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Deadline Primer 2025

Trade Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break now almost over, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Things haven’t gone exactly as planned for the Penguins this season.  After tweaking their roster, GM Kyle Dubas hoped that this group would be able to hang around the playoff picture.  While they’re still within striking distance of a playoff spot, they’ve already dealt away their top rental, signaling that they will likely be subtracting from their roster once again at the deadline.

Record

23-25-9, 7th in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$9.88MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 49/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: NYR 1st*, PIT 1st, MIN 3rd, OTT 3rd, PIT 3rd, PIT 4th, CHI 5th, NYR 5th, PIT 5th, PIT 6th, PIT 7th
2026: PIT 1st, PIT 2nd, STL 2nd, PIT 3rd, SJ 3rd, PIT 4th, NSH 6th, CHI 7th, PIT 7th

*-Top-13 protected; if it doesn’t convey this year, it becomes New York’s unprotected 2026 first-round selection.

Trade Chips

With Marcus Pettersson now in Vancouver from the trade at the beginning of the month, Pittsburgh’s top rental blueliner is long gone but Matt Grzelcyk is another who could draw interest.  He struggled to start the season as he adjusted to his new team but he has played better in recent weeks leading up to the break.  The 31-year-old has set a new career-high in points with 28 in 57 games, putting him second on the Penguins in points by a defenseman (behind Erik Karlsson but ahead of Kris Letang) while he’s logging over 20 minutes a night for the first time in his career.  While Grzelcyk would likely be more of a third-pairing option on a contending team, his $2.75MM AAV is one that is reasonably affordable which should give Dubas some options if he wants to move out another rearguard.

Their other rental options are more of the depth variety.  Anthony Beauvillier has a dozen goals in 56 games despite not even averaging 13 minutes a night and isn’t too pricey at $1.25MM.  For a team looking for some low-cost scoring depth, he could be a viable option.  When healthy, Matthew Nieto has been a capable checking winger.  Staying healthy has been a challenge lately and he has struggled this year but at just $900K, it’s possible a team could flip a late-round pick to bring in some extra depth.

While Pittsburgh would undoubtedly want to get out of Tristan Jarry and Ryan Graves’s contracts, that’s probably not happening.  Nor is it likely that they’d move their older core group that they’re trying to build around.  But even with that in mind, there are a few other possible trade options.

Rickard Rakell’s tenure with Pittsburgh has been a bit uneven but this has been one of the good years.  He already has 25 goals this season, giving him a chance to surpass 30 for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign and sits second in team scoring behind Sidney Crosby while often playing with the captain on the top line.  As far as trade value goes, it’s reasonably high, especially since he’s signed for three more years at $5MM.  It doesn’t seem likely that the Penguins would embark on a larger-scale rebuild so he’s someone they’d probably prefer not to move so it will take a big offer to get him.  That same sentence applies to winger Bryan Rust who is also in that price range.

Pittsburgh has a pair of bottom-six forwards who could attract some interest as well.  Noel Acciari is a physical fourth-line center who has seven different seasons of playoff experience and had some success as a deadline pickup two years ago.  He has one year left on his deal after this one at $2MM which is a salary that looks a bit more affordable with the big jump coming in the salary cap.  The other is Blake Lizotte.  He provides a bit more offense than Acciari and is capable of playing both center and the wing although he’s also undersized.  He’s in Acciari’s price range with one year left on his deal as well at a $1.85MM price tag.  Neither player would command a significant return but moving one of them would open up a roster spot to give one of their prospects in AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton an extended look.

Team Needs

1) Young Pros: Last year, we saw Dubas prioritize a nearer-future return in the Jake Guentzel trade, adding Vasiliy Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen as part of the package instead of picking up more draft picks.  We also saw them add Rutger McGroarty, the more pro-ready piece, in a swap of first-round prospects with Winnipeg over the offseason.  The emphasis is getting players who are closer to being NHL-ready who could still fit with the current veteran core.  There’s no reason to think they won’t take a similar approach this time around.

2) Contract Flexibility: With only one open contract slot at the moment, that doesn’t give the Penguins much flexibility on that front, either in terms of adding more minor-pro players in a trade or even for the college free agent market if they need to burn a year now to entice a signing.  Freeing up two or three slots would certainly help them on that front, especially when you keep in mind that contracts don’t expire until July 1st so having that extra wiggle room could also help them at draft time in trade discussions.  It’s not a must-do but it would certainly be beneficial for them.

Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Philadelphia Flyers

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break here, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The standings won’t be a focus in the Flyers’ deadline plans. They entered the two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off on the heels of a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games while being outscored 31-16. The Flyers’ positives have been elsewhere, namely with rookie Matvei Michkov. He’s earned Calder Trophy attention with 16 goals and 36 points in 55 games and seems to be heeding the wisdom of tenured head coach John Tortorella. He leads a suite of prospects performing well, joined by Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, and Emil Andrae in the NHL and Samu Tuomaala, Jacob Gaucher, and Alexis Gendron in the minors. Their success, and a heaping seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, will train Philadelphia’s sights firmly on the future for the rest of the year.

Record

24-26-7, 8th in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$8.43MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: PHI 1st, COL 1st, EDM 1st, PHI 2nd, ANA 2nd, CGY 2nd, CBJ 2nd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, CAR 5th, PHI 6th, PHI 7th
2026: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 6th, PHI 7th

Trade Chips

Philadelphia telegraphed their deadline approach in late January when they sent Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames for Andrei Kuzmenko, prospect Jakob Pelletier, and two draft picks. In the wake of the deal, general manager Daniel Brière emphasized the team’s long-term thinking, even painting Kuzmenko’s acquisition as a test run for free agency. They’ll continue trimming veterans for future assets into March, playing with a hand of frequent trade candidates.

