The NHL trade deadline is coming and with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs mix, the team could be active at the deadline and some of the biggest names that could move include Dan Girardi, Ryan Miller, Cam Ward, Marian Gaborik, Steve Ott, Matt Moulson and Ryan Callahan.
Callahan and Ryan Miller have been mentioned the most in trade rumors leading out of the trade deadline and Miller looks most likely to move, as the Buffalo Sabres are struggling and he is their best asset. According to ESPN.com, Buffalo is continuing to shop Miller at the deadline and he is coming back from the Olympics and has been playing under the guise of trade rumors all season, considering he is coming into the last year of his deal.
Miller helped the US team make it to the gold medal game back in 2010 and he was the backup behind Jonathan Quick this time around in Sochi. The report says that the team is open to trading Miller, but they want a legitimate deal and they could work to re-sign Miller if no trade comes to pass. The deadline is March 5 and Miller could move before that and he has been 15-22-3 this season with a 2.72 goals against average and he could be a very intriguing option for teams like the St. Louis Blues or Chicago Blackhawks.
General manager Tim Murray said that basically everyone is available at the deadline and names that also could move for the Sabres are Steve Ott and Matt Moulson and they could be valuable additions for playoff teams. Moulson and Ott are both coming into the final year of their contracts and that puts them in line to be traded and the Maple Leafs could get down on that as well.
The team could start looking into other options with Dave Bolland asking now for $5 million per season as he is set to be a free agent and he could be on his way out in the summer. The Maple Leafs could look to replace him now before a potential split and Callahan still remains the top player that could get moved.
Callahan and the Rangers have had issues coming to an agreement on a contract extension this season and that is what could lead to a trade for the 29 year old. Callahan is looking for a deal worth over $6 million going over seven years and that might be too much for the Rangers as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent. The Maple Leafs may not be looking to go after him, but he is one player that is likely to move and comes as he has 11 goals this season. The Rangers captain is a hot commodity at the deadline and a number of teams could go after him.