With the March 8 trade deadline coming into view two weeks out, and the rumors and speculation about to hit another level, these can be anxious times for those who find themselves listed on the Big Board.
Although not everyone listed here sees it that way.
“It’s a good problem to have, for me personally,” Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Sean Walker said during a recent chat, noting that the extra eyeballs could pay off for him in free agency this summer.
Walker has been a mainstay in our top 10 dating back to the original version of the trade board in early December. As a pending unrestricted free agent who was traded from Los Angeles to Philadelphia in the offseason, the 29-year-old arrived at training camp with less security than most.
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“Coming into this year, I kind of knew what the situation might be if I have a good year — or even if I didn’t have a good year,” Walker said. “I knew I still could get moved at the deadline. It is what it is.
“I’ve just kind of been expecting maybe something all year.”
Walker has helped his cause by playing a steady game and chewing up more than 19 minutes per game for the surprising Flyers — erasing any questions or doubts that may have lingered after he lost nearly the entire 2021-22 season to a torn ACL and MCL.
Today he is among the NHL players in the brightest spotlight, with contenders calling Flyers general manager Danny Briere on his availability amid a trade market that’s yet to fully take shape as several teams still consider whether to buy or sell.
We are approaching crunch time, though, and Walker insists he’s not bothered by the fact that he doesn’t have much control over what’s to come, saying: “It’s background noise for now.”
Turn up the volume!
It’s the fifth version of the Big Board.
Noah Hanifin
The winds have shifted on this situation multiple times throughout a season in which the Flames have engaged in talks about a contract extension with Hanifin’s agent.
They’ve pushed hard to get something done but need to start focusing on the trade market after being unable to get his signature on a new deal.
Hanifin is a 6-foot-3 defenseman who ticks multiple boxes: a strong skater who can be trusted to log 20-plus minutes per night and contribute at both ends of the ice. He’s in the absolute prime of his career.
He also has some control over his situation courtesy of a limited eight-team no-trade clause.
Expect the Boston native to end up with a U.S.-based team since it’s believed his preference is to sign his next deal in his native country. Tampa Bay is among the teams believed to have interest.
Chris Tanev
Considered a team-first warrior who still profiles as an effective shutdown defender, Tanev is in high demand among contenders looking for an upgrade on their blue lines and dressing rooms. More than 10 teams have checked in on his availability, which has left the Flames hoping to garner a first-round pick as part of a deal involving him.
Tanev has some say in his next destination courtesy of a 10-team no-trade list.
A right shot with penalty-killing chops, he’s garnered a reputation for playing the game the right way over 12 NHL seasons. That means finishing checks, blocking shots and keeping opponents to the outside — whatever it takes to give his team the best chance at success.
Tanev can be had as a rental, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team try to get his signature on an extension when swinging a deal with the Flames.
Jake Guentzel
The Penguins were fortunate that an upper-body injury suffered by Guentzel on Feb. 14 only ended up coming with a four-week recovery period. The initial fears were that it was much worse.
While that will keep Guentzel from playing another game before the trade deadline, it shouldn’t prevent him from being moved to another club.
Guentzel was scoring at a 36-goal, 85-point pace prior to his injury and is a pending unrestricted free agent. It’s difficult to imagine the Penguins walking him right to the open market in a year where it appears unlikely they’ll qualify for the playoffs.
He’s an undersized winger who performs much bigger than his stature, especially when the stakes are highest. He has an eye-popping 34 goals in 58 career Stanley Cup playoff games.
Adam Henrique
In a market short on players who can play centre, Henrique stands out. The 34-year-old is well on his way to another 20-goal season and he’s done it while winning nearly 54 percent of his faceoffs.
Henrique is known for having excellent hockey sense and is thirsting for a chance to return to the playoffs after appearing just four postseason games since being part of the 2012 New Jersey Devils team that lost to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup Final.
As a pending unrestricted free agent on a retooling team, Henrique profiles as a traditional trade-deadline rental.
