NHL Rumors: It'll Be Costly To Add Second-Pairing Defenceman This Season

Mid-season additions are becoming costly for teams. The playoff race and the race for the Stanley Cup is as competitive as ever with teams trying to gain the upper hand on their opponents and fill any gaps before playoff time.

Last season we saw a number of players traded for solid returns including Ben Chiarot. He was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Florida Panthers for a first-round pick, fourth-round pick, and a prospect. Chiarot is a second-pairing defenceman and Jeff Marek thinks it will once again cost a first-round pick to acquire a defender of that calibre.

There are at least five teams right now searching for defencemen for various reasons such as injuries and underperforming. These teams include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. Injuries will surely add more to that list of teams, and if certain teams are serious about making a run for the Cup this season, they will pay the price that appears to be set.

There won't be too many second-pairing defencemen available, so that will also drive the price up. And if prices for second-pairing defencemen are expected to be that high, what will it take to acquire an even better rental player? I'm not so sure teams will be willing to pay much more unless there is a dire need for help.

We could hear names like John Klingberg, Matt Dumba, Shayne Gostisbehere, Damon Severson, Kevin Shattenkirk, Carson Soucy, and Artem Zub all in the conversation near the trade deadline.