The NHL's April 12 trade deadline is fast approaching, and while this year's frenzy may be more diminished than usual, several big-name players could still be on the move.

Cross-border restrictions, quarantine protocols, the flat salary cap, the looming expansion draft, and the overall financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could all dissuade teams from completing a trade they would make during a normal season. However, the current level of parity around the league and a heightened need for playoff revenue amid the aforementioned budget concerns could lead some of the many bubble teams to become buyers when they might typically lean toward selling.

Some other big boards list players based on their likelihood of being traded, but we're basing ours primarily on the NHLers' overall impact. We've excluded some players on contending clubs because their teams seem unlikely to sell, while some injured players, like Vancouver Canucks forward Tanner Pearson, are omitted because their teams expect them to miss action through the deadline and beyond.

Here are the NHL's top 25 potential trade candidates ahead of April 12:

NMC = No-move clause
MNTC = Modified no-trade clause

The top 10

1. Taylor Hall

Last month, Hall was reportedly open to negotiating a contract extension with the Sabres. However, things have deteriorated dramatically in Western New York since then, and one would think the skilled winger is now closer to considering waiving his no-move clause as things get worse for the sinking club.

The pending unrestricted free agent has disappointed this season, but Hall's underlying numbers show his struggles may partly be the result of bad luck and poor team play. A change of scenery - but this time to a contender - could help the 29-year-old start to rediscover the form that helped him win the Hart Trophy in 2018.

2. Mattias Ekholm

Ekholm will surely be in high demand for numerous reasons. The Predators will clearly be in sell mode considering how poorly their campaign's gone and how decimated they've been by injuries to other key players.

The steady defenseman has another year left on his deal after this one. However, that extra season of team control could mean the 30-year-old is more likely to be moved because it would fetch Nashville a greater return than the franchise would get for a rental. The acquiring side would also benefit from his team-friendly cap hit, and given both of those factors, it would be surprising if the Predators didn't trade Ekholm.

3. Rickard Rakell

Rakell is another NHLer with terms extending beyond this campaign, but the talented forward would also be a tantalizing trade candidate like Ekholm if the Ducks opt to move him. Rakell is streaky, but he's a solid two-way player who posts impressive analytic figures - particularly his stellar share of individual scoring chances.

4. Kyle Palmieri

There's been no indication Palmieri won't re-sign with the Devils. However, New Jersey isn't contending in 2021, and the once productive pending UFA winger would be the club's most attractive trade chip if the Devils and Palmieri's camp both decide to shop him.

5. Jonathan Bernier

It's been another forgettable year for the Red Wings, but Bernier is posting shockingly solid numbers. The goaltender's resurgence has been especially remarkable, considering he's a 32-year-old backstopping one of the NHL's worst teams. Bernier could be a reliable backup option for clubs in need.

6. Mikael Granlund

Ekholm will be the most coveted Predators skater ahead of the deadline, but Granlund should have his share of suitors, too. The 29-year-old forward hasn't matched his past production with the Minnesota Wild since they traded him to Nashville in February 2019, but his underlying numbers are favorable - and so is his cap hit.

7. David Savard

The Blue Jackets are still figuring out whether they'll be buyers or sellers, but knowing their long history of parting with pending UFAs, it would come as no surprise if they dealt Savard. The underrated 30-year-old defenseman plays a shutdown role with plenty of size and will surely entice teams looking to bolster their blue lines.

8. Nick Foligno

Foligno's another player Columbus could move. The 33-year-old's in his ninth season with the Blue Jackets and his sixth as captain, but a forward with his experience and versatile skillset would be a solid addition to a contender if Columbus isn't firmly in the playoff picture in April.

9. Brandon Montour

The nosediving Sabres have a slew of pending UFAs, but Montour is the second-most valuable chip the club possesses at the moment. The blue-liner hasn't put up the numbers with Buffalo like he did with the Anaheim Ducks, but he'll turn 27 a day before the deadline and carries a relatively reasonable cap hit.

10. Eric Staal

It's amazing to think the Sabres could part with both of their big offseason acquisitions in the coming weeks, but that just illustrates how much things have devolved in Buffalo. Staal is 36 years old and can't make an impact the way he once could, but the battle-tested center should get a look from contenders, given his vast experience and hockey IQ at his position.

The rest

(Salary source: CapFriendly)

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The NHL's board of governors formally approved the league's requested changes to the draft lottery, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

Key alterations include:

• The number of lottery draws is reduced from three to two, so the last-place team can't draft lower than third overall (starting 2021)
• Clubs can move up a maximum of 10 spots, so only 11 teams can win the No. 1 pick instead of 16 (starting 2022)
• No team can win the draft lottery more than twice over a five-year period (starting 2022)

NHL general managers reportedly requested in October that the league give teams lower in the standings higher odds to win the draft lottery.

Because the third change won't come into effect until 2022, previous lottery victories won't count toward a team's total.