There’s also versatility to his toolbox. He can chip in on the power play, kill penalties or play the wing, if needed.
Sean Walker
Acquired from the Kings over the summer as cap relief in a three-way trade that included Columbus, Walker has been a revelation in Philadelphia.
In fact, the fit has been so good that there’s been mutual interest in discussing an extension — although that’s not considered the likeliest outcome here, given the Flyers' desire to stockpile assets and the allure of a free-agent payday for Walker.
Known throughout his NHL career as a player who likes to join the attack, Walker seems to have struck a nice balance since joining the Flyers. The team is consistently carrying the play offensively when he’s on the ice at five-on-five.
Walker is also playing on an affordable (and expiring) contract, which makes him a strong asset for the Flyers to sell before the deadline, especially after adding 21-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale in the Cutter Gauthier trade with Anaheim in January.
Jacob Markström
A former Vezina Trophy finalist who is having a major bounce-back season, Markström is in the upper echelon of players at his position. Simply put: There aren’t many goaltenders who have matched his level of play over the past six or seven seasons. But with the Flames looking at unloading multiple proven performers ahead of this trade deadline, there are rival teams inquiring about the 33-year-old’s availability. The Devils already took a run at acquiring him and may yet take another.
Markström holds all of the cards with a no-movement clause. He enjoys living and playing in Calgary, so it would have to be the right situation for him to sign off on a trade. And the fact that he’s due to earn $6 million for two seasons beyond this one is no doubt a complicating factor, too.
Still, with multiple Stanley Cup contenders in search of goaltending help, the possibility of him being moved can’t be ruled out entirely.
Pavel Buchnevich
Nearly a point-per-game player across the past three years with the Blues, Buchnevich is a big, strong winger who skates well and possesses a high-end shot. That makes him the rare top-line talent who could be moved in the run-up to this deadline.
St. Louis has the ability to hold the line with its ask since Buchnevich’s contract runs through the end of next season. The Blues are going to need a haul to move him now — think a package that exceeds the return Calgary got from Vancouver for Elias Lindholm: a first-round pick, two prospects and winger Andrei Kuzmenko.
Buchnevich's $5.8 million cap hit will be a challenge for some teams to accommodate, but at least he’s producing at a level commensurate with that number, on pace for a 29-goal, 65-point season.
Vladimir Tarasenko
It’s been a difficult season in the Canadian capital, and attention will soon turn toward reloading with future assets. Tarasenko should be an easy piece to sell. The Russian winger doesn’t generate scoring chances at the rate he once did, but he still possesses the kind of shot needed to put the puck in the net. Built like a tank, he can win puck battles along the wall and fight through the traffic we’re accustomed to seeing in playoff hockey.
Crucially, Tarasenko is also on an expiring contract and has experienced just about everything the game has to offer. The 2019 Stanley Cup winner was a trade-deadline pickup by the New York Rangers last year and shouldn’t have any trouble acclimating to a new environment.
Of note is the fact Tarasenko recently changed agents — for the fourth time in three years — which can be viewed as a sign he wants help navigating his way to a more appealing situation.
Frank Vatrano
Currently producing at a 39-goal, 66-point pace, Vatrano is having by far his most productive NHL season. That earned him a trip to the NHL All-Star Game as the Ducks' representative.
He’s always had a nose for the net but has made some defensive improvements despite playing on one of the league’s weakest teams.
A competitive player under contract through next season at $3.65 million, Vatrano can be slotted on a second line or called on to add some scoring punch from the bottom six.
He’s also a threat to score a short-handed goal when used as part of the penalty kill.
Alexandre Carrier
What he lacks in size, he makes up for in smarts. The right-shot defenseman may noy be equipped to muscle opponents off the puck with his 5-foot-11 frame, but he’s a positionally sound player who gets around the ice well.
He’s also a pending unrestricted free agent making just $2.5 million — good value for someone who plays north of 18 minutes per night.
