7 NHLers who could use a change of scenery ahead of trade deadline

"Rental" becomes one of the most used words in hockey around this time every season. The spotlight shines bright on pending unrestricted free agents - and rightfully so, seeing as UFAs drive trade activity ahead of the deadline.

But what about the other, typically younger guys moving midseason? We're talking about "change of scenery" trades, like the Jan. 30 deal between the Flyers and Flames. Forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, 25 and 24, weren't part of Philadelphia's long-term plan, so the club shipped them to Calgary.

Let's check in on seven NHLers who could use a change of scenery ahead of the March 7 deadline. (Note: we skipped Elias Pettersson and Seth Jones since both cases are very public and have been discussed ad nauseam.)

Dylan Cozens, Sabres

The Cozens situation checks many of the classic change-of-scenery boxes.

The player and team are underperforming for a second straight season. The front office is under fire locally (coming up on 14 seasons of no playoffs in Buffalo!) and must be, at the very least, considering a major shakeup to the roster. Multiple reports have surfaced regarding several clubs inquiring about the player, and each team surely believes Cozens would excel in a new environment.

Ultimately, the Sabres are weighing the risk and reward of moving a two-way center who put up 31 goals and 68 points as a 21-year-old. Cozens may not be confident or productive right now, but there's a difference-maker in there.

The 24-year-old nicknamed the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" is locked in at $7.1 million per year through 2029-30 - in other words, his entire prime. In a rising cap world, that AAV will soon be peanuts if he can regain his form.

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is likely selling low here. Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Lawson Crouse, Utah

Crouse has missed one game this season - a healthy scratch on Feb. 4.

One sitting doesn't necessarily mean the player's permanently in the coach's doghouse, even if said player is the club's associate captain. Yet, Crouse's scratch signaled to the league that not everything is going according to plan.

Crouse, 27, is on pace for only 17 points in 81 games after back-to-back 40-point campaigns. While the 6-foot-4 power forward contributes in other ways through physicality and responsible two-way play, the lack of offense is concerning. Utah GM Bill Armstrong is motivated to build a sustainable winner. And unlike in the cash-poor Arizona era, Armstrong has a green light to be proactive in the trade market. Crouse is a serviceable NHLer, but you have to give to get in needle-moving deals. His team-friendly contract ($4.3 million through 2026-27) would make him highly desirable to a specific demographic of teams.

Winnipeg and Buffalo both struggle to attract talent in free agency and need middle-six help. The Jets, who sit atop the Western Conference, are motivated to add in the lead-up to the deadline. Could Crouse be the missing piece to Winnipeg's forward group? Or does a club like the Sabres swoop in?

Crouse already has a scenery change on the resume. The Panthers sent him to the Coyotes in August 2016, just 14 months after picking him 11th overall.

Max Domi, Maple Leafs

Teammate Nick Robertson's stagnant production and discontent with the Maple Leafs has been widely chronicled. Domi, who's underwhelmed in a middle-six role, is a sneaky relocation candidate.

Once a 28-goal man, Domi lost his scoring touch somewhere en route to Toronto, where he signed in 2023. He has 12 goals in 129 Leafs appearances. He endured goal droughts that lasted more than 20 games this season on both sides of a random December hot streak. He's also taken the most penalties and owns the worst penalty differential among Toronto forwards for the second straight year.

The aging agitator became a journeyman long before his 30th birthday, which he'll celebrate next Sunday. Domi's cycled through seven teams in 10 NHL seasons and has been involved in four trades, including at the deadline in 2022 and 2023.

Domi's four-year contract extension, signed on the eve of free agency last summer, carries a $3.75-million cap hit and a 13-team no-trade list. Cutting bait is a worthwhile option to explore. Maybe Toronto could send Domi with a sweetener to a bubble or rebuilding club that values his playmaking ability and wealth of experience.

Erik Karlsson, Penguins

Pittsburgh is precariously close to the Eastern Conference basement and owes Karlsson $10 million annually through 2027. He needs to be in the playoff mix to justify his price tag. Karlsson's composure and silkiness with the puck help him conjure offense in the rough-and-tumble postseason while less creative players struggle to elude checks.

