The End to End Hockey’s trade bait list is back as with only a couple of day until draft day and being a week away from free agency there is a lot of talks right now, so I give my top 40 players as to who I think could be dealt right now in the NHL and I think some names may wind up surprising you.
So the trade talks are heavily picking up around the NHL and we have even had a few trades to this point, but we’re are only a couple days away from the draft and a week away from free agency and a lot of teams are trying to make significant moves to improve their teams this offseason and teams like Philly, Calgary and Winnipeg have a lot of players who could be moved in the not too distant future while teams like LA, St.Louis and Buffalo could be looking make significant additions to their team, so I will up date this board before the draft but just thought I would bring back the Bait board and give my list of 40 players I could see moving in the not too distant future.
Notes: this list was made as of the morning of Saturday the 24th.
The End to end hockey’s top 40 offseason trade bait list.
1.) Elias Lindholm
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4.85 Million
Stats: 22-42-64 in 80 games played
Position: C
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Columbus, Colorado, Boston
Quick Analysis: now to start off my list I have Elias Lindholm. Now Lindholm is a part of about 5 or 6 significant players in Calgary who are entering the final year of their contracts and after the new GM Craig Conroy was appointed, he said he didn’t want another Gaudreau situation where they let a star player enter the final year of his contract without a extension and risk letting him walk for nothing in free agency, so it seriously sounds like multiple players on Calgary will either sign a extension in Calgary or be dealt. Now it sounds like Lindholm for the moment is undecided as it sounds like Calgary offered him a contract and he is currently considering his options, but if he doesn’t re-sign then he could easily be one of the top players on the market, as he is a solid top line Center and even if he was just a rental, he would vastly improve a teams middle of the ice and the Flames in my eyes could get 3 to 4 solid pieces in a trade package for Lindholm, so while it isn’t a guarantee that Lindholm is dealt at this point in time, I have him at number 1 as I think if he is indeed traded, he will probably be the top player on the trade market.
2.) Marc Scheifele
Contract Status: 1 more year at $6.13 Million
Stats: 42-26-68 in 81 games played
Position: C
Age: 30
Potential landing spots: Colorado, Boston, Carolina
Quick Analysis: now next on my list is another top line Center from a Canadian team who is entering the final year of his deal and may not sign a contract extension and that is Marc Scheifele. Now Scheifele is coming off one of his best goal scoring seasons after he was able to put up 40 goals last year, but after the season came to an end it sounded like none of the core guys who were entering the final year of their deal, including Scheifele were willing to sign any sort of extension in Winnipeg and with the Jets most likely not wanting to let Scheifele walk for nothing next offseason, there are strong indications that the Jets will move him plus some of the other players too. Now Scheifele isn’t on too bad of a contract and coming off of a very productive season, his value would be pretty high right now and I think the Jets could get 3 pieces in a trade for Scheifele, so as much as Scheifele has been a longtime member of the Jets and is their number one Center, it is almost a guarantee he is in another jersey next year.
3.) Connor Hellebuyck
Contract status: 1 more year at $6.17 Million
Stats: 2.49 GAA and a .920 SV% in 64 games played
Position: G
Age: 30
Potential landing spots: Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
Quick Analysis: another Jet who is extremely high on my board is a star level goalie who said that there is no chance that he signs in Winnipeg and that is Connor Hellebuyck. Now Hellebuyck is coming off a stellar season where he basically carried the Jets to the playoffs and put up good enough numbers to be nominated for the Vezina, but has said that he isn’t looking to sign a extension with the Jets, and given how good of a player he is, the Jets can’t risk him walking for nothing next offseason as they would miss out on a big chance to gain some assets, so it is almost a guarantee that Hellebuyck is moved at some point, and Hellebuyck is a legit starting goalie who I don’t think has had a SV% under .900 in his career in the regular season so he is a beast in Net and I could see the Jets get quite a Haul in return for him, but definitely keep and eye out as in a offseason where so many good goalies could be moved, Hellebuyck is by far the biggest and best of them who will be dealt.
4.) Noah Hanafin
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4.95 Million
Stats: 7-31-38 in 81 games played
Position: LD
Age: 26
Potential landing spots: Buffalo, Seattle, St.Louis
Quick Analysis: now with Hanafin in Calgary, he is another one of the players that falls into the category of players who are in the final year of their deal and will either have to re-sign or be dealt by Calgary, sort of like Lindholm. Now Hanafin who was acquired a number of years ago with Lindholm from Carolina is entering the final year of his contract at a reasonable cap hit, but unlike Lindholm, all indications say that Hanafin is not willing to sign with the Flames at this point and that makes him a extremely likely trade candidate for this offseason, because as I said the Flames don’t want another Gaudreau situation on their hands and most likely any player who isn’t signed will be dealt, so the Flames should be able to get a pretty good 2-3 piece return for Hanafin who is a solid top pairing defensemen, but it seems almost a given that with Hanafin not willing to sign in Calgary, he will be a guarantee to be dealt this offseason.
