The truth is there isn't enough available salary cap space on contending teams to fit all of the players mentioned in NHL trade rumors these days.
Seems like when the final horn sounds at the end of March 21 deadline day some potential rentals or trade candidates may not have to file a change of address.
The market boasts several big name candidates including Philadelphia's Claude Giroux, Seattle's Mark Giordano and Chicago's Marc-Andre Fleury. Those are players with pretty impressive resumes.
But with all of the big names out there, here are the four players in the marketplace who I view as the most important:
1. Forward Joe Pavelski, Dallas Stars: He is 37 and playing some of the best hockey of his career. He's been to the Stanley Cup Final twice, once with San Jose and once with Dallas. In both of those seasons, he was a key reason why he reached the finals.
In those two postseason runs -- 2015 with the Sharks and 2020 with the Stars -- he combined for 27 goals in 51 games. He's a proven playoff performer. He can step in and instantly become your leading scorer. Big game player. Can play all three foward positions.
He's a natural leader, but not a player who will disrupt the existing leadership group. He is a respectful, positive teammate who knows what needs to be done without thinking about it. Pavelski was playing the right way even before he arrived in the NHL.
Pavelski is a likedable guy who has never won a Stanley Cup. Teammates will want to help him win that Cup.
His $7 million salary isn't cheap, but it isn't $8.275 million like Giroux's salary. We can assume that the Stars would retain, or take a salary back, to make the cap work. But they will want a better return to make that work.
2. Defenseman Ben Chiarot, Montreal Canadiens: He's the best bargain among the rental players. His salary is $3.5 million. If Montreal retains half, it's $1.75 million. If you trade him through the Detroit Red Wings, like the Tampa Bay Lightning did last season with David Savard, the financial hit for Chiarot could end up being like a minor-league call-up.
Chiarot a playoff-ready performer. He plays a shutdown style perfect for postseason play. He is hard to play against because he defends with purpose and energy. His compete level is above the bar. He knows his job and works at his craft.
If a team can play him in the second pairing and on the penalty kill, that team will be much stronger defensively. Strong defense wins Stanley Cups, or so we've been told. 3. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury: He's the only goalie out there with a post-season pedigree. We don't know for sure that he will accept a trade, but I'm guessing he will. Can't see him going out without one more chance to win the Stanley Cup.
If the Colorado Avalanche make a pitch for him, he could be the missing piece. He would be an interesting acquisition for the Minnesota Wild. Bill Guerin knows him well. He tried to acquire him before. The Capitals are interested. The Oilers should be interested. Fleury has multiple Stanley Cup rings and 90 playoff wins. As long as Chicago retains salary or takes a big salary back, Fleury can be affordable even at a $7 million salary.
You want him in your net. You need him in your net.
4. Center Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks: For the teams needing a center, Hertl is the target. He's on a pace to score 40+ goals. He is a nice fit for a team looking to upgrade its offense.
Plus, his salary is $5.625 million. With the Sharks' gift of salary retention, this can be managable for a team tight in the salary cap ceiling.
The one problem here is the Sharks could get him signed. They should get him signed. But they have too many big contracts playing havoc with their salary cap structure.
This is a player who can be a difference-maker in a playoff series.