The 8 Biggest Stars Who Could Be Traded at the 2024 NHL Draft
Lyle Richardson@@SpectorsHockeyFeatured Columnist IVJune 3, 2024The 8 Biggest Stars Who Could Be Traded at the 2024 NHL Draft0 of 8
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström and Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers.Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2024 NHL draft will be held at Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29. Most of the attention will be on the first round and which promising young players will be selected after the San Jose Sharks choose top prospect Macklin Celebrini first.
Some notable NHL stars could also be on the move during the event. This draft will be the last one in which the general managers from all 32 teams will be on location, potentially setting the stage for wheeling and dealing.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström could be among those on the move. He and several others on this list frequently appeared in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline. Others, like Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, have recently surfaced as trade candidates.
Markström and Ehlers join six others on our player list, which we consider most likely to be traded at the NHL draft later this month. Follow along as we examine the reasons why.
We’ve excluded Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. They have appeared recently in the rumor mill, but we believe they’re unlikely to be moved because of their expensive contracts and value to their respective teams.
Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Is there someone you believe deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the app comments below.
Jakob Chychrun, Ottawa Senators1 of 8
Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images
Acquired by the
Ottawa Senators before the March 2023 trade deadline, Jakob Chychrun
was expected to be a key part of their rebuilding plan. Having missed
the playoffs this year for the seventh straight season, the
26-year-old defenseman could find himself changing teams this summer.
Chychrun has a
year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.6 million. He
will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
During his
end-of-season interview, Chychrun indicated that he hadn’t yet had
contract extension talks with Senators general manager Steve Staios.
He added that he was unsure of his future in Ottawa.
The Senators carry
three left-shot defensemen with Chychrun, Thomas Chabot, and Jake
Sanderson but they’re thin in comparable right-shot blueliners. The
latter two are under long-term contracts, leaving Chychrun as the
most likely trade candidate.
On May 23, the
Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators could attempt to
acquire Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark. He cited a league
executive suggesting Chychrun would have to be part of the trade
package to get him.
Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets2 of 8
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Since joining the Winnipeg Jets in 2015-16, Nikolaj Ehlers has been among their most consistent scoring forwards. The 28-year-old winger has scored 20 or more goals seven times and reached or exceeded 50 points five times.
Ehlers has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. However, there are media rumblings that this season could be his last with the Jets. The Athletic’s Murat Ates and the Winnipeg Sun’s Scott Billeck believe he could be traded this summer if he and the Jets fail to agree to a contract extension.
The Jets need help for their blue line after the Colorado Avalanche decimated their defense during their first-round playoff series. Ehlers could be a worthwhile trade chip to address that need.
Ates suggested the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and the Utah franchise as possible suitors for Ehlers. The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner suggested he’d be a good fit with the New York Islanders while Sammi Silber felt he’d be a fine addition to the Washington Capitals.
Billeck, meanwhile, suggested the Jets trade Ehlers for draft picks and prospects. They could use the $6 million savings to pursue a defenseman in this summer’s free-agent market.
Jacob Markström, Calgary Flames3 of 8
Derek Cain/Getty Images
Topping our May Offseason Trade Block
Big Board, Jacob Markström is also the most likely trade candidate
entering June. The 34-year-old Calgary Flames goaltender regularly appeared in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline.
Markström was noncommittal about his future in Calgary during his end-of-season media availability.
Flames general Craig Conroy indicated he’s taking a wait-and-see
approach toward the situation during the offseason.
The Flames were reportedly close to
trading Markström in February to the New Jersey Devils but the deal
failed to materialize. Following the trade deadline, Devils GM Tom
Fitzgerald said he intends to pursue a starting goalie this summer.
Markström could remain his primary target.
Markström is under contract for two
more seasons with an average annual value of $6 million. His
no-movement clause gives him complete control over this situation. If
he agrees to be traded, Conroy’s asking price could be a first-round
pick and either a top prospect or a good young NHL player.
The Devils might not be the only club
with an interest in Markström. Toronto Maple Leafs general manager
Brad Treliving knows him well from his days as Flames GM and could
make a pitch. The Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, and Los
Angeles Kings could also come calling.
Martin NeÄas, Carolina Hurricanes4 of 8
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The elimination of the Carolina
Hurricanes from the second round of the 2024 playoffs has already
brought about some change as Don Waddell resigned last week as their
general manager. Changes could be coming to their
roster as they carry eight active roster players eligible for UFA
status and six slated to become restricted free agents.
Those changes could include Martin
NeÄas. The 25-year-old forward is an RFA with arbitration rights
coming off a two-year contract with an annual average value of $3
million. He’ll be looking for a more lucrative deal this summer.
A versatile forward who can play center
or right wing, NeÄas reached or exceeded 40 points in each of the last
four seasons. However, he’s also unhappy as a third-line winger and
wants a top-six role. There’s speculation that he would welcome a
trade to a club where he’d have more playing time as a first-line
forward.
