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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
It’s never too early to talk trade candidates in the NHL. That’s especially true this season, which has already seen a handful of significant moves:
The NHL trade deadline is March 7, 2025. Here’s a way-too-early look at some of the players who could be moved before that date, from the shocking possibilities to the pending free agents to the bargain beauties who could be the difference in winning the Stanley Cup.
This list was compiled through conversations with league executives and other sources, as well as media reports. ESPN insiders Kevin Weekes and Emily Kaplan added their input in its creation. Salary figures are from Cap Wages and Puck Pedia.
For the NHL owners reading these tiers: Any “soft tampering” is purely coincidental.
Let’s begin with the biggest names, the true stunners should any of them move.
Note: Players are arrayed alphabetically within each tier.
Shocking possibilities tier
Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Chris Kreider, W, New York Rangers
Brad Marchand, W, Boston Bruins
J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks
Mitch Marner, W, Toronto Maple Leafs
Mikko Rantanen, W, Colorado Avalanche
Of the players mentioned in this tier, only one is formally on the trade block: Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers, whose name was mentioned specifically in the now-famous memo circulated by GM Chris Drury to his 31 peers. The other player mentioned by name in that memo was Trouba.
Kreider being moved would still be a shock, as many felt his inclusion in the memo was a tactic to scare a veteran core into playing better — one that hasn’t worked, for the record. Kreider has three years left on his contract, with a $6.5 million average annual value, and a 15-team no-trade list.
An NHL executive texted me recently to ask, “Chris Kreider for Brad Marchand … who says no?” Once you hear it, you can’t stop checking boxes for why that would make sense, from the infusion of competitive tenacity onto the Rangers to the Bruins getting a younger local product under contract beyond this season. The kind of trade proposal that makes you fall in love with trade proposals all over again.
The Bruins trading Marchand is hard to conceive. He’s worn the Spoked-B for 16 glorious seasons. He’s captain for a team in a playoff race with 11 goals and 11 assists in 30 games. But his numbers have declined for two straight seasons, he’s in the last year of a contract with a very thrifty AAV ($6.125 million) and has just an eight-team no-trade clause. He’s a beloved member of the organization, but when the Bruins decided to move on to the next phase even the most cherished veterans aren’t guaranteed participation – just ask Zdeno Chara about that.
Ekblad also has an expiring contract with the Panthers after helping them to the Stanley Cup last season. The 28-year-old defenseman has 14 points in 29 games, his ice time jumping to 23:25 per game after skating 20:52 in 51 games last season.
He’s on the record as wanting to remain with Florida, telling the Miami Herald that he’s not worried about the timing of a contract extension given how GM Bill Zito waited to get deals down with players like Sam Reinhart. There was a report last summer that the Panthers were “shopping” Ekblad ahead of this contract year, but it’s hard to imagine a team having the season that Florida’s having would want to alter the chemistry dramatically in-season.
Miller is returning from a lengthy personal leave from the Canucks, which naturally sparked speculation about his future in Vancouver. Canucks team president Jim Rutherford pushed back hard on rumors about the motivations behind that leave of absence and the team trading Miller, telling Postmedia: “Don’t start making stuff up on someone in his situation. That’s disrespectful.”
He said the team is not trading Miller and that “we stand by him.” Miller is in the second season of a seven-year contract worth $8 million annually. He has a full no-movement clause, but ESPN insider Kevin Weekes believes that “teams have shown interest.”
The biggest shocks would be the Toronto Maple Leafs trading Mitch Marner or the Colorado Avalanche moving Mikko Rantanen, two star wingers both needing big raise contracts after this season.
(Before you start playing fantasy GM, let it be known that Turner’s Anson Carter already floated a 1-for-1 trade proposal for these two.)
The trade talk on Marner has cooled since coach Craig Berube arrived and the winger had an outstanding run of games while Auston Matthews was out with an injury. ‘Twas a time when Mitch Marner trade rumors were a daily occurrence. Now it seems plausible he’ll remain with the Leafs beyond this season — but he also wields a full no-movement clause to ensure he’s in Toronto through this one.
Rantanen has a nine-team no-trade list in the final campaign of his six-year contract. Again, it’s hard to fathom the Avalanche doing anything with a third of their holy trinity — alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar — when they look like a contender in the West again. But Rantanen is reportedly looking to secure a Santa’s sack-sized bag on his next contract, with speculation his AAV could be as high as $14 million. Keep in mind his agent, Andy Scott, also reps Leon Draisaitl, who reset the market with a $14 million AAV deal that starts next season.