Center Scott Laughton is once again standing tallest on Philadelphia’s trade block. He continues to serve a diligent center role in Philadelphia’s middle-six, stepping up as the hard-nosed drive behind the Flyers’ top scorers. Teams have long commended Laughton’s ability to lead a locker room, but his trade price has been rumored to be as high as a first-round pick in years past. Laughton has scored a commendable 11 goals and 26 points this year and carries a modest $3MM cap hit through this season and next.

However, his third-line role would make a high price hard to nab. Laughton’s veteran presence would almost certainly garner plenty of attention from playoff hopefuls on the open market. Still, the Flyers may need to come down on their price to make something happen. His move could open the necessary lineup space to reward Gaucher’s hot AHL season or create room for OHL prospect Jett Luchanko next season after he made the Flyers out of training camp this year.

Defender Rasmus Ristolainen has also been featured on the Flyers’ block for a long time. The 30-year-old Finn has rounded his game out in Philadelphia, becoming more of a physical defensive presence than in his early years. Ristolainen has just 15 points in 54 games this season, but he’s also recorded the first positive rating of his career with a plus-three. He’s diligently served the Flyers’ slot and could be a cheap acquisition for playoff teams needing any support on right defense, like the Stars. Ristolainen carries a lofty $5.1MM cap hit through the end of next season, which may force Philadelphia to concede quite a bit of ground if they want to make a move happen – something they’re unwilling to do given he’s not yet a pending UFA. Helge Grans would likely stand as the biggest benefactor of Ristolainen’s move. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut earlier this year, netting one point in six games, and has 18 points in 44 AHL games.

Outside of the veteran pair, the Flyers don’t seem to have many alluring assets. Depth forward Noah Cates offers a physical, two-way presence and may be entering his prime too early for the Flyers’ timeline. He could be a cheap acquisition for teams looking to shore up their bottom six. The same can be said for bruising veteran Garnet Hathaway, who ranks second among NHL forwards with 205 hits in 57 games. Both forwards check in with cap hits under $2.65MM but likely wouldn’t command lofty returns.

Philadelphia also has an excess in goal. Russian tandem Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have struggled to find their footing in the NHL. They both boast save percentages in the .870s while splitting time as the backup behind Samuel Ersson. Shipping off either goalie could land Philadelphia a simple return. Fedotov, who is five years Kolosov’s senior, seems the more likely to move of the two.

Team Needs

1) Defense Prospects – The Flyers have built hardy prospect groups on offense, but the lackluster acquisition of Jamie Drysdale has left them a bit vacant on defense. Cameron York has caught enough momentum to lead Philadelphia’s blue line into the future, but he needs strong support. One of their aforementioned packages could be enough to net Christian Kyrou away from Dallas or Elias Salomonsson away from the Winnipeg Jets. Both players are right-shot, former second-rounders currently performing up to par in the AHL with 13 points in 28 games and 15 points in 26 games, respectively. Any incoming right-defender will join Grans as the future bets on a shallow right side and could stand as modest ways to round out a prospect pool.

2) Depth Goaltending – Goaltending has been the sore spot throughout the Flyers organization this year. Ersson has done enough to claim the starting role, posting a 16-10-3 record and a .896 save percentage, but nearly every role behind him is unclear. The AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms have utilized five different goaltenders this year, and only one – Parker Gahagen (.907) – has posted a save percentage above .900 in substantial minutes. Finding a netminder that can stand above the rest would be a welcome silver lining as Philadelphia builds out next year. The Toronto Maple Leafs could be swayed to part with 22-year-old Dennis Hildeby for the right price, with 26-year-old Joseph Woll boasting a .909 in 30 NHL games.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Ottawa Senators.

The Ottawa Senators limped into the 4 Nations Face-Off break on a three-game losing streak but remain positioned to buy at the NHL Trade Deadline as they currently occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Senators haven’t made the playoffs since 2017 and will likely opt to be a buyer at the deadline as they try to break their playoff drought. The team will also look to show their core that they are serious about winning after years of negative headlines surrounding the franchise. Ottawa isn’t a lock to make the playoffs with four teams within four points of them. However, a few solid moves could propel them to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

Record

29-23-4, 4th in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$880K on deadline day, 1/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: OTT 1st*, OTT 2nd, FLA 3rd, OTT 5th, OTT 6th, OTT 7th
2026: OTT 1st*, OTT 3rd, FLA 3rd, WASH 3rd, OTT 5th, OTT 6th, COL 6th

*Ottawa must forfeit their first-round pick in either 2025 or 2026 for the Evgenii Dadonov penalty.

Trade Chips

As surprising as this may be, the Ottawa Senators may not get too many runs at the playoffs with their current core due to poor drafting and asset management. Ottawa has one of the worst prospect rankings in the NHL (27th in the NHL as per The Athletic) and will be without a first-round pick in one of the next two drafts due to Dadonov penalty. The positive for Ottawa is that they have their young core locked into long-term deals, and with new management in place, they can still rebuild the farm system. What this all means for the Senators is that they don’t have a ton of desirable trade assets if they want to hunt for an impact player at this year’s deadline, and they also lack cap space, which will limit their ability to make moves.

