Everyone has opened their Christmas presents, but for NHL general managers, their special day will be leading up to the March 8th trade deadline. With cap space hard to come by, contending teams will likely wait until the last minute to make their moves to maximize the room they have to work with under the salary cap and to hope that the price for pending unrestricted free agents or players with short term left on their deals.
Many clubs are looking for one or two difference-makers at key positions to improve their post-season chances, and at each position, there are obtainable options that could help a team advance further.
Here are five centers that could be on the move before or on March 8th:
Elias Lindholm – Calgary Flames
Salary – $4.85 million
Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024
There has been little or no news regarding a contract extension for the 29-year-old since the Flames’ slow start, and all the talk since early November has been connected to potential trade destinations. Lindholm is a perfect fit as a second-line center for contenders, not only because of his two-way abilities and faceoff proficiency but also because of his cap hit just under $5 million.
Calgary can maximize their return by retaining half of his salary, which would be necessary for clubs like Boston and Colorado to fit him in.
Sean Monahan – Montreal Canadiens
Salary – $1.985 million
Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024
For those clubs with cap constraints, Monahan is the perfect fit. The 29-year-old is on a very friendly one-year deal at just under $2 million and has 20 points so far this season. The former sixth-overall pick has recovered from injury issues that plagued him last season and played all 33 games for the Habs. He is also versatile, has played center and wing, and provides a big body at 6’2” and 202 lbs.
Adam Henrique – Anaheim Ducks
Salary – $5.825 million
Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024
The 33-year-old is at the end of a five-year deal with the Ducks, and with new GM Pat Verbeek in place and Anaheim out of the playoff picture, Henrique will likely be shopped before March 8. Retaining 50% of his nearly $6 million salary will be a necessity.
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Morgan Frost – Philadelphia Flyers
Salary – $2.1 million
Status – Signed through 2024-25
Frost is a talented player who seemingly has been in John Tortorella’s doghouse this season for no particular reason other than him being offensively gifted. The 24-year-old was rumored to be on the block until Noah Cates’ injury in late November, and with regular playing time, his scoring numbers have picked up.
Under contract for another season at $2.1 million, Frost is an arbitration-eligible RFA in the summer of 2025, meaning that a deal for him makes him a retainable commodity for two-plus seasons.
Jack Roslovic – Columbus Blue Jackets
Salary – $4 million
Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024
The former Winnipeg first-rounder suffered a fractured ankle in November and is expected back in the New Year. The Blue Jackets season has been a disaster, and GM Jarmo Kekalainen will likely be looking to recoup some of the assets he dealt with last summer in an attempt to upgrade his blueline.