B/R NHL Commerce Block Massive Board: September 2024

August is often a quiet time for NHL commerce exercise. With most main offers made earlier within the offseason, the main focus shifts towards the remaining unsigned free brokers.

This yr, nonetheless, noticed a busy week wherein 5 notable trades have been made between Aug. 18 and 23.

Among the many gamers on the transfer have been winger Patrik Laine, goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, prospect winger Rutger McGroarty, and defenseman Cody Ceci, all of whom have been a part of our August NHL Trade Block Big Board.

Of the ten gamers on that board, solely New York Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson stay. The remainder have been traded away or didn’t seem in any important media commerce hypothesis all through August.

We enter September with 10 completely different gamers price monitoring as coaching camps open in mid-month. They embrace New York Islanders heart Brock Nelson and Calgary Flames heart Nazem Kadri. All of them appeared in some unspecified time in the future in media hypothesis final month.

Talent degree, expertise, contract, and the probability of getting traded through the coming season are factored into this compilation.

Do you agree or disagree with these gamers being on this board? Is there somebody you imagine we missed? Inform us about it in our app feedback.

A virtually fixed fixture within the rumor mill since January, Trevor Zegras final appeared in our NHL Commerce Block Rankings for July. The 23-year-old Anaheim Geese ahead will doubtless stay the topic of media hypothesis, particularly if his struggles and harm woes from final season carry over into 2024-25.

Zegras was linked to a number of groups main as much as final season’s commerce deadline and the June NHL Draft weekend. Nonetheless, nothing got here of the conjecture and he stays with the Geese.

The New York Rangers have been among the many golf equipment assumed to be curious about Zegras in final season’s rumor mill. On Aug.2, a reader requested The Athletic’s Arthur Staple if the Bedford, NY, native would possibly find yourself with the Blueshirts. Staple didn’t believe they’d a lot curiosity in Zegras, as a lot as he would possibly like to play for them in the future.

Zegras’ contract might be a problem for any membership curious about buying him. He lacks no-trade safety however his $5.8 million annual cap hit via 2025-26 might be troublesome for cap-strapped groups to soak up. The Geese will doubtless set a excessive asking worth for the promising younger ahead.

Coming into the 2023 offseason, New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafrenière’s future was the subject of speculation. The primary-overall decide within the 2020 NHL Draft, Lafrenière had but to become the offensive star he was projected to change into. Nonetheless, a 28-goal, 57-point common season efficiency adopted by 14 factors in 16 playoff video games silenced the critics and the commerce rumors.

This summer time, it is Kaapo Kakko’s flip within the Rangers’ rumor mill. Chosen second general within the 2019 draft, the 23-year-old proper winger struggled via a disappointing injury-shortened 2023-24, making him a frequent topic of media commerce chatter since February.

Regardless of the commerce rumors, Kakko stays with the Rangers as coaching camp approaches after signing a one-year, $2.4 million contract in June. On Aug.2, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple suggested he is not a participant different groups covet proper now, speculating the Rangers won’t be impressed with the affords they’ve obtained.

Nonetheless, Kakko stays a participant of curiosity with coaching camps on the horizon. The Rangers may hope that the younger Finn has a breakout effort just like Lafrenière’s final season. Nonetheless, a rival membership looking for an reasonably priced younger ahead with scoring potential may make a pitch if accidents strike their roster.

A primary-round decide of the New York Islanders (eleventh general) within the 2018 NHL Draft, Oliver Wahlstrom netted 12 targets and 21 factors in 44 video games within the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Nonetheless, he is had issue matching that promising NHL debut efficiency.

Wahlstrom managed 13 targets and 24 factors in his sophomore season. His 2022-23 season was lower brief by a knee injury and he was a frequent healthy scratch all through 2023-24. The 24-year-old winger filed for wage arbitration on July 5 however settled on a one-year, $1 million contract. Nonetheless, his future with the Islanders stays unsure.