5.) Alex DeBrincat
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 27-39-66 in 82 games played
Position: LW,RW
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: Dallas, Detroit, Nashville
Quick Analysis: now another superstar who’s days are numbered where he is currently has to be DeBrincat, as after a solid first year in Ottawa, it sounds like he is not willing to sign long term and with Ottawa not interest in signing him to a short term extension, it seems the two sides will part ways. Now DeBrincat was acquired from Chicago last offseason for 3 draft picks including last year’s 7th overall pick, and he played mostly in the Senators top 6 last year and was supposed to help the Senators offense and although it took him some time and he did have a down year, he did do quite well, but with DeBrincat now not wanting to sign long term in Ottawa, the Sens had made it known that DeBrincat would be available, and they have until the arbitration hearing in late July to complete a deal, and I think they would not want a futures based package and would be looking for talent to help them now, but it sounds like a sure thing that DeBrincat will be dealt by Ottawa, and it is only a matter of where he goes and what Ottawa gets in return.
6.) Pierre Luc Dubois
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 27-36-63 in 73 games played
Position: C
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Montreal, Los Angeles, Minnesota
Quick Analysis: next on the list is another Jets Center who has been in trade talks over the past few seasons and is probably the player who is most likely to get trade this year in the NHL. Now Dubois was acquired by Winnipeg a couple years ago from Columbus and in the two full season with Winnipeg, Dubois has played quite well as we hit 60 points in each of the two seasons which includes a career high 63 points this year, but after signing a one year deal last year with the Jets to remain there, he said he wouldn’t even do that this year and would look for a trade out of Winnipeg, and almost everyone knows that he want to go to Montreal long term and there is a lot of talk surrounding him going to Montreal where he wants to go, but the Jets could move him to another place where he signs a short term deal and then goes to Montreal via free agency next year, but Dubois time in Winnipeg is for sure coming to a end and it is just a matter of where he ends up and what package the Jets could get for him.
7.) Erik Karlsson
Contract Status: 4 more years at $11.5 Million
Stats: 25-76-101 in 82 games played
Position: RD
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Florida, Edmonton, St.Louis
Quick Analysis: now the second highest defensemen on my board is one that we have heard a lot of trade rumours about over the past few months, and that is Sharks D-Men Erik Karlsson. Now Karlsson is coming off one of the best seasons we have seen by a defender in quite some time as he hit the century mark in points this year with 101 and is the favourite to win the Norris this season, but the Sharks are going down the path of a rebuild and would love to move Karlssons and his high $11.5 Million dollar cap hit which is the most likely reason a trade this offseason is difficult, but he is a Norris caliber player if he can stay healthy and if the Sharks retain salary on Karlsson then I would guess a trade would be a lot easier and I could see the Sharks get 4 pieces for him, so it would be a extremely difficult trade to do given his contract, but if a team looking for a top 4 defensemen can have San Jose eat some of the money and make a trade work, then I have a strong feeling there is a very good chance that Karlsson is dealt this offseason.
8.) John Gibson
Contract status: 4 more years at $6.4 Million
Stats: 3.99 GAA and a .899 SV% in 53 games played
Position: G
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh , Buffalo, Detroit
Quick Analysis: now the second goalie on my trade board is another solid starter in the NHL and while I would say Gibson isn’t as elite as Hellebuyck is, he is still a pretty good starting goalie and would definitely help a team looking for a starter. Now there have been plenty of rumours surrounding a Gibson trade in the last couple of years as although Gibson is a great starter who has kept Anaheim in their fair share of games they shouldn’t have been in over the years, the Ducks are a rebuilding team and Gibson sounds like he wants to compete for a Cup instead of playing with the Ducks through a rebuild, so I would say it is very likely the Ducks move him and get a solid return and even though his $6.4 Million dollar cap hit isn’t great and he does have some bad injury history, I think the upgrade he could have on a teams net would be substantial, and I would think lots of teams would have interest.
9.) J.T Miller
Contract Status: 7 more years at $8 Million
Stats: 32-50-82 in 81 games played
Position: FOR
Age: 30
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh, Carolina, Winnipeg
Quick Analysis: now as we draw nearer and nearer to July 1st, a J.T Miller trade continues to get less and less likely, but in my eyes he is another player at this point in time I could see get dealt. Now Miller is not a bad player by any means and actually was over a point per game for the second consecutive season this year as he hit 82 points in 81 games and is a solid top 6 winger/Center. However he didn’t start to well for the Canucks this year, was a off ice distraction and I think the Canucks regret signing him to a long term 7 year deal with a $8 Million dollar AAV, as he is going to be in his late thirties when the contract ends and if his production goes down by then, I think at that point they would’ve regretted signing him to that deal and they still would like to get some cap space, so the Canucks have just over a week to make a trade to deal Miller elsewhere before his NMC kicks in on July 1st and while I do think they will explore trading him and I wouldn’t be surprised if teams had interest, I would say at this point in time it is far from a guarantee he gets moved and I do think at the end of the day he could still stay with Vancouver.
10.) Brett Pesce
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4.03 Million
Stats: 5-25-30 in 82 games played
Position: RD
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Buffalo, Vancouver
Quick Analysis: now this is a player in Pesce who the team doesn’t really want to trade and they would love to keep him around but that really does depend on the contract negotiations. Now Pesce is one of a few players in Carolina who is entering the final year of his deal and the Hurricanes want to work out a extension with Pesce to keep him beyond next year, and although it does seem like there is mutual interest to sign a extension, the Canes like to draw a line as to how high they will go on a extension to keep someone around, and some reports think that Pesce might be asking for money on a extension the Canes aren’t willing to give, so there is a lot of talk that if the Canes and Pesce are unable to come to a extension, then the Canes will move Pesce and if he is available, I would expect a lot of teams to have interest as Pesce is a solid defensive defensemen and would work great in a teams top 4, while the Canes would most likely want a young defender back in return who can replace Pesce in the lineup, so while I don’t think the Canes want to move Pesce, they may have to if the two sides can’t agree on a extension.
