The NHL season may have just gotten underway, but it's never too early to begin looking ahead at what trades might happen when the calendar turns to 2017. While the deadline is set for March 1st, 2017, moves usually happen several weeks in advance of that date as teams scramble to get their trade targets.
Here's a look at the big names potentially available:
Top pending UFAs that could be traded
Kevin Shattenkirk, D, St. Louis - He's supposedly available, but the asking price has to be huge.
Ben Bishop, G, Tampa Bay - Do the Bolts really move him in season?
Martin Hanzal, C, Arizona - If the Coyotes keep stumbling, he could be the top forward traded.
Dmitry Kulikov, D, Buffalo
Steve Mason, G, Philadelphia
Michal Neuvirth, G, Philadelphia
Dennis Wideman, D, Calgary - Definitely available, but price tag hurts.
Mark Streit, D, Philadelphia
Ryan Miller, G, Vancouver - Big cap hit won't help.
Ondrej Pavelec, G, Winnipeg - May move earlier as teams scramble to shore up their net.
Drew Stafford, W, Winnipeg
Radim Vrbata, W, Arizona
PA Parenteau, W, New Jersey
Brian Gionta, W, Buffalo
Michael Stone, D, Arizona - Only moves if AZ can't get him to re-sign.
Michael Del Zotto, D, Philadelphia
Brendan Smith, D, Detroit
Milan Michalek, W, Toronto - Buried in the minors and expensive. Hard sell.
Zack Smith, C, Ottawa
Bryan Bickell, W, Carolina
Cody Franson, D, Buffalo
Zbynek Michalek, D, Arizona
Kris Russell, D, Edmonton - Oilers off to a good start which may mean he stays put.
Deryk Engelland, D, Calgary
Ron Hainsey, D, Carolina
Cal Clutterbuck, W, NY Islanders
Alex Burrows, W, Vancouver - Another hard sell. Not the player he once was.
Roman Polak, D, Toronto
Fedor Tyutin, D, Colorado
Thomas Greiss, G, NY Islanders - Isles have a logjam in net, but may want to re-sign Greiss.
Reto Berra, G, Florida
Brooks Laich, C, Toronto
Top players with term/RFAs potentially available
Jacob Trouba - D - Winnipeg Jets - Although he re-signed, he probably still wants to be traded.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - C - Edmonton Oilers - Has found a niche. May not move for now.
Travis Hamonic - D - New York Islanders
Evander Kane - W - Buffalo Sabres
Rick Nash - W - New York Rangers
Tyler Ennis - W - Buffalo Sabres
Tyler Ennis - W - Buffalo Sabres
Jimmy Howard - G - Detroit Red Wings
Antti Niemi - G - Dallas Stars
Tyler Bozak - C - Toronto Maple Leafs - Babcock is a Bozak fan, but he would be a top deadline asset to move.
Jaro Halak - G - New York Islanders - The Isles have made it abundantly clear that he's available.
Dwight King - W - Los Angeles Kings
Tobias Enstrom - D - Winnipeg Jets
Jeff Skinner - W - Carolina Hurricanes
Kari Lehtonen - G - Dallas Stars - Big contract and term, but if the Stars want to upgrade in net they have to move a goalie out.
Matt Read - W - Philadelphia Flyers
Darcy Kuemper - G - Minnesota Wild - Minny have some depth with Alex Stalock; Kuemper was shopped last year.
Alex Burrows - W - Vancouver Canucks
Alex Edler - D - Vancouver Canucks
Jannik Hansen - W - Vancouver Canucks
JF Berube - G - New York Islanders
Jonas Brodin - D - Minnesota Wild - Has been dangled for help at center before.
Kyle Clifford - W - Los Angeles Kings
Jordan Nolan - W - Los Angeles Kings
Leo Komarov - W - Toronto Maple Leafs
Valtteri Filppula - W - Tampa Bay Lightning
Dan Girardi - D - New York Rangers - Won't be many takers, but he's available.
Brooks Orpik - D - Washington Capitals
Patrick Marleau - W - San Jose Sharks
Antti Niemi - G - Dallas Stars
Tyler Bozak - C - Toronto Maple Leafs - Babcock is a Bozak fan, but he would be a top deadline asset to move.
Jaro Halak - G - New York Islanders - The Isles have made it abundantly clear that he's available.
Dwight King - W - Los Angeles Kings
Tobias Enstrom - D - Winnipeg Jets
Jeff Skinner - W - Carolina Hurricanes
Kari Lehtonen - G - Dallas Stars - Big contract and term, but if the Stars want to upgrade in net they have to move a goalie out.
Matt Read - W - Philadelphia Flyers
Darcy Kuemper - G - Minnesota Wild - Minny have some depth with Alex Stalock; Kuemper was shopped last year.
Alex Burrows - W - Vancouver Canucks
Alex Edler - D - Vancouver Canucks
Jannik Hansen - W - Vancouver Canucks
JF Berube - G - New York Islanders
Jonas Brodin - D - Minnesota Wild - Has been dangled for help at center before.
Kyle Clifford - W - Los Angeles Kings
Jordan Nolan - W - Los Angeles Kings
Leo Komarov - W - Toronto Maple Leafs
Valtteri Filppula - W - Tampa Bay Lightning
Dan Girardi - D - New York Rangers - Won't be many takers, but he's available.
Brooks Orpik - D - Washington Capitals
Patrick Marleau - W - San Jose Sharks
Alex Burmistrov - W - Winnipeg Jets
Cam Atkinson - W - Columbus Blue Jackets
Nick Foligno - W - Columbus Blue Jackets
Travis Zajac - C - New Jersey DevilsCam Atkinson - W - Columbus Blue Jackets
Nick Foligno - W - Columbus Blue Jackets
