The Player Every Team Should Shop at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline
As the 2024 NHL trade deadline approaches, every team in the league has its lists of untouchable players, names they are looking to shop and those they are willing to listen to offers on.
Here, we are going to take a look at one player that each team should be shopping before the deadline.
A few things to keep in mind first, though.
This isn't quite the same thing as the team's best trade asset or most likely trade asset (though, in some cases, it could be).
It also doesn't mean the team should trade the player we list just for the sake of trading them. It just means they should shop them around to see if they get an offer that makes sense for the short and long term.
We are also trying to limit this just to players who are currently on an NHL roster, so no draft picks or prospects.
Anaheim Ducks: Adam Henrique
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If we are being honest here, there is no real reason for Adam Henrique to still be on the Anaheim Ducks roster on Mar. 9.
The team is at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and he is an unrestricted free agent after this season and probably doesn't fit into the timeframe of its current rebuild. He is also going to be one of the top rental centers available now that Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan have been traded.
Between teams such as the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, there are some high-level contenders that need additional center depth. And the Ducks should be able to land at least another first-round pick for the 34-year-old, especially given the returns for Lindholm and Monahan.
Henrique is on pace for more than 20 goals and 50 points this season and will add some quality depth to any contender.
Shop him aggressively. There is a contender who is going to want him and sees him as a potentially significant piece.
Arizona Coyotes: Matt Dumba
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The Arizona Coyotes' flirtation with a playoff spot has really started to run out of steam, which means it's time to start selling.
It shouldn't be a total firesale because they have made some significant progress in their rebuild and have a pretty good core of players in place.
But any of their pending UFAs should be dangled out there, and defenseman Matt Dumba should be at the top of that list.
The 29-year-old does not have the offensive production he did at his peak, but he is still a reliable veteran who can play big minutes and has a physical game.
Dumba is the type of veteran defenseman general managers love to trade a second-round pick for at the deadline for a playoff run.
Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk
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The idea here is simple. Despite their strong record, the Bruins have some serious flaws on their roster when it comes to their defensive-zone play and depth down the middle.
They are a top-five team in goals against, but that is almost entirely related to their goaltending. Their defensive metrics in terms of scoring chances and expected goals against are near the middle of the pack, while their penalty kill has been one of the league's worst for more than two months.
They also have almost no salary-cap space to work with and few trade assets at their disposal in the form of draft picks or prospects.
Flipping Jake DeBrusk, who has struggled this season and may not have a long-term future in Boston as a pending unrestricted free agent, could be a way to recoup some assets they could then use as trade chips to land help on defense or down the middle.
It would also open some salary-cap space.
Buffalo Sabres: Casey Mittelstadt
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The Buffalo Sabres don't need to trade Casey Mittelstadt. He is only a restricted free agent after this season, he has developed into a top-line scorer and is their top point-producer this season.
What the Sabres do need are some big changes to their roster and the entire vibe around their team. They need a major shakeup.
The 2023-24 season has been a gigantic disappointment and has the team heading toward its 13th consecutive non-playoff campaign.
If the Sabres are unable to get a long-term deal in place with Mittelstadt or don't feel confident in paying him his asking price, he is a player who could bring them back a significant package to not only help change the makeup of the team but also potentially address some depth issues and other needs.
Buffalo would also be dealing him at what might be his highest possible value.
The Sabres don't need to do it, though. They shouldn't do it unless somebody wows them with an offer. But the only way to get that offer is to put him out there and see which teams bite.
Calgary Flames: Jacob Markstrom
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With Elias Lindholm already traded, it seems a given that fellow pending free agents Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev are also going to move on before the trade deadline.
The Flames might like to hit the reset button on forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri, but their contracts may be impossible to move for multiple reasons, ranging from no-movement clauses to teams not being able or willing to fit them under their cap. Huberdeau's contract is quickly becoming the NHL's worst.
Starting goalie Jacob Markstrom also has a no-movement clause (those can always be waived), but he might have some real value to a contender. And there are a lot of contenders that need a goaltending upgrade.