11.) Carter Hart
Contract status: 1 more year at $3.98 Million
Stats: 2.94 GAA and a .907 SV% in 55 games played
Position: G
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Los Angeles, Ottawa, Buffalo
Quick Analysis: now we have our first Flyers on the board here and there are a couple of Flyers who could be moved in the coming day’s, but I think the biggest possible trade chip for Philly would be their young starting goalie Carter Hart. Now Hart is a solid young goalie who at one point a couple of years ago was sort of being questioned if he would eventually be a starting goalie at the NHL level and I think to this point here he has shown he can, but he is going to need a contract extension next year as he will be a RFA and there are those who think he won’t want to sign a long term extension in Philly because they are going through a rebuild and he would want to be on a contender and with his value right now being solid and the amount of teams looking for a starting goalie, the Flyers could easily get quite a haul in a Hart trade, and we have even heard that they could be exploring the trade market on Hart, so at least in my opinion, I think we will definitely see a Hart at some point this offseason.
12.) Scott Laughton
Contract Status: 3 more years at $3 Million
Stats: 18-25-43 in 78 games played
Position: LW,C
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Ottawa, New York R, Nashville
Quick Analysis: next up we have yet another Flyer and this is a player who is well liked in the Philadelphia locker room and is a good veteran to keep around during a rebuild, but with the amount of significant interest that has surrounded him over the past few weeks, the Flyers may be forced if the right package came to move on from Laughton. Now a couple of years ago in the shortened season when Laughton was in the final year of his deal there were speculation that he could be traded, and he wound up signing a 5 years extension with the Flyers and that is the current contract he is on right now. So Laughton is a good player and liked around the locker room but there have been tons of reports that Laughton is drawing significant interest from other teams and that he could be a guy dealt in the not too distant future if the Flyers get a trade they like and Laughton is a solid middle six forward who can play Center or wing and is only making $3 Million dollars so I could see why teams would have interest and I do think he could be dealt in the next couple of weeks.
13.) Blake Wheeler
Contract Status: 1 more year at $8.25 Million
Stats: 16-39-55 in 72 games played
Position: RW, C
Age: 36
Potential landing spots: New Jersey, Detroit, New York R
Quick Analysis: next is the 4th core member of the Jets who will most likely not be back next year and that is Blake Wheeler. Now there were a ton of talks last offseason that the Jets were going to move on from Wheeler as they stripped him of his captaincy and were reportedly working with him to find a trade to get him somewhere else, but they wound up not finding a deal and he went and played last season with the Jets and helped them make the playoffs, but it was obvious he still wanted out and it sounds like it is a guarantee he won’t be in Winnipeg next year, as their have been reports that if they couldn’t find a trade for Wheeler, who’s $8.25 Million dollar cap hit may be difficult to move unless they retain significant salary, then it is likely that Wheeler may wind up being a buyout candidate for the Jets as it seems like both sides seriously want a separation and they will do whatever it takes to do it, but I do still think he will most likely be traded and it is only a matter of time before it happens.
14.) Blues D-Men: C.Parayko, N.Leddy, T.Krug
Contract Status: NA
Stats: NA
Position: D
Age: NA
Potential landing spots: Buffalo, Calgary, Seattle
Quick Analysis: now the Blues were able to sort out some offensive issues before the trade deadline by moving guys like O’Reilly and Tarasenko and acquiring Vrana and Kapanen, but besides moving Mikkola who was a pending UFA, they didn’t touch their defence and it seems like they want to retool it this offseason and there is a likely chance they love one of their top 4 defensemen. Now I think Faulk is pretty safe on the Blues roster after having a solid season last year, but I think Parayko who had 7 years left on his contract at a $6.5 Million dollar cap hit and is a solid big body top 4 defender who can put up some points and is coming off a down year, Krug who was mentioned in trade rumours last offseason and has a $6.5 Million dollar cap hit for the next 5 years and is still a good offensive defender in their top 4, and Nick Leddy who has 3 years left at $4 Million dollars and is older then the other two, but is still a solid 2nd or 3rd pair defensemen are all options to possibly be moved by St.Louis as they will try and add a different type defensemen on their blueline and have Perunovich who is projected to be a top 4 D-Men waiting to be a full time NHL defender so I think it is a matter of when the Blues will move a defensemen and it will be interesting to see which one get moved.
15.) Taylor Hall
Contract Status: 2 more years at $6 Million
Stats: 16-20-36 in 61 games played
Position: LW
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: Washington, Dallas, Nashville
Quick Analysis: now the Bruins are a team who is right up against the cap and doesn’t have much cap space to work with right now, and with some RFA’s plus wanting to sign their deadline acquisitions, they may be forced to make some tough decisions and that could include a guy like Taylor Hall. Now Hall has played with the Bruins the past 2 and a half years and has been a solid point producer playing on the 2nd or 3rd line for Boston and has worked out as a really good middle six addition to the team, but he didn’t have the best of season last year as he suffered a injury and only had 36 points for the Bruins last year and the Bruins may need to bring in a couple of Top 6 Center’s and I think after his performance in the playoffs, Bertuzzi is a better middle six forward and fits better in Boston then Hall and if they get rid of Hall’s $6 Million dollar cap hit then they could use that money to go and sign Bertuzzi, so the bruins will need to move some players this offseason and I think Hall could be where they start.
