B/R NHL Trade Block Big Board for June 2024
The 2023 Stanley Cup Final is over, and the 2024 offseason is underway. There could be an increase in trade activity among the 32 NHL teams with the draft in Las Vegas fast approaching on Friday and Saturday.
Most trades leading up to and during the talent grab usually involve swapping draft picks, but we can also expect some established players to be on the move.
Entering June, only one trade of note had occurred since the March 8 trade deadline when the Tampa Bay Lightning reacquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators on May 21.
However, the New Jersey Devils' acquisition of Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames, the Los Angeles Kings' shipping Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals for Darcy Kuemper, and the Ottawa Senators acquiring Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins suggests business is picking up.
Trade speculation has steadily built during the postseason, especially as clubs were eliminated from the playoffs. We can expect plenty of media speculation over potential moves in the coming days.
Notable players such as Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner have emerged as trade candidates in recent weeks.
Those two are among the 15 players on our June NHL Trade Block Big Board. We're examining the biggest names appearing in recent media rumors. Skill level, contracts and the possibility of getting traded factored into their placement on our list.
What do you think of our listing? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the app comments below.
15. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, New York Islanders
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The New York Islanders were hampered by an anemic offense this season. They squeaked into the playoffs with a 2.99 goals per game average, sitting 22nd overall and second-lowest among the 16 teams that qualified for the 2024 playoffs. Their postseason goals per game dropped to 2.40.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello must go shopping for offensive help, but he's got only $6.6 million in cap space for 2024-25 with 18 active roster players under contract. That means he'll have to shed a contract to free up room for a scoring forward.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau could become a cost-cutting trade candidate. The two-way forward carries an annual cap hit of $5 million through 2025-26 and a modified no-trade clause. Clubs seeking a skilled third-line center could be interested if the asking price is low.
On May 9, NYI Hockey Now's Andrew Fantucchio noted that the 31-year-old was the subject of trade speculation last summer. He suggested the time might be right for him to move with the emergence of Kyle MacLean.
14. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
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It seems like an NHL offseason isn't complete without John Gibson surfacing in the summer rumor mill. The Anaheim Ducks goaltender is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
The 30-year-old's stats have suffered while backstopping the rebuilding Ducks over the past three seasons. Nevertheless, he's been a workhorse between the pipes over that time. His numbers would improve if he was playing on a better team.
It's been reported the Ducks are willing to listen to offers for Gibson, but they haven't received anything so far that might tempt them to part with their veteran starter. That might change with Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark off the trade market.
Before the Ottawa Senators acquired Ullmark, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported they'd inquired about Gibson. However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted they don't want to retain any of his salary to facilitate a deal (h/t The Hockey News' Patrick Present).
The Ducks could try to move Gibson out to make room for promising Lukáš Dostál, 24, to take over the starter's role. However, Derek Lee of The Hockey News believes they shouldn't be in any hurry to trade the well-liked veteran netminder.
13. Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
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The New York Rangers wasted little time re-signing Kaapo Kakko.
Slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, the winger inked a one-year contract on June 13 worth $2.4 million.
Kakko was the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft. He was projected to become a scoring winger but has struggled to reach expectations. He endured an injury-hampered 2023-24 season and was limited to 19 points in 61 games. He also saw limited ice time during the postseason.
Despite his new contract, the 23-year-old's future with the Rangers remains uncertain. They could remain patient with him, hoping he'll blossom as Alexis Lafrenière did this past season.
However, Larry Brooks of the New York Post suggested Kakko's new contract could make it easier to trade him if clubs make inquiries before the upcoming draft.
The Rangers don't have to move Kakko if they don't get any suitable offers this summer, but he'll remain an intriguing figure in the rumor mill as the trade market heats up.
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12. Tanner Jeannot, Tampa Bay Lightning
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The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Tanner Jeannot from the Nashville Predators before last year's trade deadline.
They expected him to provide additional grit and scoring depth as a middle-six forward, signing him last summer to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2.7 million.
Things didn't go well for Jeannot in 2023-24, though.
A 24-goal scorer in 2021-22, the 27-year-old managed only seven goals and 14 points as injuries limited him to 55 games. He also had just one assist in four playoff games as the Lightning were eliminated by the Florida Panthers from the first round of the playoffs.
The Lightning are squeezed for cap space for 2024-25 with $4.5 million remaining and 19 active roster players under contract. Team captain Steven Stamkos is slated to become a UFA on July 1. They could be forced to shed salary to make room for his new contract.
Sportsnet's Jeff Marek felt he'd be a good fit with the Calgary Flames, and the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos proposed rebuilding teams like the Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks could use his grit and experience.
Jeannot's affordable contract and his physical style of play could also make him enticing to playoff contenders. He could garner plenty of attention in this summer's trade market.
11. Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
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Entering 2023-24, Filip Gustavsson seemed ready to become the Minnesota Wild's full-time starting goaltender after a breakout performance in 2022-23 with 22 wins, nine losses and seven overtime losses, with a 2.10 goals-against average, a save percentage of .931 and three shutouts.
