NHL Trade Rumors: Top Players Who Could Be Traded in 2024

The NHL trade deadline is heating up, with just a week to go until March 7. Get ready for some big moves as playoff contenders look to beef up their rosters.

One of the most interesting names out there? Mikko Rantanen. He’s only been with the Carolina Hurricanes for a few weeks, but things aren’t clicking – he’s scored just two goals in nine games. There’s also some worry about whether he’ll sign long-term with the team.

That’s pretty surprising for a guy who lit up the scoreboard with 55 goals last season. His current shooting percentage is way below his career average, so he’s probably due for a bounce-back.

The center position has some intriguing options, with Brock Nelson leading the pack. The 33-year-old Islander has been on fire lately – his 124 goals since 2021 put him among the NHL’s top scorers. He’d be perfect for any team needing a solid second-line center.

Vancouver’s Brock Boeser is another player to watch. He just had his best season ever with 40 goals, though he’s cooled off a bit this year. The big question is whether teams will pay up both in trades and on his next contract.

Looking for a defenseman? Seth Jones might be your guy. The 6-foot-4 Blackhawks blueliner hasn’t put up great numbers lately, but let’s be honest – Chicago’s been pretty terrible. Put him on a good team and watch what happens.

Ryan O’Reilly brings something special to the table – he’s got two more years on a reasonable $4.5 million deal. Plus, he’s got that Conn Smythe Trophy on his shelf. Any contender would love to have him centering their third line.

In goal, John Gibson’s having quite the comeback season in Anaheim. His numbers are impressive – he’s saved 9.43 goals above average in just 24 games. That’s the kind of goalie who could steal a playoff series.

There are plenty more names in play – Erik Karlsson’s still got some magic left, Jared McCann could add some scoring punch, and veteran Brayden Schenn might be ready for a change of scenery.

One thing’s for sure – this next week is going to be wild. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even see another surprise deal like that Tomas Hertl trade to Vegas that nobody saw coming.