16.) Dan Vladar
Contract status: 2 more years at $2.2 Million
Stats: 2.91 GAA and a .895 SV% in 27 games played
Position: G
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: Carolina, Detroit, New York I
Quick Analysis: next up we have yet another goalie as the Flames are looking to have young AHL star goalie Dustin Wolf in the NHL next year as he deserves to be a NHL goalie, but they would most likely need to move on from one of their other goalies to do this and a lot of people think that will be Vladar. Now Wolf will most likely be backup next year for the team and the teams starter in Jacob Markstrom did have a bit of a down year last season but is still signed for 3 seasons, has a NMC and is a top 10 goalie in the NHL and in my opinion would be a great guy to mentor Wolf, so with that being said, last years 1B goalie Dan Vladar seems like the likely trade option. Now Vladar has been the Flames backup the past couple of years and did have a down year last season, but had a career the year prior in his first season as full time backup and is on a affordable $2.2 Million dollar contract tor the next two seasons and I think could improve a team backup position or even be a tandem on another team and as we said there could be a ton of goalie spots opened this year, so with Wolf coming in it seems like Vladar finds himself on the outside looking in and he will most likely be dealt in the not too distant future.
17.) Victor Olofsson
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4.75 Million
Stats: 28-12-40 in 75 games played
Position: RW,LW
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Dallas, Carolina, Calgary
Quick Analysis: nor with the Sabres, they are a up and coming team who seems to have a solid foundation for the future and they don’t look like they will move too many pieces this year, but the one guy who could be moved and is definitely garnering some interest would be middle six forward Victor Olofsson. Now Olofsson has been with the Sabres his entire career and has done a solid job as a middle six scorer with the team, especially this past year when he put up 28 goals and nearly hit the 30 goal mark, and although Olofsson is more of a power play specialist and a lot of his goals do come on the power play, he can still be a decent depth scorer maybe playing on the 3rd line and with the youth coming in Buffalo he is really boxed out of the lineup there, so I feel that a trade will come this offseason to get him somewhere else as I think a fresh start could benefit him, the Sabres probably wouldn’t bring him back next offseason, and if a team were to come around who could use a depth scorer and some power play help, I think the the Sabres would definitely move him and he is a name to watch out for this offseason.
18.) Sam Girard
Contract Status: 4 more years at $5 Million
Stats: 6-31-37 in 76 games played
Position: LD/RD
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Seattle
Quick Analysis: next is a guy with the Avalanche who could be dealt this offseason, now Girard isn’t a bad player by any means and I think if they could the Avalanche would like to keep him, but they have a extremely weak forward group, especially with Landeskog not being back from injury next year, and not only would clearing Girard’s cap space allow the Avalanche to use that money to gain some help on the forward group, but Girard has enough value that moving him would help them get a forward. Now Girard is a solid offensive 2nd pair defensemen but is mostly a 3rd liner this past year on the Av’s because Byram really took some steps forward this year, and although Girard is a solid player, I don’t think they want to pay a 3rd pair defensemen $5 Million dollars on their cap, especially with the other holes at the forward position, so although the Avalanche do like Girard, if they could move him at some point this to either gain cap space to go after someone or use him in a trade package to get a forward, I think they would do that as they have multiple holes in their top six and moving Girard could help them fill some of those holes, so expect a Giard trade at some point this offseason.
19.) Alex Barabanov
Contract Status: 1 more year at $2.5 Million
Stats: 15-32-47 in 68 games played
Position: RW,LW
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: New York I, Tampa Bay, Colorado
Quick Analysis: next up we have another Shark who could be a trade chip for the rebuilding team this offseason and that is Barabanov who has emerged as a solid middle six forward the past couple of years in San Jose and with him entering the final year of his contract, he could be a solid trade chip for San Jose. Now Barabanov was acquired for basically nothing from Toronto a couple years ago and in just a few years, he has worked extremely well with the Sharks, even putting up a solid 47 point season with the sharks this year, and although the Sharks do have a bit of a weaker team then most and Barabanov probably would be more of a 3rd line forward then a top 6 forward on another team, I could still see him put up 30-40 points and be a solid depth scorer for a contending team, so with the Sharks trying to go through rebuild mode, moving a guy like Barabanov is probably a smart move and a likely move we will see this offseason.
20.) Ukko Pekka Luukkonen
Contract status: 1 more year at $.838 Thousand
Stats: 3.61 GAA and a .892 SV% in 33 games played
Position: G
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Winnipeg, Anaheim, New York I
Quick Analysis: next up on the list is Luukkonen who is a solid young goalie for the Sabres, but may be a trade chip for the Sabres to get an experienced starter in Net. Now Luukkonen has been a solid prospect in the Sabres for some time now and played some consistent NHL minutes this year for the Sabres and after a rough start didn’t look too bad, but the Sabres have future starter in Devon Levi who just signed his ELC and finished the season strong for the Sabres and looks like he will be a NHL goalie next year but if Levi is in net for Buffalo a lot of people think it might be too risky to run with two young goalies like Luukkonen and Levi and it might be better to get a goalie who can be a starter this year for Buffalo to give Levi the backup role and with Luukkonen most likely not going back to the minors, I think it is extremely likely he is used in a trade to get the Sabres a goalie upgrade or he is moved to create room for the new goalie, but while I know it is t a guarantee, I wouldn’t be surprised if Luukkonen was dealt this offseason where he could get more of a opportunity.
