7. Mattias Ekholm
Left Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 32
Stats: 35 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $6.25 million AAV
Scoop: Yes, it was just over a year ago that Ekholm signed a 4-year deal worth $25 million with the Predators, mainly to avoid a situation exactly like this one – where he is on the market. But Predators GM David Poile has some uncomfortable decisions to make as Nashville has regressed to a likely non-playoff team saddled with expensive, term-laden contracts. We’re told Poile is ready to consider moving Ekholm, and will have a few other cards are on the table. Could Ryan McDonagh also be available? McDonagh was convinced to waive his ‘no-trade’ clause to leave Tampa Bay, and that might be a tall ask this time around. And Ekholm doesn’t have any ‘no-trade’ protection in his deal. Buckle up on Lower Broadway.

20. Jake McCabe
Left Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 29
Stats: 33 GP, 1 G, 8 A, 9 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $4 million AAV
Scoop: The Oilers were one of the teams recently linked to McCabe, who is a solid defender with term on his contract. However, McCabe has a seven-team ‘no-trade’ list and given that it’s an odd number, it’s fair to speculate as to how many Canadian teams would be included on that list. The Blackhawks aren’t in any rush to move McCabe, a character player they see value in to help steady the ship over the course of their rebuild. There’s no mistaking they’re willing to consider anything that comes their way, though.

It’s a tough break for DeBrusk, as he was in the midst of a career year with the Bruins with 16 goals, 14 assists, and 30 points in 36 games. He was on pace to easily surpass his career highs of 27 goals and 43 points, all coming after the past couple years whe he had requested a trade out of Boston before eventually rescinding it.

Drafted in the first round in 2015, DeBrusk was one of the infamous three straight picks for the Bruins in that draft, and the only of the three to establish an NHL career up to this point. DeBrusk is currently in the sixth season of his career with the Bruins.

DeBrusk is in the first season of a two year deal with a $4 million cap hit, one he signed just before the trade deadline last season to make himself a more attractive asset before he eventually rescinded his trade request. He will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires at the end of the two year deal.

The Bruins head out West with points in their last 11 games and a league-leading 29-4-4 record.

Pacioretty was acquired in an off-season trade from the Vegas Golden Knights that saw the Hurricanes acquire the 34-year-old winger and defenseman Dylan Coghlan in exchange for future considerations. The move was purely a salary cap dump. Pacioretty underwent off-season surgery to repair a torn Achilles. The surgery occurred on Aug. 10 and he was sidelined for five months in what is normally a six-month recovery timeline. He looks to make his Hurricanes debut and in Wednesday’s practice, he was situated on a line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Derek Stepan.

Last season with the Golden Knights he registered 37 points (19G, 18A) in 39 games, along with 12 power play points and a plus-8 rating. He has surpassed the 30-goal marker six times throughout his 850-game career so far. Pacioretty is currently in the last season of a four-year $28 million contract he signed with the Golden Knights in 2018.