That's never been a problem for Karlsson. He scored off the rush and added two primary assists during Sweden's futile yet gripping run at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was the lone backpedaling defenseman on the ice for two overtime goals against, but overall, he seemed rejuvenated by the competition level and intense atmosphere.

Unlike Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, Karlsson doesn't have deep ties or unyielding loyalty to Pittsburgh. He's never played in a Stanley Cup Final. Even at 34, big games are more fun when he's involved.

There's one hang-up: Acquiring Karlsson would be expensive. The Penguins and a trade partner can't loop in an additional club to assume some of his current cap hit. A maximum of three teams can pay a share of one contract, and the Sharks retained some of Karlsson's salary when they moved him in 2023 following his third Norris Trophy season.

Casey Mittelstadt, Avalanche

Last year's Mittelstadt-for-Bowen Byram thunderclap got hockey sickos excited. The rare one-for-one swap materialized without warning when teams dealt from a position of strength - Colorado had a glut of puck-moving defensemen, and Buffalo had promising forwards - to fill an important need.

The 26-year-old Mittelstadt hasn't bombed as Colorado's second-line center. He's producing at a 44-point pace for a playoff lock. Yet he's miscast as a key reinforcement for NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon, who continues to be overworked.

Mittelstadt's passing is an asset, but he's bad at faceoffs (42% win rate), has been a defensive drag, and doesn't kill penalties or challenge goalies. Opponents held him to two goals on 33 shots in his past 40 games. The Avalanche's share of high-danger scoring chances in his five-on-five shifts has plummeted to 42% from 55% last season following the Byram trade, per Natural Stat Trick.

Other Western Conference heavyweights ice strong center duos. The Oilers boast Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Stars have Matt Duchene and Roope Hintz. William Karlsson of the Golden Knights complements Jack Eichel. Colorado needs an upgrade, and paradoxically, Mittelstadt might benefit from joining a less talented or more balanced forward corps that doesn't force him to follow MacKinnon over the boards.

Vladimir Tarasenko, Red Wings

Tarasenko, a longtime Blues cornerstone, jumped ship to the Rangers as a rental in 2023. He went on to sign with the Senators, orchestrated a deadline trade to the juggernaut Panthers, celebrated his second Stanley Cup win, and inked a two-year contract with Detroit to continue touring the Atlantic Division.

The fit has been clunky. Tarasenko's a sporadic scorer in the middle of a top-heavy lineup. Through 55 games, his seven goals are 10 fewer than he buried for the listless 2023-24 Senators in a similar time frame.

Tarasenko entered the 4 Nations break as Detroit's eighth-leading point producer over the previous 20 games. The Red Wings caught fire in the span, tallying a league-best .775 points percentage to surge into the playoff picture. Head coach Todd McLellan, the architect of the turnaround, can afford to allot Tarasenko's minutes to younger wingers.

The Russian veteran would need to waive his no-trade clause for a third straight year to be dealt. Maybe he'd reunite with Florida or approve a move to another contender that can absorb his $4.75-million cap hit and protect him on defense. Tarasenko scored big goals during the '24 Cup run - including a series winner against the Rangers - as the designated sniper on a lionhearted third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Trevor Zegras, Ducks

Zegras accepted a pass at the center red line and was off, two-on-one during four-on-four action. He completed a nifty give-and-go passing sequence with Ducks teammate Jackson LaCombe, then fired the puck into the back of the net. Anaheim 1, Boston 0, in an eventual 3-2 Ducks win.

On Saturday night, we saw the best of Zegras. He'd be excused from all change-of-scenery discussions if he consistently showcased that version of himself. However, the fact of the matter is that Zegras has long been a frustrating winger for Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek and his head coaches.

To summarize, the 2019 ninth overall pick is a supremely skilled playmaker who's simultaneously not productive enough (0.69 career points per game) and not strong enough defensively to warrant "star" status of any kind.

Zegras, who's in the middle season of a three-year deal paying him $5.75 million annually, is reportedly available for the right price. A recent run of poor health luck - Zegras missed 51 games last season and 22 games this campaign due to three different injuries - is undoubtedly giving rival teams reason for pause.

The 23-year-old is miscast as a franchise cornerstone in Anaheim. He's closer to being a complementary piece than a superstar. An acquiring club would be betting on Zegras flourishing in a more insulated role on and off the ice.

John Matisz and Nick Faris cover the NHL for theScore.