OFF-SEASON TRADE WATCH: TOP 30
aS OF July 1, 2019 | 7:30pm et
With the off-season well underway for most teams, TFP has outlined 30 of the top names rumoured to be available through various newspapers, radio and television reports, cyberspace and our own league-wide sources, much like our annual Trade Deadline Trade Watch List.
Since we first introduced the list on June 1, the likes of Jacob Trouba (No.1), Patrick Marleau (No.3), P.K. Subban (No.7), J.T. Miller (No.16), and Olli Maatta (No.21) have all been dealt.
As part of our off-season coverage, this page will be updated regularly and TFP's panel of experts will outline each player's value. Some players may climb or fall off the list, while others may be added.
NOTE: Teams reportedly showing interest will also be added and adjusted as more information becomes available — the “teams believed to have interest” portion will begin to be filled out throughout the last week of June.
View players with a NTC/NMC | View trades made this season | Top 25 UFA List
AGE: 31
CAP HIT: $6.8M
1. Phil Kessel, RW / Pittsburgh Penguins
TRADED TO ARIZONA
The Kessel trade rumours have picked up a little earlier than normal this summer, and got kicked into high-gear when he nixed a move to Minnesota. The Penguins are trying to shake up part of their roster and it seems like they still plan on dealing Kessel at some point this summer.
AGE: 27
CAP HIT: $5.5M
2. Tyson Barrie, D / Colorado Avalanche
TRADED TO TORONTO
Barrie was almost traded on Draft Day, but a deal with the Vancouver Canucks is believed to have fallen through at the 11th hour. There is additional interest in Barrie, now that the Canucks appear out of the mix, and something could transpire in the coming weeks.
AGE: 27
CAP HIT: $5.5M
3. Jason Zucker, LW/RW / Minnesota Wild
Minnesota almost traded Zucker twice — once to Calgary during the season and once in May for Kessel, who nixed the deal — and it’s safe to say the writing is most certainly on the wall. The Wild still plan on moving him as they continue to makeover their roster.
AGE: 29
CAP HIT: $5.187M
4. Mike Hoffman, RW/LW / Florida Panthers
Hoffman was available during the season, closer to the NHL trade deadline, and Panthers GM Dale Tallon could try to deal him this summer. He’s in the final year of his deal and has a 10-team no-trade list.
Age: 27
CAP HIT: $6M
5. Taylor Hall, LW / New Jersey Devils
As TFP Editor-in-Chief David Pagnotta recently reported, Hall is not presently interested in signing an extension with the Devils. If that remains the case (and Hall has said he’s being patient), the Devils might be forced to trade him. Do the additions of P.K. Subban and Jack Hughes change his mind? He has one-year left on his deal and could command a significant return.
AGE: 28
CAP HIT: $4.5M
6. Nazem Kadri, C / Toronto Maple Leafs
TRADED TO COLORADO
Kadri has 3-years left on his contract and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The addition of John Tavares last summer in Toronto meant Kadri’s ice time and responsibilities would take a step back, and after back-to-back 32-goal seasons, he potted just 16 this year. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas could look to flip him for a top-four defenceman.
Age: 29
CAP HIT: $4.65M
7. T.J. Brodie, D / Calgary Flames
A number of teams have inquired about Brodie’s availability, and if the right offer comes along, it sounds like the Flames will jump on it. They’re looking for mid-level help up front, in either their second or third line. Brodie has one-year left on his deal and owns an eight-team no-trade list.
AGE: 26
CAP HIT: $4.5M
8. Shayne Gostisbehere, D / Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are expected to be very active this summer, both in free agency and on the trade front, and given the team’s desire for another top-six weapon, Gostisbehere could be shipped out for help up front.
AGE: 27
CAP HIT: $4.833M
9. Justin Faulk, D / Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes want to upgrade their top-six for next season and moving one of their defencemen still seems to be in the cards. Faulk, who has a 15-team trade list, will be in the final year of his contract and he could be the odd man out as his contract demands are believed to be too high for Carolina’s liking.
AGE: 28
CAP HIT: $5.5M
10. Nick Leddy, D / New York Islanders
The Islanders took calls on Leddy during the season, but held on to him. It’s believed GM Lou Lamoriello will explore his options this summer, as a move might be mutually beneficial for both parties.
11. James Neal, RW / Calgary Flames
Neal just didn’t fit into Flames head coach Bill Peters’ system and as a result, he failed to score anywhere close to 20+ goals for the first time in his career. A change of scenery and a legit top-six role would do Neal wonders, but his contract won’t make him easy to move as opposing GMs will use this past season’s offensive tallies as a way to get him for pennies on the dollar.
12. Nikita Zaitsev, D / Toronto Maple Leafs
TRADED TO OTTAWA
The Maple Leafs are trying to accommodate Zaitsev’s trade request and are expected to move him at some point this off-season. There is interest from a number of teams, all of whom believe he can return to being the sturdy blueliner he was two seasons ago.
