NHL Trade Speculation: 4 Best Fits for Carolina Hurricanes' Jay McClement

With a number of flashier trade targets already off the board, steady Carolina Hurricanes defensive center Jay McClement could emerge as a quietly sought-after item as Monday's NHL trade deadline approaches.

McClement, who also turns 32 on Monday, has helped the Carolina penalty kill rise to the top of the league during his first (and likely only) season in Raleigh.

The 742-game veteran ranks 12th in the NHL in short-handed ice time per game and eighth in short-handed faceoff wins among forwards—which has contributed to his No. 12 ranking in overall faceoff winning percentage.

Registering four goals and 12 assists in 60 appearances for the Canes so far this season, McClement has already surpassed the scoring production of his 81-game 2013-14 campaign in Toronto. Eleven of his 16 total points this season have come since the turn of the calendar.

Although never a game-changing playmaker nor a big-minutes star, McClement brings a dynamic combination of experience and reliability that makes him one of the better defensive role players in the NHL.

A free agent this summer, he should be an enticing and inexpensive rental on the market this weekend. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported Wednesday that he's hearing "lots of traction" on the McClement trade front.

The asking price should hover around a second- or third-round draft selection or an above-average existing prospect.

Which teams could be calling Carolina general manager Ron Francis about the price to acquire McClement? Here's a breakdown of four clubs that could be interested.

While the majority of recent Flames rumors circle around Curtis Glencross, including a report from Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 (h/t My NHL Trade Rumors), Calgary remains one point out of a playoff spot at the moment and seems like an ideal fit for a player like McClement.

The Flames rank 20th in the NHL in penalty kill and 25th in team faceoff percentage—two of McClement's strengths. McClement has also been to the playoffs twice in his career, something that only eight other players on the experience-starved Flames roster can boast of.

Calgary scouted Carolina's game at Ottawa last week, and fourth-line grinder Paul Byron was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Although GM Brad Treliving lacks a fourth-round pick in this coming draft, he should be willing to part with the mid-grade prospect or pick needed to add McClement's versatility to the Flames' bottom six.

For all the success the upstart Islanders have had this season, their penalty kill ranks dead last at 74.8 percent entering Saturday's meeting with Carolina.

For perspective, 10 of the last 12 Stanley Cup champions have ranked in the league's upper half in penalty kill, and none have ranked lower than 19th.

It's a major flaw in the Isles' resume—and one that the addition of McClement could address tremendously.

Although the team has rarely been mentioned in rumors this winter, USA Today's Kevin Allen says the lack of talk "doesn't mean anything" and that "it would not be surprising if [GM Garth Snow] moves boldly."

McClement may hardly be a bold acquisition, but he could be the best fit.

Another elite contender with subpar penalty-kill efficiency, the Blues have been seeking to bolster their offensive depth.

St. Louis was one of a number of teams (also including the Flames and Winnipeg Jets, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen) that missed out on Toronto's Daniel Winnik—who, like McClement, is also a veteran center—when he was dealt to Pittsburgh.

Although GM Doug Armstrong did bring back Adam Cracknell (and assign him to the AHL), he's been active in trying to add an additional forward or two according to Friedman (h/t Nichols on Hockey). The Blues are in need of a fourth established faceoff man to join David Backes, Paul Stastsny and Jori Lehtera.

If Armstrong is interested in keeping the "return home" theme alive, McClement did begin his career with the Blues in 2005 and play there until 2011.

Carolina GM Ron Francis and Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff clearly like negotiating with each other.

The Canes have dealt both Jay Harrison and Jiri Tlusty to Manitoba already this season, two of Francis' first three in-season trades in his general manager career.

Why not complete a trifecta of deals?

The Jets' top three players in faceoffs taken all have losing records (including Adam Lowry at 46.4 percent and Mark Scheifele at a woeful 43.4 percent). As a team, the Jets rank in the NHL's lower half in both faceoff percentage and penalty-kill efficiency.

As Winnipeg clings to its four-point playoff-bubble cushion and hopes to stabilize a tumultuous start to 2015, the conservative responsibility and veteran leadership of McClement could have a surprisingly large effect.