The Senators benefitted immensely from the Erik Karlsson trade with San Jose back in 2018, acquiring the third overall pick in 2020 that became Tim Stützle as well as center Josh Norris (and several other pieces, including Dylan DeMelo). While Stützle has become a star, Norris has carved out a solid career as well when he is healthy. Norris has averaged 31 goals per 82 games. However, he has only played more than 60 games once in his career (66 games in 2021-22) and missed a combined 106 games between 2022 and 2024. The 25-year-old Norris has had his name pop up in trade rumors earlier in the season, and given his contract and injury history, it could make sense for Ottawa to try and move on from his $7.95MM cap hit. Ottawa also has Shane Pinto, who could slide into Norris’s spot if the Senators feel that he is ready.

Another chip the Senators could dangle is backup goaltender Anton Forsberg. Forsberg is an expensive luxury at this point and has been considerably outplayed by youngster Leevi Merilainen this season. The 32-year-old is in the final season of a three-year contract and is counting $2.75MM against the salary cap. In 21 games this year, Forsberg has posted an 8-10-1 record with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. While on the surface, those numbers look pedestrian, the NHL is a league starved for goaltending, and Forsberg has registered a goals saved above expected of 1 this season (as per Money Puck). Ottawa could look to flip out Forsberg for a small asset and then use the cap savings to fill out a hole in their roster and call up Merilainen for the remainder of the season.

Ottawa could opt to move on from other veterans who have underperformed, such as David Perron or Michael Amadio, but given the tight salary cap situation for most teams this year, it would be wise to wait until the summer for such a move.

If the Senators decided to move out draft picks or prospects, there would certainly be interest in a first-round pick, but that would leave Ottawa without a first-round pick in back-to-back drafts. Ottawa does hold three third-round picks next season and could move out one of those for a depth piece at the deadline. If Ottawa wanted to trade a prospect, Carter Yakemchuk would have a ton of trade value but would leave the Senators without their top prospect in an already-thin pool. Mads Søgaard is another name Ottawa could move on from, but at 24, he holds almost no trade value and would be viewed as a long shot by most teams.

With a shallow pool of prospects, limited roster pieces to move, and questions around their more desirable draft picks, Ottawa doesn’t have a ton of assets with much trade value, which will limit their ability to improve the team this season.

Team Needs

1) Depth Defensemen: Ottawa has been a good defensive team this season (10th in the NHL), but that doesn’t mean they don’t have holes in their defense core. One listen to any Ottawa-based radio program or podcast and you will hear a plethora of fans calling for the Senators to find a third pairing defenseman, preferably of the right shot variety. Veteran Travis Hamonic has played considerably better this year than last, but he still struggles on the possession front and probably plays too much for what he is at this point in his career. Ottawa has also used Tyler Kleven on the third pairing, and while the 23-year-old looks to have potential, his numbers have mirrored Hamonic’s.

The Senators don’t need to break the bank to acquire a defenseman, and there should be plenty available heading into the deadline. Rasmus Ristolainen is a name that has been kicked around in trade rumors (not involving the Senators), but Ottawa would be wise to steer clear of him and his $5.1MM cap hit. Another name is Carson Soucy out of Vancouver, but he too is expensive and has been among the worst defensemen in the NHL this season, as per Evolving-Hockey’s all-in-one goals above replacement stat (subscription required). A name that could make sense for Ottawa, if they can clear cap space, is Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks. Murphy was once considered a top-four defender but has been saddled with tough minutes on the rebuilding Blackhawks. Murphy carries a $4.4MM cap hit for this year and next season but would likely flourish in a depth role with the Senators.

2) Depth Forward: Ottawa has had to use several players in the top six this season who would benefit from playing in the bottom six. Some of them have posted elevated numbers (Adam Gaudette), but for the most part, there have been struggles. Ottawa appears to be conscious of this, as they have already been linked to Ryan Donato of Chicago, which makes sense for them, given his low cap hit for the rest of this season and his on-ice impact. Donato has 19 goals and 18 assists in 53 games this season and is also a physical presence, registering 89 hits. With some shuffling, Ottawa could fit his modest $2MM cap hit into their lineup. The issue that Ottawa might face with Donato is that his offensive production benefits greatly from playing in an elevated role with Connor Bedard on a less talented Blackhawks team.

The Senators have also been linked to Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken, who would inject some energy and physicality into the bottom-six forward group but wouldn’t offer much more than depth offense. The 33-year-old has nine goals and eight assists in 55 games this season and has topped 30 points just once in his career. Tanev is the kind of player who could thrive in a physical playoff series, as evidenced by his 170 hits in 46 career NHL playoff games.

Ottawa will have some options for forward depth leading into the trade deadline, but it will all come down to whether or not they can free up cap space to add to their current lineup.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: New York Rangers

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the New York Rangers.

This Trade Deadline may not mean more for one team than for the New York Rangers. They’ve been among the most active teams this season, dealing away Jacob Trouba, Filip Chytil, and Victor Mancini in deals that landed them J.T. Miller and Urho Vaakanainen. Their early returns have proven more promising than many expected, but it hasn’t been enough to pull the Rangers up from their slide down the standings. They enter mid-February in firm competition for the Eastern Conference wild cards with four other teams. The Rangers have scored the second-most and allowed the 10th-most goals in the league since the start of January and could be poised to lean into their inconsistent year with an overhaul at the deadline.

Record

27-24-4, 5th in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$16.48MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: SEA 3rd, ANA 4th, MIN 5th, SEA 6th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th
2026: NYR 1st, NYR 3rd, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, VAN 7th

Trade Chips

A deadline with such high stakes will inevitably force the Rangers to make some more tough decisions. Many of their core veterans have looked out of touch with their prime or out of sync with each other for nearly the entire season. That precedent is head-manned by former 50-goal scorer Chris Kreider, who entered the year on the heels of three dazzling seasons. Kreider scored 52 goals and 77 points in 81 games of the 2021-22 season and succeeded with 36 and 39 goals in the following two years. After nine years of finding his footing at the top flight, Kreider seemed to finally be blossoming into the routinely great goal-scorer he showed the potential to be. But that flame has fizzled out, and Kreider stands with just 16 goals and four assists through 47 games this season – an 82-game pace of 28 goals and 35 points. That monotonous scoring will put him at the top of the list as New York looks like a place where they may be able to bolster their lineup.