13. Andreas Athanasiou, F / Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have been shopping Athanasiou for weeks and he remains available after no deal came about around Draft weekend. The 24-year-old has one-year remaining on his controllable contract and Detroit could command a hefty return for him — unless they package him in a near-blockbuster.
14. Connor Brown, RW / Toronto Maple Leafs
TRADED TO OTTAWA
With some salary cap restraints ahead of them, the Leafs are expected to move at least one of their forwards this summer. Brown’s contract makes him an attractive, controllable commodity.
15. Kyle Turris, C / Nashville Predators
There is plenty of speculation over Turris’ future in Nashville, as the Predators may look to clear up some cap space by moving him this summer. They’re expected to scour the trade market for a suitor, but could also go the buyout route, according to various published reports.
16. Jonathan Quick, G / Los Angles Kings
Kings GM Rob Blake had several discussions during the season about potentially trading Quick, and those conversations were expected to pick up closer to the NHL Draft. While no deal came, there’s a decent chance the Kings deal him this summer.
17. Patrik Laine, LW / Winnipeg Jets
The Jets want to keep Laine long-term, but as we recently reported, if contract talks do not proceed in a positive direction, Laine is not afraid to explore alternative options, which include offers from other teams or asking for a trade.
18. Colin Miller, D / Vegas Golden Knights
TRADED TO BUFFALO
All of a sudden, the Golden Knights are up against the salary cap. They can free up $5.25M in space by placing David Clarksson on LTIR, but that won’t give them the space they need. Moving Miller and his $3.875M hit might give them extra breathing room.
19. Andre Burakovsky, LW/RW / Washington Capitals
TRADED TO COLORADO
A few people were surprised Burakovsky wasn’t traded at the NHL Draft, but there’s plenty of time to get a deal done in/around July 1. The Capitals are listening and if they can swap out a top-nine forward for him, they’d like to make that move. Burakovsky can become a restricted free agent July 1.
20. Patric Hornqvist, LW / Pittsburgh Penguins
Hornqvist owns a full no-trade clause and he’d have to sign off on any move the Penguins try to make. His $5.3M cap hit would help give the Pens some space to play with as GM Jim Rutherford tries to tinker with his forwards.
21. Jack Johnson, D / Pittsburgh Penguins
Johnson was almost dealt as part of the Kessel/Wild trade, and it sounds like the Penguins are open to moving him even after dealing fellow blueliner Olli Maatta earlier this month.
22. Jesse Puljujarvi, RW / Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers and new-GM Ken Holland are expected to have a conversation with Puljujarvi and his agent about his future in Edmonton. If there’s room to move forward and put the past behind them, he could stay. Otherwise, he’ll be a trade chip for Holland to use this summer.
23. Jeff Carter, C/RW - Los Angeles Kings
As TFP first reported during the regular-season, the Kings have explored the trade market with respect to Carter and sources tell us L.A. will continue to conduct trade calls involving the 34-year-old, who has three-years left on his contract.
24. Cody Ceci, D / Ottawa Senators
TRADED TO TORONTO
The Senators weighed their options during the season with respect to the possibility of trading Ceci and GM Pierre Dorion took calls leading up to the NHL Draft and is expected to keep his phone lines open. Ceci can become an RFA July 1.
25. Andrew Shaw, RW / Montreal Canadiens
TRADED TO CHICAGO
The Habs aren’t actively shopping Shaw, but aren’t shying away from using him as trade bait if the right deal presented itself. Montreal wants to bolster its blueline with a left-shot defenceman, as well as add a top-six scoring winger, and if Shaw is packaged as part of a deal, they’d bite.
26. Dougie Hamilton, D / Carolina Hurricanes
Like Faulk, the Hurricanes took in calls on Hamilton this season and will reexamine those talks this summer. Carolina is only expected to deal one of their top blueliners, and Hamilton could command a solid return as the ‘Canes want to bolster their top-six forward corps.
27. Milan Lucic, LW / Edmonton Oilers
If things weren’t tough enough for Oilers GM Ken Holland, he’s got to find a way to move Lucic or get him going. There are still four remains remaining on his contract and sources tell TFP he remains willing to waive his no-movement clause for a change.
28. Michael Frolik, LW/RW / Calgary Flames
The Flames tried to deal Frolik during the season but weren’t able to agree on a deal. They’ll try to move him again this summer. The 31-year-old has a 10-team no-trade list and will be entering the final year of his contract.
29. Bobby Ryan, RW / Ottawa Senators
The Senators wouldn’t mind getting rid of Ryan’s big contract, but it’s unclear which teams have interest in adding him to their roster. Ottawa might have to retain some of his contract, which they are not overly interested in doing, so they could stick with him.
30. Kevin Shattenkirk, D / New York Rangers
With two more seasons of Shattenkirk and his $6.65M cap hit, dealing him may prove to be quite difficult. He has a 10-team no-trade list, so there are options if a team is willing to take on his large cap number — even if a big contract is shipped to New York.