The 34-year-old is having a great bounce-back year with a .913 save percentage, but it still hasn't been enough to get the Flames back into playoff contention.
As long as they are selling pending free agents, they should see if there is a contender Markstrom would want to play for who is willing to make a worthwhile offer.
Carolina Hurricanes: Tony DeAngelo
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Tony DeAngelo's second trip through Carolina has been a pretty major disappointment, and both sides could probably use a change.
The 28-year-old has his flaws, but he had some big-time offensive upside to help downplay some of the defensive shortcomings.
This season, though, he isn't even giving the Hurricanes that with just two goals and nine total points in 23 games.
DeAngelo has found himself as a healthy scratch for much of the season and has not taken on a big role when he has played.
His contract is not a detriment to the team—just one year at a little more than $1 million per season—but it's still a situation that would probably be best if everybody hit the reset button.
Chicago Blackhawks: Tyler Johnson
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The Chicago Blackhawks have quickly run out of potential trade deadline candidates.
Taylor Hall is out for the season, and they have also already re-signed several veterans beyond this season who could have been trade bait when the season began.
Seth Jones' contract would be impossible to move, and while his contract isn't great, he is still a solid player on their blue line and they need somebody to help them get to the cap floor next season anyway.
The rest of their established players don't really have much value or are significant parts of their rebuild.
That leaves Tyler Johnson. This is another situation where it wouldn't make much sense for him to remain with his current team after the trade deadline. He is not part of the long-term plan, and his Stanley Cup experience might be a valuable asset for a contender.
Trading him is an easy second- or third-round pick for the Blackhawks to add to their collection of draft capital, and they should take advantage of it.
Colorado Avalanche: Bowen Byram
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The Colorado Avalanche had hoped Bowen Byram could be another superstar on an already loaded defense.
But it hasn't happened yet for a couple of reasons, ranging from the team's depth chart, to injuries, to his own inconsistencies on the ice.
It might be a situation where the 22-year-old simply needs a change of scenery and a bigger opportunity to fully realize his potential.
It is also a situation where the Avalanche might have the luxury to deal from a position of strength to help fill a position of weakness.
Most teams wouldn't be in a position to dangle a player as young and talented as Byram as trade bait, but most teams don't have Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Sam Girard and Josh Manson already on their blue line.
If the Avalanche put him out there, they might be able to land a significant piece that could be a part of their core beyond this season, such as a potential second-line center or more goal-scoring depth on the wing.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Jack Roslovic
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This is a complicated situation because the Blue Jackets are currently in a transition period following the firing of general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen.
Until they have a new GM in place on a full-time basis, it's difficult to see them being able to make a major trade or major change to the roster.
The new GM should have the opportunity to assess the situation and decide who they want to be part of their team.
With that in mind, Jack Roslovic is probably the easiest and least objectionable trade option on the roster. He is a pending unrestricted free agent and might have some value to a contender as a depth forward.
This season is another lost one, a new GM is on the way, so the best course of action here might be just to stand pat, let the season play out, and start fixing things in the offseason.
Dallas Stars: Craig Smith
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The purpose of shopping Craig Smith wouldn't be to get a major return, but to open up a roster spot and potentially clear out a bit of salary-cap space to help bring in more help elsewhere on the roster. Or to be used as a throw-in as part of a bigger deal (also for salary-cap purposes).
Smith has become something of an afterthought in Dallas this season, logging only 10 minutes per game, the lowest average of any player on the roster.
The 34-year-old still has seven goals in 50 games in those minutes and might have some value to a team in a depth role.
But he is clearly not among the Stars' most trusted and used forwards and doesn't seem to have much of a role.
Detroit Red Wings: Ben Chiarot
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The Red Wings have made a lot of big free-agent signings and trades over the past two years, and Ben Chiarot has not been one of the better ones from a value standpoint.
The 32-year-old makes $4.75 million against the salary cap per season and has been one of the team's least productive players when it comes to objective performance.