Carrier is a reliable shot-blocker known for having a competitive streak. Consider him a strong depth option for a team trying to insulate itself for a long playoff run.
Jakob Chychrun
No stranger to the trade board, Chychrun’s name has started surfacing again with the Senators facing a positional logjam.
Ottawa has more than $16 million per season tied up in long-term deals for left-shot defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson, and Chychrun is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2025. He’ll almost certainly be seeking a raise on his $4.6 million salary at that point.
So the Senators may elect to get ahead of an approaching problem early, especially since there will be added value for an acquiring team in having Chychrun under contract for two cracks at the playoffs rather than just one as a rental.
Chychrun is a strong skater with a cannon for a shot and is currently on pace for a 50-point season.
Mikael Granlund
Currently serving as the top-line center on a rebuilding Sharks outfit, he’d slot deeper down the roster on a stronger team.
Granlund has switched teams a couple of times in the past year, but he’s been reasonably productive in San Jose. A versatile forward with good vision, he’s an all-situations player with more than 50 games of playoff experience.
He’s also not a pure rental with a $5 million contract running through the end of next season.
Nick Seeler
One of the NHL's leaders in blocked shots, Seeler plays a black-and-blue game while counting a league-minimum salary against the cap. That’s marketable enough in its own right. Seeler is also a big, physical penalty-killer currently playing out the final year of his contract and should be no trouble to move as the deadline draws nearer.
Every contender is searching for defensive depth. They don’t come much lower maintenance than Seeler.
Matt Dumba
The offensive aspects of his game may not be what they once were, but Dumba remains a decent skater who has the ability to deliver a punishing open-ice hit. He’s also a right-shot defenseman and can be added as a rental on a reasonable cap hit.
He’s playing nearly 20 minutes per game this season (probably a little too much) and is seeing significant usage on the penalty kill. Insulated on a deeper blue line, he could be an intriguing fit, and the Coyotes are ready to hang up the “For Sale” sign after ceding considerable ground in the Western Conference’s wild-card race
Nic Dowd
A fourth-line center who makes a strong defensive impact, Dowd is far from the biggest name available at this deadline period. But he’s a strong candidate to become a useful under-the-radar acquisition.
The Capitals absolutely bury Dowd with defensive zone starts at five-on-five, and they still manage to more than hold their own when he’s on the ice. He’s a trusted penalty killer and is decent in the faceoff circle. He’s even got good hands when he finds himself with a scoring opportunity.
Dowd also carries a $1.3 million cap charge that can easily be squeezed under the salary cap ceiling.
Alex Wennberg
A second-line center in Seattle, Wennberg is another potential option for teams looking to strengthen themselves down the middle. Not known as a big point producer throughout his NHL career, the 29-year-old can play in all situations and be trusted on the defensive side of the puck.
As a bonus, Wennberg can be counted on in the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent earning $4.5 million and has a 10-team no-trade list.
Jordan Eberle
The goals have not come easily for Eberle this season, and the Kraken remain on the outside of the playoff picture even after a red-hot start to 2024. With unrestricted free agency on the horizon, that combination of factors could see the veteran winger moved by March 8.
Eberle is best deployed on a skilled line counted on to produce offensively. He’s scored at above a 20-goal-per-82-game pace in every NHL season before this one — when he’s seen the goals dry up amid the worst shooting percentage stretch of a career that’s spanned nearly 1,000 games.
Contenders will find some comfort in his history of scoring big goals. He also gained valuable experience during two long playoff runs with the New York Islanders.
A return to Edmonton could make sense from all sides here.
Ilya Lyubushkin
A physical defenseman best suited for a third-pairing role, what you see is what you get from Lyubushkin. He’ll kill penalties, finish checks and try to keep the play in front of him. Let’s brand it meat-and-potatoes hockey.
Fortunately for the Ducks, it’s a style that teams looking for a long run through the spring tend to appreciate and covet.
Lyubushkin is also playing on an expiring deal and getting paid at a level reflected in his performance, which will add an extra level of attraction.