That performance earned the 26-year-old a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.8 million. However, he failed to fully wrest away the starter's job from veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, finishing with a record of 20-18-4 with a 3.06 GAA and an SP of .899.
The Wild re-signed Fleury to a one-year contract extension on April 17, raising questions about Gustavsson's future in Minnesota. Promising young goaltender Jesper Wallstedt also appears ready to make his full-time NHL debut in 2024-25.
Gustavsson's situation and speculation he could become a trade chip landed him on our May Trade Block Big Board. While he hasn't been mentioned much since April in the rumor mill, it's possible he could be moved on in the coming weeks.
10. Reilly Smith, Pittsburgh Penguins
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The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Reilly Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights last June, but he could find himself on the move this summer.
The 33-year-old tallied over 50 points in four of his five seasons with the Golden Knights, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2023. However, he struggled with the Penguins in 2023-24, with 13 goals and 40 points in 76 games.
Signed through 2024-25 with an annual cap hit of $5 million, Smith likely doesn't factor into the Penguins' long-term plans. That's why he landed on our May NHL Trade Block Big Board.
The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported on April 18 that the Penguins attempted to move Smith before the trade deadline but couldn't find any takers. Four days later, his colleague, Josh Yohe, reported the winger wasn't happy in Pittsburgh and never wanted to leave Las Vegas.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski doesn't think Smith's bad year with the Penguins will dampen interest in the trade market because he's only got a year left on his contract. However, he thinks the winger might fetch at most a mid-round draft pick.
9. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
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The Vegas Golden Knights have only $1.2 million in salary-cap space for 2024-25 with 20 active roster players under contract.
That will make it difficult for them to re-sign winger Jonathan Marchessault, who's slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and will seek a lucrative new deal.
It could force Vegas to make a cost-cutting trade to free up sufficient salary-cap space to retain Marchessault, which has led to speculation suggesting Shea Theodore could end up on the trade block.
Theodore, 28, has become a skilled top-four defenseman with the Golden Knights since their inaugural season of 2017-18. A skilled, mobile blueliner, he's exceeded 40 points per season over the last five years, including a career-high 52 points in 2021-22.
With one season remaining on his contract at an annual average value of $5.2 million, he can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames before the March trade deadline and signed him to an eight-year, $58.8 million extension.
On May 13, The Athletic's Jesse Granger suggested Theodore could become a trade candidate, pointing out he and Hanifin play a similar style. That could make him expendable, enabling the Golden Knights to trade him to clear enough cap room to re-sign Marchessault.
8. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
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Slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July, Juuse Saros continues to surface in the rumor mill as a trade candidate.
The Nashville Predators goaltender has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million.
Saros was frequently mentioned in speculation leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. The New Jersey Devils were said to be interested in the Predators netminder, and he continues to be linked to them.
On June 4, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported the Predators weren't in a hurry to move the 29-year-old. General manager Barry Trotz resisted trading his starting goalie before the deadline. He's hopeful of re-signing him this summer to a contract extension.
The Hockey News' Emma Lingen observed that Trotz hasn't fully taken the trade option off the table. She noted the Devils could be open to parting with the 10th overall pick in this year's draft but believes it'll take more than that to pry Saros from the Predators.
A contract extension remains possible for Saros on July 1, but we're including him on our June Trade Block Big Board as he could become available if negotiations with Nashville fail to progress.
7. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks
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Considered a core part of the Anaheim rebuild, Trevor Zegras' future with the club is no longer as certain as it once seemed.
Difficult contract negotiations last summer and an injury-plagued 2023-24 have raised questions about the 23-year-old forward's place with the Ducks.
Zegras has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.8 million. Limited to a career-low 15 points in 31 games in 2023-24, he exceeded the 60-point plateau in his previous two seasons. He could draw plenty of interest if the Ducks decide to trade him this summer.
The Montréal Canadiens were mentioned earlier this season as a potential trade destination for Zegras. Arpon Basu of The Athletic reported they'd inquired about the availability of the Ducks forward. However, he believes Zegras could be too expensive to acquire and re-sign.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported on June 4 that sources claimed Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek was listening to inquiries about Zegras. It's believed he could move the promising youngster for the right offer.
LeBrun cautioned that listening to offers and making a trade are two different things. Nevertheless, Zegras' situation merits scrutiny as the offseason trade market gears up.
6. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Another early playoff elimination for the Toronto Maple Leafs brought calls for change from fans and pundits.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe was replaced by former St. Louis Blues bench boss Craig Berube, but there's yet to be any significant shakeup to the roster.
Team president Brendan Shanahan told the media that all options regarding roster moves were on the table. That sparked speculation in Leafs Nation that Mitch Marner may have played his final game in the blue and white.
The 27-year-old became a scapegoat for unhappy Leafs followers. While he's regularly among their leading scorers during the regular season, fans have been disappointed by his postseason play. He has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $10.9 million and a full no-movement clause.
The Nashville Predators trading Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning last month created conjecture that they were clearing room to acquire Marner, possibly by offering goaltender Juuse Saros. Predators general manager Barry Trotz dismissed this as "just rumors."
