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3 players likely to be traded following the Patrick Sharp deal

John E. Sokolowski / USA TODAY Sports

After much speculation preceding the NHL draft and free-agent frenzy, the Chicago Blackhawks finally dealt forward Patrick Sharp Friday.

The club shipped the veteran to the Dallas Stars in a four-player deal, and with rumors that a number of teams had interest in the winger, this trade could get the ball rolling on other blockbusters.

If Sharp was the first domino in a line of more offseason activity, these three players could be the next ones to fall.

Keith Yandle

For the New York Rangers, defenseman Keith Yandle is a steal at $2.625 million. However, the reason they're paying the 28-year-old so little is because the Arizona Coyotes picked up the other half of his salary when he was traded prior to the trade deadline this season.

Yandle will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season, and with the likes of Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, and Dan Girardi - all likely ahead of Yandle on the Rangers' depth chart - making between $4.7 and $5.7 million, it doesn't make sense to sign him for what would be in the ballpark of $6 million or more a year from now.

Also putting the Rangers in a pickle is restricted free agent Derek Stepan. The 25-year-old filed for salary arbitration against the team this past week, and after the Buffalo Sabres signed forward Ryan O'Reilly to a 7-year, $52.5-million deal, the New York Post's Larry Brooks suggested Stepan could garner around $7 million per season.

The Rangers have just over $10 million in cap space, and with roughly $7 million likely allocated to Stepan, and at least part of the rest to restricted free agents Emerson Etem, Jesper Fast, and J.T. Miller, the team will need to shed some salary. Dealing Yandle could be their best bet, allowing them to collect on his services before he walks out the door to free agency next season.

Bryan Bickell

The Blackhawks dealing Sharp did free up some salary for the team, but the fact is they still remain tight against the cap.

The team has less than $1 million in cap space, and with forward Marcus Kruger still unsigned and eyeing a long-term deal, money will have to be freed up somehow.

Bickell's name was on the cutting block early after the season ended, with analysts speculating that the move of him and Sharp would free up space to sign then-RFA Brandon Saad. Things took a different turn, but the team still needs to dump salary, and Bickell is their most sensible trade chip.

His $4-million contract would relieve the team of some financial burdens. And for interested clubs, the bulky forward can play a solid two-way game.

Despite a forgettable 14 goals and 28 points in 80 games this season, he has proven to be a valuable playoff performer, and could be a solid piece to a contending team in the right role.

Tyler Bozak

The Toronto Maple Leafs are tearing down the walls, and though the team has dealt star forward Phil Kessel, they're likely not done yet.

Tyler Bozak has for a long time been scrutinized for not being a true No.1 center in the league despite filling the Maple Leafs' void at that position. However, criticism aside, Bozak can be valuable in the right role.

He holds a cap hit of $4.2 million over the next three seasons, and, for a center that can provide roughly 20 goals and 50 points per season, as well as play in all situations, that's not a terrible price.

The Maple Leafs currently have nine players under contract who can potentially play the center position, so ridding a center or two is likely on the horizon.

Also, with the new one-year, $4.1-million contract given to Nazem Kadri, the team looks poised to finally give Kadri the chance to prove himself as their No.1 center.

It's no secret that Bozak has been on the trading block. Reports near draft time suggested the Maple Leafs were looking for a second-round pick for the 29-year-old, while another report suggested the Arizona Coyotes had interest in his services.

Bozak holds a modified no-trade clause, meaning he must submit a list of 12 teams he can be traded to, which gives the Maple Leafs decent leverage to make a deal. However, as with Kessel - whose modified no-trade clause said he had to provide a list of eight teams - just because a team isn't on the list, doesn't mean Bozak would necessarily turn down a trade.

The Maple Leafs center would best be used in a second-line role, which, for a center capable of hitting the 20-goal, 50-point mark, could be beneficial for both parties. The only risk is that Bozak's time playing with a much more talented winger in Kessel for years may have inflated his numbers.

- All salary numbers courtesy: General Fanager

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