Of the 26 Red Wings players who have played at least 500 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey the past two seasons, Chiarot has the third-worst on-ice goal differential and the sixth-worst expected goal share, while also ranking 21st and 23rd in expected goals against per 60 minutes and goals against per 60 minutes.
For a player with a reputation as a defensive presence, it is very underwhelming. It has also contributed to a Red Wings team that has been one of the league's worst defensively.
He still has two more years remaining on his contract, and that money could be used significantly better.
So why would any team want to take that on?
Well, simply because teams always seem to take it on. Chiarot's on-ice performance has been steady for most of his career and hasn't really changed. Despite the lack of positive results, teams always seem to have an interest in him and always seem to want to trade for him.
It would not be a surprise if the Red Wings made him available that some team took a bite on it. Detroit should test that.
Edmonton Oilers: Brett Kulak
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Brett Kulak isn't necessarily a liability on the Oilers' blue line, but he is a 30-year-old third-pairing defenseman signed to a long-term contract worth nearly $3 million per season.
That's not a luxury that a cap-strapped team that needs to be careful how it spends every dollar can afford.
Cody Ceci (two years and nearly $4 million per year) would also fit into this category.
Neither player would be traded to bring a significant piece back in return.
The name of the game would be dumping salary to give the Oilers some much-needed salary-cap relief to address other areas like goaltending or an additional goal-scoring winger to help round out the forward lineup.
Florida Panthers: Nick Cousins
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The Panthers don't really need to do much at this point.
They are second in the league in goals against, they are getting strong goaltending, their offense is starting to get back to the level it was a year ago, and they are looking like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
They need some minor tweaks. Nothing major, but we are naming a player to shop for every team so let's say Nick Cousins with this spot.
He brings a lot of chaos to the Panthers' lineup and knows how to rattle the cages of opponents, but he doesn't bring much else to the table. He is near the bottom of the lineup in terms of ice time, doesn't provide much in the way of offense and doesn't play on special teams.
It's a fourth-line spot that could probably use a small upgrade.
Los Angeles Kings: Arthur Kaliyev
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This could be a classic change of scenery and fresh start situation.
The Kings were hoping Kaliyev would be a core player, but it simply hasn't happened. Not only has it not happened, but he has seemingly taken a step backward this season in terms of his production with just six goals in his first 39 games of the season. It's not enough, and it is contributing to the Kings' lack of finishing ability.
On one hand, this might be a case of trading a talented player at their lowest possible value. But he also might still have some value to a rebuilding team that thinks they can get his career on track and help him reach his potential.
The Kings have had a really strong prospect pool for a few years now, but it hasn't really paid off in terms of developing impact players. Quinton Byfield is finally starting to get there after a few years, but players like Kaliyev and Alex Turcotte have been mostly underwhelming.
Minnesota Wild: Marc-André Fleury
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The Wild do not seem like they are headed for an active trade deadline. They are not in a position to buy, and they don't have many good options to sell. At least none that make any sense.
Marc-André Fleury might be an exception to that, if he is willing to move.
The 39-year-old has changed teams a few times since leaving Pittsburgh, and with a no-movement clause he has full control over where he goes and whether he goes anywhere.
But even though he is not quite the goalie he was at his peak, he still has a respectable .902 save percentage for the season and could have an opportunity to pursue a fourth Stanley Cup. He may not have many more opportunities in the NHL to get one, and he is certainly not going to get it in Minnesota this season.
A team like Colorado, Los Angeles, or Edmonton that may not need a starter but could use a safety net and strong backup option could be an interesting possibility.
Montreal Canadiens: Jake Allen
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This is a combination of Jake Allen being the Canadiens' best trade asset as well as the player they should be most actively shopping. So, it's a perfect situation.
The Canadiens have strong goaltending depth at the NHL level, with Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau probably being a better fit with their current rebuild timeline.
Allen makes $3.85 million through the end of the 2024-25 season, and at the very least would be a great backup or platoon option for a team in need of better goaltending depth.
The Canadiens should be able to get a relatively high draft pick for him and still have two goalies in their prime years giving them league-average goaltending.
