3 teams set to become sellers on trade market

The NHL's trade market is stalled.

Why? Because there are really only two teams - Colorado and Arizona - that fall directly into the camp of sellers, even with just over three weeks to go before the March 1 deadline.

Each of the other 28 teams are either in a playoff position or within seven points of one, but a quick look at the standings reveals three teams next in line, as the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning all sit tied for the third-lowest point percentage (.491) and therefore all but out of the race.

Here's what they might have to offer.

Dallas Stars

General manager Jim Nill has a bevy of players set to become unrestricted free agents at season's end and who could be dangled for picks or prospects prior to the deadline.

Highlighted by Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya, the list also includes Jiri Hudler, Patrick Eaves, Lauri Korpikoski, Adam Cracknell, and Ales Hemsky.

Eaves is having the best season of his career and probably made a case for a contract extension, but the rest of the field should fully be in play as the Stars look to retool over the summer.

Hemsky, it should be noted, has missed all but one game this season due to hip surgery, but could return in time to help a team down the stretch.

Including Antti Niemi or Kari Lehtonen in a deal for a more permanent solution in net would be a huge bonus.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Thought to be a Stanley Cup contender heading into the season, the Lightning have sunk to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with Steven Stamkos sidelined with an injury, and that may give GM Steve Yzerman reason to pause when considering what to do with several restricted free agents.

Jonathan Drouin is a lock to get a nice new deal, and Ondrej Palat is viewed as an important two-way winger, but it's possible Tyler Johnson could be moved in order to avoid a negotiation headache and to create some much-needed cap flexibility.

Goaltender Ben Bishop would seem to be at the top of Yzerman's trade chip list, seeing as he's set to hit the UFA market on July and the Lightning have incumbent Andrei Vasilevskiy signed through 2019-20.

Brian Boyle also stands out as a veteran with playoff experience that teams may covet.

Winnipeg Jets

Full of young talent to build around, these Jets just aren't taking off, and it may be time to discard some dead weight.

Pending UFA Drew Stafford is a scoring winger that teams could use come playoff time, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would do well to part ways with Ondrej Pavelec once and for all in the event someone's desperate for goalie depth heading into the postseason.

The re-signing of Jacob Trouba to a team-friendly contract earlier this season may have temporarily rectified the defenseman's trade request, but the market for quality on the blue line could be insane, giving the Jets a chance to cash in on that front.

This team is still a year or two away, and can't afford to remain quiet on the trade front any longer, especially in a buyer's market.