Buy or Sell the Latest 2024 NHL Trade and Free-Agent Rumors
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final begins on June 8 with the seventh and final game of the series slated for June 24. Following that series, NHL fans can expect the trade market to return to life as teams prepare to make moves for next season.
That activity will be spurred by the approaching of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas from June 28-29, followed by the start of the NHL free-agent market on July 1.
Fuelled by the hockey media, the NHL rumor mill has been churning in anticipation of another busy period of player movement. Notable stars like Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark have been mentioned as trade candidates. There could even be some contract buyouts following the postseason.
Here's a look at which of the past week's noteworthy rumors are worth buying or selling. Feel free to give us your thoughts in the app comments below.
Could the Carolina Hurricanes Buy Out Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
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The Carolina Hurricanes successfully signed away Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Montreal Canadiens with a one-year, $6.1 million offer sheet in Sept. 2021. They signed him to an eight-year contract extension the following March with an average annual value of $4.82 million.
At the time of those contracts, Kotkaniemi was a promising young center chosen third overall by the Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Draft. He appeared on the verge of a breakout performance last season with a 43-point effort in 82 games.
However, Kotkaniemi's production slipped to 27 points in 79 games this season and just one point in 11 playoff games. That prompted Sportsnet's Rory Boylen to wonder if they could afford his contract when they've got forwards Jake Guentzel and Seth Jarvis to re-sign, along with four defensemen eligible for UFA status on July 1.
Boylen pointed out that buying out the 23-year-old Kotkaniemi this summer would only be at one-third of his contract's remaining value instead of two-thirds if he were 26 or over. While it would count against the Hurricanes payroll for 12 years, the annual cap hit of the buyout would be just $835,000 for all but three years, when it would dip to $455,000.
Buy or Sell: Sell
Boylen noted that the Hurricanes don't have to rush into this buyout as they can wait another couple of years to see if Kotkaniemi will bounce back and reach his full potential. If necessary, they could buy him out for the same one-third rate for only eight years instead of 12.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Tanner Jeannot Could Be A Cost-Cutting Candidate
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On Feb. 26, 2023, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Tanner Jeannot from the Nashville Predators. They gave up five draft picks, including a conditional first-rounder in 2025, and defenseman Cal Foote to get him. Last summer, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Lightning worth an annual average value of $2.7 million.
A rugged checking-line winger with a decent scoring touch, Jeannot enjoyed a career-best performance in 2021-22 with 24 goals and 41 points in 81 games with the Predators. Though his production was down the following season, the Lightning had hoped he'd regain his 20-goal form.
Instead, Jeannot struggled through an injury-shortened 2023-24 campaign that limited him to seven goals and 14 points in 55 games. With the Lightning looking to free up salary cap space to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos, Jeannot could be on the move by the NHL Draft before his 16-team no-trade clause kicks in on July 1.
During the May 27 episode of Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said Jeannot could be a player to watch in the trade market. His co-host Jeff Marek suggested he'd be a good fit with the Calgary Flames. The Hockey News' Michael Augello suggested the Buffalo Sabres could benefit from Jeannot's physical style of play.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Things haven't worked out as expected for Jeannot with the Lightning. If there's interest from other clubs, they could ship him to another club for a low-cost return of two draft picks to offset some of those they traded to Nashville to acquire him. Moving his full salary off their books could free up enough room for Stamkos' next contract.
Will the Vancouver Canucks Trade Filip Hronek?
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Filip Hronek enjoyed a career-best performance in his first full season with the Vancouver Canucks. Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings before last season's trade deadline, the 26-year-old defenseman netted 48 points this season skating alongside Canucks captain Quinn Hughes on the top blue-line pairing.
Completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.4 million, Hronek is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. He's in line for a significant raise on his next contract, but whether he'll get it from the Canucks has been a hot topic in the rumor mill.
The Athletic's Thomas Drance thinks those contract talks could be tense given Hronek's disappointing playoff performance and his arbitration status. His asking price will be the biggest issue.
CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal reported on May 21 that the Hronek camp sought an annual cap hit of $8 million on his next contract. That's more than the $7.9 million AAV that Hughes is getting, and he's a finalist this season for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Buy or Sell: Buy
The Canucks prefer to keep Hronek as he's formed a strong chemistry alongside Hughes this season. However, they could put him on the trade block if he insists on an $8 million AAV. They could swap him for another defenseman or offload him for futures and use the cap savings on more affordable blue-line assets.
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Ottawa Senators Could Pursue Boston Bruins Goaltender Linus Ullmark
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A frequent fixture in the NHL Rumor Mill this season, Linus Ullmark was part of our May Offseason Trade Block Big Board. With Jeremy Swayman taking over as the Boston Bruins' starting goaltender, the 30-year-old Ullmark could end up on the trade block soon.
The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported last month the Senators looked into Ullmark's availability leading up to the March trade deadline. He believes general manager Steve Staios could revisit his interest in the Bruins netminder.
Goaltending was a primary weakness for the Senators this season. Their tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg combined for a goals-against per game of 3.43, the fifth-worst among the 32 NHL clubs. Korpisalo has four years left on his contract with an annual cap hit of $4 million while Forsberg has a year left at $2.8 million.
Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade list which drops to a 15-team list on July 1, giving him some control if the Bruins peddle him this summer. Garrioch also cited a league executive suggesting the Bruins could set a high asking price for defenseman Jakob Chychrun, a first-round pick, and a top prospect for the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner.
Buy or Sell: Sell
Too many factors work against this scenario. Ullmark could be unwilling to accept a trade to the rebuilding Senators. The Bruins' proposed asking price could be too expensive for Staios to accept. Staios would also have to find a taker for Korpisalo, which will be difficult given his struggles this season.
Could The Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner to the Nashville Predators?
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Another early playoff exit by the Toronto Maple Leafs sparked calls for change from their fans and the Toronto media with Mitch Marner considered the prime trade candidate. Criticized for his postseason performance, the 27-year-old winger has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $10.9 million plus a full no-movement clause.
Marner is a talented two-way forward but his contract could be difficult to move. That hasn't stopped pundits from suggesting possible destinations.
The Nashville Predators were suggested as a potential destination after they traded Ryan McDonagh back to the Tampa Bay Lightning last month. The move cleared McDonagh's $6.8 million cap hit from their Predators books, giving them $26 million in projected cap space with 15 active roster players under contract for next season.
Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since before the March trade deadline. The Leafs need a reliable starting goalie while the Predators could use more scoring punch. A swap of Saros for Marner with other pieces in the deal seems like a win-win for both clubs.
Buy or Sell: Sell
Predators general manager Barry Trotz dismissed the chatter as "just rumors." The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported no trade discussion between the Leafs and Predators, or with any other club. He also reminded us that Marner's no-movement clause gives him full control over his future, which doesn't appear to be in Nashville.
Stats are available via NHL.com, and salary info is available via Cap Friendly.
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