Nashville Predators: Juuse Saros
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Mathematically, the Predators are still very much alive in the playoff race in the Western Conference, so they may not be eager to move Saros, who still has one year remaining on his contract after this season.
Realistically, they are probably not going to make the playoffs, and even if they do it will almost certainly be another year with a quick first-round exit.
This might be a great opportunity to shop Saros and see if they can land a meaningful return and take advantage of the fact that any team getting him knows they would have two playoff runs with him.
A team like New Jersey that is in desperate need of goaltending might be willing to pay a significant price to get somebody as good as the 28-year-old.
Nashville has a potential long-term replacement waiting in the wings in recent first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov who has been outstanding in the American Hockey League over the past two years.
The Predators need a shakeup to bring in more talent, and if they do not see Saros as sticking around beyond his next contract, this would be the time to try moving him.
New Jersey Devils: Ondřej Palát
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The Devils have made quite a few big moves over the past few years, including the five-year, $30 million free-agency contract for Ondřej Palát.
The early returns on it have been mixed, though.
The 32-year-old has just 16 goals in 93 games with the Devils over his first two years, and he's seen a sharp decline in his production from what he did with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now that Palát is getting into his mid-30s, that trend isn't likely to reverse and it could be a sign of what is ahead for him offensively.
He is an alternate captain and has the respect of the team and coaching staff, but a $6 million salary-cap hit is a big number and you need production from that spot. Certainly, more than what the Devils have been able to get from Palát.and are likely to get in the future. That should make him a candidate to potentially shop around.
The big obstacle here is that he still has a no-movement clause in his contract, but with the Devils having a major need for a goalie and several unrestricted free agents on the roster (including Tyler Toffoli and a handful of defensemen) they are going to need some cap space.
New York Islanders: Brock Nelson
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The Islanders are stuck in neutral.
They have one of the oldest rosters in the league and are not particularly good in any meaningful area. This season is starting to look like it is slipping away from them and not even a coaching change from Lane Lambert to Patrick Roy is going to be enough to salvage it.
It's time to start thinking big about the future.
It might be painful for Islanders fans, but Brock Nelson is the best trade chip they have given his production (36 goals the past two years and on pace for 30 again this season) and the fact that he has a very manageable contract through the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Islanders aren't winning with the 32-year-old now, and they probably won't want to commit to a long-term contract when he is in his mid-30s.
At least, they probably shouldn't want to do that because he is probably not going to maintain that mid-30s goal pace for many more years.
New York Rangers: Barclay Goodrow
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File this one under "wishful thinking," but if the Rangers could find a taker for Goodrow, it would help fix a lot of headaches and clear a big contract off their books.
The 30-year-old is still set to make $3.6 million per season for the next three years after this, and they are simply not getting that level of production or play for that commitment. The problem is going to be finding a taker for that deal that also works with his no-trade protection.
The Rangers have built a strong team in the past few years, but they have made some roster and contract blunders that have prevented them from taking the next big step in their development. Overpaying for a bottom-of-the-lineup forward who doesn't score for too many years is at the top of that list.
They probably wouldn't be able to deal Goodrow for a significant asset in return, but if they can find a way to include him in a larger deal or move him in any way, they need to be on top of it.
Ottawa Senators: Vladimir Tarasenko
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This season has been a bitter disappointment in Ottawa, and all of the team's flaws have been badly exposed, from a lack of scoring depth, to defense, to goaltending.
The Senators have a great young core in place, but they don't have much help around them to get them back into the playoff picture.
So, it's time to sell.
Tarasenko has been one of the few bright spots on the roster this season and has made the most of his one-year, $5 million contract with 14 goals and 22 assists (36 total points) in his 49 games.
He has some trade protections in his contract, but the Sens would be wise to aggressively move him because he is probably not going to be a part of the team beyond July 1.
Contenders in need of goal-scoring would probably be willing to part with a first-round pick to land him, and even if Ottawa doesn't want to start another rebuild, having an extra first-round pick in their cupboard could be a valuable trade chip to land some of the help it needs in the offseason.