The New York Rangers, who finished 18th in the league standings and participated in the 24-team playoff, ended up winning the 2020 draft lottery and landing No. 1 prospect Alexis Lafreniere. Meanwhile, the last-place Detroit Red Wings, who finished 40 points back of the Rangers, fell all the way to fourth. The first and second alterations will prevent this scenario from reoccurring.

Detroit isn't alone in its misfortune, as the last-place team has landed the top pick just twice since 2011. Three of the last four top selections have been won by a club with the 14th- (2020), third- (2019), and fifth- (2017) best odds.

The Edmonton Oilers drew the ire of opposing fan bases after picking first overall three years in a row (2010-12). They then won the lottery again in 2015 but finished last in the league in only two of those seasons.

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We feature three new rookies in the third edition of theScore's 2021 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, while the runaway favorite for the award remains in the top spot.

5. Oliver Wahlstrom, Islanders

Previous Ranking: Not ranked

Wahlstrom has come on strong with the Islanders lately and rocketed up our rankings as a result. The 11th overall pick in 2018 scored the second-most points among all freshmen since our February installment, with 12 in the last 15 games. He's managed to produce despite logging minimal minutes in a defense-based system under head coach Barry Trotz.

Wahlstrom is also among rookie leaders in several underlying metrics, including points per 60 minutes at five-on-five (1.84), and has even dropped the mitts to further endear himself to Isles faithful.

4. Jason Robertson, Stars

Previous Ranking: Not ranked

Robertson is another rookie that firmly established himself as an NHLer this past month with impressive play. The 21-year-old is tied for third on the Stars in scoring and has collected 11 points - 10 at even strength - since the last edition of the rankings. Dallas' youngster drives offense very well and is developing into a promising piece for the future on a roster built around an aging core.

3. Tim Stutzle, Senators

Previous Ranking: 2

Stutzle remains in the mix as a finalist for rookie of the year despite registering just one goal this past month. The Senators phenom ranks second in scoring among first-year players this season and routinely shows off his dynamic skill set with dazzling passes or strong drives to the net. He's only going to keep getting better as he gains more experience. An uptick in shooting percentage over the rest of the season - he's converted just 5.2% of shots this month - could drastically enhance his raw totals.

2. Kaapo Kahkonen, Wild

Previous Ranking: Not ranked

Kahkonen makes his debut on our list after a dominant month between the pipes for the Wild. The 24-year-old recently had a nine-game win streak snapped, and he posted a .947 save percentage over that span. Kahkonen ranks 10th among all netminders in goals saved above average this season and is the main reason Minnesota is in good shape to qualify for the playoffs in the top-heavy West Division.

1. Kirill Kaprizov, Wild

Previous Ranking: 1

It's going to take something significant to knock Kaprizov off his perch as the Calder Trophy favorite. He still leads his competition in every category by significant margins. The winger has exceeded expectations in his first year in North America and almost single-handedly transformed into must-watch TV. Kaprizov is one of the league's most dynamic skaters, and his vision and hockey IQ in the offensive zone makes him a truly special player.

There may be criticism at season's end about a 23-year-old with multiple years of pro experience winning the Calder Trophy, but one thing is undeniable: the NHL is a better place with talents like Kaprizov in it.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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Ottawa Senators rookie goaltender Filip Gustavsson earned his first NHL win Monday against the Calgary Flames. When teammate Brady Tkachuk went to retrieve the game puck for the netminder to commemorate the milestone, he ran into a bit of trouble with their opponents.

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson seemingly tried to skate off the ice with the puck in hand before Tkachuk and a referee stopped him. When the pair called Andersson out, he tossed the puck onto the ice, and Calgary's agitator Matthew Tkachuk whipped it against the wall.

The Flames heavily outplayed the Senators but were stoned by Gustavsson, who turned aside 35 of the 36 shots that came his way. Calgary is in sixth place in the North Division with a 15-14-3 record, while Ottawa sits in seventh with a 10-20-3 record.

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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton left Monday's game against New York after a collision with Rangers forward Julien Gauthier.

Hutton appeared to injure his leg on the play. He was in visible pain afterward and needed to be helped to the dressing room.

With Linus Ullmark still sidelined due to an ailment, goaltender Dustin Tokarski took over for Hutton. It's Tokarski's first NHL game since Oct. 28, 2016, according to NHL PR.

Interim head coach Don Granato says Ullmark, who's currently on the road with the Sabres, still isn't close to returning to game action.

"Linus has not practiced with us, so a big part of having him on the trip was to get that process started," Granato said Monday, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. "Then we'll have more information as we put him on the ice."

Granato added: "We're going to be taking in information, as is Linus, to work out any projection from that point. Hopefully, sooner than later."

Buffalo has lost 12 straight games since Ullmark was injured in late February.

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Monday night's matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers has been postponed, the NHL announced. The league made the decision after Montreal placed forwards Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list earlier Monday.

This move marks the first postponement of the season for a game in the North Division.

The Canadiens and Oilers are set to play a three-game series this week in Montreal. Whether the other games will be affected remains unclear.

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