End to End Hockey’s Top 20 trade Bait List.
%20(1280%20%C3%97%20720%20px).png)
Hello everyone, we are back with another End to End Hockey’s trade bait list, now now I haven’t done a trade bait list post since the offseason so I have made a small trade bait list to start with only 20 players on it, there are a handful of players on here who I think have a strong likelihood of being dealt prior to the March 7th trade deadline, so there are definitely some interesting names on here and the hope is to post a few more of these over the next few months with a 50 player trade list being posted just before the deadline, so without further ado here is my first trade bait list of the 2025 year with 20 players being on it.
1.) Mikael Granlund
Contract Status: final year at $5 Million
Stats: 11-24-35 in 41GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 32
2 landing spots: Boston and Carolina
Analysis: Granlund is a solid and versatile middle six Center, he has been one of the bright spots the past two years in San Jose when there haven’t been many and although he has a $5 Million dollar cap hit and the Sharks can’t retain money, he is a player a lot of playoff teams would want in their middle six so I feel there is a strong possibility of him being moved before the deadline and of the Sharks getting a pretty good return.
2.) Chris Kreider
Contract Status: this year plus 2 more at $6.5 Million
Stats: 13-2-15 in 34GP
Position: LW
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Buffalo and Ottawa
Analysis: a surprise name here in Kreider, he is a former 50 goal scorer who knows who to put the puck in the net and is a solid net front presence, although he has been a staple in the Rangers top 6 he has been a name that has been mentioned as someone the Rangers are looking to move on from and with his goal scoring prowess, a lot of teams especially ones in need of scoring help would most likely want to trade for Kreider and I could see the Rangers get a hefty return because he still has term on his deal.
3.) Ivan Provorov
Contract Status: final year at $4.73 Million
Stats: 3-15-18 in 41GP
Position: LD
Age: 27
2 landing spots: Winnipeg and Utah
Analysis: probably the top defender on the market and very likely one of the top free agent D-Men this year, Provorov is a player who’s name has come up multiple times this year in trade chatter and is a guy who could very likely be dealt all though a extension isn’t out of the realm of possibility, Provorov is a solid top 4 defender who could fit on most teams 2nd pair and is more defensive minded so teams who are looking for some defensive help may turn to Provorov and the return CBJ could get may force CBJ to move him.
4.) Dylan Cozens
Contract Status: this year plus 5 more at $7.1 Million
Stats: 8-12-20 in 41GP
Position: C,RW
Age: 23
2 landing spots: Philly and Vancouver
Analysis: a unlikely trade candidate here is Dylan Cozens who at the start of the year I would’ve said is absolutely not getting dealt but now there is a definite possibility he could be dealt at some point, Cozens is a solid and cost controlled 2C for Buffalo who’s production has decreased the past few seasons, and that coupled with the slow start from Buffalo this year and that has led a lot of people to thinking that Cozens may be on his way out of Buffalo and if they can get a different type of forward in return then there is a possibility that we could see Cozens be dealt by the Sabres.
5.) Ryan Donato
Contract Status: final year at $2 Million
Stats: 11-11-22 in 39GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 28
2 landing spots: New Jersey and Vegas
Analysis: one of a couple of Blackhawks who could find himself on the move before the deadline is Ryan Donato, Donato who has mainly been a bottom six forward throughout his career is having himself a solid season that has him already at a double digit goal amount and a cap hit that a lot of teams could fit in their system, Donato is a likely trade candidate because the Hawks are a very low team and Donato is on a expiring deal and with teams always looking and sometimes overpaying for bottom six help at the deadline, I think Donato may be as good as gone and will very likely be dealt soon.
6.) Gustav Nyquist
Contract Status: final year at $3.12 Million
Stats: 7-10-17 in 40GP
Position: WIN
Age: 35
2 landing spots: Tampa and Winnipeg
Analysis: one of a ton of potential trade chips in Nashville this year would be Gustav Nyquist, now the Preds season has so far not gone to plan as they are one of the lowest NHL teams instead of competing for a playoff spot and that could lead them to deal multiple players come the deadline and the most likely one has to be Nyquist as he is coming off a resurgence year last season, is only making $3.19 Million and could fit on any teams middle six wings and provide some depth scoring, so with him being a UFA I would strongly suspect he gets dealt before the deadline.
7.) Taylor Hall
Contract Status: final year at $6 Million
Stats: 8-13-21 in 40GP
Position: LW
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Colorado and Los Angeles
Analysis: one of the bigger names that may be dealt at this years deadline is Hawks forward Taylor Hall, now Hall isn’t producing like he used to in Edmonton and New Jersey but he is still a solid top 6 forward that can put up a decent amount of goals, has playoff experience and could come at a reasonable cap hit so long as the Hawks retain money, so Hall to me seems like a very likely trade candidate for the Hawks and because of the return they could get and him being experienced I think Hall may be a sure fire trade target at the deadline.
