Due to a shortage of available centres prior to the trade deadline, Derick Brassard of the Ottawa Senators and Tomas Plekanec of the Montreal Canadiens are being targeted by some teams, reports to Sportsnet’s Headlines panel.

Brassard, 30, is under contract through the 2018-19 season and has a modified no-trade clause, according to CapFriendly.com. Entering Saturday, he had 13 goals and 29 points in 51 games this season and could present the Senators with quite the decision.

“I think they are little concerned about what they would look like at centre if Brassard was gone, but I think they’ve got some real action on him,” said Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman during the Hockey Night in Canada segment.

Plekanec also has some action on him, particularly from the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, notes Nick Kypreos.

Sharks centre Joe Thornton is sidelined following right knee surgery and there’s no timetable for his return.

“Plekanec is the type of guy who can at least keep them in the race,” Kypreos said. The 35-year-old forward entered Saturday with five goals and 20 points in 54 games this season and is set to become a free agent this off-season.

Friedman says it’s possible the Canadiens could try to re-sign Plekanec instead of trading him.