NHL Trade Deadline: Middle-Six Centers Are All The Rage

The NHL's trade deadline is less than a month away, and a bunch of second- and third-line centers have been topics of trade speculation, whether they get moved or not.

With a little less than one month until the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline, it's looking like second- and third-line centers are trending.

While there will almost assuredly be defensemen, wingers and maybe goalies available at the deadline, a slew of veteran centers have surfaced in trade rumors and speculation. Some teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, could use one of them to improve their center depth.

The centers mentioned in the speculation fall into three distinct categories. Let's explore each of them more.

Brock Nelson (NYI), Trent Frederic (BOS), Ryan Donato (CHI), Yanni Gourde (SEA), Jake Evans (MTL)

These five centers are all pending UFAs who have yet to sign contract extensions. That makes them attractive to teams that don’t want to commit long-term. That said, depending on the team we’re talking about, these NHLers could essentially be auditioning to sign a contract extension.

It will be a low-risk, potentially high-reward situation for these players. 

If the New York Islanders remain in the wild-card race, then they could keep Nelson, whether he re-signs with them or not. Although The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner reported the belief is the team wants to sign him to a contract extension, there's no new deal yet. With a $6-million cap hit, 17 goals and 35 points, Nelson isn't the cheapest option but could be the right match for a team looking for a second-line option or a third-line center on a Cup contender.

Other players, such as Montreal's Evans and Boston's Frederic, could get more term on an extension because they’re younger than the rest of the field. Chicago's Donato has had a decent year with 37 points, so the Blackhawks should try to trade him for future assets. And while Seattle's Gourde has had injury issues, his post-season experience will intrigue teams looking for help down the middle.

In any case, each of these players could get traded if their current team doesn't re-sign them and they're trailing in the playoff race. Teams that want to land a center have plenty of options to choose from here.

Dylan Cozens (BUF), Scott Laughton (PHI), Casey Mittelstadt (COL)

This isn’t a big group, as teams that are happy with their long-term centers aren’t going to shop them around – and the teams that are likely to be sellers are sellers because they don’t have top talents on the roster. 

The Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozens is a popular topic in trade rumors and speculation, as he has only 27 points in 54 games this season. But the 24-year-old is younger than the other centers in the trade market, and in the second season of his seven-year contract, Buffalo should only move him if there's a hockey trade that brings back a bona fide top center. 

That leaves only a couple of options for teams interested in acquiring a center who is cost-certain beyond this season without needing to make a blockbuster trade.

Laughton is signed through next season at a very affordable $3-million price tag. Laughton also has no no-trade or no-move protection, and he brings physicality, effective two-way play and stellar leadership. He has 26 points in 54 games for the Flyers in third-line minutes.

Mittelstadt, meanwhile, has struggled to live up to expectations in Colorado this season and still has two years left on his contract at $5.75 million per season. He’s still only 26 years old, so there may be teams that see him turning things around with a fresh start in a new market. The Avalanche also have every opportunity to keep Mittelstadt in hopes he reaches his potential as a top-notch No. 2 center. If a team wants to be aggressive and try to trade for Mittelstadt, Colorado could be more tempted to move him.

Ryan O'Reilly (NSH), Brayden Schenn (STL)

O'Reilly and Schenn surfaced in trade speculation, but it's tough to see them going anywhere unless the perfect move arises.

Schenn is 33 years old with another three years left on his contract at $6.5 million per season. Schenn also has a full no-trade clause in his current deal. That doesn’t mean the Blues can’t approach him about a potential trade – it just means he gets to control where he would want to go in a deal. He’s an accomplished center with a Stanley Cup on his resume, and teams may choose to throw a slew of prospects and draft picks to help St. Louis re-tool for next season.

Meanwhile, O’Reilly is 34 years old with two more seasons on a contract that carries a $4.5-million cap hit. O’Reilly is also a Cup champion who can play a gritty playoff style, and there are more than a few teams that covet his services. 

He doesn’t have any no-trade or no-move protection, but Preds GM Barry Trotz has enough reverence for O’Reilly to treat him like he has a no-move clause. However, if a team overwhelms Trotz with a trade package for O’Reilly – and if O’Reilly sees a fit for himself with another franchise – a trade for him is not out of the realm of possibility. 

Schenn and O’Reilly could stick with their current employer, but if they are dealt, few would be surprised. They're proven winners, but the cost to acquire them limits the market significantly. So they're long shots to be traded.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.