Joel Edmundson
A big shutdown defenseman with Stanley Cup pedigree, Edmundson is ideally slotted on a third pairing. He's made a living out of clearing opponents from the front of his net and making them pay a physical price while doing so. His game is simple, straightforward and valued when the games tighten up in the playoffs.
As a pending unrestricted free agent carrying just a $1.75 million cap hit, he’s an attractive rental option.
Kaapo Kähkönen
San Jose has not been a place for any goaltender to show his best work, whether it be Kähkönen or partner Mackenzie Blackwood. The Sharks have the worst defensive metrics of any team in the NHL. Still, in a clouded goaltending market, either could be considered a potential buy-low option.
Kähkönen is a pending free agent who put up decent numbers for Minnesota earlier in his career and had a goals-saved-above-expected mark of 5.2 as recently as the 2021-22 season.
It’s been much rougher since then, but context matters. Whether measured by shots against, chances against or expected goals against, the Sharks have been a bottom-five team defensively since the start of last season.
Jake Allen
The Canadiens have carried three goaltenders all season and committed to Samuel Montembeault by signing him to a three-year extension on Dec. 1.
Allen is the most proven commodity among the men protecting the Habs crease, with more than 400 regular-season NHL appearances on his resume and another 29 in the playoffs. He’s also got one year under contract beyond the current one, which could be a reason for this to become an offseason trade rather than one made at the deadline.
The potential complicating factor is a limited seven-team no-trade list in Allen’s contract. There’s also the fact that he remains loyal to the team and chose to sign an extension in Montreal a year ago rather than testing the free-agent waters last summer.
Still, in a league with a number of uncertain situations in the crease, he’s a potential stabilizer who multiple contenders are keeping close tabs on.
Erik Johnson
While the 35-year-old defenseman has made it clear he’d prefer to ride out the season in Buffalo, the Sabres are going to have a chance to turn him into an asset.
Johnson carries nearly 1,000 games of NHL experience and won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. He’s a steady defender who can deliver safe minutes if deployed in a bottom-of-the-roster role. He’s averaging 14 minutes per night for the Sabres this season.
As a pure rental playing out a $3.5 million contract, Johnson’s off-ice leadership will carry appeal for contenders looking to round out their depth.
Reilly Smith
The fit hasn’t been quite right in Pittsburgh since Smith arrived in a trade shortly after celebrating a Stanley Cup win with the Golden Knights last summer. He’s well off the pace of last season’s 26-goal, 56-point campaign.
Still, Smith is an intriguing player because of a strong two-way game. He can contribute on both special-teams units and be trusted with a role on a line that handles tough matchups at even strength.
The 32-year-old is signed through the 2024-25 season at a $5 million cap hit, which may bring added appeal since he could be added for multiple playoff runs.
Sam Carrick
Contenders have been scouting the 32-year-old center, who can be acquired for depth at minimal cost. He is defensively responsible and handles himself well in the faceoff dot. He’s also got penalty-killing chops and a strong work ethic.
Carrick's $850,000 cap hit and expiring contract add to the appeal here.
Marc-Andre Fleury
A three-time Stanley Cup champion and now second all-time among NHL goaltenders in career victories, Fleury possesses a mix of aura and ability.
The circumstances would have to be right to get him to waive his no-movement clause ahead of the deadline for the second time in three years — namely the promise of stepping into the No. 1 role on a playoff-bound team — but they are not completely beyond the realm of possibility. It certainly helps that Fleury has always been known as an incredibly popular teammate.
His passion for the game also continues to burn bright. And on a Minnesota team currently on the wrong side of the Western Conference’s wild-card race, Fleury is getting more work these days than tandem-mate Filip Gustavsson.
Anthony Duclair
Two years removed from a 31-goal season, Duclair has understandably been slowed by the torn Achilles tendon he had surgically repaired last year in Florida.