It would take some combination of the Avalanche’s season going down the tubes and an unmendable contract impasse to necessitate Colorado even considering a Rantanen trade. Even if they did, he’s got a hefty $9.25 million AAV for a suitor to handle. Buy hey, this is called the “shocking” tier for a reason.
Elite pending free agent tier
Morgan Frost, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Yanni Gourde, C, Seattle Kraken
Mikael Granlund, C, San Jose Sharks
Taylor Hall, W, Chicago Blackhawks
Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim Ducks
K’Andre Miller, D, New York Rangers
Brock Nelson, F, New York Islanders
Gustav Nyquist, W, Nashville Predators
Kyle Palmieri, W, New York Islanders
Ivan Provorov, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Frank Vatrano, W, Anaheim Ducks
Miller might have deserved a place in the “shocking” tier, considering his status as a 24-year-old foundational player for the Rangers. He’s a restricted free agent after this season making $3.872 million against the cap, and thus in line for a significant raise. Weekes told me that he’s heard Miller’s name out there as a potential trade acquisition. Where he fits in the Rangers’ long-term plans, and how significant the changes are for a team that’s underachieved, will determine his path forward in New York.
“I’m not saying they are or they aren’t trading him,” Weekes said. “I’m just saying it’s a name that I’ve heard out there.”
Weekes also heard trade buzz around another foundational player: McTavish, the 21-year-old Ducks center who is in the final season of his rookie contract ahead of restricted free agency. The third overall pick in 2021 has just two goals and eight assists in 20 games for Anaheim, missing a chunk of time due to an upper-body injury.
Kakko is another young player at a crossroads. The 23-year-old winger, who was the second overall pick in 2019, took a one-year “show me” contract from the Rangers last season. He’s played well with 14 points in 27 games and really strong defensive numbers at 5-on-5. Does that make him a valuable part of the Rangers going forward — or increase his trade value?
The annual meeting of the Brock Nelson Appreciation Society was held when the Islanders forward was a surprise addition to the U.S. 4 Nations Face-Off roster. That put the spotlight on a unique talent who is set to hit the free-agent market this summer. Nelson, 33, can play up and down the lineup, at center or on the wing, on the power play or the penalty kill. He can net 34 or more goals while winning 54% of his faceoffs, as he is this season. He’s a “final puzzle piece” guy for a Cup contender, but his availability — and potentially that of Palmieri — depends on where the Islanders are in the playoff hunt and how GM Lou Lamoriello sees Nelson as a part of the roster going forward.
Palmieri isn’t the only goal-oriented winger potentially available, with Vatrano and Nyquist both on expiring deals for teams that aren’t expected to make the West playoff cut. Neither are the Blackhawks, as Hall faces free agency with a $6 million AAV. Perhaps a change in coaches gets the 33-year-old going a bit in Chicago. The last time Hall was in the postseason, he had eight points in seven games for Boston, in 2023.
Granlund and Gourde are two very different kinds of centers. With 30 points in 29 games, Granlund’s either played himself into a new contract with the Sharks or into a major trade piece for them in his walk year. Gourde, who turns 33 this month, is down in ice time (15:26 per game), but slightly up in point production on a per-60 minutes basis. His most effective days are behind him, but the two-time Stanley Cup winner could still be a bottom-six asset on a contender.
The other intriguing names here are the Flyers’ Frost, former Flyer Provorov and Rossi of the Wild.
Frost, 25, has 12 points in 25 games this season in 14:56 per game, the second straight season his ice time has tumbled under coach John Tortorella. Frost has been atop many “players in need of a change in scenery” listings, and a trade for the pending restricted free agent seems inevitable for some Flyers fans. But please note that he’s found some chemistry with rookie sensation Matvei Michkov, which could certainly impact his future in Philly.
Provorov is a good skater who can play on the power play and the penalty kill while munching considerable minutes (23:16 per game). He’s a very solid puck-mover who has elite puck retrieval skills. He carries a $4.725 million cap hit thanks to the Los Angeles Kings having retained some of his salary in the trade that brought him to Columbus. There are a glut of defensemen that might be on the trade block, but few have the skill set of Provorov.
Rossi is a 23-year-old center taken ninth overall in 2020. He’s in his fourth NHL season, although last season was the first time he saw significant time, playing 82 games and amassing 40 points. He has 24 points through 28 games this season. He makes just $1,713,333 against the salary cap, in the final year of his entry-level contract before becoming an RFA.
So why is here?
