Final NHL Trade Block Big Board 1 Day From the 2025 Deadline
The NHL's annual trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET on Friday. As the big day approaches, we can expect plenty of player movement as buyers attempt to load up their rosters for the playoffs, while sellers try to move players (usually pending free agents) who no longer fit in their long-term plans.
Since we published our previous trade board, there has been plenty of activity in the trade market. Two players on our list changed teams last Saturday: The Chicago Blackhawks shipped Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers sent Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche.
A three-team trade on Tuesday saw forward Trent Frederic dealt by the Boston Bruins to the Edmonton Oilers via the New Jersey Devils. Meanwhile, center Jake Evans came off our list after signing a four-year contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens.
We've also removed several players who were on our previous board. Some, such as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov, no longer appear available. Others, like Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, are sidelined by injuries.
Several noteworthy stars remain among our trade candidates. They include New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen, St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, and Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser.
In our final Trade Block Big Board before the deadline, we've listed 15 players we consider the most likely to be moved. Skill, experience, contracts and the frequency of appearance in recent media trade speculation factored into this compilation.
15. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Trade speculation about Erik Karlsson surfaced in February after the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman's solid performance for Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off. It earned him the No. 19 spot on our previous trade board.
If the opportunity arose, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas could move the 34-year-old. However, his contract remains a major sticking point. The Penguins carry $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV through 2026-27. He also has a full no-movement clause.
Karlsson's contract was the reason Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette played down the speculation around the veteran blueliner. On March 2, the Swede told reporters he hadn't been approached by management about waiving his clause.
The Penguins are unlikely to find a suitable offer for Karlsson by the trade deadline. However, Seth Jones also had what seemed to be an unmoveable contract, but he wound up being shipped to the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
That's why Karlsson remains on our trade board.
14. Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
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Rasmus Ristolainen's stock has been tumbling on our recent trade block big boards. Sitting at No. 2 a month ago, he slid to No. 10 on our previous ranking and has tumbled to his current position on this board.
It's not the Finn's performance that has affected his ranking, though. The Flyers aren't in a rush to move the big blueliner. He has two more years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $5.1 million.
In our previous trade board, we noted a report by The Athletic's Kevin Kurz indicating Philadelphia wasn't receiving many calls for Ristolainen. On March 1, Kurz reported that he remains a valuable player for the team as it retools its roster.
The 30-year-old could still be moved by the deadline if a desperate contender is willing to meet the Flyers' high asking price, which would include a first-round pick. But that likelihood is fading.
13. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
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A fixture in the rumor mill going back to 2022-23, John Gibson remains a player of interest leading up to the trade deadline. We had the Anaheim Ducks goaltender at No. 15 on our previous trade board.
Since last season, the 31-year-old has split the Ducks' goaltending duties with Lukas Dostal. That has fueled speculation he could be moved at the deadline, but his contract remains a significant obstacle. He's signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
On March 2, The Athletic's Eric Stephens reported Gibson is open to a trade where he'll have a clear path to being a full-time starter. The Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers are believed to be among his preferred trade destinations.
Stephens indicated the Ducks prefer not to retain part of his salary to facilitate a trade but aren't ruling it out completely. They have the cap room to acquire an expiring contract if it helps them move Gibson's contract.
A contender desperate for a goaltending upgrade might take the chance by Friday.
12. Dylan Cozens, Buffalo Sabres
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The Buffalo Sabres continue to surface frequently in the rumor mill, with 24-year-old center Dylan Cozens as the focal point. He was ninth on our previous trade board.
On Feb. 28, TSN's Chris Johnston reported there was plenty of interest in Cozens, winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. The next day, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli noted the Sabres were getting calls about JJ Peterka.
Johnston indicated Buffalo hasn't received suitable offers for those players. That's probably because teams are offering future assets rather than players of equal value. GM Kevyn Adams would prefer to make a trade similar to last year's acquisition of Byram from the Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt.
Adams could trade Cozens (or Tuch, Byram or Peterka) if someone is willing to meet his asking price by the deadline. Otherwise, they won't be going anywhere.
11. Carson Soucy, Vancouver Canucks
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On Feb. 4, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman told The FAN Hockey Show that the Vancouver Canucks had let the rest of the NHL know Carson Soucy was available in the trade market.
The 30-year-old defenseman has seen his ice time reduced since the team acquired Marcus Pettersson over a month ago.
