Top NHL Trade Deadline Targets

With the NHL trade deadline looming just a month away, teams are already plotting their moves to bolster their rosters for a playoff push or to set themselves up for future success.

As the top contenders in the league look to address their weaknesses and the fringe teams decide whether to buy or sell, here are some top trade targets generating buzz around the league.

Noah Hanifin, Calgary Flames, Left Defense

Hanifin will be a great addition to any team that is looking for a better depth at defense.

He is a very mobile, puck-moving top-four defender and can make an immediate impact wherever he ends up.

The Calgary Flames could have trouble moving him because of his cap hit of $4.95 million, but whoever takes a chance on him could really benefit from his solid defensive style of play and passing abilities in the playoffs.

Adam Henrique, Anaheim Ducks, Center

The Veteran Center has been on a couple of teams' radars that are looking for some much-needed depth scoring from their bottom-six forward lines.

Henrique is in the final year of his five-year, $29,125,000 contract with the Ducks, but has certainly proven his worth this season racking up 36 points in 55 games.

Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers, Center

There has been a lot of talk around the Flyers organization about receiving a nice haul at the NHL Trade Deadline come March 8th for Scott Laughton.

Laughton has been losing a lot of ice time for the Flyers game after game but is still a very good threat on the power play and the penalty kill.

He has started taking a lot of penalties this season, but if he can stay out of the box he is a great option to add at the deadline.

Jakob Chychrun, Ottawa Senators, Left Defense

Jakob Chychrun is a mobile, offensive-minded defenseman, who would be a perfect fit on a team's top two pairings down the stretch into playoffs.

The Senators are a team on the rise but may not have the money to pay him after this season. Chychrun is signed for one more season with a $4.6 million cap hit.

Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Winger

The Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Jake Guentzel has been the biggest name talked about in the past month to get traded at the deadline and will add a great scoring touch to any team's top two lines.

Guentzel has had a very solid season for the Penguins putting up 22 goals and 30 assists in only 50 games played so far this season.

Christian Holtzapple is a fourth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism, To contact him email cmh7064@psu.edu.