Close behind Kreider will be longtime linemate Mika Zibanejad, who’s also struggled to find ground all season. Zibanejad has a commendable 11 goals and 37 points in 55 games on the year, but his stat line is marred by a -24 – and his ice time has fluctuated between as little as 13 minutes and as much as 24 minutes through points this season. He’s been hard to trust and endured an eight-game scoring drought through December. Zibanejad likely holds the upper hand over Kreider when it comes to New York’s chopping block, given his boost in scoring and 53.1 faceoff percentage. However, questions emerging on year three of his eight-year, $68MM contract could be enough to send Zibanejad – and his $8.5MM annual cap hit – packing for the right return. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta has reported multiple times that Zibanejad is willing to waive his no-move clause for the “right situation.”

New York faces a similar competition on their blue line as well, where both Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller have failed to inspire much of anything. The duo has 15 points in 50 games and 13 points in 49 games, respectively, and each boasts negative plus-minuses. Lindgren has served as the handcuff to Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox through parts of the last three seasons, while Miller has gained a boost in minutes in the wake of Trouba’s departure. Both players fill a strong role, but neither has found the offense needed to support one of the NHL’s lowest-scoring blue lines. Rangers defenders have combined for just 18 points on the year. That’s fewer goals than Cale Makar (22), and one higher than Zach Werenski (17), have managed on their own this season.

The Rangers still stand in an advantageous position with any looming moves. While Kreider has had a down year, his scoring precedent and 862 career games will still command a high price. The cost will be even more to afford one of Zibanejad, Miller, or Lindgren – who each fill roles that will need to be immediately replaced should the Rangers want to stay competitive. That sets New York up for a potentially lucrative swap of roster players that are bolstered by their lack of any retained contracts.

Team Needs

1) Offensive Defensemen: Acquiring another scoring defenseman will be about more than improving their blue line’s collective goals. New York superstar Fox scored a career-high 17 goals last season, bolstered by each of Erik Gustafsson, Miller, and Braden Schneider contributing their own handful (eight, six, and five respectively). But with no downhill jump behind him this year, Fox has fallen to just four goals in 40 games. He’s maintained the year with a dazzling 40 assists – fifth-most among NHL defenders – but Fox is still set to snap his three-year streak of 70-point seasons when this year ends.

He needs another creator to help lift the defense-first Rangers, which could point the team toward Chicago Blackhawks defender Seth Jones. Jones and his lofty contract have been on and off the trade block over the last few seasons – but his lack of belonging in Chicago has become glaring this year. He leads the Blackhawks blue-line with 26 points in 38 games and leads the lineup with an average of 24:38 in ice time. Those marks will leave a humongous hole in Chicago’s lineup should Jones get moved, but the right price could land the all-offense, no-defense defender on a playoff contender.

Should New York prefer a hardier future bet, with a cheaper price tag than Jones’ $9.5MM cap hit, they could also turn towards recent Buffalo Sabres acquisition Bowen Byram. It’s hard to think Buffalo moves Byram without a substantial return, rooted in plenty of future capital. That could be a tough price for New York’s desolate prospect pool, but the return would be an all-out scorer capable of playing top-pair minutes. Byram has 29 points in 54 games this season and averages 23 minutes of ice time each game. He’s already been moved once and would become the second-youngest defenseman on New York’s blue line with a move. That could be the exact kind of lucrative bet the Rangers need to pull back into serious playoff contention.

2) Wing Depth: If not a defender, the Rangers need to use this Deadline to figure out their flanks. Their wingers have been incredibly inconsistent this year. Aside from Artemi Panarin – who leads the team with 57 points in 53 games – the Rangers’ most reliable winger has arguably been William Cuylle, who’s scored a career-high 29 points in 55 games from the team’s third line. Cuylle sits just three points behind former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere in scoring, and ahead of both Kreider and summer addition Reilly Smith. With the latter three all losing ground this season, the Rangers desperately need someone to right the ship in their top six.

That could make them a golden landing spot for red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell, who’s managed 25 goals and 45 points in just 56 games this year. That’s already 11 more points than Rakell managed last season, but still 21 shy of his 69-point career-high from 2017-18. He’s been a routine goal threat, capable of maintaining his scoring through changing lineup roles and mid-season trades. Rakell’s hot year will likely demand a package beginning with a first-round pick. That’ll be a tough pill to swallow for the Rangers, but they’re falling in the playoff race to the Columbus Blue Jackets – and a lofty trade could be exactly what’s needed to spark a slouching lineup.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: New York Islanders

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break here, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the New York Islanders.

Against all odds, the Islanders have a fighting chance at a sixth postseason berth in the last seven years. Despite organizational pillars Mathew Barzal, Noah Dobson, and Ryan Pulock all missing significant time due to injuries – and they all remain out as of the break – they’ve put together an 8-3-0 run and sit four points back of the Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the East. That will likely motivate general manager Lou Lamoriello to focus on extending his veteran pending UFAs, but will he be willing to lose them for nothing if talks aren’t productive?

