Change can be a scary thing, but sometimes a little shake-up can go a long way.
Whether they're toiling away on an underperforming team, underperforming on a solid team, or fading into the background on their current squad, here are five NHL players who could greatly benefit from a change of scenery as the March 21 trade deadline approaches.
Marc-Andre Fleury, Blackhawks
Just nine months removed from taking home the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his illustrious career, Fleury finds himself on a non-playoff team in the Chicago Blackhawks. If he stays put, the 2021-22 season would mark the first time he failed to reach the playoffs in 15 seasons.
The 37-year-old has put up admirable numbers on a team that's leaky defensively - the Blackhawks control less than 50% of the shot attempts and expected goals at five-on-five - but finds himself in the midst of an up-and-down campaign.
If the season were to end today, his .909 save percentage would be his third sub-.910 mark in his last six campaigns. Fleury's also dangerously close to eclipsing a goals against average of over three for just the fourth time in his career. On the advanced stats side of things, he owns a 0.68 goals saved above average rate and a minus-7 goals saved above expected rate at five-on-five.
Fleury is playing out the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract and has stayed relatively mum about his future plans. The three-time Stanley Cup winner said in February that he "would love a chance to win" if he were moved at the deadline but added that he'd be open to re-signing in Chicago.
Luckily for Fleury, if he is indeed moved, plenty of contending teams need a boost in the crease, and he'd instantly become the top netminder available. Either way, the ball is mostly in Fleury's court, thanks in part to the 10-team no-trade clause included in his contract.
Max Comtois, Ducks
Comtois had a season to remember in 2020-21. He led all Anaheim Ducks skaters with 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games. Though that may not seem like eye-popping totals, he produced at a 0.60 point-per-game clip while tripling his output from the previous season.
All in all, the forward seemed primed to build on his breakthrough season and was rewarded for his efforts with a two-year, $4.08-million deal in the offseason, but he hasn't been able to keep the momentum going this campaign.
Comtois has been mired by not one, but two separate 11-game pointless droughts this season. He hasn't been in the lineup on a consistent basis when the Ducks are fully healthy and has logged just three goals and seven assists in 37 games. Comtois' campaign has also been hampered by health issues - he missed almost six weeks after undergoing hand surgery in November and followed that up with a stint in COVID-19 protocol.
If the Ducks' youth movement is proceeding without him and he's fallen out of favor in Anaheim, then it might be best for both parties if he moved on.
Besides, Comtois has one year left on a decent contract - not to mention that he's been handcuffed by a career-worst shooting percentage of 5.4% - so he could be a low-risk, high-reward option for teams in the market for a winger.
Jake DeBrusk, Bruins
Is this one obvious? Yes. Is it still valid? You bet - it'd be an oversight to leave him out.
It's been a well-documented fact since November that DeBrusk wants out of the Boston Bruins. He reiterated his desire for a change when his camp reportedly informed teams of his willingness to work on an extension to facilitate a deal in early March.
Inconsistency has been the bane of DeBrusk's time as a Bruin. It was at the heart of head coach Bruce Cassidy's decision to make him a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season, after which DeBrusk immediately submitted a trade request. After averaging just over 20 goals in his first three seasons in the NHL, DeBrusk took a nosedive in 2020-21 and logged just five goals and nine assists in 41 showings.
He looked doomed to put up only slightly better (but still iffy) numbers this campaign after recording nine goals and eight assists in the first 45 games of the season, but a promotion to the top line in late February helped boost his production. He's registered six goals and two assists in his last 10 games alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand while showcasing his potential to any suitors. His recent performances might help interested buyers forget that he's gone through four separate goalless droughts of six or more games so far this season.
DeBrusk has had the biggest impact out of the Bruins' trio of underwhelming 2015 first-round draft picks, but his career hasn't quite panned out as planned. Maybe a divorce from Boston is just what he needs. At the very least, he's extremely likely to get one.
Max Domi, Blue Jackets
Domi may not be the flashiest forward available at the deadline, but physical players capable of producing offense are always in demand on the market.
His play throughout his NHL career has been streaky - and that's been no different this season. Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen even described Domi's game as "inconsistent" earlier this month, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Domi cooled off considerably after rattling off nine points in his first eight games of the campaign, but he's begun to heat up again in March.
The 27-year-old is no stranger to starting fresh on a new team, having previously played for the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens in his seven-year career. The 2013 No. 12 pick hasn't quite found the stability that may have been expected of him, but there have been some mitigating factors. He's been bit by the injury bug in Columbus, and none of the squads he's played for have been particularly noteworthy - his two campaigns with the Habs were the only times he's played on a team that finished the regular season with a points percentage over .500.
Domi also has a penchant for making a good first impression. Two of his best statistical seasons came during his first seasons with both the Coyotes and Canadiens.
He's set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and doesn't appear to be in the Blue Jackets' future plans. His deal carries a $5.3-million cap hit, and he likely isn't lined up for a significant raise, so Domi could be a motivated, serviceable rental who provides a spark for contending teams down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Alexandar Georgiev, Rangers
Any backup goaltender is going to have a bad time in the Big Apple thanks to Igor Shesterkin, who's making a major push for both the Vezina and Hart Trophies this season.
Unfortunately for Georgiev, he's currently the one living in the phenom's shadow on the New York Rangers. He even hinted at wanting more playing time earlier in March.
"I think there's only one way to be in the game rhythm - is to play. We've been doing some drills with (director of goaltending Benoit Allaire) and working hard in practice," he said after allowing five goals against the Minnesota Wild on March 8, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker. "I don't know what else we could do and that's maybe for us to think about."
The pending restricted free agent has shown flashes of potential. He performed remarkably with a .931 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average over six games when Shesterkin missed time with a lower-body injury in December. However, he's since been in a major free fall during his last seven contests. He's authored a .845 save percentage in that span and, prior to Tuesday's victory against the Ducks, hadn't won a game since Jan. 8.
Georgiev has the ability to be an upgrade in net for teams in the market for a goaltender. Any acquiring squad would be banking on the hope that the 26-year-old will see an uptick in his performance if given more responsibility.
Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick
