5 under-the-radar NHLers who should be targeted before the trade deadline

There's no shortage of star power in the rumor mill leading up to this NHL trade deadline, but there are also plenty of less-heralded players that could be more affordable than their big-ticket counterparts.

Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen would have been included in this list, but now that the club has traded away Ben Chiarot, Lehkonen is reportedly garnering "high interest" as the club decides whether to move him. Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg qualifies as relatively unheralded, too, but the team reportedly prefers to keep him through the deadline.

Here's a handful of under-the-radar players who contenders should target as we draw closer to Monday's 3 p.m. ET deadline:

Pavel Zacha Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Zacha was once considered a foundational piece of the New Jersey Devils' future, but with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer all proving more than capable of playing center, Zacha has become expendable. The Czechia-born pivot hasn't played since sustaining an injury earlier this week, but there haven't been any indications that it'll keep him out for an extended period of time.

The Devils drafted Zacha sixth overall in 2015, and he hasn't developed at the rate they undoubtedly hoped he would. However, Zacha is still relatively young, turning 25 on April 6. He's also posted favorable underlying numbers this season while playing for a subpar team, boasting expected goals for and scoring chances for percentages over 50%. Zacha's mostly been on the wing rather than at his preferred position down the middle, too.

Zacha likely wouldn't require a hefty return and wouldn't be a financial burden, either. His contract carries a measly $2.25-million cap hit. As a pending restricted free agent who's arbitration-eligible, he's due for a raise, but it likely won't be astronomical considering his pedestrian production. Zacha could make strides on the ice with a change of scenery and the right opportunity to carve out a larger role playing center - where he's more comfortable.

Mackenzie Blackwood Rich Graessle / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While much of the focus has been on Marc-Andre Fleury, Braden Holtby, and Alexandar Georgiev, there are several other netminders that teams with postseason aspirations could consider. Another member of the Devils, Blackwood, is one of them.

Much like Zacha, Blackwood was once thought to be part of New Jersey's core, but times have changed. Nico Daws has suddenly snatched the team's starting job as Blackwood continues to work his way back from a heel injury that's bothered him since October. Blackwood's timetable is unclear, but he should be back before the end of the regular season. He's also signed through 2022-23.

Injury aside, Blackwood has more going for him than some of the other bargain-bin options in the crease. The 25-year-old is much younger than the likes of Jaroslav Halak (37 in May), Thomas Greiss (36), and Martin Jones (32), and he's two years younger than Joonas Korpisalo.

Blackwood posted save percentages of .918 and .915 in his first two NHL seasons, respectively, before declining over the last two campaigns. But goalies take longer to develop than skaters, and Blackwood still has his prime years ahead of him, not to mention a digestible $2.8-million cap hit when he comes off injured reserve.

Filip Zadina Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It would seem a tad premature for the Detroit Red Wings to give up on a 22-year-old who they drafted sixth overall in 2018, but that appears to be a possibility ahead of the deadline. Zadina hasn't produced consistently in his second full season at the NHL level, and if he truly isn't a part of the Red Wings' long-term plans, Zacha's countryman would be a worthwhile target.

Zadina has something else in common with Zacha in that he's also a pending RFA due for a raise from his current cap hit of around $900,000. But his bump in pay likely won't be too cap-constraining, either, despite his upside.

That potential is exactly why other teams should be looking at landing Zadina if the Red Wings are open to trading him. He scored twice during a six-game showcase on Detroit's top line in February and has frequently logged second-line minutes, proving he can contribute when given a solid opportunity. He may not be capable of sticking on another club's top forward unit right now, but he's worth pursuing given his age and affordability.

Dominik Kubalik Richard Whittaker/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kubalik has flown under the radar the past two seasons because he hasn't kept up the torrid goal-scoring pace of his NHL arrival in 2019-20. The Chicago Blackhawks forward isn't going to match the 30 markers he netted that campaign this time around, but he's still a serviceable player.

Kubalik, who was named a Calder Trophy finalist after his standout season, collected 17 goals and 21 assists while playing all 56 games in the last campaign. That works out to 25 markers and 31 helpers over an 82-game span, which would've been comparable to his rookie numbers. His goal and point rates are down in 2021-22, but he's still on a 15-goal pace for a lackluster Blackhawks club.

The 26-year-old is still about three-and-a-half years away from when most players start to decline. Kubalik is a pending RFA with a $3.7-million cap hit. That may be a bit high considering his modest contributions this season, and he's arbitration-eligible as well, but Kubalik has proven in the past that he can produce. He could come close to replicating that rookie output on a better squad.

Brenden Dillon Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / Getty

Dillon has been one of the NHL's most underrated defensemen for quite a while. He's also no stranger to the trade deadline, having been dealt six days beforehand in 2020. The Winnipeg Jets are underachieving this season, and their playoff chances are dwindling by the day.

If the club is looking to retool, it may want to consider cutting Dillon's $3.9-million cap hit through 2023-24. It's not a particularly hefty amount, but, coupled with the term, it's not the most ideal contract for a team that'll certainly look to make offseason changes.

Dillion is the oldest player on this list, but at 31, he should be able to provide true stability on the back end for at least another season and certainly can bolster a contender's blue line for this year's stretch run. Moreover, he could probably be had for a more buyer-friendly price than a similar rearguard in Chiarot, or certainly the biggest fish on the defenseman market, like Jakob Chychrun and Hampus Lindholm.

(Salary source: CapFriendly)

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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