Good question. His name is out there. Michael Russo of The Athletic, the best authority on all things Wild, said last month on his podcast “Worst Seats In The House” that he is “still convinced they are going to trade” Rossi, adding “I just think that they do not feel he’s the player to commit to long-term.” Russo also felt the Wild would “really regret” moving such a talented young player.
Elite players with term tier
Joel Farabee, W, Philadelphia Flyers
Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks
Cam Fowler, D, Anaheim Ducks
Mike Matheson, D, Montreal Canadiens
Josh Norris, C, Ottawa Senators
Rickard Rakell, W, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Brandon Saad, W, St. Louis Blues
Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks tried to put Fowler in the Trouba trade, but the Rangers said no thanks. Ironically, the two are now D partners in Anaheim. Fowler, 33, has two more years left on his contract with a $6.5 million AAV and a four-team no-trade clause. Zegras, 23, has two years left with a $5.75 million AAV before becoming an RFA. He had four goals and six assists in 24 games before suffering a knee injury this month, which could obviously impact any deal this season to give the dimming star a change in scenery.
Neither Farabee nor Ristolainen were signed by current Flyers GM Daniel Briere. The former is a 24-year-old signed through 2027-28 ($5 million AAV) who hasn’t developed at quite the clip the Flyers were hoping; the latter is a 30-year-old bruising blueliner signed through 2026-27 ($5.1 million AAV). Ristolainen has size and physicality, but his defense is average at best, and he’s lost the thread offensively.
Rakell is in the middle of a six-year deal that former Penguins GM Ron Hextall handed him, with a $5 million AAV and an eight-team no-trade clause. Speaking of inherited players on teams that aren’t playing well: Norris, 25, was given an eight-year deal ($7.95 million AAV) by former Senators GM Pierre Dorion that runs through 2029-30. He doesn’t have trade protection until 2026. Norris has 12 goals and eight assists in 27 games, and is three seasons removed from a 35-goal campaign. But Ottawa and GM Steve Staios need a core tweak.
Is Ferraro part of the core in San Jose? He’s a 26-year-old defensive defenseman signed through 2025-26 to a very friendly $3.25 million AAV. His underlying numbers aren’t stellar with the Sharks this season: His pairing with Jan Rutta was bad, and his pairing with Cody Ceci was worse.
Saad had 10 points in his first 26 games while playing up with Brayden Schenn. He’s signed through next season ($4.5 million) and his full no-trade becomes a 12-team no-trade clause this summer. His name has been out there in the trade market, although the Blues’ reversal of fortune under Jim Montgomery could change that status.
Finally, Montreal could have sold very high on Matheson after last season’s stellar 62-point campaign, but kept him around. He has 15 points in 26 games this season, generating seven of them on the power play, where he continues to excel. It’s only a matter of time before rookie Lane Hutson inherits that PP1 spot from Matheson. The 30-year-old has an eight-team no-trade list, and an AAV of $4.875 million. He brings scoring from the back end, which is such a coveted trait for a defenseman — do the Canadiens end up hanging onto him?
The goalie tier
Alexandar Georgiev, San Jose Sharks
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
Ville Husso, Detroit Red Wings
Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh Penguins
Vitek Vanecek, San Jose Sharks
Karel Vejmelka, Utah Hockey Club
Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames
Gibson has spent the majority of the last five season in the rumor mill thanks to the Ducks’ rebuild and an increasingly reasonable cap hit of $6.4 million. He’s signed through 2027 and has a 10-team no-trade clause.
A lot of teams have inquired about the 31-year-old, but there’s also been a hesitation in acquiring him. Are his unimpressive numbers part of an overall decline or the result of playing behind the Ducks’ defense? Are his annual second-half fades happening because Anaheim has nothing to play for? The emergence of Lukas Dostal would seem to make Gibson even more expendable, but as the NHL goalie carousel spins every offseason, Gibson remains in SoCal.
Up in NorCal, the Sharks could have two enticing goalie options. Georgiev was just acquired from the Avalanche for Mackenzie Blackwood. He has a $3.4 million AAV and is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Vanecek has the same contract status and cap number. Of the two, Georgiev has had the stronger season analytically.
Vejmelka has been an analytics darling this season, ranking 10th in goals saved above expected via Stathletes. His cap hit ($2.725 million) and expiring contract make him an intriguing trade option, but Utah could also hang onto him if they’re in the wild card hunt.
Vladar and Husso are veterans on teams that could be out of the playoff picture near the deadline. Husso has some trade protection. Nedeljkovic has another year on his contract at $2.5 million AAV.