Record

25-23-7, 6th in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Retooler

Deadline Cap Space

$1.95MM on deadline day + $7.775MM LTIR pool, 0/3 retention slots used, 49/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th
2026: NYI 1st, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th

Trade Chips

Despite ongoing preliminary extension discussions, veteran center Brock Nelson remains the best New York has to offer as arguably the most valuable rental asset still available on the market. He’s currently championship-bound with the United States at the 4 Nations, but in league play, the steady 33-year-old has contributed 17-18–35 in 55 games with a plus-one rating. While he’s on pace to fall short of the 30-goal mark for the first time since the shortened 2020-21 campaign, he’s still a veritable top-six talent.

He’s bounced between wing and center over the course of his career but has settled in down the middle. Faceoffs have routinely been a struggle for Nelson, but not this season. He’s winning draws at a career-best 53.2% clip, is averaging a career-high 19:10 per game, and should expect more goal-scoring down the stretch after finishing at 11.6%, nearly three points south of his career average, so far.

Nelson’s longtime linemate, winger Kyle Palmieri, is a pending UFA in the same boat. There’s been less said about extension negotiations there, but if Nelson isn’t sticking around for a playoff rate, there’s little use in not getting value out of Palmieri as well. The 34-year-old is still a bonafide top-six talent, tying Bo Horvat for the team lead in assists with 21 while tallying 37 points in 18:15 of ATOI. He’s one year removed from the second 30-goal campaign of his 15-year career, and while his $5MM cap hit may require a small bit of salary retention to get a deal across the finish line, he’ll net a significant return.

Outside of those two, there won’t be many Islanders drawing trade interest if they do decide to sell off assets and commit to a roster retool. All of their top talents (including Nelson and Palmieri) have some form of trade protection, and they’ve already tried and failed to move on from deals with term left like Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s $5MM AAV through 2025-26. They’ve also gotten their blue line work out the way early, acquiring veteran Tony DeAngelo and pending RFAs Adam Boqvist and Scott Perunovich to weather the storm in the absence of Dobson and Pulock.

It’s worth noting Dobson is a pending RFA who’s recently changed his representation, but rumors of him being on the trade market were again squashed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s 32 Thoughts podcast.

Team Needs

1) Offensive Needle-Mover: The Islanders’ offensive struggles aren’t a new or unforeseeable phenomenon. They rank 26th in goals per game with 2.73, the seventh year in a row they’ve been decidedly in the bottom half of the league. They’ll need to offload significant assets to make it happen – potentially even Dobson, whose name was reportedly discussed in a lone scenario for a first-line forward – but a bonafide 90-point player would give New York the offensive centerpiece they haven’t had on the Island since John Tavares’ departure.

2) Backup Goaltender: Ilya Sorokin has had to handle the lion’s share of starts since veteran backup Semyon Varlamov exited the lineup with a lower-body injury in early December. He was initially ruled as day-to-day but is now on LTIR and remains out indefinitely. No. 3 option Marcus Högberg did well in limited usage after being called up from AHL Bridgeport, notching a .947 SV% in seven appearances, but he’s now on IR and leaves the organization without a reliable option to relieve Sorokin as they look to stay in the race.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: New Jersey Devils

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break here, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the New Jersey Devils.

A fully healthy Devils lineup is showing us exactly what they can do. New Jersey is safely positioned in a playoff spot entering the trade deadline after finishing bottom-five in the Eastern Conference last season. Still, the team is firmly set at the top for their forward core and defense, giving them little to add at the deadline. They have room to add in some areas but they won’t need too much heavy lifting to become a bona fide contender.

Record

31-20-6, 3rd in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$5.558MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: NJ 2nd, EDM 2nd, WPG 2nd, VGK 3rd, NJ 4th, SJ 6th, NJ 6th
2026: NJ 1st, NJ 2nd, NJ 3rd, DAL 4th, WPG 4th, NJ 5th, NJ 6th, NJ 7th

Trade Chips

Although they don’t have their first-round pick for the 2025 NHL Draft thanks to the trade that landed netminder Jacob Markström, the Devils have a trio of second-round picks they easily part with at the deadline. The Oilers’ second-round pick was acquired in the trade sending John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club this past offseason, and they landed the Jets’ second-round pick after trading Tyler Toffoli during last year’s deadline.

It’s inarguable where the Devils will trade from if they look to move prospects. New Jersey already carries one of the deepest blue lines in the league and has plenty of youngsters waiting in the wings.

Scoring three goals and 15 points in 20 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets, defenseman Seamus Casey likely has similar value to a first-round pick. A prospect of his caliber would normally be a lock for NHL minutes relatively soon but Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Simon Nemec are blocking most if not all of his minutes.

Beyond Casey, a recent first-round pick of the Devils, Anton Silayev, could also garner interest. He’s got a higher ceiling than Casey given his size and skating ability, but he’s still a few years away from being an NHL regular. Given the Devils’ immediate needs, neither defenseman strikes as a popular trade candidate for the deadline but New Jersey could make both available in the offseason for a high-impact move.

Team Needs

1) Third-Line Center: If the Devils need anything to supplement their roster, it’s a third-line center. Erik Haula has performed admirably, securing a 54.4% faceoff rate with over 500 attempts. Still, Haula is better served in a fourth-line role at this point of his career giving New Jersey a hole on their third line. Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens, who the Devils have already been linked to, would be the obvious choice as a rental candidate. Outside of Evans, New Jersey could look into the market for San Jose Sharks’ Luke Kunin, Utah’s Nick Bjugstad, and Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins for a similar addition.

2) Additional Bottom-Six Depth: Despite specifically needing a third-line center, the Devils could generally use more depth in the bottom-six of their forward core. Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen have been two of their better additions from the offseason but the Devils could stand to make the likes of Tomas Tatar a rotational piece. It wouldn’t be a game-changing add, but a winger such as Brandon Tanev, Michael Carcone, or Alexandre Texier could slightly move the needle when it comes to New Jersey’s playoff chances.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break here, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Nashville Predators.

