NHL exec trade deadline predictions: Players, teams to watch.

The NHL trade deadline is March 8, and thoughts vary across the league about how frantic it will be.

“I think it’s going to be insane,” one NHL agent said.

“I feel like it’s not going to be a great deadline, to be honest,” said an NHL team executive. “It just doesn’t seem like there’s a lot out there.”

“I mean, it’s always busy, you know?” one NHL general manager explained. “Teams are always looking around and there’s always a buildup to it.”

What can hockey fans expect at the deadline? After working the phones and meeting with power brokers at games and practices, here’s an overview of the NHL trade deadline landscape.

The impending unrestricted free agents

Every NHL trade deadline brings a player like Sean Walker.

There’s a player who isn’t familiar to most hockey fans but has become well-known due to the position he plays and the style in which he plays. The right-shot defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers is a dynamic player who can play on either side and has impressed coach John Tortorella with his aggressiveness. Walker makes $2.65 million against the salary limit and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Flyers are in the postseason picture. Perhaps they trade the 29-year-old. Perhaps they don’t. Meanwhile, Walker transitioned from supporting cast to major character by the deadline.

“It has been interesting. “You just keep it in the back of your mind and take everything with a grain of salt,” he told ESPN last Friday. “Everything will work itself out at the end of the day.”

Does he read the rumors? Does he scan the trade boards?

“Not very much. “I have a pretty open line of communication with my agent, and Danny [Briere, Flyers general manager] has also been great,” Walker added. “We talk every now and then, and he always makes it clear that if I have any questions or worries, I may call him. So far, the process has gone really well.”

So he will know if he is traded before we do?

“I would hope so,” he answered, laughing.

Walker is one of a few notable UFAs who may be available before the deadline. Among other skaters:

Walker’s Flyers teammate Nick Seeler, a 30-year-old left defenseman, earns $775,000.

Nashville Predators’ 27-year-old defenceman Alexandre Carrier earns $2.5 million.

Washington Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson earns $1.75 million, center Nic Dowd earns $1.3 million but suffered an injury Tuesday night, and winger Max Pacioretty is deciding whether to stay in Washington or pursue his first Stanley Cup elsewhere. He also has some contract incentive money that might affect a team’s cap in the summer, including $2 million in performance bonuses that he has already earned.

Last summer, the Arizona Coyotes signed defenseman Matt Dumba ($3.9 million) and forward Jason Zucker ($5 million) as veterans. Zucker had expressed a wish to remain with the Coyotes “long term.”

Anaheim Ducks center Adam Henrique, 34, earns $5.825 million against the cap, and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, a tough defenceman, receives $2.75 million.

The Ottawa Senators have two wingers: Vladimir Tarasenko, who makes $5 million against the quota and was dealt to the New York Rangers at the deadline last season, and Dominik Kubalik, a streaky scorer who earns $2.5 million.

The Seattle Kraken’s center Alex Wennberg and winger Jordan Eberle may be considered postseason contenders.

Center Jack Roslovic of the Columbus Blue Jackets has a $4 million cap hit.

In addition, there are three additional notable unrestricted free agents, which we will discuss shortly:Calgary Flames defensemen Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin, together with Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel.

Before the deadline, two UFAs were traded: Flames center Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks and Canadiens center Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets.

Both moves involved a first-round selection being traded, which is fantastic news for Anaheim because Henrique may be the best center on the market with an expiring contract.

What will the Flames do?

The Flames have more control over the speed and tempo of the trade deadline than any other team. Remember what happened with the Lindholm trade? That directly led to the Monahan trade, which occurred a few days later during NHL All-Star Weekend. The Jets were pursuing Lindholm. The Vancouver Canucks acquired him through a trade. The dominoes fell to force Plan B, and the Jets purchased Monahan from Montreal.

Craig Conroy, Calgary’s general manager, is once again staring at the dominoes. NHL officials report clogged gears as they await Calgary’s decision on Hanifin, Tanev, and goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom’s future.