21.) Evgeny Kuznetsov
Contract Status: 2 more years at $7.8 Million
Stats: 12-43-55 in 81 games played
Position: C
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: Calgary, Colorado, Carolina
Quick Analysis: next on the board is a solid top 6 Center who might be moved out of the US capital in Evgeny Kuznetsov. Now for the most part of his career in Washington, Kuznetsov has been a top 2 Center and helped the team to the Stanley Cup in 2018, but this past season he had a extremely down year as he only got 55 points this year which is a far cry from his usual point per game point total and after starting the season as a top 6 Center, he wound up playing mostly on the 3rd line after Backstrom returned and it seems like he has asked for a trade out of Washington, so if Kuznetsov is dealt it would free up a significant amount of cap space for Washington and would get them a decent return, so with Kuznetsov most likely being done in Washington, a trade seems likely this offseason and is something we should watch for in the coming days and weeks.
22.) Joel Edmundson
Contract Status: 1 more year at $3.5 Million
Stats: 2-11-13 in 61 games played
Position: LD/RD
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: St.Louis, Calgary, Seattle
Quick Analysis: next up we have one of the Canadiens who has frequently been on my draft boards over the past year and that is Joel Edmundson. Now Edmundson is a solid top 4 veteran defensemen in Montreal who is entering the final year of his contract with the Canadiens, and with Montreal still in the midst of a rebuild, there is a likely scenario that he gets dealt in the offseason. Now he has had his fair share of injury troubles over the past couple of years and could’ve been moved at this past years deadline had he been healthy, but he was injured and he also wasn’t dealt last offseason when there rumours he could be on the move, but with Montreal in a rebuild and most likely not bringing him back after this year, I think he does get dealt and I think a younger team looking for a veteran could use him and although I don’t think he brings in a first round pick, I do believe that he will bring in a decent return and one that Montreal can’t refuse and it will lead to Edmundson going elsewhere.
23.) Kevin Hayes
Contract Status: 3 more years at $7.14 Million
Stats: 18-36-54 in 81 games played
Position: C
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: Columbus, Carolina, Washington
Quick Analysis: next we have yet another Flyers on the board and he has been one who has been mentioned to be on the block since early in the year and that is Kevin Hayes. Now Hayes is a solid top 6 Center who has been a very good 2nd line Center during his career with the Flyers, but he was one of the players early on that didn’t see eye to eye with new coach Tortorella and that lead to Hayes being benched for a game and what spurred trade rumours, and although there was interest at the deadline, especially from Columbus according to sources, he wasn’t moved and now seems to be likely on his way out in the offseason, and it will be a difficult move for the flyers to do as he does have a high $7.1 Million dollar cap hit for the next couple of years and Philly may have to retain salary, but even through all of that Hayes was able to hit the 50 point mark for only the second time in his career and would make a solid 2nd line Center for a contending team, so in my eyes, Hayes will be moved at some point with some salary retention and for decent package and it will help free up more cap space for the Flyers.
24.) Adam Boqvist
Contract Status: 2 more years at $2.6 Million
Stats: 5-19-24 in 46 games played
Position: RD
Age: 22
Potential landing spots: Edmonton, Vancouver, St.Louis
Quick Analysis: now in the early part of the offseason the Jackets acquired to key defensemen in Severson and Provorov who are going to be top 4 players on the Jackets and should immediately improve the Jackets blueline, but that has now made a crowded blueline in Columbus and one or two defensemen will most likely have to be moved and I think a guy I could’ve seen moving before the trades happened in Boqvist has to be the most likely. Now Boqvist was acquired in the Seth Jones trade a couple years ago and due to injuries hasn’t really been able to fit in (even though he hasn’t been to bad when healthy). Now with those two in the lineup, I think the right side is full with Jiricek, Peeke and Severson there and that has sort of boxed out Boqvist, now I think he is still a good defender who can put up 30-40 points if he stays healthy and is still pretty young so I would expect him to bring in a nice return for Columbus if he is indeed traded, and I know they could trade a different defender instead of Boqvist, but in my eye he is the most likely option on the blueline to get moved by Columbus.
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25.) Conor Garland
Contract Status: 3 more years at $4.95 Million
Stats: 17-29-46 in 81 games played
Position: RW,LW
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh, Carolina, New York I
Quick Analysis: next on the list is another Canuck in Conor Garland who seems like he could be another cost cutting move the Canucks could make this offseason. Now Garland has spent the past few seasons in Vancouver and has been a very productive middle six forward, especially at 5 on 5 where he has thrived, but the Canucks already have a plethora of wingers such as Boeser, Hoglander, Podkolzin etc so the Canucks have a ton of guys that they can use in their middle six on the wing that may be better fits and cheaper then Garland and I think having Podkolzin or Hoglander play on the third line who are a couple of Million dollars cheaper then Garland and get something decent in return would be a win for the Canucks, and he is still a good middle six forward so a team with cap space looking for scoring help could definitely have interest in him, and I think Galand may be the most likely Canuck to be traded this offseason.