Soucy is in the second season of a three-year contract with an annual cap hit of $3.3 million. He also had a full no-trade clause for this season, giving him full control over possible trade destinations.
The 6'5”, 208-pounder is a big shutdown defenseman who played well for the Canucks last season. He's a left-shot defenseman but can play either side of the blue line.
On March 4, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal reported he hasn't heard of any trade talks involving Soucy. However, he could still draw interest from teams attempting to load up on blue-line depth before the trade deadline.
10. Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues
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The St. Louis Blues remain in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference, but they are still dogged by trade rumors.
Most of the speculation centers on team captain Brayden Schenn, who was No. 7 on our previous trade block big board.
Previous reports indicated the Blues were listening to offer for the 33-year-old, but they weren't actively shopping him. He's stated that management hasn't asked him to waive his no-trade clause.
The two-way center wouldn't be a playoff rental player. He has three more seasons on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million. Interested clubs might attempt to persuade the Blues to retain up to half of that cap hit, but that will only raise their asking price.
Friedman and the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan reported Sunday that Schenn was on the Toronto Maple Leafs' radar. With the Blues staying in the playoff hunt, TSN's Darren Dreger believes it's unlikely they'll trade their captain.
9. Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Perched near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
And some observers believe general manager Kyle Dubas will be a seller at the trade deadline.
The GM already made a significant move earlier this season, shipping Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 1. Trade speculation has been swirling of late around defenseman Erik Karlsson, and winger Rickard Rakell has also emerged as a trade candidate.
The 31-year-old is making his debut here. He's in the third season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million and an eight-team no-trade list. A scorer who can play center or wing, he had 28 goals and 52 points in 62 games this season.
On Feb. 28, Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggested Rickard had the best trade value. The Penguins aren't in a hurry to move him, but they could listen if they get an offer that exceeds what they received in the Pettersson trade.
8. Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers
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Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton rose to No. 6 on our previous NHL trade block big board.
His ability to play center or wing, two-way style, leadership and affordable $3 million annual cap hit through 2025-26 made him among the most attractive players in the trade market.
The Flyers have fielded trade calls about Laughton for weeks. However, the factors that make him an enticing trade target also make him invaluable to his current team. On Feb. 27, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported team sources were concerned his departure would adversely affect the club's culture and morale.
Kurz indicated the Flyers are seeking a first-round draft pick or a prospect equivalent for the 30-year-old forward. He lacks no-trade protection, but the team would let him determine his destination if it moved him. Kurz believes the Maple Leafs would be a likely landing spot for the Toronto native.
On March 1, Kurz reported a team source said no deal was imminent for Laughton. While that could change by Friday, the growing likelihood of the Flyers retaining him drops him down on our current list.
7. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
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Sitting at No. 3 on our previous trade board, Brock Boeser has been discussing a new contract with the Vancouver Canucks. However, it remains to be seen if they'll re-sign or trade the winger by the deadline.
The 28-year-old is completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $6.7 million and a 10-team no-trade list. He had a career-best performance with 40 goals and 73 points in 2023-24 but has managed 18 goals and 36 points in 53 games this season.
According to Daily Faceoff's Seravalli (stick tap to Canucks Army), Boeser rejected a five-year, $40 million offer because he seeks a longer-term deal.
Seravalli believes they'll make one final pitch to him. If he rejects it, they'll consider trade options or keep him as an "own rental" for the playoffs.
In our previous board, we noted speculation suggesting the Canucks could retain Boeser as an "own rental." However, Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province felt it was more likely he would get traded. Friedman believes both sides are open to all options, including a trade.
6. Brandon Tanev, Seattle Kraken
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The Seattle Kraken are already acting like sellers, having traded Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde on Wednesday in a three-team deal involving Tampa Bay and Detroit that landed them a pair of first-round picks.
Impending unrestricted free agent Brandon Tanev, who sat at No. 12 on our previous trade block big board, could be next.
On Feb. 28, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Tanev had drawn interest from playoff contenders and some bubble teams. The 33-year-old winger is UFA-eligible this season with a $3.5 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list. According to LeBrun, they're prepared to retain half of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.
One of those contenders could be the Vegas Golden Knights. Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal included Tanev on his list of potential trade targets.
5. Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks
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The Chicago Blackhawks made a major trade last Saturday when they shipped defenseman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers.