Still, he’s playing on an expiring contract carrying a reasonable cap hit and looks like a promising buy-low candidate from a Sharks team that is headed nowhere this season and hungry to add future assets.
Duclair has good hands and can play either wing. He was part of the Panthers' run to the Cup Final last spring, scoring 11 points in 20 playoff games.
Jason Zucker
A strong skater who put up 27 goals last season in Pittsburgh, Zucker is an offensive catalyst.
He’s battled consistency issues at points during his career but carries little risk as a deadline acquisition playing out the final year of his contract.
Zucker can help a power play and boost a middle-six group at even strength.
Pat Maroon
The man with a year-round playoff beard has appeared in 150 postseason games and lifted the Stanley Cup on three separate occasions. The list of active NHL players with a resume that matches that is incredibly short.
Maroon also knows a thing or two about how best to fit in with a new team — he’s on his sixth NHL organization — which should bring a measure of comfort to anyone who considers adding him as a rental.
Ultimately, Maroon is a culture guy whose impact is best measured by more than goals, points or minutes played.
One potential complication to moving him is the fact that Maroon won’t play again before the trade deadline because of a back issue. He’s slated for a return later in March, though.
Anthony Mantha
The fit has never been quite right in Washington for Mantha, who acknowledged during training camp, “I feel like I haven’t been the player they wanted so far.”
At least the big winger has rediscovered a scoring touch, with 17 goals this season — his highest total in six years.
Even though Mantha has been available on the trade market dating back to last year, his contract should become easier to move as he gets closer to unrestricted free agency this summer. The Capitals could even deploy retention to make it more palatable.
Mantha is a one-shot scorer who needs a lot of help getting the puck in shooting areas. Motivation shouldn’t be an issue with the direction his career has gone in since being traded to the Capitals from Detroit in 2021.
Scott Laughton
Laughton is under contract for two seasons beyond this one, so the Flyers are under no pressure to trade him. But you can understand why contenders would come calling on a glue guy who kills penalties and plays with an edge to his game.
It’s been a challenging season for the 11-year NHL veteran — an “inconsistent” one in the words of Flyers coach John Tortorella — and that’s reflected in a drop in his goals, points and ice time. Still, Laughton accounts for just $3 million against the cap and represents a bottom-six upgrade for most teams.
The Flyers are willing to listen to offers on just about any of their players.
Juuse Saros
The fact that the Predators are even willing to listen on a goaltender who has received Vezina Trophy votes each of the past three seasons warrants his inclusion on the Big Board.
They’ll need someone to step up in a big way to act, though. Saros is currently earning $5 million and will be due for a raise when his contract expires after next season. He’s been a workhorse with 175 appearances (and counting) over the past three years.
The Predators have one eye on the future with top prospect Yaroslav Askarov currently performing well for AHL Milwaukee.
Andrew Peeke
Peeke is a mobile right-shot defenseman who excels in the defensive aspects of the game but has had difficulty carving out a consistent spot in the Blue Jackets lineup this season.
Under contract for two years beyond this one, he carries promise for any team that believes there’s still room for growth in his play.
Peeke is a big man at 6-foot-3, but he isn’t known for being physical. He struggles when pressured by opponents, according to a rival scout, but seems like a prime candidate to benefit from a change of scenery.
Warren Foegele
With the Oilers on the hunt for a top-six winger, Foegele could be the odd man out with his $2.75 million in cap space potentially needed for the upgrade.
He’s a big, competitive winger who is currently producing at the best rate of his NHL career. But he’s also a pending unrestricted free agent.
Foegele is versatile and can be slotted across the lineup and used on both specialty teams.
Dominik Kubalik
A streaky scorer, historically, who has seen his offensive totals dip this season primarily due to a drop in power-play output, Kubalik is a rental on a reasonable contract who hasn’t found a great fit in Ottawa. He could be a low-cost addition with upside potential for a team looking for help with the man advantage.
Kubalik put up strong numbers during his only playoff appearance with Chicago during the 2020 pandemic bubble.
