B/R NHL Trade Block Big Board for December 2023
The NHL's annual holiday trade freeze begins at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 19 and ends at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 28. That might spur some general managers into some last-minute Christmas shopping to bolster their rosters for the New Year.
The trade market was rather quiet for most of November, with just two trades involving active NHL players taking place. On Nov. 8, the Minnesota Wild shipped defenseman Calen Addison to the San Jose Sharks and acquired blueliner Zach Bogosian from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
However, business picked up during the final days of the month. On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks traded winger Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks. Two days later, the Canucks acquired defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames.
As usual, the high number of teams with limited salary-cap space this season has slowed the trade market. Nevertheless, plenty of names have been bandied about in the media rumor mill, supplanting those who were part of our November Trade Block Big Board.
Over the past month, Edmonton Oilers reportedly scouted the Montreal Canadiens' and Columbus Blue Jackets' goaltenders, while Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson and Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin resurfaced in trade conjecture.
They all figure prominently in our December NHL Trade Block Big Board. Factors such as skill level, experience, contracts and the likelihood of getting traded went into this compilation.
As always, you can express your thoughts on this topic in the comments section on the B/R app.
10. Anthony Duclair, San Jose Sharks
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Heading into November, there were already trade rumors swirling around the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.
With the club struggling at the bottom of the standings, winger Kevin Labanc was mentioned most as a possible trade candidate. However, his struggles have shifted the focus toward teammate Anthony Duclair.
Like Labanc, Duclair is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. The winger carries a $3 million cap hit and lacks no-trade protection.
Duclair, 28, joined the Sharks as part of a cost-cutting trade by the cap-strapped Florida Panthers on July 1. He enjoyed his best seasons in Florida, tallying a career-best 31 goals and 58 points in 2021-22 to help the Panthers win the Presidents' Trophy. After missing most of last season with a torn Achilles, he returned to help them reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
With five points in 19 games, he is struggling with the woeful Sharks this season. But he could retain his form on a deeper club.
On Nov. 3, Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic wondered if the Calgary Flames would consider reuniting Duclair with former Panthers teammate Jonathan Huberdeau if they felt the season was salvageable.
It remains to be seen if the Flames would go that route. Nevertheless, Duclair's previous scoring exploits and solid play for the Panthers in the 2023 playoffs could make him an enticing target for contenders in the market for additional scoring punch.
9. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
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The rebuilding Anaheim Ducks got off to a better-than-expected start this season, holding a wild-card berth in the Western Conference with a record of 9-6-0 as of November 14.
One reason for that was the play of goaltender John Gibson, who has a goals-against average of 2.64 and a save percentage of .912 through his first 15 games.
His future has been the stuff of frequent trade conjecture since the Ducks began rebuilding their roster last season under general manager Pat Verbeek. It earned the 30-year-old netminder a berth at No. 3 on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board.
Some of those rumors were based on conflicting reports in July claiming Gibson had requested a trade, something his agent swiftly denied. Nevertheless, speculation linked him to the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey resurfaced as a destination on Nov. 11 when Larry Brooks of the New York Post questioned whether Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald would seek to upgrade his club's shaky goaltending. During the Nov. 21 episode of The Jeff Marek Show, Elliotte Friedman mentioned him as a possible option for the struggling Edmonton Oilers.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have tumbled down the Western Conference standings. Gibson's play has also suffered during that period. Nevertheless, this likely won't be the last time his name pops up as a trade target for clubs seeking help between the pipes.
8. Sean Monahan, Montreal Canadiens
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Acquired from the Calgary Flames in August 2022, Sean Monahan established himself as an important veteran center and leader on the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens.
His strong play through the first two months of the 2022-23 season made him a trade candidate leading up to the March deadline despite suffering season-ending injuries in December.
The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract extension with the Canadiens on June 20. Fully recovered from his injuries, he's again become an important veteran leader for the Habs.
The center is fifth among their leading scorers with 13 points in 22 games plus a team-leading faceoff win percentage of 58.7.
Like last season, Monahan could draw interest from clubs seeking experienced depth at center. On Oct. 31, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli said that he felt the Canadian could become a valuable trade chip for Montreal if he stays healthy over the rest of the season.
That evaluation of Monahan was shared by The Fourth Period's Anthony Di Marco. Speaking on TSN Radio Montreal 690 on Nov. 15, he said Monahan had been the Canadiens' best forward thus far. He also suggested that his affordable contract could fit well with cap-strapped clubs.
The Canadiens probably aren't in any hurry to trade Monahan unless someone makes an early offer too good to pass up, but it will be worthwhile keeping an eye on his situation as the season progresses. He could start drawing attention from playoff contenders once the calendar flips to 2024.
7. and 6. Elvis Merzļikins and Spencer Martin, Columbus Blue Jackets
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It's been a difficult season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Having replaced offseason hire Mike Babcock as head coach with Pascal Vincent before training camp, they stumbled from the gate and have found themselves mired near the foot of the Eastern Conference.
The Blue Jackets were the topic of trade rumors throughout October as they reportedly attempted to clear a blue-line logjam by shopping defensemen Andrew Peeke and Adam Boqvist.
The duo made our November NHL Trade Block Big Board, but nothing has come of that trade chatter, which has mostly faded away in recent weeks.
However, the Blue Jackets appear to have drawn the attention of the Edmonton Oilers in their ongoing search for an upgrade between the pipes. On Nov. 29, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that "three Edmonton executives/scouts were in Columbus" this week.
Friedman indicated those Oilers scouts were in Columbus on Monday as the Blue Jackets (with Spencer Martin in goal) upset the Boston Bruins.
