Realistic Trade Suggestions to Move 5 of the NHL's Worst Contracts in 2025-26

The NHL salary cap makes it challenging for teams to build and maintain competitive rosters. A team can sign a player to an expensive contract, only to have their performance fail to reach the level expected of their salary.

Sometimes, this happens when signing established talent via free agency. More than one NHL club has made costly unrestricted free-agent signings that failed to pan out as expected.

Sometimes, the investment is in a player who was the product of a club's system and performed well enough to earn a substantial pay raise, only to struggle to meet the expectations that come with their expensive contract.

A savvy general manager can sometimes find a way to shed a bad contract through the trade market. Such a move can be complicated by the player's expensive salary or no-trade clause, but it's not impossible to pull off.

Follow along as we look at five players carrying some of the league's worst contracts who could have a realistic chance of getting traded this season for the right price. We aren't predicting that these moves will happen, but it's always possible that they could.

Erik Karlsson to the Ottawa Senators

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently a playoff contender, but if they falter in the New Year, they could be sellers by the March 6 trade deadline. That could set the stage for a possible trade of Erik Karlsson.

Karlsson, 35, has an AAV of $11.5 million through 2026-27, with the Penguins carrying $10 million annually. They could be amenable to retaining $3 million of it to facilitate a trade. He has a no-movement clause, but might be open to returning to Ottawa, where he still maintains a home.

The Senators are a playoff team and will only get better. However, they lack skilled depth on the right side of their blueline. Karlsson would fit well in that position. He's enjoying a solid season after struggling for the past two years on a weaker Penguins team.

Karlsson wants to play for a Cup contender. The Senators aren't there yet, but this could be mutually beneficial.

If Karlsson plays well and improves the Senators' performance, they could put themselves in line for a Stanley Cup run by 2027. He could use this as an opportunity to showcase himself for his UFA eligibility in 2027, allowing him to sign an affordable short-term deal with the Senators or another contender.

The Senators have the trade deadline cap space ($13.3 million) to take on Karlsson at a reduced salary. The asking price might not be that steep. They could part with one of their two third-round draft picks in 2026 or a 2027 second-rounder, the rights to winger Alex Formenton, and a prospect.

Darnell Nurse to the Chicago Blackhawks

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After back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the struggling Edmonton Oilers are jockeying with several teams for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. If they should fall out of contention in the New Year, management could attempt to retool the roster by the March 6 trade deadline.

Moving Darnell Nurse could be part of that process. An all-around defenseman who can play big minutes, the 30-year-old Nurse has struggled at times over the previous two seasons, but his defensive miscues this season have incurred the wrath of Oilers fans.

Nurse's contract is one reason behind the lack of patience among the Oilers' followers. The 6'5", 215-pound blueliner is earning an average annual value of $9.3 million through 2029-30. However, his play has not met the expectations of any player carrying such a substantial cap hit.

If Nurse is willing to accept a trade, he might benefit from a change of scenery. He could welcome a chance to reset with a promising young team that could benefit from his experience, physical style, and leadership on their blue line.

The Chicago Blackhawks could be that club. They're projected to have $66.8 million in accrued cap space by the March trade deadline. That's plenty of room to acquire Nurse's full cap hit. They also have over $53 million in projected cap space for next season, so his contract wouldn't interfere with any other signings.

The Oilers could seek a left-shot defenseman such as Alex Vlasic or Wyatt Kaiser to replace Nurse on the left side of their blue line. A second-round pick and a high-quality prospect might also be included in the deal.

Morgan Rielly to the Vancouver Canucks

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The Vancouver Canucks are interested in moving some veterans who are UFA-eligible next summer or those with less than two years on their contracts. Quinn Hughes is excluded from that list, but the 26-year-old superstar defenseman could be moved by the March 6 trade deadline if he isn't interested in signing a contract extension.

Canucks management isn't considering a full-scale roster teardown, preferring instead to add young NHL talent. However, if they do move Hughes, they will need an experienced left-side defenseman to help them remain competitive while they restock their lineup.

Morgan Rielly could address that need. The 31-year-old has struggled with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the past two years. The Leafs are trying to regain a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. If they fail, they could consider some cost-cutting moves at the March 6 trade deadline to free up cap space for next season.

Rielly is signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $8 million and has a full no-movement clause. However, the Vancouver native might be open to playing for his hometown team. The change of scenery could help him regain his form. The Leafs might also retain some salary for the right return.

With $2.6 million in projected trade-deadline cap space, the Canucks would have to move some salary out in the deal or make a separate cost-cutting move. If they end up trading Hughes, it'll free up $7.3 million, which could be used to acquire Rielly.

The Canucks have two fourth-round picks in 2027 and 2028 to draw on as trade bait. They could offer up young forward Lukas Reichel and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, or use part of whatever they receive in a Hughes trade as part of the return for Rielly.

Steven Stamkos to the Carolina Hurricanes

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On July 1, 2024, the Nashville Predators signed forwards Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei. The three were considered among the top players in that summer's unrestricted free agent market and were expected to make the Predators a serious playoff contender.

Instead, the Predators have floundered in the standings, with Stamkos becoming the subject of trade rumors. A future Hall of Famer with two Stanley Cup rings and two Maurice Richard Trophies on his resume, his production has significantly declined since tallying 40 goals in his final season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24.

Stamkos, 35, has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, but he might be tempted to waive it to join a Stanley Cup contender.

The Carolina Hurricanes could be a suitable destination. They're in "win-now" mode and made a major foray in the trade market last season by acquiring Mikko Rantanen last January, only to ship him to the Dallas Stars six weeks later when he declined to sign a contract extension.

Stamkos could benefit from being on a more talented team, such as the Hurricanes. He could provide a significant boost to their sputtering power play. Playing with a set-up man like Sebastian Aho or Nikolaj Ehlers could help him rediscover his scoring touch.

The Hurricanes currently have the cap space ($12.1 million) to take on Stamkos' contract. Given his decline, they wouldn't have to give up as much to get him as they might've two years ago. A second-round pick, a prospect, and a depth forward could do it if the Predators want to shed his entire contract.

Mika Zibanejad to the Los Angeles Kings

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The New York Rangers tried to trade Mika Zibanejad to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the J.T. Miller deal, but he reportedly invoked his no-movement clause. However, with the Rangers struggling again, he might reconsider for a different West Coast team.

The Los Angeles Kings could use more scoring punch at their second-line right wing position. They could also use a short-term fill-in at center until they find a suitable replacement for Anze Kopitar, who is retiring at the end of this season.

Zibanejad is a versatile forward who can play center or right wing. Of late, he's been more successful at right wing, which is why he'd be a better option for the Kings at that position. They don't intend to rebuild and want to remain competitive.

The Kings will have $12.8 million in projected salary-cap deadline space. Adding Zibanejad would also allow him to play alongside Kopitar for his final playoff run. He might help them finally overcome their inability to get past the first round.

Zibanejad, 32, carries an AAV of $8.5 million through 2029-30. The Rangers could retain part of it to get most of his cap hit off their books. He could benefit from escaping the intense spotlight in New York, taking notice of how the move to Anaheim rejuvenated former teammates Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba.

The Kings have two third-rounders in the 2026 NHL Draft to use as trade bait. They could also offer up a second-round pick and a prospect if the Rangers are desperate enough to shed Zibanejad's salary and put the savings toward other roster additions, or Alex Laferriere if they have doubts about his scoring ability.

Stats and standings (as of Dec. 4, 2025) via NHL.com. Salary and draft pick info via PuckPedia.