Deadline preview: Metropolitan Division trade candidates
The NHL's trade deadline is less than six weeks away, but it's never too early to consider who could be on the move come March 1.
Here's a candidate from each of the eight Metropolitan Division teams.
Carolina Hurricanes
For the time being, Carolina is right in the thick of the playoff race. Should the Hurricanes lose steam, however, there always seems to be a demand for veteran, penalty-killing faceoff men. Jay McClement is valued by the club, but could be primed for a "trade and re-sign in the offseason" scenario.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets possess each of their seven draft picks over the course of the next three years, save for a second-round pick in 2017 or 2018 owed to Vancouver as compensation for hiring John Tortorella as head coach.
The only pending UFA is Sam Gagner, and he's not going anywhere. Defensive prospect Scott Harrington could be packaged with a pick or two for an upgrade on the blue line.
New Jersey Devils
P.A. Parenteau was scooped off waivers by the Devils from the New York Islanders prior to the start of the regular season, and is the kind of savvy, play-making veteran that would cause a contender to cough up a draft pick to add to New Jersey's stockpile.
New York Islanders
Dennis Seidenberg turned a solid showing at the World Cup of Hockey into a one-year deal with the Islanders. He'd come at a low cap hit, but with Stanley Cup experience, and would be seen as a valuable depth piece on the blue line.
New York Rangers
The Rangers have several pending restricted free agents who'll be looking for new deals this summer, but no UFAs that could be sold off for picks or spare parts.
What general manager Jeff Gorton does have in his back pocket is Ottawa's second-round pick in 2018, acquired in the Mika Zibanejad trade. That could certainly be used to bolster a struggling defense corps.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have three defensemen set to become unrestricted free agents this summer - Mark Streit, Nick Schultz, and Michael Del Zotto.
The former two could be moved in order to free up cap space and make room for younger, better options on Philadelphia's blue line moving forward.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The defending Cup champions won't look to move pieces from a roster able to repeat, but the Penguins could dangle defensive prospect Derrick Pouliot, who can't seem to crack the NHL roster.
Drafted eighth overall in 2012, Pouliot seems like a player who could use a change of scenery, bringing back some help for another long Penguins playoff run.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals are very much in "win now" mode, with a handful of key players set to become UFAs at season's end and a few picks having already been used on the trade market.
A player like Dmitry Orlov could be moved if the team feels it'll be unable to come to an agreement with the RFA in the offseason, but that seems doubtful.
Of all the Metropolitan Division teams, Washington seems most likely to stand pat.