8.) John Gibson
Contract Status: this year plus 2 more at $6.4 Million
Stats: 2.69 GAA and .916 SV% in 16GP
Position: G
Age: 31
2 landing spots: Carolina and Utah
Analysis: a goalie who has been speculated to be on the move for quite some time yet and hasn’t been is Ducks goalie John Gibson, now it seems that he has expressed his interest for a fresh start elsewhere because the Ducks are a rebuilding team and Dostal is sort of being the starter now, but he still hasn’t been moved yet, however with the Ducks most likely moving some player before this years deadline and with how well Dostal has played I could very well see Gibson get moved even though it may not be a return that they want.
9.) Brock Nelson
Contract Status: final year st $6 Million
Stats: 11-12-23 in 41GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Minnesota and Dallas
Analysis: one of the bigger rentals that may be on the trade market this year is top end Center Brock Nelson, now the former 30 goal scorer has been a stud on the 2nd line for quite some time now for the Islanders and has been one of their better goal scorers on a team that can’t score, but with NYI now looking like sellers and out of a playoff spot and with Nelson’s age, there is a likely chance that he will get dealt and chase a Cup somewhere else before the deadline.
10.) Jake Evans
Contract Status: final year at $1.7 Million
Stats: 10-13-23 in 40GP
Position: C
Age: 28
2 landing spots: Tampa and Colorado
Analysis: one of the more intriguing names that might pop up before the deadline is young Habs Center Jake Evans, as Evans is putting up some career numbers and having himself a season so far, and while the Habs could move him as he is a pending UFA, he is also young enough a extension may make sense as well, so it is no guarantee he gets moved but with teams always looking for a 3C or 4C before the trade deadline and Evans fitting that bill, I think the Canadiens may get a offer they simply can’t refuse for him and that may lead to him being dealt by Montreal.
11.) Marcus Pettersson
Contract Status: final year at $4.03 Million
Stats: 2-13-15 in 37GP
Position: LD
Age: 28
2 landing spots: Vancouver and Winnipeg
Analysis: another top pending UFA defender who is very likely to get moved before this years trade deadline is Pettersson in Pittsburgh, now the pending UFA defender may still sign a extension with the Penguins but there has been a ton of discussion about the Penguins potentially moving him as he is a decent defender who could work in many teams top 4 and is more defensive minded and may be a solid asset for teams in desperate need of some D help and with a contract not getting done yet and with the return they could get for him, I think there is a strong chance he will wind up being dealt.
12.) Rasmus Andersson
Contract Status: this year plus 1 more at $4.55 Million
Stats: 6-12-18 in 40GP
Position: RD
Age: 28
2 landing spots: Dallas and Ottawa
Analysis: now we have another solid defender who maybe is t as likely to get moved before the deadline but is a strong possibility to and that is Andersson, now in the offseason there was speculation that in-season the Flames may wind up moving on from Andersson because of the direction they were heading and with Andersson less then 2 years from being a UFA, but he has basically been the teams MVP this year and has looked great so I think there may be a smaller chance he is moved now but if Calgary takes a tumble or they get a offer they couldn’t refuse then I believe that Andersson could very well be dealt before the deadline because of how impactful he would be to any teams top 4.
13.) K’Andre Miller
Contract Status: final year at $3.87 Million
Stats: 2-5-7 in 35GP
Position: LD
Age: 24
2 landing spots: Detroit and Vancouver
Analysis: a Ranger who has been mentioned this year as potentially being on the block and could be dealt is pending RFA defender Miller, now we know that Trouba has already been moved by NYR so I am not sure if they want to subtract another defender and on top of that Miller had a solid year last season and is still on the younger side, but some people think with Miller having arb rights a contract extension in the offseason might be difficult for the Rangers to do and with his value still quite high the Rangers may prefer to move him now instead of extending him so we will have to wait and see but a ton of teams would probably want a guy like Miller.
14.) David Savard
Contract Status: final year at $3.5 Million
Stats: 1-9-10 in 35GP
Position: RD
Age: 34
2 landing spots: Edmonton and Carolina
Analysis: now as we have said the Habs have a lot of potential trade candidates this year with a handful of players in the final year of their deals and one guy who may be a hit commodity at the deadline is David Savard, now Savard is a Pending UFA and a solid top 4 RD in Montreal and also one of their veteran leaders which is why the Canadiens have been reluctant to move on from him, but a ton of teams would have a lot of interest in a RD who can play on the 2nd-3rd pair and brings playoff experience and knows what it takes to win, I think the offers for Savard from some teams may entice the Canadiens to wind up moving on from Savard so I feel he is a likely trade candidate for the Habs.