NeÄas will attract plenty of interest
from teams in the market for more scoring punch this summer. The
Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Vancouver
Canucks have been linked to the Hurricanes winger in the rumor mill.
The Hurricanes will want a reasonable
return for NeÄas. They could seek a top-four defenseman to offset the
likely departure of Brett Pesce via free agency this summer.
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators5 of 8
Ethan Cairns/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Nashville Predators can sign Juuse
Saros to a contract extension as early as July 1, when he’ll be
officially a year away from eligibility for unrestricted free-agent
status. However, there’s ongoing speculation over the 29-year-old
goaltender’s future.
Saros was a frequent fixture in the
rumor mill before the March 8 trade deadline. Most of the
conjecture linked him to the New Jersey Devils, but Predators general
manager Barry Trotz opted to retain him as his club pushed for a
playoff berth.
The Predators have a promising young
netminder in Yaroslav Askarov who could be ready to join their roster
next season. They could re-sign Saros and have him share the net with
the 21-year-old Askarov, keep Saros for next season and move him at
next year’s trade deadline, or attempt to trade him this summer.
Saros carries a reasonable $5 million
cap hit for 2024-25. He also lacks no-trade protection, enabling
Trotz to peddle him wherever he wants. Teams seeking a reliable
starting goaltender like the Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los
Angeles Kings could be very interested in his services.
Trotz could use Saros as trade bait to
add a scorer to his forward lines. He could also seek a first-round
draft pick or a top prospect as part of a return containing assets
that could be put toward building up the Predators’ long-term future.
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights6 of 8
Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images
Vegas Golden Knights general manager
Kelly McCrimmon said there was a strong mutual interest to work on a
new contract for Jonathan Marchessault. The 33-year-old winger is
slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Doing so,
however, could involve shipping out Shea Theodore before the end of
June.
The Golden Knights possess only $897,
516 in salary cap space for 2024-25 with 20 active roster players
under contract. They’ll get an additional $5 million in cap
flexibility if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury
reserve. Nevertheless, that won’t leave enough to re-sign
Marchessault and fill out the remainder of the 23-man roster.
On May 13, The Athletic’s Jesse Granger
suggested a defenseman like Shea Theodore or Zach Whitecloud as a trade
candidate. Whitecloud carries an average annual value of $2.8 million
for the next four seasons. Theodore, 28, is a year away from
unrestricted free-agent eligibility with an AAV of $5.2. million.
Granger also pointed out that the Golden
Knights recently signed Noah Hanifin to a seven-year contract
extension. Acquired from the Calgary Flames before the March
trade deadline, Hanifin plays a similar puck-moving style to Theodore.
McCrimmon will get plenty of calls
about Theodore if he’s put on the trade block. He carries a five-team
no-trade list but that shouldn’t adversely affect efforts to get a
solid return of futures to restock the Golden Knights’ prospect
pipeline.
Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins7 of 8
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The goaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman played a significant role in the Boston Bruins enjoying a record-setting performance in 2022-23 and exceeding expectations in 2023-24, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. This season, however, could be the last time they play together.
Winner of the Vezina Trophy last season, Ullmark popped up in the rumor mill before the March 8 trade deadline as reports emerged the Bruins had a deal with a club on his 16-team no-trade list. The 30-year-old goaltender is said to have rejected the deal, as is his right. Neither Ullmark nor the Bruins would comment on the rumor.
Swayman supplanted Ullmark during the Bruins’ 2024 playoff run as their starting goaltender. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer and is expected to be re-signed to a long-term extension with a raise well above his $3.5 million cap hit for this season.
Ullmark, meanwhile, has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5 million and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Bruins could peddle him before the draft and promote promising Brandon Bussi as Swayman’s backup.
Several teams could be interested in acquiring Ullmark. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils were among the clubs interested in the Bruins netminder before the trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes discussed a deal involving Ullmark.
Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks8 of 8
Nicole Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images
A disappointing injury-shortened 2023-24 made Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras the subject of media conjecture leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. While Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek denied shopping Zegras or receiving trade calls from other clubs, that hasn’t stopped some pundits from pondering the youngster’s future.
A dazzling puck-handler and a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, Zegras was poised to become the rebuilding Ducks’ franchise player following back-to-back 60-plus point performances. However, their trade of Jamie Drysdale in January to the Philadelphia Flyers for winger Cutter Gauthier prompted questions about Zegras’ future in Anaheim.
Following this season, Zegras admitted it was difficult to be mentioned in trade rumors. He has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.8 million. The young forward also lacks no-trade protection.
Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette suggested Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes should have an interest in Zegras, pointing out the young winger’s friendship with Canadiens star Cole Caufield. The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber believes he’d make a good addition to the Washington Capitals as they transition toward younger talent.
The Ducks are under no pressure to move Zegras and could look for a bounce-back performance from him next season. However, there could be more speculation and trade suggestions about him in the coming weeks as the NHL draft approaches.
Stats and standings via NHL.com, salary info and line combination via Cap Friendly.