Things were not supposed to be like this in Nashville.  After a stellar second half to last season, the Predators were one of the most active teams in free agency, signing a trio of core players to long-term contracts, making them a trendy preseason pick to be a safe playoff team, if not a viable contender in the Western Conference.  Instead, they currently sit 18 points out of a Wild Card spot, meaning they’re likely to be on the outside looking in, barring a fantastic run like they had a year ago.

Record

19-28-7, 7th in the Central

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$32.381MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: NSH 1st, TB 1st, VGK 1st, NSH 2nd, TB 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, COL 6th, NSH 6th
2026: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 7th

Trade Chips

This season hasn’t been a great one for Gustav Nyquist.  The 35-year-old has just nine goals and 11 assists in 52 games despite logging over 17 minutes a night.  However, he’s only one season removed from a career year, one that saw him put up 23 goals and 52 assists in his first season with the Preds.  With that in mind, it’s quite reasonable to think that the veteran is more than capable of rebounding and bouncing back in the right situation although he’d likely be playing a little lower in the lineup.  Nyquist has a $3.185MM AAV and Nashville could pay that down by up to 50% which would make him easier for a lot of teams to afford.  He’d probably land them a mid-round pick in return.

The other veteran of some note up front isn’t a rental.  That would be center Ryan O’Reilly.  This is only the second year of a four-year contract and considering he’s Nashville’s top middleman, he’s not necessarily a logical trade candidate.  But the belief is that GM Barry Trotz is allowing teams to make pitches for the 34-year-old who is being treated as if he has full trade protection even though he doesn’t have any in his contract.  However, his $4.5MM cap charge is team-friendly for someone who would be a second or third-line option on most playoff teams and with it being difficult for teams to add impact centers, it stands to reason that the Preds could command a significant return for O’Reilly’s services which might be enough for Trotz to approach him about a move.

Veteran forward Michael McCarron hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft billing back in 2013 but has become a quality fourth liner.  As someone who can play both center and the wing, kill penalties, and play with an edge, he’s likely to generate some interest.  Considering he’s signed through next season at $900K, his market could be stronger than it might seem.  With Colton Sissons only having one year left after this on what was once a seven-year contract worth $2.857MM per season, he’s likely to attract some attention from teams looking to add some grit and versatility to their bottom six.  Center Thomas Novak has struggled this season after two straight years of more than 40 points.  With two years left at $3.5MM, he isn’t someone Nashville might be ready to give up on but if they are looking to shake things up, there should be teams interested in him as well.

The options aren’t as plentiful on the back end but veteran Luke Schenn is someone to keep an eye on.  He’s no stranger to being moved at the trade deadline and would be of interest to teams looking to add some grit to their third pairing while the fact he’s a right-hand shot will make him a bit more appealing.  A $2.75MM price tag through next season for someone who’s best served as a sixth defender tempers that appeal a bit, however.  Even so, Nashville might be able to unload the full contract for a light return while if they retain some money, he could bring back a mid-round selection.

Team Needs

1) Young, NHL-Ready Pieces: While Nashville has traded some of its younger players away this season, they’ve also added one in Justin Barron in exchange for veteran Alexandre Carrier.  With an older roster in general and a couple of months of likely just playing out the stretch, this feels like a good time for Trotz to take a flyer on two or three younger players that could potentially benefit from a change of scenery.  Not all will pan out, obviously but if they could even pick up one player who could be part of the plans beyond this season, that would be a good step in the right direction while hedging against some concerns they seem to have about rushing their top prospects with AHL Milwaukee to the big club.

2) Impact Center: With three first-rounders, they could possibly take a bigger swing on the trade front as well and look to bring in someone more established.  Someone like Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, for example, is young enough to be a key player for a while so even though buying might not make a lot of sense right now, if the right opportunity presents itself, they could strike.  If Trotz goes that route, getting a center should be the priority.  With O’Reilly in possible trade discussions and Novak struggling, targeting a longer-term player down the middle would be a reasonable target.  That feels like more of an offseason move but if the opportunity presents itself now, the Predators could plausibly try to land that player even while selling some of their veterans.

Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Montreal Canadiens.

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t yet spurred their years near the bottom of the standings, but their successes this year suggest that time could be coming soon. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson has provided a stellar spark behind Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The trio has been backed by promising young goalie Jakub Dobes, finally giving Montreal a sign of the future at every stop in the lineup. Even the Laval Rocket are surging, currently ranked on top of the AHL’s North Division with a roster led by young prospects Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, and Adam Engstrom. The future looks bright in Montreal, and the upcoming Trade Deadline will give the club another chance to trim extra weight and build out what’s to come.

Record

25-26-5, 7th in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$7.45MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: MTL 1st, CGY 1st, MTL 2nd, PIT 2nd, MTL 3rd, VAN 3rd, NJD 3rd, MTL 4th, BOS 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
2026: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, CBJ 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, NJD 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th

Trade Chips

Montreal is entering the Deadline with plenty of extra weight to shed. They have a long list of impactful veterans who could be on the block, led by surging centerman Jake Evans. Evans has posted 11 goals and 26 points through 56 games this season, good enough for fifth on the team in both categories. He’s only three points away from breaking his career-high 29 points set in 72 games of the 2021-22 season. That was one of only two years where Evans played a full NHL season, next to his 28 points in 82 games last season. That precedent makes his 40-point scoring pace this season all the more encouraging. Evans is posting those numbers with a cushy, third-line role and minimal power-play ice time. That’s sure to be an encouraging sign for playoff hopefuls looking to flesh out their bottom-six – teams like the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators. Recent reports suggest that Evans and Montreal could be at an impasse with extension negotiations, potentially making the center a cheaper buy as the deadline approaches.