You're not going anywhere this season, Tarasenko isn't a key part of your core, and he's a perfect candidate to flip. Not taking advantage of that would be organizational malpractice.
Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Walker
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The Flyers have exceeded every possible expectation anybody could have had for them this season and actually have a chance to make the playoffs.
Nobody saw that coming at the start of the season.
As impressive as that would be, Philadelphia can't lose sight of the fact of where it is in the long term.
This is not a Cup contender this season, and it still probably needs another year or two before it gets to that level. If there is a chance for the Flyers to add something at a fair price, they should consider it. But they should also consider any trade packages that would bring them back a fair price.
Defenseman Sean Walker might be the kind of player who can do that. The Flyers got him as part of the return in the Ivan Provorov trade, and he seemed like the type of one-year stop-gap who could be dealt for an additional asset at the deadline.
That should not change.
His performance should only further convince them to shop him because he has had a career year for the Flyers and may not be this productive again. He is a pending unrestricted free agent and will be 30 next season.
The Flyers might be able to land a second, or even a first-round pick from a contender.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake Guentzel
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Trading Jake Guentzel, who is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season, will be complicated and delicate for two reasons, but it has to be considered.
For one, he is currently out of the lineup for several weeks due to an injury. He will return at some point and would give any team that acquired him a bona fide top-line, goal-scoring winger who could be a major difference-maker. He is one of the best goal-scoring wingers in hockey and has a track record of postseason success.
It would also signal that the Penguins are giving up on the 2023-24 season while also trading away Sidney Crosby's preferred winger just before he enters the final year of his contract.
There is a lot of risk there.
But the Penguins seem to be slipping away from playoff contention, and Guentzel is the one player on the roster who could bring them a big return in a trade. The ideal situation would be if they could get a return like Philadelphia received for Claude Giroux a couple of years ago when they landed Owen Tippett and a first-round pick.
The Penguins still do not seem to know what they want to do at the trade deadline, but at least listening to offers on Guentzel has to be a must at this point given where they are in the standings and his contract situation.
San Jose Sharks: Anthony Duclair
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There are situations in sports where a team will acquire a player just to later trade them.
This is one of those situations.
The Sharks had an opportunity to land Duclair in a salary-dump trade with Florida for the low price of a fifth-round pick and Steven Lorentz.
It was a great move for a rebuilding Sharks team because it gave them a skilled player who could probably build up his value in the final year of his contract and get flipped at the deadline for a better asset than what they gave up to initially acquire him.
Well, they have a chance to cash in on that now.
Even though Duclair's production hasn't been at the level we have seen from him in the past, his 11 goals in 49 games still put him on an 18-goal pace over 82 games, and that would work nicely on any contender looking for scoring depth.
The Sharks could almost certainly get a second-round pick back in return for a player who probably never figured to be part of their long-term plans.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle
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After making the playoffs in year two (and winning a series), the 2023-24 season has been wildly disappointing for the Kraken. Their offense has been bitten hard by a team-wide shooting percentage regression, and they are a real long shot at this point for making the playoffs.
Eberle is the obvious trade candidate here given his pending free agency, as well as the fact that he doesn't seem like a player who is going to have a long-term spot in Seattle beyond this season.
He has been a good player for them, but he is going to be 34 next season and probably isn't going to maintain his current level of production, which is already starting to slow down, for many more years.
On a short-term basis, he would still have a lot of value to a contender, especially given his track record of playoff success.
Seattle is still an organization that is building from the ground up, so if it can add another first- or second-round pick to the organization, it needs to take advantage of it.
St. Louis Blues: Pavel Buchnevich
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Trading Pavel Buchnevich would probably not be the preferred endgame here for the Blues this season. Not only is he one of their best and most productive players, but they also still have a real chance to make the playoffs and it's not the type of deal a playoff team would normally make.
Especially with a player still under contract for another season.
But the Blues have a lot of big-money deals on their books, and Buchnevich's next contract might be a little too rich for them to fit in under their cap.
