Age-Old Question: Keep Veteran NHL Stars or Trade Them Away?

The ideal scenario for an aging NHL star is to go out on top, such as Hall of Famer Raymond Bourque did with the Colorado Avalanche. But not everyone can be like him. Heading to the NHL trade deadline, several notable veterans are still on teams headed nowhere. Keep an eye on these players that may be trade bait as they look to improve their NHL odds of finishing their careers strong.

Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines. We’ve got plenty of NHL picks for you to consider.

Best ‘Old’ Players Stuck on Non-Playoff Teams

1. G Craig Anderson, 41, Buffalo Sabres

The NHL’s oldest active player is stuck sharing netminding duties in Buffalo. The Sabres could make a run for a wild card spot but it’s unlikely. Anderson is actually the team’s best goalie and is 21st in the league in goals saved above average (4.58). It’s unclear if Buffalo will try to move him. But a Stanley Cup contender looking for goaltending depth can improve its online gambling odds by acquiring him.

2. F Eric Staal, 38, Florida Panthers

Once upon a time, Staal was a 100-point scorer and one of the NHL’s best forwards. Now, the league’s fourth-oldest skater is still a productive fourth-liner. Like Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton on the Toronto Maple Leafs a few seasons ago, Staal could carve out a nice role on a better team. His brother, defenseman Marc, is also with him in Florida and is 36.

3. F Claude Giroux, 35, Ottawa Senators

Giroux surprised many when he signed with Ottawa during the offseason. The Senators were supposed to take a step forward and make a run for a playoff spot. But that’s not been the case and Giroux’s prolific efforts (49 points in 53 games) look like it will be for naught. Having just signed him, it’s unlikely Ottawa trades Giroux. But stranger things have happened.

4. D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 35, San Jose Sharks

Vlasic may not have the same accolades as the other players on this list. But the longtime Shark has over 1,200 games of experience and is a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning Team Canada in 2014. Due to his albatross of a contract, an average annual value of $7 million until 2026, he is likely to retire having played for just one NHL team.

5. F Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane 34, Chicago Blackhawks

The biggest fish in the trade market right now is the Blackhawks’ superstar duo of Toews and Kane. Between the two, they have won three Stanley Cups, numerous accolades and have nearly 2,100 combined points.

Kane is still one of the best forwards in the NHL. He’ll make any contender a popular team to bet on online. As for Toews, he has lost a step due to a litany of injuries. But he can still be a solid two-way center on the third line of an elite team.

6. F Sergei Bobrovsky, 34, Florida Panthers

Throughout his career, Bobrovsky has been infuriatingly inconsistent. But when he’s at his best, he’s an elite netminder. After a rough start this season, Bobrovsky is in a bit of a hot run: 5-1-1 in his last seven starts with a 93.5 save percentage. He’s staying put in Florida because his bloated contract makes him difficult to move even if Florida pays for some of it.

7. D Kevin Shattenkirk, 34, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are a team to watch during the NHL trade deadline. This fast-sinking ship has soon-to-be free agents like John Klingberg and Shattenkirk. The latter is a former All-Star and Stanley Cup champion and will be an asset on the blue line to any contender.