Guentzel, Tanev, Hanifin, Henrique delaying trade market

Even though a few deals have already been made before the NHL trade deadline, some high-profile players remain available.

Four names in particular seem to be at the top of the wishlist for most teams; Jake Guentzel, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and Adam Henrique, and as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports, they will keep the market at a bit of a standstill until their availability changes.

“The teams that are out of this, like they don’t have the assets it will take to make these deals, they’re looking at other situations, some other players, people who could be available,” Friedman reported during Saturday Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada. “I think a lot of the teams are looking at the best of the best that might be available, they’re kind of waiting on these four”

Friedman reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs remain in a search for defencemen and that the Dallas Stars are another team interested in Tanev. Vancouver, Tampa Bay and the Devils have also been linked to the veteran blue liner.

The price for Tanev reportedly starts with a second-rounder and could be more than that with many teams in the mix and potentially willing to increase their bid.

Hanifin is still deciding if he would like to sign an eight-year contract extension with the Flames and told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis that the decision has been weighing on him. Calgary knows that it needs clarity on the pending unrestricted free agent soon as he will be a sought-after player.

Guentzel has been a target of the Edmonton Oilers but they will have some competition for his services as other teams remain in the mix.

With centres Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan off the board, Henrique appears to be at the top of the list with 15 goals and 35 points in 50 games this season. He is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $5.825 million cap hit.

The real question is whether teams are ready to pull the trigger or are willing to wait until closer to the March 8 trade deadline to see where their teams are and if they get the offer they can’t refuse.

“I think Pittsburgh is prepared to wait to see how the next month plays out,” Friedman explains. “I do think there are some teams who are going to wait to see where these four players in particular go.”

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