NHL Gifts Under The Christmas Tree: Wingers

It is just a few days until everyone starts opening their Christmas presents, but for NHL general managers, their special days 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 wingers who could be on the move before or on March 8th:

Victor Olofsson – Buffalo Sabres

Salary – $4.75 million

Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024

A three-time 20-goal scorer with the Sabres who scored a career-high 28 last season, Olofsson was a healthy scratch late last season and likely would have been dealt over the summer if it had not been for Jack Quinn’s Achilles injury. With Quinn returning and everyone healthy, it is now a question of how much playing time the 28-year-old will get and his scoring touch might be an attractive get if Buffalo is willing to retain salary.

Dominik Kubalik / Vladimir Tarasenko – Ottawa Senators

Salary – $2.5 million / $5 million

Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024

The Senators took back Kubalik as part of the Alex DeBrincat deal and signed veteran Tarasenko to fill his role in the top six. The season in Ottawa has thus far been a disaster and the management team under team president Steve Staios will likely look to move out expiring contracts for future assets.

The former Calder Trophy nominee scored 20 goals with Detroit last season and has a manageable salary of $2.5 million. Tarasenko has 20 points in 26 games for Ottawa and can still produce

Anthony Duclair / Mike Hoffman – San Jose Sharks

Salary –  $3 million / $4.5 million

Status – Unrestricted Free Agents in 2024

The Sharks are limited in what they can do in terms of retaining salary since they have already done so with Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, which means they can retain on only one more contract. Duclair and Hoffman are both veteran scorers with dependable resumes and playoff experience, but their cap hits may require GM Mike Grier to take back salary to make things work and maximize their return.

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Travis Konecny – Philadelphia Flyers

Salary – $5.5 million

Status – Signed through 2024-25

Konecny is leading the Flyers with 16 goals and has not a rental, but his $5.5 million is a bargain for his production and he offers cost certainty for another season. His availability would all depend on whether the Flyers stay in the playoff race and if GM Daniel Briere is willing to pony up a significant pay increase for the 26-year-old when he becomes available for an extension next July.

Patrick Kane – Detroit Red Wings

Salary – $2.75 million

Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024

The one-year contract that Kane signed in November contained a no-trade clause, giving the 35-year-old a say in where he would be dealt. The Wings are in the race in the Atlantic and Eastern Conference wildcard spots, but if they fall out of both, GM Steve Yzerman may approach the three-time Cup winner to see if he wants to be moved to a contender.