26.) Tony DeAngelo
Contract Status: 1 more year at $5 Million
Stats: 11-31-42 in 70 games played
Position: RD
Age: 27
Potential landing spots: Buffalo, Seattle, St.Louis
Quick Analysis: next up we have the 4th Flyer on the trade board here in DeAngelo as he is entering the final year of his contract and is another player who could be on his way out of Philadelphia. Now DeAngelo was coming off a stellar season offensively last offseason with the Canes before he was dealt to Philly and signed a 2 year contract with them and was brought in as another player who could be partnered with Provorov and maybe bring out the best in him, but just like Hayes, DeAngelo didn’t fit in too well to Tortorella’s system and although he did have a solid 46 points last year with Philly, he was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions and it seems like a trade would benefit both sides as DeAngelo is still a solid top 4 offensive defensemen and should still have some solid value on the trade market as a team who is looking for more offense from the blueline could definitely use DeAngelo, while maybe in another organization DeAngelo would get more of a opportunity and with Philly most likely not signing him as a UFA next offseason, a trade is the most likely move this offseason and something I think we could see in the next couple of days or weeks.
27.) Jack Roslovic
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4 Million
Stats: 11-33-44 in 77 games played
Position: C,RW
Age: 26
Potential landing spots: Nashville, Minnesota, Arizona
Quick Analysis: next is another Jackets player who could be on the trading block and that is Center Jack Roslovic whose time in Columbus may be coming to an end soon. Now Roslovic was acquired from Winnipeg a couple years ago with Laine and had a solid 1st season and has still done alright in Columbus in the years after but hasn’t done as well even though he put up 44 points during last year. Now the Jackets are looking for some Center position upgrades as they feel that their Center depth is weak and I’d they acquire someone it would most likely bump Roslovic out of a roster spot and with Roslovic entering the final year of his deal and still being a good middle six Center, I think there is a strong chance that he could help them get a new Center in either a trade for that Center or dealing him somewhere else for what would probably be a solid package, so in my eyes at least with the Jackets looking for a Center, I think that would make Roslovic expendable and I wouldn’t be shocked if Roslovic was elsewhere to start next year.
28.) Connor Murphy
Contract Status: 3 more years at $4.4 Million
Stats: 7-6-13 in 80 games played
Position: RD
Age: 30
Potential landing spots: Buffalo, Detroit, Edmonton
Quick Analysis: next with a Hawks player who is probably one of the only trade chips there, and that is defensemen Connor Murphy. Now the Hawks moved a lot of players over the past year but some of their bigger name defensemen such as Jones and Murphy remained and there is a lot of speculation that after the Hawks dealt McCabe at the past trade deadline that the biggest trade chip on the team would indeed be Murphy. Now Murphy is a solid top 4 defender on the Blackhawks team who isn’t a great offensive producer but is a solid defensive defender who I think could be a good stabilizing force on a teams 2nd pair and especially for a younger team, a guy like Murphy could be a nice addition and although I don’t think Murphy is guaranteed to move given the fact the Hawks do want to surround Bedard with some solid NHL players, I do think the Hawks could get a solid return for him and may wind up dealing him, but I definitely think Murphy is another solid defender we will have to watch out for over the next couple of weeks.
29.) Robin Lehner
Contract Status: 2 more years at $5 Million
Stats: 0.00 GAA and a .000 SV% in 0 games played
Position: G
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: Carolina, Ottawa, Anaheim
Quick Analysis: next we have yet another goalie who I think could be dealt this offseason and that is from the Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knighst and it is veteran starter Robin Lehner. Now Lehner has been a solid starter in Vegas ever since joining them a couple years ago and did have some injury problems back in 21-22 that caused him to miss the entire season this past year, but the Knights did alright without Lehner as they played by committee and guys like Thompson as well as Brossoit and Hill all did extremely well in Net this year tor Vegas. So with Thompson most likely staying and being the 1A goalie in Vegas next year, there is a lot of speculation that the Knights would want to bring back either Hill or Brossoit for the next couple of years and I think both goalies would be able to be brought in at a lesser cap hit then Lehner and with the Knights tight up against the cap and wanting to clear cap space, I think that could make a guy like Lehner expendable and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was moved so the Knights could keep on of the other two goalies, and although a trade would be hard given the fact he is coming off of a significant injury, with the amount of teams looking for a starter in the NHL this year, I could see a team take on Lehner so I would definitely think Lehner could maybe be the Cup Champs biggest trade chip this offseason and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was traded.
30.) Lawson Crouse
Contract Status: 4 more years at $4.3 Million
Stats: 24-21-45 in 77 games played
Position: LW,RW
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: Nashville, Washington, Calgary
Quick Analysis: next up with a Coyotes who was been garnering a ton of interest on the trade market over the past little while in Lawson Crouse. Now the Coyotes have been willing to move a lot of players off of their roster over the past couple of seasons and Crouse is one of the few who has survived in Arizona during their scorch earth rebuild. Now Crouse is a solid middle six power forward who is a guy who a lot of teams would covet given he is a player who seems to be built for the playoffs, and there was interest in him a year ago when he was a RFA, but the Yotes wound up re-signing to a long term deal and it sounded like there was still interest, now I don’t think it’s certain he gets moved as the Yotes have recently stated they want to get more competitive and they may be more willing to keep their players such as a guy like Crouse, but I think if they could get a big enough offer they may consider trading him, so not a guarantee that he is moved but with how many players Arizona has moved over the past few years I wouldn’t be shocked if he was moved.
