Five NHL Players Likely to Be Traded This Offseason

The NHL Draft is over, and most top free agents have signed.

But that doesn’t mean the offseason is done with big moves. Some players might still get traded in the coming weeks or months. Here are five names to watch out for.

Mitch Marner could be on his way out of Toronto after another early playoff exit for the Maple Leafs. The team needs a shake-up, and Marner, in the final year of his contract, might be it. He scored 85 points in 69 games but took much of the blame for their playoff loss. His $10.9 million salary cap hit and no-movement clause make things tricky, but he’s still a trade possibility.

Jacob Trouba’s situation with the New York Rangers is also worth watching. Despite being their captain, his $8 million salary cap hit and declining performance have made him a liability on defense. The Rangers want to move him to fix their defensive issues, but his contract protections make it hard.

Fans might think these trades are long overdue given recent performances.

Other Potential Trades:

Nikolaj Ehlers from Winnipeg Jets could be another player on the move. He’s 28 years old and a bargain at $6 million against the salary cap given his two-way game and scoring ability when healthy. But with teammate Kyle Connor’s new contract looming, the Jets may decide it’s better to trade Ehlers now rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Patrik Laine of Columbus Blue Jackets isn’t eligible for trade yet as he’s in the NHL/NHLPA player’s assistance program. But once he exits that program, it’s likely he’ll be moved due to his $8.7 million per year salary cap hit and one-dimensional game focused on goal-scoring—though he does score a lot even during off years.

Martin Necas from Carolina Hurricanes has also been mentioned in trade rumors after an underwhelming season where he scored 53 points in 77 games, down from 71 points in 82 games previously. As a restricted free agent interested in a change of scenery—and with Carolina possibly unwilling to meet his contract demands—a trade seems likely.

Fans often wonder why teams wait so long to make these changes when problems are obvious.

So what do you think? Should these players stay or go?