’t been enough to make him untouchable. He’s the only player on this list who has been a full-time NHLer this season, but as a rookie on a team that could be poised for a run at the Cup, he could be an attractive piece for an acquiring team.

Bourque is highly skilled with a lethal playmaking touch. His shiftiness to his game brings an entertainment value not many players can match. Bourque was always going to take a little while to adjust to the speed and strength required to be a difference-maker at the NHL level, but the flashes he’s shown have given no reason to believe he can’t get there. It just may not be in Dallas if they use him as trade bait for an instant upgrade.

Trevor Connelly, LW, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights love to trade prospects for assets that help them win now. Aside from Trevor Connelly and Brendan Brisson, who has been struggling to take the step to the NHL, the Knights have traded every first-round pick they’ve made.

They are always around the conversation leading up to the trade deadline. Even when they don’t seemingly have the cap space to make an impact move, they find a way. Their target at the deadline is likely a mystery, but if they aren’t active, it will be a bit of a surprise.

With so many of their best prospects already shipped out the door over the years, it will be interesting to see who they use to make a deal. Connelly could be that piece. He is an uber-skilled left winger who can deke and dangle defenders easily and generate offense at a high level. He won gold with Team USA at the world juniors, and his on-ice profile should be attractive to any team.

Matthew Savoie, C/W, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers just acquired Savoie in the summer, but they could look to move him as they look to go back to the Stanley Cup final after losing to the Panthers last year. Savoie has a ton of skill and can play at a breakneck pace, but he’s undersized, which has always concerned teams. He’s having a very solid rookie year in the AHL, which could help alleviate some of the concerns of the NHL teams.

It will be interesting to see if the Oilers decide to make the deal because they don’t have much ammo otherwise. Savoie would be their best trade asset since they don’t have their first-rounder for this year. The Oilers are firmly in their window, though, and going for it makes all the sense in the world.