If not Evans, Montreal could turn back to routine trade rumors. 30-year-old winger Josh Anderson has posted a modest eight goals and 18 points in 56 games this season. His 121 hits is also tied with Juraj Slafkovsky for the most hits on the offense. Anderson has been on the trade block for years now, but his lofty $5.5MM cap hit and minimal lineup role have been dissuading up to this point. To make matters worse, Anderson has two more seasons on his deal after this year – which could make retaining part of his salary a tough bet for the Canadiens. Though it’s worth noting that both Jeff Petry and Jake Allen will come off of Montreal’s retention slots when their contracts end this summer. But for a cheap price, he’ll stand as a physical option for teams in need of more heft. For teams looking the other way, Montreal could also make forward Alex Newhook available. He’s struggled through two years in Montreal, netting just 52 points in 111 games with the team. Newhook hasn’t posted the well-rounded presence Montreal has needed, but he’s added size with the Canadiens and stands as an interesting project on the open market.

The Canadiens can offer plenty of defense as well. Veteran David Savard joined his hometown Montreal in 2021, looking to stand as a consistent pillar behind a young lineup. But his solid presence has continued through the last four seasons, and Savard doesn’t seem close to slowing down in his age-34 season. He has a modest $3.5MM cap hit that’s set to end this summer, which could make him an attractive rental for teams in need of assurance on the blue-line. Savard may be aged and low-scoring, but his high-defense and high-physical presence could land a return that rivals Evans. Montreal also has a wealth of young defenders, including Jayden Struble – who could be seen as dead weight behind the team’s wealth of left-defenders. Struble has five points and a minus-10 through 30 games this season. But he’s in just his second NHL season, and is working to add more physicality to his style. Those could be attractive traits to build up, at a cheap price.

Team Needs

1) Future Capital – Montreal is entering the 2025 NHL Draft with a whopping 12 picks. That’s plenty for comfort, but with the 2024-25 season seeming a bit lost, there’s little more for the Canadiens to ask for. They’ll enter the Deadline with a true seller’s mindset, looking to drive the price up on each of Evans, Savard, and Anderson. Landing a first-round pick for either of the former, or any return for the latter, will be mark successful Trade Deadline for the Canadiens letting them open space for top prospects and really begin kicking off their future.

2) Right-Shot Defense – If any position group appears shallow in Montreal, it’s their right-shot defense. The team has already made moves to address that hole this season, using a December swap of Alexandre Carrier for Justin Barron to boost up their top-four. They also have top prospect Logan Mailloux working his way up the minor-league lineup, and former top-10 draft pick David Reinbacher working his way back from injury. Both players could stand as strong options on the right-side in due time, but Montreal is hinging on Carrier and Savard to hold them up in the meantime. Finding another cheap veteran, or a promising young defender, could go far in rounding out the team’s lineup in the few years remaining in their rebuild.

 

Trade Deadline Primer: Minnesota Wild

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Minnesota Wild.

The Minnesota Wild find themselves in an interesting situation as they have been a pleasant surprise this season and are likely bound for the playoffs, barring a collapse. The Wild have done this despite having nearly $15MM of dead money counting against the salary cap and their top player missing significant time due to injury. While the Wild have overachieved, they may be limited by their cap situation. However, they could also use some of their draft capital or promising prospects to move out some money if they find a player that they feel can help them.

Record

33-19-4, 3rd in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$1.4MM on deadline day*, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contract slots used, per PuckPedia.

*Since Kirill Kaprizov is on long-term injured reserve but is expected to return before the end of the regular season, we’re not including his LTIR pool here. They may have some added flexibility at the deadline if he remains on LTIR but they would still need to remain cap-compliant down the stretch by making subsequent roster moves.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: MIN 2nd, TOR 4th, CBJ 5th, MIN 6th
2026: MIN 1st, MIN 2nd, MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, SJS 5th, MIN 5th, BOS 6th, MIN 6th, MIN 7th

Trade Chips

Minnesota traded their first-round pick earlier this season as part of a large package to the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman David Jiříček. While Jiříček hasn’t contributed much this season, he looks like a long-term fixture for the Wild, which will ultimately make the trade worthwhile. However, it added a barrier to improving this year’s club (coupled with the lack of salary cap space) and leaves them with few trade chips to part with. As mentioned earlier, the Wild could move future draft picks or promising prospects, but they probably don’t have an appetite for that right now unless they can acquire a player with term who will fit in their plans. The Wild hold just four draft picks this year. However, they have all of their picks next season plus two additional late-round picks.

As far as pieces that could be moved for help this season, Marco Rossi is a name that can’t seem to escape trade rumors. The 23-year-old has emerged as a solid offensive contributor this season for Minnesota, registering 19 goals and 28 assists in 56 games. Rossi was selected by the Wild 9th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has started to show why teams were so high on him. If Minnesota were to move on from the undersized forward, they would create a hole in their forward group that Rossi has been filling for most of this season. Although, given his age and production, he would net the Wild a significant return that they could then use to fill other holes. Rossi is a restricted free agent this summer and is making just $863,334 this season.

The Wild don’t have many other pieces that could be moved off of their NHL roster in a deal, as they have several forwards who are underperforming offensively. However, they do have several prospects who are almost NHL-ready and could be part of a massive deal if Minnesota has the appetite and cap space to facilitate a move. Forward Liam Ohgren is a name that comes to mind; the 2022 first-round pick (19th overall) is still finding his way but has had a run in the NHL this season, posting a goal and three assists in 19 games. While those offensive numbers are underwhelming at first glance, they are distorted by an incredibly low shooting percentage of just four percent.