Since then, the trade buzz has cooled. Friedman thinks this saga could carry over into next season unless Leafs management convinces the winger to accept a trade, while TSN's Darren Dreger speculated GM Brad Treliving could prefer re-signing Marner over trading him.
5. Jake Guentzel, Carolina Hurricanes
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The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the March trade deadline.
A two-time 40-goal scorer and Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins in 2017, the winger proved to be a good fit in Carolina. He netted 25 points in 17 regular-season games with the Hurricanes and nine points in 11 playoff games.
Slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Guentzel is completing a five-year contract with an annual cap hit of $6 million. He could get between $8 million and $9 million annually on a five-year deal if he tests the open market.
The 29-year-old indicated his willingness to re-sign with the Hurricanes following their second-round elimination from the playoffs. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported contract talks were ongoing, but he could go to market while keeping the Hurricanes as an option.
Friedman reported the Hurricanes were shopping Guentzel's signing rights in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. B/R's Sara Civian looked at several potential destinations, including the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks.
Teams acquiring Guentzel's rights will have until July 1 to negotiate with him exclusively. The longer it takes to trade him, though, the less time any interested club will have to keep him off the free-agent market.
4. Jakob Chychrun, Ottawa Senators
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The Ottawa Senators could attempt to shake things up after missing the playoffs for the seventh straight season. That could mean Jakob Chychrun becomes a trade chip for first-year general manager Steve Staios this offseason.
Before the March 2023 trade deadline, Chychrun was acquired by former Senators GM Pierre Dorion. He played well in Ottawa, playing a full 82-game schedule for the first time in his eight-season NHL career, tying a career-high with 41 points.
However, Chychrun has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.6 million. During his end-of-season media interview, the 26-year-old defenseman said he hadn't had contract extension talks yet with Staios and remains uncertain about his future in Ottawa.
The Senators are loaded with skilled left-shot defensemen like Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Chychrun but lack similar depth on the left side of their defense corps. With Chabot and Sanderson under long-term contracts, Chychrun could be a trade chip to address that need or another roster issue.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported last month that the Senators could use Chychrun to try and acquire Boston Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark. There's been nothing new lately about the Senators defenseman in the rumor mill but that doesn't mean he's off the trade block.
3. Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in January 2021, Patrik Laine has struggled with injuries and inconsistency with the Columbus Blue Jackets. In January, he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to deal with mental health issues and is still in the program.
On June 13, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported a mutual agreement between the Laine camp and the Blue Jackets to seek a trade. He indicated it hasn't been a happy time for the 26-year-old winger and he'd like a fresh start with another club.
This season was particularly difficult for Laine. Before entering the player assistance program, he was limited to 18 games by injuries, including a fractured clavicle. When healthy, Laine is a proven scorer, having tallied 44 goals as an NHL sophomore with the Jets in 2017-18.
On June 14, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Blue Jackets had tried to trade Laine since last season. He believes there is interest in the winger but his injury history and contract complicates things. He has two years left on his deal with an average annual value of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
Friedman's colleague Jeff Marek pointed out the Utah Hockey Club is expected to seek veterans on short-term contracts to help their younger players. He thinks they might benefit from having an established scorer like Laine in their lineup.
2. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
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After spending his nine-season NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, Nikolaj Ehlers could move on to another club this summer. Rumors emerged following the Jets' elimination from the playoffs' first round, suggesting the 28-year-old winger was a trade candidate.
Ehlers has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6 million. He also carries a 10-team no-trade clause.
On June 8, the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck noted a report claiming Ehlers wasn't interested in a contract extension. Billeck cited a source claiming there was constant contact between the two sides. They also stated Ehlers intends to play out his contract with the Jets and take things from there.
Three days later, The Athletic's Murat Ates expressed his belief that the Jets would trade Ehlers if they could not agree on a new contract. He thinks they'll seek a first-round pick and a good young player in return.
Billeck noted that Ehlers played well when given first-line minutes but hasn't often seen those minutes with the Jets. A three-time 60-point scorer, he could draw interest from clubs in the market for a top-six forward.
1. Martin Nečas, Carolina Hurricanes
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Big changes are underway with the Carolina Hurricanes. Don Waddell stepped down last month as general manager and moved on to the Columbus Blue Jackets. They're reportedly shopping the signing rights to pending free-agent winger Jake Guentzel. Long-time defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei could depart as free agents on July 1.
Martin Nečas could also be on the move this summer. A restricted free agent with arbitration rights, the 25-year-old forward is completing a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million. Reports emerged last month of his unhappiness with his playing time in Carolina, making him a hot topic for media conjecture.
On June 4, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers looked into acquiring Nečas. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated Necas was part of a larger deal the Hurricanes discussed with the Vancouver Canucks regarding Elias Pettersson. With Petterson now re-signed, that deal is off the table.
Other clubs are also looking into Nečas' availability. On June 12, LeBrun reported the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins had expressed general interest in the young forward.
The Hurricanes are believed to be seeking a significant return for Nečas. They could ask for a star player or a high draft pick and a top prospect. If they don't get a suitable offer, Nečas' RFA status means they can simply re-sign him to a short-term contract and try again later next season.
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