The NHL trade deadline comes at you fast.
In the time I spent writing this column, one of the players I had listed was traded: Calle Jarnkrok of the Seattle Kraken, who was sent to the Calgary Flames in a Wednesday night swap. I made a joke about believing "Jarnkrok" in Swedish is "versatile, middle-six, two-way forward." I share this joke with you now because it's writers code to utilize every part of the column, even if it's stale, and to admit that nothing I had written could match the goofy glory of the Flames' "WELCOME TO CALLE-GARY!" tweet.
In the time you spend reading this column, other players could be checked off the list. Some will be traded. Some will be retained, when their teams realize they won't know what they've got 'til it's gone. These eight players are special. They're different. When you check the receipt on Monday night and see all that was spent on inferior talent and ineffective players, you'll wonder how these guys didn't earn double the bounty.
Here are eight players who are diamonds in the rough at the NHL trade deadline. Not the biggest names, but maybe the most important ones when it comes to players who can actually help push a team closer to hoisting the Stanley Cup.
More: Deadline guides for all 32 teams
Best players at each position
Trade tracker | Teams at a crossroads