Tanev has long been reported to be on the move near the deadline. The 34-year-old is a traditional “last piece of the puzzle” player, a throwback defenseman who could fit on any contender. He does have a 10-team no-trade list, and his $4.5 million contract is difficult to accommodate under a tight cap; nevertheless, Calgary may keep salary. The Dallas Stars are said to be interested in Tanev, which may make sense.

According to one NHL official we spoke with, Tanev is likely to remain in the West.

Hanifin has been in and out of trade talks as if it were a transactional hokey pokey. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Hanifin is projected to enter the free agent market this summer, placing the 27-year-old defenseman near the top of the trade lists.

The Flames’ senior VP of hockey operations, Dave Nonis, has been actively scouting the Boston Bruins. Hanifin is from Boston and went to Boston College. Hanifin, who earns $4.95 million against the cap, has an eight-team no-trade list.

“I believe he’s a good player, and someone will do well to acquire him,” said one NHL executive.

Markstrom is the biggest X-factor. The New Jersey Devils pursued acquiring the Flames netminder, but the trade has yet to be completed.

“Do you know who is the league’s best goalie this season? “Jacob f—ing Markstrom,” one goaltending analyst remarked. “I would love to know what Calgary was asking the Devils for to have made that trade fall apart.”

His traditional stats are impressive, with a.913 save % and 2.60 goals-against average. However, based on both public and internal team analytics, he has been the league’s one or second best goalie this season.

The difficulty is that Markstrom is 34 years old, has a complete no-movement provision, and is under contract until 2026-27 with a $6 million annual cap hit.

In a trade deadline field dominated by bunts and singles, Markstrom could be one of the few goalies with home run potential.

Here’s the trouble with Calgary: Are we sure they’ll keep unloading?

The Lindholm deal suggests that Conroy understands that maximizing the profit on pending UFAs as the Flames approach their next phase is the appropriate strategy. The specter of Johnny Gaudreau, who left for nothing, still stalks the front offices.

However, as of Tuesday, Stathletes had the Flames the best probability of earning the second wild card in the West (32.2%). They’ve been playing good hockey lately. A few NHL executives questioned whether winning the playoffs was ultimately more essential to ownership than acquiring assets for possible trade partners.

“Making the playoffs is a big deal for that franchise,” said one NHL general manager. “They’re quite competitive right now. “The next nine games will decide a lot.”

The Penguins’ conundrum with Jake Guentzel

The Penguins’ situation with Guentzel is complex, akin to describing Sidney Crosby as halfway successful, which is an understatement.

Guentzel, 29, carries a $6 million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Over the last four seasons, he has the sixth highest points-per-game average among left wings (1.02). Some believe this stems from his time spent playing with Crosby. Others argue that Guentzel’s relationship demonstrates his ability to thrive while playing alongside exceptional players, which is a quality in and of itself.

When you consider his playoff performance, where he has 58 points in 58 games, Guentzel suddenly becomes a sought-after player if he is available at the trade deadline. Consider which teams could benefit from having him on their roster, including goal-starved contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes and all-in teams like the Canucks and Oilers.

Kyle Dubas, general manager, has been listening to pitches for quite some time. According to sources, a Guentzel deal might follow the Claude Giroux deal from two years ago, which involved a young NHL-ready player, a first-round pick, plus more draft picks or a promising NHL prospect.

Then Guentzel became injured. He was placed on long-term injured reserve due to an upper-body injury, and his return date would be after the trade deadline. While he might still be traded, many sources stated they wouldn’t be surprised if other general managers start asking for a trade discount. That might complicate matters.

People have told me that Guentzel’s chances of being traded are 50/50. Others are more confident he’s gone, considering the Penguins’ current standings.

“I think [Dubas] will probably trade him. I believe he must,” one NHL official concluded, considering the Penguins’ situation and Guentzel’s impending UFA status.

Despite their evident chemistry, Crosby has stated that he will not comment on Guentzel’s status. He told The Athletic’s Rob Rossi that “I don’t think that affects how I view things” when it comes to Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh.