End to End Hockey’s updated trade Bait List: top 20.
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Hello everyone, we are back with another End to End Hockey’s trade bait list, so after a few month layoff since the NHL Trade deadline, we are back with a updated trade board of 20 players, now all of the players on my first trade board are on teams who missed the playoffs and future trade boards will have players from teams who made the playoffs, but for this first one we are doing just from teams who missed, there are a handful of players on here who I think have a strong likelihood of being dealt at some point this offseason maybe closer to the draft or free agency, 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 40 or 50 player trade list being posted just before the draft and free agency, so without further ado here is my updated trade bait list of the 2025 offseason with 20 players being on it.
1.) B.Byram
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 7-31-38 in 82GP
Position: LD/RD
Age: 23
2 landing spots: Calgary and San Jose
Analysis: now first up we have a name on the trade board that is gaining a lot of attention right now in the trade rumours mill, and that is Bowen Byram as the solid top 4 D is only a year and a half removed from being dealt to Buffalo and after the season he had putting up 38 points you would think Buffalo would want to keep him, but he is a RFA and could be seeking $7+ Million on a new deal and with Buffalo already paying Dahlin and Power $8+ Million, they may now want to pay him and the return could be huge, so for any team out there who is looking for a fantastic top 4 D on the younger side and who can grow with their team, expect them to target Byram this offseason.
2.) M.McTavish
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 22-30-52 in 76GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 22
2 landing spots: Buffalo and Vancouver
Analysis: now when it comes to Mason McTavish he is a bit more of a out there name, as he is coming of a solid season having 50+ points, but his name was in the rumour mill around the trade deadline probably due to the fact he is a pending RFA and in line for a new contract this offseason, so I think for all intents and proposes McTavish will probably stay in Anaheim, but in the off chance they can’t work out a extension or Anaheim doesn’t see a fit long term, then I feel teams will be lining up to try and acquire the stud Center so definitely keep tabs on McTavish this offseason.
3.) T.Demko
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $5 Million AAV
Stats: 2.90 GAA and .889 SV% in 23GP
Position: G
Age: 29
2 landing spots: Edmonton and CBJ
Analysis: now in Vancouver there are a few trade candidates for the Canucks but in my eyes none are bigger then Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, now last year Demko had another injury riddled year where he only got into 23 games and put up subpar numbers and that allowed Lankinen to take the starting job and run with it and then get a long term extension and now Silovs is doing well in the AHL playoffs, so with this in mind plus the injury history and the fact he is entering the last year of his deal, I feel that Demko is a very likely candidate to be dealt with Vancouver going with a Lankinen-Silovs tandem next year and I think any team in need of a true starting level goalie and willing to look past the injury concerns will target Demko.
4.) S.Stamkos
Contract Status: 3 years left at a $8 Million AAV
Stats: 27-26-53 in 82GP
Position: C,RW
Age: 35
2 landing spots: Utah and Toronto
Analysis: now I don’t think many people would’ve been saying this after last offseason but another guy on my Trade board this offseason is Preds forward Steven Stamkos, now Stamkos who was a long time Bolts signed a 4 year contract with Nashville last year, and while he had a solid season having 25+ goals and 50+ points it was nowhere close to the numbers he had the year prior with Tampa and Nashville was a bottom 3 team last year, so if Stamkos wants a fresh start, and it seems he is the most likely trade candidate for Nashville who is on a longer term deal, then maybe watch out for a Stamkos trade this offseason.
5.) J.McCann
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $5 Million AAV
Stats: 22-39-61 in 82GP
Position: LW,C
Age: 28
2 landing spots: Detroit and Vancouver
Analysis: now another very interesting name that I put on my trade board is Jarred McCann, now McCann has probably been the best expansion pick by the Kraken out of the 30 players they had selected as he has been a stellar top 6 guy over the past 4 seasons, but after a down year goal scoring wise his name came up in the rumour mill at the deadline because he is close to being a UFA and Seattle wasn’t a playoff team, now that he is only a year away from UFA status and with Seattle trending the wrong way, I would expect his name to pop up again because for what he brings his contract is really good and I feel the Kraken would get a haul for him, so keep your eye on the Kraken as they could wind up moving McCann.
6.) J.Gibson
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $6.4 Million AAV
Stats: 2.77 GAA and .912 SV% in 29GP
Position: G
Age: 31
2 landing spots: Edmonton and Carolina
Analysis: now another player I have on my Trade bait list is Ducks goalie John Gibson who may finally be dealt this offseason, now Gibson has been in the rumour mill for quite some time he has been mentioned on and off over the last few years, now Gibson is a solid starting goalie I mean he si coming off a year where he had a 912 SV%, sub 3 GAA and played in 30 games, now it seems like with Anaheim not yet being a playoff caliber team as well as the fact that Dostal is starting to take over as the teams starter, he may be a bit frustrated in Anaheim, now he is signed for the next 2 seasons and as I said is a solid goalie, so I think any team with goalie needs will definitely be looking at Gibson this offseason.
7.) N.Dobson
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 10-29-39 in 71GP
Position: RD
Age: 25
2 landing spots: Chicago and Utah
Analysis: now a bit of a surprising name here but one I have seen be mentioned a few times over the last few months is Islanders star defender Noah Dobson, now Dobson is only a few years removed from being a 70 point defender where he looked lethal and at some points was in the Norris conversation, now he had a down year last season only having 39 points and is on a expiring deal and will be a RFA that could command upwards of $8 Million on a new deal, now if the Islanders do not want to pay that and are moving forward with a rebuild I could see Dobson land on the trade block and I feel most other teams would have major interest in a solid top pair right shot defensemen and the Islanders could get one heck of a return so we will have to wait and see.
8.) C.Kreider
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $6.5 Million AAV
Stats: 22-8-30 in 68GP
Position: LW
Age: 34
2 landing spots: Toronto and Buffalo
Analysis: now one of the most likely players to wind up getting dealt this offseason has to be Chris Kreider, now Kreider has been a long time Ranger and worked quite well with them even having 40 and 50 goal seasons in the past with NYR, but after the beginning of last year, it was leaked that he and Trouba were being shopped by the New York Rangers, now Trouba did get moved but even after all the speculation Kreider didn’t, but now it seems like the relationship is at a head and a trade will happen this offseason, and even though he is coming off a down season, I feel a lot of teams would have interest in Kreider who is a former 50 goal scorer so keep an eye on Kreider as he will be moved at some point.
9.) R.Rakell
Contract Status: 3 years left at a $5 Million AAV
Stats: 35-35-70 in 81GP
Position: RW, C
Age: 32
2 landing spots: Utah and Detroit
Analysis: now another big time trade candidate we have here that could be moved this offseason is Rickard Rakell, now since arriving in Pittsburgh a number of year back, Rakell has been a fantastic top 6 forward for the Penguins mostly playing with Malkin or Crosby and that was the case yet again last year when he had 35 goals and put up 70 points on a subpar Penguins team, but around the deadline his name did come up in trade rumours and it seemed like Pittsburgh put a high price on Rakell, but it does seem that with Pittsburgh maybe going the retool/rebuild path they may be open to moving Rakell this offseason and any team in need of some top six help I think would be all over Rakell so keep your eye on him this offseason.
10.) M.Geekie
Contract Status: RFA
Stats: 33-24-57 in 77GP
Position: C,RW
Age: 26
2 landing spots: San Jose and Colorado
Analysis: now another very intriguing trade candidate who was mentioned heavily at the trade deadline is Morgan Geekie, now Geekie over the past few years had bounced around between Carolina,Seattle and Boston and been a pretty good 3rd line player, but played higher in the lineup this year in Boston and had a career season putting up 30+ goals and nearly having 60 points which where both career highs and he is so for a raise as he is a RFA, so I could see the Bruins potentially bring back Geekie to keep him in the middle six, but the return they could get may outweigh keeping him and I feel that other teams for the right contract would love to add Geekie so I think he is very likely to get moved this offseason.
11.) B.Coleman
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $4.9 Million AAV
Stats: 15-24-39 in 82GP
Position: WIN
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Columbus and St.Louis
Analysis: now a name I feel will be coming up in trade talk this offseason and I think could very well get moved is Flames middle six forward Blake Coleman, now Coleman last year had a pretty good season having 15 goals and nearly 40 points after having 50 the year before, so Coleman for his contract isn’t on that bad of a deal and on top of that knows what it takes to win the cup when he did it with Tampa, now he is one of the veteran leaders on this Flames team so I could see him stick around instead of getting dealt by Calgary, but I’d Calgary is heading down the retool or rebuild path then I think that Coleman is very likely to get dealt by the Flames and wouldn’t be shocked to hear his name come up in the rumour mill.
12.) M.Zibanejad
Contract Status: 5 years left at a $8.5 Million AAV
Stats: 18-40-58 in 80GP
Position: C
Age: 32
2 landing spots: Vancouver and Detroit
Analysis: now another Ranger we have on my Trade bait board is someone who is probably a bit unlikely to get moved and definitely less likely them Miller or Kreider in NYR, but his name has come up in trade talk over the past while and he may be a name to watch out for and that is Zibanejad, now Zibanejad has been the Rangers top line Center for the past few years now and has been pretty good, but this year had a down season hitting below 20 goals and 60 points, so with that in mind, plus the Rangers shake Up and the fact that his production drops in the postseason it has lead some people to believe Zibanejad could be moved, now he does have a high cap hit and a full NMC so he calls the shots on where he goes, but if he is open to a move and the Rangers find the right deal I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets moved and any team in desperate need of a Center I think could call NYR about Zibanejad so watch out for him.
13.) A.Copp
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $5.63 Million AAV
Stats: 10-13-23 in 56GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 30
2 landing spots: Chicago and Pittsburgh
Analysis: now maybe a bit of a surprising name on my trade list here is Wings middle six forward Andrew Copp, now he signed with the Wings just after a stellar season in Winnipeg/NYR and got a 5 year contract, but it’s safe to say he hasn’t lived up to his contract in Detroit as he is coming off a injury riddled season where he only put up 10 goals and 23 points and never found that spot in Detroit, now I feel on the right team he could be a solid 40-50 point player and he only has two year left, so I feel whether it is a buyout or they trade him with retention I don’t feel that the Wings will still have Copp on the roster next year and even if it is just a cap dump I think Copp will be moved this offseason.
14.) M.Ferraro
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $3.25 Million AAV
Stats: 5-12-17 in 78GP
Position: LD
Age: 26
2 landing spots: Calgary and Boston
Analysis: now a solid top 4 defender whose contract is coming to a close which may make him a hot commodity this offseason is Mario Ferraro, now his name has been in the rumour mill since the 2024 deadline when his named started popping up as a potential trade target being a solid young defensive defender on a bad Sharks team, but now he is entering the final year of his deal and will be a UFA next year and the Sharks for all intents and purposes aren’t going to make the postseason next year so it makes a lot of sense for San Jose to deal him this offseason and they could get quite a return and I think any team in need of some youth on the blueline will target Ferraro.
15.) M.Maccelli
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $3.43 Million AAV
Stats: 8-10-18 in 55 GP
Position: WIN
Age: 24
2 landing spots: Edmonton and Toronto
Analysis: so another intriguing trade candidate is with the newest NHL franchise involving a player who is in desperate need of a fresh start and that is Mattias Maccelli, now Maccelli has been a rather good winger for Utah/Arizona over the past few years and had really earned himself a solid middle six role but last year he feel out of favour in Utah as he was healthy scratched a few times and also put up under 20 points in 55 games last year, so with that in mind plus Utah wanting to get a big upgrade up front, it seems that Maccelli doesn’t have a role going forward with Utah but I think he is still a solid 3rd line forward so I wouldn’t be one bit shocked if there were a few teams out there who took a flyer on him.
