The NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching in just under two weeks on March 2 and a lot of players could be moved as the postseason looms.
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With teams looking to either buy in order to shore up their Stanley Cup Playoff hopes or sell to build for next year and beyond, several moves could happen over the course of the next two weeks.
There have already been some early deals made here in the second half, and more swaps are sure to come in one of the most exciting times during the NHL schedule -- the push to the playoffs.
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Here are three players that may be dealt before the 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline on March 2:
1) Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs have already made some moves this offseason to build for the future and amid rumors that they are planning on gutting the team, Kessel's name has popped up several times.
NHL.com reports that Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis is currently taking calls on Kessel and some other players that could lead to him moving them before the deadline.
Kessel, 27, leads the Maple Leafs this season with 47 points, a team-best 19 of which have come on the power play. Kessel is tied for first on Toronto with 21 goals and leads the team with 26 helpers.
The Maple Leafs have been in free fall this season and now find themselves in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points, which puts them 13 points out of a playoff spot.
2) Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils: The Czech superstar has been linked to trade talks over the past couple of months and it is highly likely that Jagr -- who is under contract just through this season -- will be on the move come March 2.
Jagr, 43, recently said he wasn't sure why the Devils would want to keep him at this point if they could get something back for him by renting him to another team.
"If something comes up, I'll be traded," Jagr said on Monday, via NJ.com. "What's the reason to keep me? I'm not important to this team."
Jagr leads the struggling Devils this season with 29 points and is tied for the team lead with 11 goals as well after leading the team with 67 points a year ago.
The Devils are likely to be sellers at the deadline as they currently sit in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, 13 points out of a postseason position.
3) Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes: With many postseason-bound teams in need of depth down the middle, the Coyotes center has had a lot of rumors circulating around him.
Vermette told TSN last week that he wasn't concerned with the distractions of a possible trade.
"It comes from people around you, and TSN does a good job of keeping me updated," he said. "But I'm not focusing on the rumors. It's just part of the situation. Being from Canada I know how passionate fans are. I get that and I just try and deal with it as best I can."
Vermette is second on Arizona this season with 22 assists and 35 points while ranking third on the team with 13 goals. Vermette also has 13 power play points and boasts a 56.1 face-off percentage.
The Coyotes may part ways with Vermette to build toward the future as the team is in 13th place in the Western Conference with 47 points, 19 points out of playoff position.
A lot can happen off the ice in the NHL between now and March 2 and one thing for certain is that many players will be on the move.
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