They were also part of the Jan. 24 blockbuster three-team trade involving Mikko Rantanen, sending winger Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson could make more moves before the deadline. He could be entertaining inquiries about Ryan Donato, who was at No. 4 on our previous trade board.
The 28-year-old is finishing a two-year contract with an affordable $2 million cap hit. He's having a career-best performance in his contract year, with 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points in 59 games.
Contenders seeking middle-six forward depth could be interested in Donato. Webster included him on his list of proposed trade candidates for the Golden Knights. Johnston and LeBrun had him on their list of Winnipeg Jets' trade targets.
4. Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders
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As the New York Islanders struggle to remain in the playoff race, speculation abounds over whether general manager Lou Lamoriello will be a buyer or a seller.
Most of the conjecture is focused on UFA-eligible center Brock Nelson, but he's not the only trade chip the Isles have as the deadline approaches.
Winger Kyle Palmieri is also eligible to become an UFA on July 1. He is completing a four-year contract with an annual cap hit of $5 million. He's reached the 20-goal plateau this season for the seventh time in his career, sitting fourth among the Islanders' leading scorers with 41 points.
The 34-year-old can be a streaky scorer at times, but he's a hard-working forward whose experience could be invaluable to playoff clubs in need of scoring depth.
The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta believes the Los Angeles Kings could be a suitable destination for Palmieri. Other possibilities could include the Columbus Blue Jackets or a return to his former team, the New Jersey Devils.
3. Reilly Smith, New York Rangers
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Editor's Note: Smith was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday
The New York Rangers have been among the busiest teams in the trade market. Since Dec. 6, they have traded Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, sent Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for Will Borgen, acquired J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks, and shipped Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche.
And general manager Chris Drury might not be finished making deals. On March 2, The Athletic's Arthur Staple speculated winger Reilly Smith could be next on the trade block. They've since made him a healthy scratch for "roster management" reasons, which means they're working on sending him to another team.
The Rangers acquired Smith last July from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who retained $1.3 million of his $5 million cap hit for this season. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July. A six-time 50-plus point scorer, the 33-year-old winger has struggled this season, with 29 points in 58 games.
With over $15 million in projected trade-deadline cap space, the Rangers can retain part of their share of Smith's cap hit to boost his trade value. His scoring ability and playoff experience with the Vegas Golden Knights (including a Stanley Cup in 2023) could draw interest from contenders seeking depth on the wing.
2. Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
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The New York Islanders are struggling to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race. That's making it difficult for general manager Lou Lamoriello to start selling off pending free agents such as Brock Nelson, who was No. 2 on our previous trade block big board.
The 33-year-old center is in the final season of a six-year contract with an annual cap hit of $6 million. He also has a 16-team no-trade list. A three-time 30-plus goal scorer, his production is down this season with 19 goals and 41 points, but his experience and two-way skills make him a prized trade commodity.
LeBrun reported on Feb. 27 there was no clear indication the Islanders would make Nelson available. The picture was no clearer on March 4 when Staple cited a source indicating all options remain on the table, including a trade or a contract extension.
The Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets were listed as potential trade destinations for Nelson in our previous trade board. It will be interesting to see if he ends up joining one of those clubs by the deadline.
1. Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes
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Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen topped our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board. He was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 24, but it's uncertain if he'll re-sign with the Hurricanes, ensuring he remains as our top trade candidate heading toward the deadline.
A proven playoff performer, the 28-year-old has two 100-point seasons under his belt and had 64 points in 49 games with the Avalanche before the trade to the Hurricanes. He's struggled somewhat in Carolina with six points in 11 games.
Seravalli reported there were ongoing negotiations between the winger and Carolina management. If the Hurricanes decide to trade him, they'll want a return that improves their chances of winning the Stanley Cup. Otherwise, they'll retain him as an "own rental" for the rest of the season.
Johnston reported the Hurricanes told several teams interested in Rantanen that they weren't shopping him but to circle back near the trade deadline if he remained unsigned. On Saturday, Friedman reported it's unlikely the Finn will decide if he'll re-sign by Friday.
Friedman said Rantanen is still dealing with being traded by the Avalanche and has had little time to adjust to his new city and team. The 'Canes must decide whether to keep him and hope he'll re-sign before July 1 or flip him to another team by Friday.
Rantanen's skills and Stanley Cup experience ensure he remains atop our trade board. The Hurricanes carry half of his $9.3 million cap hit ($4.63 million) and could retain half of that to facilitate a trade if they decide to move him before the deadline.
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