16.) A.Tuch
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $4.75 Million AAV
Stats: 34-30-64 in 79GP
Position: RW,C
Age: 29
2 landing spots: Tampa and Seattle
Analysis: now maybe one of the more unlikely names that would be dealt but one that would have a plethora of interest should he be on the trade block is Alex Tuch, now Tuch was one of the best pieces the Sabres got in exchange for Eichel from Vegas and Tuch has really thrived over the past few season in Buffalo even having almost 35 goals and 60 points this year, but there continues to be speculation that some players in Buffalo aren’t happy and that may include Tuch and he is only a year away from UFA status, so if he wants out and Buffalo doesn’t feel they can sign him, I think a trade would be coming and there would be a ton of teams who would love to have Alex Tuch on their team so we should keep a eye on him this offseason.
17.) P.Zacha
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $4.75 Million AAV
Stats: 14-33-47 in 81GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 28
2 landing spots: Vancouver and Anaheim
Analysis: now another Bruins who I feel had a strong chance of getting moved this offseason is too 6 forward Pavel Zacha, now Zacha was dealt by Jersey to Boston 1 for 1 a few years ago for Haula and since arriving in Boston had been a fabulous fit in their top 6, now he had a decent year last season putting up 14 goals and 47 points, but he only ha2 2 years left on his contract and if the Bruins are truly going to go into sell mode and go through a retool phase, I feel that Zacha may not want to be a part of that and may be open to a trade, now because of his contract I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed with the Bruins, but I think the offers from teams who could use a 2nd or 3rd line Center may be strong enough that the Bruins do wind up trading him so we will have to wait and see.
18.) R.Ristolainen
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $5.1 Million AAV
Stats: 4-15-19 in 63GP
Position: RD
Age: 30
2 landing spots: Ottawa and Detroit
Analysis: another intriguing defensive player who I am placing on my Trade board is Flyers D-Men Rasmus Ristolainen, now Ristolainen has been in the rumour mill for the last year as Philly is in the midst of a rebuild and Ristolainen is the sort of player that doesn’t matchup with the Flyers timeline for competing, now the Flyers don’t have a lot of proven NHL level players at this point in time on the blueline as beside York and Sanheim non of the other defensemen are proven in the top 4 and due to that fact and that he isn’t on a expiring deal, it seems like he could wind up staying but he is a solid defender and I wouldn’t be surprised if teams in need of some top 4 help tried to target Ristolainen so we will have to keep an eye on that.
19.) P.Grubauer
Contract Status: 2 years left at a $5.9 Million AAV
Stats: 3.49 GAA and a .875 SV% in 26GP
Position: G
Age: 33
2 landing spots: Detroit and Pittsburgh
Analysis: now another goalie on my list is a very interesting guy who I believe will be dealt or bought out at some point this offseason and that is Philipp Grubauer, now Grubauer was a great goalie back when he was with the Avalanche and in their inaugural offseason the Kraken signed him and at the time it looked like a solid deal for the Kraken, but since then it hasn’t worked out for the Kraken as he has never worked for the Kraken in their system and had a .875 SV% and nearly a 3.5 GAA, now with Daccord the starter I don’t think Seattle wants to pay him what he is making so although I won’t rule out a buyout as a option, I could se him be dealt and for teams looking for a goalie, I think with a sweetener attached Seattle could get out of the contract so we will have to wait and see.
20.) A.Lee
Contract Status: 1 year left at a $7 Million AAV
Stats: 29-25-54 in 82GP
Position: LW
Age: 34
2 landing spots: Chicago and Philly
Analysis: also on my opening trade bait board is a Captain who is making quite a lot of money and may be sort of a cap dump this offseason and that is Anders Lee, now Lee has been one of the longest tenured Isles on the team and is nearly up with his contract as he only has one year left at a high $7 Million cap hit, but when he signed that Lee was consistently a 30-40 goal scorer and even though he had a good season this year hitting 29 goals and almost getting 55 points, it just doesn’t warrant a $7 Million cap hit, so with this in mind I could see the Islanders who may go down the path of a retool wind up dealing Lee this offseason with retained money and I could see teams if his cap was lowered have some major interest in Lee as a middle six forward so even though they wouldn’t get a stellar return, I feel Lee could get moved so watch out for him this offseason.
honourable mentions
K.Miller, C.Sissons, R.Strome
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 at some point this offseason, 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 and who could be moved soon from teams who missed the postseason, definitely love to hear your thoughts as this is my current top 20 trade bait list.
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