Alexander Barabanov
A winger with the offensive instincts to complement a line counted on to score, Barabanov has established himself as a reliable NHLer during his three seasons in San Jose. But with the Sharks more focused on future assets than players who can help now, and with Barabanov slated to hit free agency this summer, he’ll be available on the trade market.
Barabanov's start to this season was interrupted by a broken finger, and the production was slow to return once he got back in the lineup. Still, with an expiring contract, there isn’t a whole lot of risk here.
Kasperi Kapanen
While his offensive output has flat-lined in recent seasons, Kapanen remains a top-end skater with an appealing set of tools. The 27-year-old is also playing out the final year of a contract paying him $3.2 million and carries little risk as a rental addition.
The acquisition cost shouldn’t be too high here, and a fresh start could be beneficial to a winger who does have a 20-goal season on his resume.
Mike Hoffman
A consistent scorer across his NHL career, albeit now a declining one, Hoffman holds a limited amount of appeal for two main reasons. 1) He’s on an expiring contract, and the cost to acquire him won’t be very high. And 2) It is not unreasonable to surmise that he’s currently in a difficult spot to maximize his abilities on a Sharks team lacking high-end offensive players.
Put it together, and he might be worth rolling the dice on. There’s not much to lose.
Arthur Kaliyev
Still just 22 years old, Kaliyev has had a disappointing season that’s seen his playing time reduced alongside his offensive production.
An elite shooter, he’s currently residing on the fourth line in Los Angeles. While he could benefit from a fresh start, the Kings will have to be enticed to move the 2019 second-round pick who carries upside.
Brandon Duhaime
A hard-hitting depth forward who can chip in the odd goal, Duhaime is one of the few pending unrestricted free agents the Wild have to sell. The 2016 fourth-round pick has spent his entire professional career with the organization but is likely pricing himself out of Minnesota with free agency on the horizon.
Duhaime possesses the tools that appeal to teams gearing up for a long playoff run. A strong skater with size at 6-foot-2, he brings energy at the bottom end of the lineup and is an experienced penalty-killer.
Kaapo Kakko
The 2019 No. 2 pick hasn’t developed into the kind of game-breaker scouts thought he’d be. In fact, he appears to have regressed this season on a Rangers team with designs on challenging for the Stanley Cup.
His name has started to surface in the rumor mill with the team looking to upgrade its forward group. As a 22-year-old with more than 250 games of NHL experience, he might be more tantalizing as a trade chip than a late first-round draft pick.
Tomas Tatar
The well-traveled forward has already been moved once this season, going from Colorado to Seattle, and he rediscovered his production while playing in a system better suited for his game with the Kraken.
Tatar is a one-dimensional offensive player who still has decent speed and hands. He’s worth a look from teams hoping to add some secondary scoring.
Tyler Johnson
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, there are intangibles that come with Johnson’s 116 games of playoff experience. When healthy this season, he’s played up the lineup on a rebuilding Chicago squad, but he will more comfortably slot into the bottom six on a deeper roster.
Johnson has made up for a lack of size with his speed and smarts throughout his NHL career.
He’s one of a handful of pending UFAs the Blackhawks have to peddle at this year’s deadline.
Tony DeAngelo
The well-traveled DeAngelo is a consistent point producer and power-play quarterback who finds himself available with his second stint in Carolina not going quite as smoothly as the first one did and the Hurricanes carrying a glut of defensemen.
Making well under $2 million on a one-year contract, DeAngelo seems likely to deliver value beyond his cap hit — even when factoring in some of his defensive deficiencies.
A player with a 40-point season and two 50-point campaigns under his belt, some questions remain about DeAngelo’s off-ice maturity. But there’s little debate about his ability to shoot and move the puck.
Plugged into the proper role, he can make a difference.
Adam Boqvist
It’s been four years since Boqvist saw action in the AHL, but he’s still searching for his place as an NHLer.
