The trade deadline is still six weeks away, and although plenty of things still have to play out before teams make important roster decisions, here are three players who could be dealt between now and March 1:

Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues

The season began with the Blues ready to keep Shattenkirk for the whole year -- even if that meant losing him for nothing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Coming off a run to the Western Conference finals, I think St. Louis felt -- just like it did a year ago, with David Backes and Troy Brouwer -- that the contribution of a top pending unrestricted free agent during a playoff run was worth it even if he bolted after the season.

I believe that what has changed since is that the Blues, internally, might not feel they’re among the top four or five elite teams in the league like they were a year ago, as their inconsistent season has shown. Now, I’m not saying they’re definitely going to trade Shattenkirk, because if St. Louis catches fire over the next month it might feel he’s better used as a playoff asset. But I think it’s accurate to say that Blues general manager Doug Armstrong would be ready to listen to offers for Shattenkirk -- and, depending on the quality of offers, perhaps pull the trigger so he gains value back in return for the pending UFA.

Shattenkirk, 27, automatically becomes the No. 1 defenseman on the trade-deadline market, a top-four star who would be a huge addition for any contender. But again, perhaps the Blues will decide to keep him for another playoff run. Only thing that seems clear at this point is that the Blues are more open to listening to offers on him than they were at the outset of the season.

Thomas Vanek, Detroit Red Wings

The buzz began to build over the last week about Vanek, a pending UFA winger, potentially being shipped out if it doesn't get back into the playoff race. Well, that’s certainly possible. But sources suggest that the Red Wings haven’t spoken to a single team about him yet. Before that happens, I believe Wings GM Ken Holland will chat with Vanek and his veteran agent, Steve Bartlett, to see if there’s interest on their end in signing an extension. And why not? Vanek, 32, leads the Red Wings with 12 goals.

Perception is a funny thing. Alexander Radulov is getting a lot of love for his play with the Montreal Canadiens this season, and he deserves it because his work ethic and the fit have all been good. But would you be surprised to learn that Radulov’s 32 points are just two more than the much-maligned Vanek, with Vanek playing 10 fewer games?

My point is that Vanek’s so-called "brand" took a beating for a few years, some of that very much of his own doing, but he looks reborn. He was a great pickup for the Wings last summer, at one year, $2.6 million. The money, as always, is what will decide this situation. If Vanek is willing to re-sign for reasonable numbers and term, the Wings might do it. But if he’s looking for the kind of money he used to make, like the $6.5 million a year he earned with the Minnesota Wild? Well, that’s not happening in Hockeytown.

This one is going to be interesting. The Wings like Vanek, and they need somebody to score goals for them next season, after their new arena opens. But the new contract would have to be right. And if you’re Vanek -- you've bounced around a few years, your family seems happy in Detroit -- why not try to make it happen?

Patrick Sharp, Dallas Stars

The next 10-12 games will be huge for the Stars and will dictate what GM Jim Nill does ahead of the trade deadline. If Dallas doesn't start winning to get more seriously into the playoff race, Nill will have no choice but to become a seller. He has seven pending UFAs on his roster and the 35-year-old Sharp would certainly top the list of potential rental players if Dallas does indeed wave the white flag.

Sharp has a limited no-trade clause (with 10 teams on his list), so he will have some say in what happens. A proven winner, he’d be a nice addition to a Cup contender looking for second-line offense and power-play help. It’s a moot point, however, if the Stars get on a roll. If that happens, I think Nill would keep his group intact and give it a chance to go for it again.