Help up front tier
Josh Anderson, F, Montreal Canadiens
Nick Bjugstad, F, Utah Hockey Club
Nick Cousins, F, Ottawa Senators
Christian Dvorak, F, Montreal Canadiens
Radek Faksa, C, St. Louis Blues
Nils Hoglander, W, Vancouver Canucks
Alexander Kerfoot, W, Utah Hockey Club
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, F, Buffalo Sabres
Scott Laughton, F, Philadelphia Flyers
Pat Maroon, W, Chicago Blackhawks
Reilly Smith, W, New York Rangers
Nico Sturm, W, San Jose Sharks
Brandon Tanev, W, Seattle Kraken
Hoglander had 24 goals last season for the Canucks, but has followed that up with two goals in 27 games. Teams love a winger in their mid-20s that need a change in scenery.
Anderson and Dvorak are no strangers to trade rumors. Anderson has 10 points in 28 games for the Habs, his fifth season with Montreal. The 30-year-old is signed through 2027 ($5.5 million AAV). Dvorak’s trade to Montreal in 2021 has been called a “disaster” in hindsight. He’s in the last season of a six-year deal with a $4.45 million AAV and an eight-team no-trade list.
Some of the names here are contingent on their teams’ fortunes as the season continues, like Faksa, a big body center on the Blues; Smith, a pending free agent who has an eight-team no-trade list and has been getting minutes on Kreider’s line; and Tanev, who’s in the last season of his contract with a $3.5 million cap hit, bringing high-energy play at forward when he’s not taking hilarious yearbook photos.
Another name to watch here is Laughton, who was heavily rumored to be moved last trade deadline. He’s a versatile forward that makes just $3 million against the cap and has another year on his deal beyond this one.
Maroon is, of course, seeking his fourth Stanley Cup championship, which would equal the career total of Wayne Gretzky.
Help on the blue line tier
Will Borgen, Seattle Kraken
Robert Bortuzzo, Utah Hockey Club
Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres
Alexandre Carrier, Nashville Predators
Cody Ceci, San Jose Sharks
Ian Cole, Utah Hockey Club
Brian Dumoulin, Anaheim Ducks
Jeremy Lauzon, Nashville Predators
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey Club
Alec Martinez, Chicago Blackhawks
Marcus Pettersson, Pittsburgh Penguins
David Savard, Montreal Canadiens
As usual, the trade market does not suffer for defensive defenseman. Heck, David Savard was the most sought-after defensive D-man in 2021, becoming an important part of a Lightning Stanley Cup win after they acquired him at the trade deadline. Now 34 and in the last year of his deal with Montreal ($3.5 million AAV), contending teams will no doubt check in on Savard again.
Conversely, didn’t we just do this with Alexandre Carrier last season? The Predators hung onto him at the deadline and signed him to a three-year deal with a $3.75 million cap hit. With Nashville struggling, teams are likely to check in on a valuable defenseman.
This group has a handful of current or former Penguins. Pettersson, who makes just over $4 million against the cap and has an eight-team no-trade clause, was considered next line for a trade after Lars Eller was moved to the Capitals. Dumoulin, Cole and Maatta were all Stanley Cup winners with the Pens; Bortuzzo and Ceci were not. Ceci could be an interesting addition for a contender having played 24 games in the Oilers’ playoff run last postseason.
Lindgren is beloved in the Rangers’ dressing room for his physical sacrifices for the team and his partnership with Adam Fox. But the 26-year-old is in and out of the lineup with injuries and goes UFA next summer after his $4.5 million, one-year contract is done.
Bargain beauty contracts tier
Anthony Beauvillier, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jake Evans, F, Montreal Canadiens
Trent Frederic, C, Boston Bruins
Jeremy Lauzon, F, Nashville Predators
Drew O’Connor, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
Mathieu Olivier, W, Columbus Blue Jackets
Daniel Sprong, W, Seattle Kraken
Frederic is a big-bodied center that saw his numbers increase year over year, but like so many other Bruins his output is down this season. At $2.3 million AAV and a UFA after this season, Frederic would be a solid bottom-six addition for someone.
Lauzon is reportedly getting a lot of interest as a hard-checking defenseman. He makes $2 million against the cap and is signed through next season.
Finally, there’s Olivier. He’s having a heck of a contract season, hitting a career high in goals (eight) in 28 games. The 27-year-old Blue Jackets winger brings the energy and drops the gloves when it’s warranted. Every contender wants to add some toughness before the playoffs. At $1.1 million, the pain will be inflicted on the ice rather than on the payroll.