15.) Scott Laughton
Contract Status: this year plus 1 more at $3 Million
Stats: 9-13-22 in 42GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 30
2 landing spots: Toronto and Winnipeg
Analysis: now a player who has been in the rumour mill for quite some time and may get dealt before this years deadline is Scott Laughton, now with the Flyers in the midst of a rebuild Laughton’s name has come up as a potential trade candidate for the Flyers but with them doing well last year and their high ask he was never moved, but with a worse record this year and Laughton only having 1.5 years left on his deal at a reasonable $3 Million AAV and with Laughton being a versatile middle six forwards tons of teams would like in the playoffs, I think Laughton will indeed get moved before the deadline even though the Flyers don’t have too and I believe the Flyers will get a solid return in a deal.
16.) Jeremy Lauzon
Contract Status: this year plus 1 more at $2 Million
Stats: 0-1-1 in 28GP
Position: LD/RD
Age: 27
2 landing spots: Vancouver and Utah
Analysis: now a Predators player who could be moved is Jeremy Lauzon on their backend, now the Predators have said that they would rather keep Lauzon because of his role on their team as a solid 3rd pair guy, but lots of teams seem to be checking in on him as he would improve many teams 3rd pairs, plays playoff style hockey and is signed for this year and next at a reasonable cap hit and even though he isn’t the greatest offensive weapon, a lot of teams would love to add him and part of me thinks even though they would rather keep him, the offers may wind up convincing the Predators to move him by the deadline.
17.) Brandon Saad
Contract Status: this year plus 1 more at $4.5 Million
Stats: 7-8-15 in 37GP
Position: WIN
Age: 32
2 landing spots: Buffalo and Anaheim
Analysis: a player who has recently had his name enter the trade mill is Brandon Saad in St.Louis, now after some offseason and In-season acquisitions of Fowler and Broberg the Blues are hard pressed to get some cap flexibility and one of the ways they may do this is with moving Brandon Saad, now Saad is coming off a decent year putting up over 20 goals and is still a solid middle six veteran but lost teams see his 1.5 years at $4.5 Million as a bad contract, so this sort of a deal may not get the Blues a big return and they may have to eat some of his salary but a fresh start for Saad could very likely happen before the trade deadline and is something to keep our eye on.
18.) Rickard Rakell
Contract Status: this year plus 3 more at $5 Million
Stats: 21-15-36 in 43GP
Position: WIN
Age: 31
2 landing spots: Buffalo and Calgary
Analysis: now Rakell is another Penguin who is on the trade block, now the Penguins don’t have to move Rakell given the fact he is still signed for 3 years after this one and is being a solid top 6 for them in their current playoff chase, but Rakell has been a name who some teams have looked at as a potential trade option and I think a lot of teams would live to have a solid and cost controlled middle six forward who could put up 20-30 goals and be a force in the playoffs and although some think this may be more of a offseason move for Pittsburgh, I think there is still a very good chance he may be moved at the deadline so we will have to wait and see.
19.) Brandon Tanev
Contract Status: final year at $3.5 Million
Stats: 7-7-14 in 41GP
Position: WIN
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Ottawa and Toronto
Analysis: earlier this offseason we saw a Tanev get traded, and now we may see another Tanev get dealt before the trade deadline and that is Brandon Tanev in Seattle, now Tanev is one of a few Kraken who are Pending UFA’s and and may wind up being dealt and the Kraken also have a plethora of forwards on their team and with them not doing overly well right now and Tanev being a good locker room presence and solid bottom six forward I think the Kraken will wind up moving him, as they could get a solid return and I feel a lot of teams would love to add a Tanev before the trade deadline.
20.) Morgan Frost
Contract Status: final year at $2.1 Million
Stats: 8-11-19 in 38GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 25
2 landing spots: Toronto and Minnesota
Analysis: and yet another Flyer who may be moved before the trade deadline this year is Morgan Frost, now Frost and Flyers head coach Tortorella have not seen eye to eye over the past few years and that has lead people to think that Frost may be moved and although he wasn’t dealt last year, he is now entering the final year of his deal and the Flyers are doing worse then last year so I think if the Flyers could get a solid return for him, and I think they could given he is young and could be a solid point producer on a 2nd or 3rd line of many teams, I feel that this Flyers team will deal Frost and we could wind up seeing him on the move at some point in the next few months.
HM (Honourable mentions)
J.Farabee, Y.Gourde, A.Copp
So this is my top 20 trade bait list, as these are players that I have heard could be potentially on the move but are also players I feel we could see dealt before the deadline, so I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments, did I leave anyone off, should I have have put certain players higher or lower, and who would you have in the top 20 right now, definitely love to hear your thoughts as this is my top 20 trade bait list.
Comments
Post a Comment