5 players who could move into trade spotlight following Duchene deal

Scratch Matt Duchene off the list.

Following the deal that made the former Colorado Avalanche center a member of the Ottawa Senators, the NHL trade market will see five other star players move to the front burner.

John Tavares

The New York Islanders captain is just months away from free agency, and he'll need a long-term extension to remain on the Island.

Interestingly enough, reports have indicated Tavares has yet to crunch numbers with the club, and it's believed the biggest holdup could be the franchise's future home. The Islanders play out of the cramped Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but showing Tavares the blueprints for a new barn at Belmont Park should go a long way to securing his future in New York.

Arena aside, Tavares won't come cheap. Playing alongside Anders Lee and Josh Bailey, the center is firing on all cylinders early on, with 12 goals in 14 contests. Only Nikita Kucherov has potted more.

It's now crunch time for the Islanders, who must get their captain's name on a new contract. If that can't come to fruition, it's critical that Tavares is recouped for assets rather than squandered in free agency.

Evander Kane

The Buffalo Sabres have appeared noncommittal regarding their future plans for Kane. They could be willing to move him, but haven't closed the door on re-signing the winger either.

Like Tavares, Kane is a pending unrestricted free agent, so a decision on his future will need to be made in the coming months. With 13 points in 14 games, he is producing at a career-best clip, and it may be wise for the Sabres to strike while Kane is hot and move him to shore up the rest of the roster, particularly the blue line.

Rick Nash

No longer the goal-scoring machine he once was, the New York Rangers winger could still be an intriguing acquisition, particularly for a contender looking to add some offense from the wall.

Nash, 33, carries a heavy $7.8-million cap hit, so it's likely the Rangers would need to retain part of that money to facilitate a deal for the veteran. Freeing up that salary would also allow New York to retain other pending free agents, including J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes. Barring a significant hometown discount, the likeliest outcome is that the Rangers move Nash for younger assets rather than continuing his tenure on Broadway.

James Neal

The Vegas Golden Knights made no bones about building for the future when selecting their expansion squad, as the team stockpiled draft picks in the process.

As it stands, Vegas enters the 2018 draft with seven selections, but could add another high draft choice by moving its top scorer in Neal. The veteran winger brings a scoring touch and significant playoff experience, an added bonus for a contender making a Stanley Cup run. While he's been the Golden Knights' most productive player, cashing in on Neal helps Vegas maintain its focus on the road ahead.

James van Riemsdyk

The Toronto Maple Leafs winger's name has circulated the rumor mill for more than a year, and for good reason. Quite simply, dealing Van Riemsdyk could allow the Maple Leafs to upgrade to their back end without sacrificing a younger talent - namely William Nylander or Mitch Marner.

Van Riemsdyk, 28, is on the final year of his $4.25-million contract. Dealing the winger for a defenseman also playing out the last season of his deal would be the most fitting scenario.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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