31.) Alec Martinez
Contract Status: 1 more year at $5.25 Million
Stats: 3-11-14 in 77 games played
Position: LD
Age: 35
Potential landing spots: Buffalo, Vancouver, Detroit
Quick Analysis: next up is yet another Golden Knight and one who was key to the teams Stanley Cup victory who may wind up being a cap casualty for the Kinghts on the blueline in Martinez. Now last year around free agency there was a ton of talk that the Knights may have to move a player like Martinez due to cap reasons if they were going to keep Smith around, but they wound up moving Pacioretty to clear cap space and it worked out for them as Pacioretty barely played this year due to injuries and Martinez helped the Knights get to the Cup Final, but I do have a strong feeling that this may be the end of Martinez in Vegas as the team would most likely want to bring back one of their UFA goalies and Barbashev and they don’t have enough cap space to do so right now so moving a guy like Martinez off a stacked blueline to help gain cap space to add up front or in the net may make sense for Vegas and I think a ton of teams would love a experienced top 4 defender like Martinez on their roster so it does make sense that the Knights may wind up moving on from the solid defender this offseason.
Nick Turchiaro USA Today Sports
32.) Josh Bailey
Contract Status: 1 more year at $5 Million
Stats: 8-17-25 in 64 games played
Position: RW,LW,C
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Chicago , Arizona, San Jose
Quick Analysis: next up we have an Islanders player who is almost guaranteed to not be back next year with the team and that is Josh Bailey. Now Bailey has been a memeber of the Islanders for his entire career and has always been a solid point producing middle six forward for them, but with the Islanders getting scoring help over the past year in a guy like Horvat and having younger players like Wahlstrom and Holmstrom become regulars in the NHL and with a guy like Dufour waiting in the wings, it pushed Bailey out of a regular NHL role last year as towards the end of the season and in all 6 playoff games Bailey was a healthy scratch for the Islanders and at the end of the season he said he wanted to be somewhere where he wouldn’t be a healthy scratch all the teint and even the Islanders GM said that it may be time to split ways and although the contract would be extremely tricky move to complete, I think if they attached a sweetener there would be a ton of teams interested and of the players on my board here, Bailey is probably the most likely candidate to be moved.
33.) Tyson Barrie
Contract Status: 1 more year at $4.5 Million
Stats: 13-42-55 in 85 games played
Position: RD
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh, Montreal, Anaheim
Quick Analysis: next is a Preds defensemen who I think could wind up being dealt this offseason at some point in Tyson Barrie. Now Barrie was one of the pieces that the Predators got from Edmonton in the Mattias Ekholm trade and after having some stellar numbers in Edmonton where he played with McDavid and had the most productive seasons of his career, he went to Nashville and finished the season still producing well but not to the level he had been with Edmonton and while I could see him remain with the Predators as they try to retool, I do think the Predators could move him as they have moved a ton of veteran players over the past little while and I am not sure Barrie would want to re-up next year with Nashville when his contract expires and with the potential haul Nashville could get for a offensive powerhouse on the blueline like Barrie, I feel a trade is more then likely to happen and it is something to watch over the next couple of days and weeks.
34.) Tyler Myers
Contract Status: 1 more year at $6 Million
Stats: 1-16-17 in 78 games played
Position: RD
Age: 33
Potential landing spots: Anaheim , Pittsburgh, Montreal
Quick Analysis: next up we have yet another Canuck player who could be on the block and be dealt in the not too distant future and that is D-Men Myers. Now Myers is about to enter the final year of his 5 year deal with the Canucks and hasn’t played overly well the past couple of years as he hasn’t been the monster offensive producer he was with Winnipeg and hasn’t been more then a 3rd pair defensemen in Vancouver, and his $6 Million dollars would give the Canucks some more cap flexibility however it would be extremely hard to move, but I do think it gets easier after July 1st when his bonus is paid as his actual money would go down to less then the cap hit and if the Canucks were to retain some salary on him I think there would be a ton of teams interested in the big top 4 defender, and although he might be more likely to stay given the fact that the Canucks may not have Bear and have already moved on from OEL, they may need Myers as their own top 4 defender, but with the cap space they could get from a trade I do think it is likely still that Myers is dealt this offseason.
35.) Henri Jokiharju
Contract Status: 1 more year at $2.5 Million
Stats: 3-10-13 in 60 games played
Position: RD
Age: 24
Potential landing spots: Calgary , Philadelphia, Montreal
Quick Analysis: next is another Sabre on this list because as we mentioned before the Sabres are looking for some more defensive help and could look to acquire a top 4 defender to play in the young D-Corp of the Sabres and a trade chip in my opinion to help them get that top 4 defensemen. Now Jokiharju has played in the top 4 for the Sabres over the past couple of years ever since the was acquired from Chicago and has never been a fantastic offensive player, but is a solid defensive defensemen who is going to be a RFA next offseason so if the Sabres wind up dealing him to another team then they can add that veteran top 4 defender in his spot, and with Jokiharju being a solid and young top 4 defensemen who has some good upside, I think he could be a player a team who is in talks to give Buffalo a top 4 defensemen could try and pry from them. So in my eyes Jokiharju is a solid defensemen but doesn’t fit in overly well with the young Sabres core and if he could be part of a package that brought them a top 4 defender I think they would do it and he is another Sabre I could see get dealt this offseason.
