Six free agents, including a 40-goal scorer, facing tight deadline to find a new NHL home

The NHL trade deadline officially arrives this Friday. Every general manager in the league is working the phones to finalize their rosters for a grueling postseason run.

That looming deadline puts massive pressure on six specific veterans who are currently sitting without contracts.

If they fail to sign a new deal before tomorrow's cutoff, they lose their eligibility to participate in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs entirely.

Skinner easily remains the most intriguing piece available on the open market. His history of finding the back of the net makes him a tempting target for contending teams.

You simply cannot teach his natural scoring instincts. He could easily slide onto a second or third line to provide a spark on the power play.

The real obstacle is finding a contender with enough cap space and a willingness to integrate a one-dimensional winger this late in the calendar.

The situation looks slightly different for the blue liners on the list. Teams always covet defensive depth when preparing for a long playoff grind.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic and TJ Brodie bring a combined wealth of postseason experience. They are no longer top-pairing options, but they offer reliable third-pairing insurance.

A general manager dealing with recent injuries might take a flyer on either veteran to solidify their back end for the final stretch.

Speedster Andreas Athanasiou is also waiting for his phone to ring. He brings undeniable pace, but his overall offensive output simply has not been consistent enough to secure a full-time role.

That leaves grinders like Brock McGinn and Jon Merrill sitting in a highly precarious spot as the hours tick away.

Both players built their careers on physical play, blocked shots, and solid penalty kill execution.

Unfortunately, playoff rosters are already overflowing with those exact player profiles. Securing a depth spot right now is a massive uphill battle.

The clock is ticking loudly for these six players. We will find out by tomorrow afternoon who gets one last shot at hoisting the Cup.