On Aug. 23, NYI Hockey Now’s Russ Macias noted the Isles made Wahlstrom obtainable on the finish of final season. With the Isles pressed for salary-cap house, he puzzled if the winger would possibly change into a cost-cutting commerce candidate, suggesting the Anaheim Geese and Boston Bruins as attainable locations.

Earlier within the month, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple reported Isles normal supervisor Lou Lamoriello stated he was impressed by Wahlstrom’s exhausting work throughout his offseason coaching, including he’d be given each alternative this season. Nonetheless, he may change into a participant to watch within the commerce market as coaching camp and preseason progress.

Acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights as a part of the Jack Eichel trade in November 2021, Peyton Krebs has struggled to ascertain himself with the Buffalo Sabres. The 23-year-old heart performed a career-high 80 video games final season however netted solely 17 factors, spending most of his time seeing fourth-line responsibility.

A primary-round draft decide (seventeenth general) within the 2019 NHL Draft, Krebs is a restricted free agent after finishing his entry-level contract. He is the one roster common the Sabres have but to signal to a brand new deal.

On Aug. 1, The Hockey Information‘ Michael Augello pondered Krebs’ future with the Sabres. He famous rumors have been going again to final season’s commerce deadline linking him to the Philadelphia Flyers. Augello identified the Sabres have been nonetheless looking for a scoring winger and puzzled if Krebs may very well be commerce bait to accumulate Flyers winger Joel Farabee.

Krebs’ efficiency throughout his junior days had scouts projecting him to change into a top-six playmaking ahead. That potential may nonetheless make him a helpful commerce chip for the Sabres regardless of his struggles to this point as an NHL common.

After spending the previous 4 seasons bouncing between the Toronto Maple Leafs and their AHL membership, winger Nicholas Robertson prefers a change of surroundings. On June 30, the 22-year-old restricted free agent knowledgeable administration he wasn’t curious about signing an extension and requested a commerce.

That earned Robertson a spot on our August NHL Trade Block Big Board. The youthful brother of Dallas Stars scorer Jason Robertson, Nicholas has grown pissed off together with his dealing with by the Leafs. He is looking for a transfer to a different workforce the place he may need a greater alternative to play a bigger function.

On Aug.26, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported there is not any indication the standoff between Robertson and Leafs administration will finish quickly. GM Brad Treliving believes the younger winger has an important alternative to earn extra taking part in time in Toronto this season. Treliving understands his frustration however does not intend on honoring his commerce request.

Johnston famous Robertson has little leverage coming off his entry-level contract. He can refuse to signal and skip coaching camp and maybe the beginning of the season within the hope of forcing a commerce. We can not rule out the opportunity of Treliving purchasing him for a extra established middle-six left wing.

The Calgary Flames’ roster retool sparked hypothesis earlier this summer about heart Nazem Kadri’s future within the Stampede Metropolis. Kadri, 33, is getting into the third season of his seven-year contract with a median annual worth of $7 million and likewise has a full no-movement clause via 2025-26.

That early conjecture got here to naught however the Flames’ roster adjustments since final season may drive Kadri to rethink his scenario in the event that they fail to point out any important enchancment in 2024-25. We included him amongst our high 5 gamers who may request a commerce subsequent.

On Aug. 15, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press wondered if Kadri would possibly ask to be moved relying on how this season pans out for the Flames. Regardless of the middle’s hefty contract and no-move limitations, Wiebe believes he’d be an ideal match as a second-line heart for the Jets.

Which may be wishful pondering on Wiebe’s half however Kadri will doubtless stay a topic of curiosity on this season’s rumor mill if the Flames are out of competition earlier than the commerce deadline. A strong effort on his half may draw the eye of playoff contenders looking for a bodily scoring heart with Stanley Cup expertise.

Finish-of-season hypothesis over Joel Farabee’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers landed the 24-year-old winger on our Could NHL Trade Block Big Board. Latest conjecture earned Farabee a spot on our September Board.