The Swede has strong offensive instincts and appears to have plenty of room to grow into his game. He projects as a future power-play specialist who can rush the puck with confidence, but he's been caught up in a numbers game on the Blue Jackets blue line and isn’t an everyday player right now.
Tyson Barrie
Having found himself sitting as a healthy scratch this season for the first time since he was on his entry-level contract, the veteran defenseman would like a change of scenery.
Barrie’s power-play usage is limited in Nashville because he’s slotted behind Roman Josi in the rotation, but the man advantage remains where the right shot can make the biggest impact. A strong skater with excellent offensive instincts, he’s best deployed in a sheltered five-on-five role and big PP minutes. Those qualities make him an attractive addition for those in need of a boost to their special teams.
Barrie is playing on an expiring contract carrying a $4.5 million cap hit, and the Predators aren’t likely to retain salary as part of a trade since they only have one retention spot available for the remainder of the season.
Philip Broberg
Meaningful NHL minutes have not been made available to Broberg and the 22-year-old’s patience is running thin. The No. 8 pick from 2019 is currently plying his trade with AHL Bakersfield. The Oilers continue to believe in the skill set that prompted them to use that pick on the 6-foot-4 defenseman, but they’re in win-now mode and may ultimately be forced to accommodate his desire for a regular NHL opportunity elsewhere.
Should that happen, Broberg would be a valuable trade chip as the Oilers look to strengthen themselves for a run at the Stanley Cup. He carries big upside potential.
Rasmus Ristolainen
A big, physical defenseman who is known to occasionally overplay the puck and have issues in the defensive zone, Ristolainen can be a polarizing player. His underlying numbers in Philadelphia this season paint an encouraging picture, though, and he’s still just 29 years old. Something for shoppers to consider, at minimum.
Ristolainen carries a $5.1 million cap charge for the next three years, but it’s believed the Flyers are open to salary retention in order to make a deal work.
It’s worth noting that he’s currently sidelined with an upper-body injury and isn’t expected to return to the lineup before the deadline.
Morgan Frost
The 2017 first-rounder has nearly played his way off the Big Board after enduring a rocky start to the season. He’s earned coach John Torotrella’s trust and now finds himself playing big minutes — a nice departure from the string of healthy scratches he saw in October and November.
The Flyers were never actively shopping a player with one year remaining on his contract beyond this one, plus restricted free agency beyond that, but they certainly took calls on him. The 24-year-old center already has a 19-goal season under his belt, but the Flyers have to consider just about anything put in front of them right now.
Trevor Zegras
An offensive specialist with his prime years still ahead, Zegras is certainly not a player the Ducks have to move — either at this deadline or beyond it. But it’s believed they’re at least willing to listen on a forward the organization has been pushing to round out his game. And four or five teams are believe to have called.
Given the unique circumstances at play — Zegras is still just 22, signed for two more years and already has a pair of 60-point seasons under his belt — Anaheim would need something significant in return to make a deal work.
Zegras is currently recovering from surgery on a broken ankle, which could turn this trade talk into a summer discussion.
John Gibson
With the Ducks heading toward a sixth straight playoff-less season, there will be renewed interest in Gibson, whose name has been part of trade discussions during recent offseasons and is surfacing again now with so many rival teams looking for an upgrade in goal.
The Anaheim mainstay is having a good season individually, with a strong output in goals saved above expected, and he has shown himself to be a workhorse throughout an 11-year pro career.
The biggest obstacle is the $6.4 million cap hit Gibson carries through the 2026-27 season. In a capped-out NHL world, that significantly complicates any potential transaction. But at 30 years old, Gibson may be more than worth the trouble.
Note: Net ratings and market values are via Dom Luszczyszyn’s model and are based on statistics through Feb. 20 plus projections for the remainder of the season. Goals saved above expected (GSAx) for goalies are via Evolving-Hockey through Feb. 20.
(Graphic by Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos of Juuse Saros, Pavel Buchnevich and Sean Walker / Richard A. Whittaker, Kevin Sousa and Rich Graessle / Getty Images)
