6 NHL Players being shopped close to the trade deadline
Nick Ritchie
Ritchie has had a bad season in Toronto due to a bad free-agent signing. Within a few months, he went from top-six forward to healthy scratch to minor league forward. Ritchie has nine points in 33 games. It's his worst season since his debut in Anaheim. The Leafs felt comfortable signing him because he played junior hockey for Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.
The mobile defenseman has struggled since the season began and has recently been healthy scratched frequently. Dermott's game is difficult to assess because he isn't particularly physical or offensive. He has four points in 33 games this season and is owed $1.5 million next season. Toronto has previously expressed interest in the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings.
The Avalanche have previously indicated interest in Giroux, so there's a decent chance he ends up there. It would be a huge move for them to get him, given their current lead. They are now 34-8-4, and adding Giroux would make them even tougher to beat.
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After a rollercoaster season, the winger is up for trade. He's a restricted free agent who has to compete for time with Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Evan Rodrigues, and Bryan Rust.
Zucker is a prominent trade target owing to the Penguins' cash limits next season and his production since arriving in Pittsburgh. His cap hit for next season is $5.5 million and he has trade protection from ten teams.
Ben Chariot
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the many teams interested in Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot, according to Elliotte Friedman. The Hurricanes already have a great defensive group, but Chiarot would make it much stronger. It's too early to know if they'll win, but they're clearly related to him.
Credit: NHLTradeRumors
