Now that the NHL Draft has been accomplished and the highest free brokers have all largely signed, the offseason goes to decelerate a bit bit. That doesn’t imply the potential blockbuster strikes are completed, as there are nonetheless some potential commerce choices on the market that might be moved within the coming weeks and months.
Listed below are 5 gamers who might nonetheless be on the transfer this offseason.
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
After one other playoff disappointment leading to a seventh first-round exit in eight years, the Maple Leafs are at some extent the place they need to make some type of main change to their roster. Thus far, that change has not occurred.
Marner is the most definitely core participant to get moved given that he’s within the remaining yr of his present contract, isn’t a lock to re-sign and would additionally convey again the most important return of their core gamers.
Marner took the majority of the blame for Toronto’s newest postseason displaying, however he stays a top-line scorer (85 factors in 69 video games this previous season) whereas additionally taking part in wonderful protection as a ahead. The large maintain up on a commerce right here — apart from Toronto getting honest market worth — would be the contract state of affairs (a $10.9M wage cap hit this season after which pending unrestricted free company) in addition to the actual fact he has a no-movement clause and will block any potential transfer.
Regardless of that, he stays a particular commerce chance.
Jacob Trouba, New York Rangers
Despite the fact that Trouba is the Rangers’ captain and has performed a giant position on their protection, the Rangers have been desperately making an attempt to maneuver him this offseason. That is not solely as a result of his contract is a detriment to their wage cap state of affairs ($8M wage cap quantity for 2 extra years), but in addition as a result of his play has deteriorated to the purpose the place he has grow to be a legal responsibility on the ice.
Buying and selling him, although, isn’t going to be straightforward, not just for the contract and declining-play causes, but in addition as a result of he has commerce protections in his contract and isn’t keen to maneuver out of New York.
The Rangers must dramatically overhaul their protection, and a Trouba commerce could be a major step towards that.
Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
In a really perfect world, the Jets would in all probability wish to hold Ehlers as a result of he’s nonetheless solely 28-years-old and a relative cut price at $6M in opposition to the wage cap this season given his manufacturing. When wholesome, he’s a 20-goal, 60-point scorer who has a robust two-way presence to his recreation.
However the Jets need to be life like about whether or not or not they’ll re-sign him as he enters the ultimate yr of his contract, particularly as teammate Kyle Connor has a brand new contract state of affairs looming within the close to future as properly. The Jets might determine it’s best to lose him a yr early for a pleasant return than threat shedding him for nothing subsequent summer time.
Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets
Technically talking, Laine isn’t but eligible to traded, as he stays within the NHL/NHLPA participant’s help program. However as quickly as he exits that program, it appears to be a matter of when, and never if, he will get moved out of Columbus.
He has a giant wage cap quantity ($8.7M per yr for an additional two years) and his recreation could be very one-dimensional, however that one dimension is a vital one. He scores targets. So much. Even throughout his down years, he’s nonetheless able to scoring 30 targets over 82 video games and nonetheless has a fairly excessive peak.
He’s additionally nonetheless solely 26-years-old and will nonetheless have some prime years forward of him. Get him into the correct state of affairs and he might rediscover the shape that noticed him attain the 44-goal mark just a few years in the past.
Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes
Over the previous two or three years, Necas appeared like he was going to be a key, cornerstone piece for a constant contender in Carolina.
He has discovered his title in commerce hypothesis this offseason, nevertheless, after a down yr offensively in 2023-24 (53 factors in 77 video games, down from 71 factors in 82 video games the earlier yr). He’s a restricted free agent and would reportedly be interested in a change of scenery, whereas the Hurricanes will not be comfy assembly his contract calls for.
It’s the excellent storm for a commerce.
Necas continues to be solely 25-years-old and is a bonafide first- or second-line scorer who could be a really perfect match for any staff in want of extra offense, whether or not that staff is rebuilding or contending.