36.) Anthony Mantha
Contract Status: 1 more year at $5.7 Million
Stats: 11-16-27 in 67 games played
Position: LW,RW
Age: 28
Potential landing spots: Chicago, San Jose, Winnipeg
Quick Analysis: next is a player who is a solid option to be moved by Washington and that is Mantha. Now the Capitals had high hopes that Mantha would be a solid top six player for them when they traded with the Wings to acquire him a couple of years ago, but it hasn’t been a great fit as Mantha has not been anywhere close to as productive as he was when he was with Detroit and even with a couple key Capitals injured this year and prime opportunity to establish himself as a solid top 6 forward, he would play mostly on the 3rd line and even was a healthy scratch a couple of times, and with Mantha entering the final year of his deal it makes him a lot more tradeable and with Mantha having not been a great fit with the Capitals, I think a trade could do him good and the Capitals could definitely do something if they were able to get his cap off their books, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Mantha was a trade chip for the Caps this offseason.
37.) Logan Stanley
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 1-2-3 in 19 games played
Position: LD
Age: 25
Potential landing spots: New York R, Florida, Arizona
Quick Analysis: another defender on the list would be decent young Winnipeg Jet Logan Stanley who has been a solid 3rd pair defensemen for them over the past couple years but may look for more of a opportunity elsewhere this offseason. Now Stanley was one of a couple of younger players along with a guy like Samberg who were rotating on the 3rd pair this year and although he was injured a bit this past year he was still a solid 3rd pair defensive defensemen who put up 3 points in 19 games last season but it did sound like around the deadline he wanted out of Winnipeg and although they didn’t give him that trade before the deadline, I do wonder if they give it to him at some point in the offseason as he is a solid 3rd pair defensemen who I think could eventually be a 2nd pair defensemen and may have not been pleased with the opportunities given in Winnipeg, so I could see the Jets move him and get something good in return but it is another Jet who could be dealt.
38.) Alex Iafallo
Contract Status: 2 more years at $4 Million
Stats: 14-22-36 in 59 games played
Position: LW
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Chicago, San Jose, Winnipeg
Quick Analysis: over at 38 we have Alex Iafallo of the LA Kings and I think he is a solid trade candidate for LA as the team needs cap space and have a crowded forward group at the moment . Now Iafallo was signed a couple years back to a 4 year contract that has a AAV of $4 Million dollars and he is two years into that deal, and by no means is Iafallo a bad player as he has actually been quite productive even putting up 36 points in 59 games last year, but when he signed that extension he was a top 6 forward and the Kings had a weaker forward group, but now with guys like Byfield and Fiala regulars in the teams top 6 that has pushed Iafallo down to 3rd line duties, and having a 3rd line forward make $4 Million on their cap may be a luxury they can’t afford to have and with so many young prospect coming up, I think that makes Iafallo expendable and I think teams would be interested in a solid middle six forward and I think the Kings could get something back in a Iafallo trade, so don’t be too surprised if he is moved at some point.
39.) Cody Ceci
Contract Status: 2 more years at $3.25 Million
Stats: 1-14-15 in 80 games played
Position: RD
Age: 29
Potential landing spots: Vancouver, Ottawa, Carolina
Quick Analysis: next up we have the Oilers and with a lot of talk that they want to improve the teams middle six and top 4, their are a handful of players who could be possibly moved at some point for the Oilers and I think maybe the most likely would be Cody Ceci. Now Ceci is a solid 2nd/3rd pair defensemen who was a solid player for the Oilers in the playoffs, but after moving Barrie he was promoted to top 4 duties and I don’t think he is overly ready to be a solid top 4 defensemen yet which is why the Oilers are probably looking for defensive help this offseason and with the Oilers tight cap situation, moving Ceci’s $3.25 Million dollar cap hit to acquire a solid top 4 Defender who can instantly fit in their top 4 I think would be a smart move as I think Ceci would have tons of interest as a solid 3rd pair defensemen who can help a bit offensively, and I think with the cap space cleared by moving him, the Oilers could get their top 4 defensemen, so their are other options for Edmonton to possibly make cap space to be able to add players, but in my eyes moving Ceci is the most likely option and if there are rumours that Edmonton is acquiring a top 4 defensemen, expect Ceci to be moved shortly after or maybe in that sort of a trade.
40.) Jon Merrill
Contract Status: 2 more years at $1.2 Million
Stats: 2-10-12 in 73 games played
Position: LD
Age: 31
Potential landing spots: New York R , Florida, Pittsburgh
Quick Analysis: and to round out my top 40 trade bait players is a Wild defensemen who may cost a bit too much for them to keep and that is Jon Merrill. Now Merrill is a solid 6th/7th defender in Minnesota who has been a very good veteran for the team over the past few season as the long time veteran has been a mainstay on the 3rd pair for the Wild the past couple of years and did have a bit of a down year last season as he had only been able to put up 12 points in over 70 games but is a solid depth defender, now with the Wild pressed for cap space they may need to move a player who is expendable and Merrill is that sort of guy as he has 2 years left on his deal at $1.2 Million and the Wild have enough defenders to make do without him and moving his contract would help them sign RFA’s like Gustavsson and Addison, so I think he is one of the likely Wild players to be moved this offseason for them to gain cap space as the Wild have a lot of business to take care of this offseason and are one of the cap strapped teams, and moving a veteran like Merrill who would draw a lot of interest I think may be the play for the Wild this offseason.
3 Notable mentions
Tyler Toffoli
Travis Konecny
Karel Vejmelka
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