On Aug. 4, a reader asked Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo Information if the Sabres is likely to be curious about Farabee. He believed they is likely to be prepared if the value was proper. Farabee carries an annual cap hit of $5 million via 2027-28 however lacks no-trade protection.

The Sabres have the cap space ($8.5 million), a deep prospect pool, and loads of promising younger roster expertise to attract on for commerce bait. Whether or not they’re curious about Farabee or have one other ahead of their sights for the approaching season stays to be seen.

Farabee’s future in Philadelphia stays unsure because the Flyers rebuild their roster. One other season of transferring up and down their roster may immediate administration to gauge his worth earlier than the commerce deadline.

Approaching the 2023 NHL Commerce deadline, David Savard was the topic of frequent commerce hypothesis. The Montreal Canadiens weren’t purchasing the veteran defenseman however curiosity from contenders looking for skilled blue-line depth landed the 33-year-old on our NHL Trade Block Big Board main as much as the March 8 deadline.

The Canadiens retained Savard, who will begin the ultimate season of his four-year contract. Given the Habs’ standing as a rebuilding workforce, he may find yourself on the commerce block in some unspecified time in the future as a playoff rental participant. Savard missed 22 video games final season attributable to harm however nonetheless logged a decent 24 factors with a plus-minus of minus-1 on the rebuilding Canadiens.

On Aug. 16, Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont cited Savard telling RDS.ca he is ready to be the middle of commerce rumors this season. Nonetheless, he intends to do his finest to be a task mannequin and mentor to the Canadiens’ promising younger defensemen.

Eight days later, The Hockey Information‘ Michael DeRosa suggested Savard may very well be a precious commerce chip for the Canadiens. He cited the 6’1″, 238-pound right-shot defenseman’s rugged type, his capability to log top-four minutes and kill penalties. He additionally has Stanley Cup expertise with the 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning.

Calgary Flames normal supervisor Craig Conroy is retooling his roster by transport out gamers within the closing yr of their contracts, changing them with youthful, reasonably priced expertise. Final season, he traded away three key defensemen, sending Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks, Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars, and Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Rasmus Andersson has two years remaining on his contract with a median annual worth of $4.6 million and a six-team no-trade checklist. Nonetheless, some Flames followers surprise if the 27-year-old defenseman may observe Zadrov, Tanev, and Hanifin out of the Stampede Metropolis.

On Aug. 15, a reader requested The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie about Andersson’s trade value as a top-four defenseman. He felt the Flames would solely transfer the blueliner for the precise worth, including that his play this season would decide his worth on the commerce deadline. McKenzie thinks it might take an irresistible provide to pry Andersson away from the Flames.

That additional yr in Andersson’s contract may result in that impossible to resist provide, particularly if the Flames are out of the playoff race by the commerce deadline. Contenders is likely to be prepared to pay extra for a top-four, right-shot rearguard that they will get two postseason runs out of in comparison with one.

Since 2013-14, Brock Nelson has been a roster common for the New York Islanders. He is additionally been amongst their most constant scorers, exceeding 40 factors eight instances, together with a career-best 75-point efficiency in 2022-23 and a 69-point effort final season.

Turning 33 on Oct. 15, Nelson is within the closing season of his six-year contract with a median annual worth of $6 million and a 16-team no-trade checklist. Eligible for unrestricted free-agent standing subsequent July, this may very well be his closing marketing campaign with the Islanders.

On Aug. 2, The Hockey Information‘ Stefen Rosner reported Islanders normal supervisor Lou Lamoriello wasn’t centered on contract extensions. He famous that some Isles followers believed Lamoriello ought to think about peddling Nelson whereas his commerce worth is excessive. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple thinks the veteran heart may fetch a solid return on the commerce deadline.

The percentages are in opposition to Lamoriello purchasing Nelson earlier than the beginning of the season as a result of they’re going to want him in the event that they hope to achieve the playoffs subsequent spring. Nonetheless, he may very well be somebody price watching within the rumor mill if his workforce finally ends up out of the postseason hunt main as much as the 2025 commerce deadline.