His value would be sky-high right now and he might be a player who could bring back one or two significant players to help solidify a weak defense and some thin scoring depth.
This is also a situation where "shopping" does not necessarily mean "trading."
It never hurts to listen, and the Blues would be wise to at least see what teams would be willing to offer. If somebody gives you a great return? Maybe you build a deeper roster. If you don't get an offer you like? Then you simply keep an extremely productive player for at least one more year.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Erik Černák
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With Mikhail Sergachev out for the year, this might not be a realistic option because they can not afford to go down another defenseman with the playoffs looming.
But there should be some incentive for the Lightning to try to shop Černák before July 1 because that is when his no-trade clause kicks in.
It's not that Černák is a bad player, but the Lightning are going to need to find a way to shed salary this offseason. They only have $11 million in salary-cap space this summer with just 16 players under contract.
Steven Stamkos is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and they will need to still fill out the remainder of the roster and also worry about finding necessary upgrades.
Potentially trading Černák could shed a big salary that may make it easier to retain Stamkos and also find necessary upgrades.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson
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There was a time when Nick Robertson was a highly thought-of prospect in the Maple Leafs' organization, but he hasn't quite put everything together at the NHL level.
He has eight goals and 17 total points in 35 games this season, but he is set to be a restricted free agent after this season, and the Maple Leafs need to ask themselves how much they are willing to pay him on his next deal.
They also have some significant needs on their roster right now that need to be addressed, including their defense and scoring depth.
Robertson could be an intriguing trade asset for a rebuilding team looking to add a young player who still has some unrealized potential.
Vancouver Canucks: Conor Garland
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Conor Garland's name has been mentioned in trade speculation for what seems like an eternity at this point, so let's add it for another year.
The Canucks have one of the league's best offenses this season, but the 27-year-old could be expendable. He has nice production (11 goals and 28 points in 56 games), but he only plays 13 minutes per night and counts more than $4.9 million against the cap for another two seasons.
That is a lot of money going to a role player who isn't a central part of the roster.
If they could move that contract, it might help bring back a player who can fill a position of weakness while also creating some salary-cap space that will be needed for the Elias Pettersson contract extension that is looming after this season.
Vegas Golden Knights: Chandler Stephenson
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Chandler Stephenson has been a tremendous find for the Golden Knights and gave them more production than anybody could have realistically hoped for when they acquired him from the Washington Capitals.
But for as good as he was the previous two seasons, his level of play has taken a step backward this season, and he is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season.
The 29-year-old may not be a player Vegas wants to keep beyond this season.
Dealing him could help the Golden Knights get back another asset and some salary-cap space that can be used to find another top-line winger, which might be a bigger need at this point.
The Golden Knights would still have a strong depth chart down the middle with Jack Eichel (when he returns), William Karlsson and Nicolas Roy.
Washington Capitals: Nic Dowd
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Nic Dowd might not be a household name around the NHL, but he is the type of player who could probably bring a surprisingly large trade return.
His primary value is in his contract and how much of a bargain he could be for a contender.
The 33-year-old makes just $1.3 million through next season, and when combined with his two-way play, it's not a stretch to think he could land the Capitals a first-round pick.
Keep in mind that in recent years players such as Barclay Goodrow and Tanner Jeannot all went for first-round picks at the deadline due in large part to the contract term and cheap price they still had remaining.
The Capitals don't need to trade him, but they would be nuts not to try to see what they could pry away from another team.
Winnipeg Jets: Logan Stanley
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It just has not worked out for Stanley, the Jets' 2016 first-round pick.
The 25-year-old has appeared in just 10 games this season, and in 124 games over his career, he has failed to match the hype that came with his arrival.
He is a restricted free agent after this season and hasn't done much to solidify himself as a long-term player in Winnipeg.
There might still be a team out there that sees a 6'7" defender with some upside and wants to take a flyer on him to see if they can get him back on track and help him realize his potential.
The Jets don't have to trade him, and he probably wouldn't bring back a major return (most likely another team's version of him that also needs a fresh start) but he doesn't seem to have a long-term future with Winnipeg.
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