Another forward the Wild could potentially part with is Riley Heidt, who was their second-round pick in 2023 (64th overall). Heidr is currently the captain of the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League and is having a terrific season, posting 25 goals and 41 assists in 43 games. Heidr is a bit undersized, but he more than makes up for it with his physical play. Teams will covet his enthusiasm for getting to the dirty areas of the ice and playing a disruptive game, but Minnesota may not be willing to part with a player who could very well be their captain one day.

Team Needs

1.) A Top Six Forward: The Wild have been operating with a patchwork forward group since Kaprizov went down with injury and were further depleted when Joel Eriksson Ek was also missing time. On paper, The Wild’s forward group looks like a mishmash of journeymen forwards and young skilled forwards, but in reality, they’ve been a middle-of-the-road offensive team (17th out of 32). Minnesota could benefit from an additional top-six forward who could displace some of the forwards who are punching above their weight class at the moment. However, the cost to acquire and the additional salary will likely make this kind of addition a difficult one. Minnesota has just $1.4MM in deadline day cap space, meaning they would likely need other teams to retain salary if they were to bring in a veteran. Local boys Brock Nelson and Brock Boeser would make a lot of sense for Minnesota as they would represent major upgrades to the top six. However, both men have salaries north of $6MM and will likely be too rich for Minnesota’s tastes this year.

2.) Depth Scoring: The Wild would benefit immensely from more depth scoring from the likes of Ryan Hartman; however, the next best option might be to find more scoring on the trade market. Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks could be a good option with his $2MM cap hit and the potential to be a lower-cost acquisition. However, it’s always tricky when a player is having a career year and then gets traded, and there is no guarantee that Donato would carry that momentum over in a trade. However, given the Wild’s predicament, Donato may be their best option. Another good depth option could be Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens, who has also put together a career year and is a pending unrestricted free agent (just like Donato). At 28 years old, Evans has never topped 30 points in a season, but with 11 goals and 16 assists in 56 games this year, he will most certainly set career highs and should get a nice payday this July.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.

PHR’s Josh Cybulski contributed to this article.

Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Kings

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings are in a peculiar position leading into the trade deadline. They have been a consistently competitive team in the Western Conference but don’t carry the same offensive firepower as divisional opponents such as the Edmonton Oilers or Vegas Golden Knights, leading to early exits in the Stanley Cup playoffs. General manager and vice president of hockey operations, Rob Blake, for better or for worse, isn’t a stranger to big moves. Will he add more offense to balance the Kings out, double down on their pesky defense, or stand pat like he did last year?

Record

29-17-7, 3rd in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Conservative buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4.516MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 43/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: LAK 1st, LAK 3rd, LAK 4th, LAK 5th, LAK 6th, LAK 7th
2026: LAK 1st, LAK 2nd, LAK 3rd, LAK 4th, LAK 5th, LAK 6th, LAK 7th

Trade Chips

If the Kings’ front office believes they’re in a window of contention, Los Angeles could trade one of their first-round picks in 2025 or 2026. Since selecting Brandt Clarke as the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Kings have added 19 prospects to their organization via the draft, giving the flexibility to trade a higher-valued draft selection. Still, unless they trade some salary from the active roster, Los Angeles doesn’t have the financial flexibility to add a needle-mover thus negating most reasoning to move a first-round pick.

Although the Kings’ organization has many prospects, the overall quality of those prospects is lacking. Since graduating the likes of Clarke, Akil Thomas, and Alex Turcotte to the NHL level, forward Liam Greentree is objectively the best prospect remaining giving Los Angeles every reason to retain him. Greentree was selected as the 26th overall pick in last summer’s draft and is the OHL’s third-highest scorer this year with 35 goals and 51 assists through 50 games.

Still, one thing the Kings’ pipeline has is goaltending depth. According to Scott Wheeler’s prospect rankings in The Athletic (Subscription Required), three of Los Angeles’ top-five prospects are goaltenders: Erik Portillo, Hampton Slukynsky, and Carter George. Portillo is the closest to NHL-ready with the latter two being several years away. Although goaltending depth is always important, no team needs three goaltenders for the future so the Kings’ could look to move either Slukynsky or George for more immediate talent.

Team Needs

1) Second Line Center: As much as Los Angeles would like Quinton Byfield to be a top-six center for years to come, it’s not working out that way. To Byfield’s credit, the Kings are controlling the puck more 5 on 5 when he’s on the ice, but his 43.6% faceoff success rate and his 88.4% on-ice save percentage in all situations show he’s more of a top-six winger. As mentioned, Los Angeles doesn’t have the cap space or the necessary capital to acquire a player like Dylan Cozens or Casey Mittelstadt, but they should be one of the team’s calling on Jake Evans or Trent Frederic. Both players would blend well into the Kings’ system given their defensive awareness and would allow their wingers more freedom and creativity on the offensive side of the puck.

2) Scoring Depth: Los Angeles has no problems keeping the puck out of the net. The Kings are fifth in goals-against per game, fourth in penalty kill percentage, first in shots-against, and ninth in save percentage. On the flip side, they are 20th in goals-for-per-game, 29th in powerplay percentage, and 28th in shots on goal. Again, given their available trade assets, Los Angeles would be better served looking into the trade markets for players such as Ryan Donato or Luke Kunin. The former’s perceived trade value has risen recently but it shouldn’t take a ’Kings’ ransom to pry him away from the Blackhawks.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

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