They returned Wednesday when starter Elvis Merzļikins faced the Montreal Canadiens. He is earning $5.4 million annually through 2026-27 while Martin is on an affordable one-year deal worth $762,500.
With sidelined goalie Daniil Tarasov returning to action soon, Friedman observed that the Blue Jackets will have one goalie too many unless they intend to carry all three on their roster.
This situation could be worth monitoring leading up to the holiday trade freeze.
5. Morgan Frost, Philadelphia Flyers
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Following a promising 46-point campaign in 2022-23, Morgan Frost has wound up in the doghouse of Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella.
The center has been a frequent healthy scratch this season, appearing in 12 games with four points.
That made Frost the subject of trade speculation in early November, so much so that he appeared on our Nov. 7 BS Meter of NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors.
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz cited a Flyers source on Oct. 30 saying the club wasn't looking to move the 24-year-old. But the rumors aren't going away.
On Nov. 9, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli noted several teams had contacted the Flyers to inquire about Frost. However, he believed there would have to be a higher degree of interest to make a trade take place. That would require playing him more often rather than keeping him in the press box.
The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported on Nov. 28 that the Flyers were willing to move Frost to give him a fresh start elsewhere. He claimed there was talk during training camp that they offered him to the Ottawa Senators for free-agent forward Shane Pinto. That was before Pinto was suspended for violating the league's gambling rules.
TSN's Darren Dreger indicated on Nov. 23 that the Flyers were open to listening to offers on basically every position. They're looking for assets to build a stronger foundation for the future.
If Frost isn't to be part of that future, perhaps he becomes a trade chip to land an asset who will factor into their long-term plans.
4. Chris Tanev, Calgary Flames
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One of three notable Calgary Flames defensemen on our list eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July, Chris Tanev carries an average annual value of $4.5 million with a 10-team no-trade list.
In recent weeks, the blueliner has become a frequent topic of discussion in media trade chatter.
The buzz began on Oct. 31 when Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported the Flames had paused all contract extension negotiations with their pending UFAs as the club slid in the standings. On Nov. 14, TSN's Pierre LeBrun noted they were listening to trade offers on those players.
LeBrun's colleague, Darren Dreger, said the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils were the primary clubs interested in one of those Flames defensemen.
Tanev played for the Canucks before joining Calgary, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believed the Flames were unlikely to trade any defenseman to a division rival like Vancouver.
An Eastern club such as the Leafs or Devils seems a more likely destination for the 33-year-old provided they're not on his no-trade list. On Nov. 17, Friedman said he believed the New York Islanders could be interested in one of the Flames rearguards.
Calgary's improved play of late could put a damper on the trade chatter. Still, Tanev's situation could be worth monitoring as the season progresses, especially if the Flames slide out of contention before the March 8 trade deadline.
3. and 2. Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
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The Montreal Canadiens have been carrying three goaltenders—Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau—since the start of the season.
Primeau is no longer waiver-exempt and could be plucked off the waiver wire by a rival club if they attempt to send him to their AHL affiliate in Laval, Quebec.
On Nov. 2, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Canadiens management could soon decide to trade one of them. With the Edmonton Oilers sending Jack Campbell to the minors on Nov. 7, there was speculation they could have an eye on a Canadiens netminder.
A week following Dreger's report, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman expressed his belief that the Oilers had spoken to the Canadiens about Allen. On Nov, 18, he reported that "a number of teams who were in Montreal" claimed the Oilers were looking at the Habs goalies though he didn't believe anything was imminent.
The Edmonton Journal's David Staples cited Dreger speculating on Nov. 22 on what it would cost the Oilers to acquire Montembeault. He felt it could take prospect Xavier Bourgault "and something else." The following day, though, Friedman indicated the Canadiens were still discussing a contract extension with the 27-year-old netminder.
On Nov. 24, Montreal Hockey Now's Marco D'Amico cited Pierre LeBrun of TSN claiming the two clubs hadn't engaged in trade talks lately regarding those goaltenders.
It could be that the Oilers are considering other options. Still, we can't rule out the possibility that they could revisit those discussions.
1. Noah Hanifin, Calgary Flames
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Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin has surfaced frequently in offseason trade rumors.
With the 26-year-old defenseman slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July, there was concern over whether he would sign a contract extension. His current average annual value is $4.9 million, and he carries an eight-team no-trade list.
That speculation faded when Hanifin told reporters on Oct. 23 that contract discussions were taking place with Flames management. There was talk that the two sides were progressing toward a new deal.
On Oct. 31, however, Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported Calgary had put all contract talks on hold as the club tumbled down the standings. Two weeks later, TSN's Pierre LeBrun said management was listening to trade offers for all its pending unrestricted free agents. He also said the "ship had sailed" regarding a potential $60 million extension for Hanifin.
That rekindled the trade chatter around Hanifin. Darren Dreger of TSN said the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils were the primary teams interested in the Flames' blueliner as well as in Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev.
On Nov. 9, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman pondered whether the Arizona Coyotes or San Jose Sharks had looked into Hanifin's availability. Six days later, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy wondered if Bruins general manager Don Sweeney would revisit his interest in Hanifin. On Nov. 17, Friedman speculated whether the New York Islanders would be interested in him.
The Flames' recent improvement in the standings means they don't have to rush into moving Hanifin. They could wait until the March 8 trade deadline to gauge their position in the table before going that route. If they do, LeBrun believes he could be dealt with a contract extension in place.
Stats and standings via NHL.com with salary info via CapFriendly.
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