.png?w=1280 "Top 10 Big Board")
Updated B/R NHL Trade Block Big Board After the Quinn Hughes Trade
The annual NHL holiday roster freeze begins at 11:59 pm ET on Friday and lasts until 12:01 am ET on Dec. 28.
Big trades usually don't occur in the days leading up to the freeze, but four teams recently made the type of moves that typically occur closer to the March trade deadline.
On Dec. 12, the Vancouver Canucks shipped superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster trade. Earlier that day, the Edmonton Oilers sent goaltender Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for netminder Tristan Jarry in a multiplayer deal.
Those two deals shook up a trade market that has seen only nine minor deals occur since the regular season began on Oct. 8. They could be the first dominoes to drop in a potentially hectic period of trade activity leading up to the March deadline.
In the wake of the Hughes blockbuster and with the holiday roster freeze approaching, we felt it worthwhile to update our trade board for December.
Several players from our previous December Trade Board haven't appeared in recent rumors, so they weren't included in our updated list.
They include Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators, Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes, Jordan Binnington and Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, Brandon Carlo of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks, Brad Lambert of the Winnipeg Jets, and Owen Tippett of the Philadelphia Flyers.
However, several notable players from our earlier December ranking continue to feature in the rumor mill, including Predators forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos.
Follow along to see which players remain as trade candidates, and which new names have popped up in media trade conjecture. Our ranking is based on skill, contracts, and most importantly, the likelihood they'll be traded.
10. Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks
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Having traded Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, the Vancouver Canucks have signaled they're open for business in the trade market. It's believed their focus remains on entertaining offers for their pending unrestricted free-agent players.
However, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun wondered if Conor Garland might be available. The 29-year-old has a six-year contract extension that begins next July, with an average annual value of $6 million and a full no-movement clause.
The Canucks might be willing to move him if they feel his new contract doesn't fit within their plans. It would be easier to do so while he's in the final season of his current deal, which lacks no-trade protection.
Garrioch doesn't expect Garland to be traded. If he becomes available, though, the report pointed out that Senators head coach Travis Green thinks highly of the gritty two-way winger.
9. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes
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Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov sat at No. 14 on our previous Trade Board following a report that he was unhappy in his role and would welcome a trade if asked.
However, he told reporters there was no truth to that rumor, which is why we had him ranked so low as a trade candidate.
Svechnikov isn't going anywhere, but teammate Frederik Andersen has emerged in the rumor mill. The oft-injured goaltender is on a one-year, $2.8 million contract.
The 36-year-old has seen limited playing time since Nov. 28 as rookie Brandon Bussi has started most of the Hurricanes' games with Pyotr Kochetkov as his backup. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News wondered if Bussi's strong performance could make Andersen expendable.
For now, Carolina could be content to carry three goaltenders. However, Proteau speculated Andersen could end up as a valuable trade chip given the limited amount of quality goalies in the trade market.
8. Ryan Strome, Anaheim Ducks
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After seven seasons as an also-ran, the Anaheim Ducks have emerged from their long roster rebuild as a playoff contender.
Led by rising stars such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Lukáš Dostál, they're jockeying for first place in the Pacific Division.
Ryan Strome endured some of those lean times with the Ducks over the past three seasons, but he was among the most reliable players with 41 points in each of those campaigns. However, the 32-year-old center hasn't played a significant role in their current success.
On Dec. 12, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted Strome missed the first 16 games of this season with an injury. He was recently scratched from two contests and has been in a fourth-line role, prompting Friedman to suggest he could be worth watching for teams in the market for a center.
Strome is signed through 2026-27 with an annual cap hit of $5 million. The Ducks could use his experience and leadership as they attempt to end their long playoff drought, but they could be open to offers if any significant roster needs arise before the March 6 trade deadline.
7. Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators
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Sitting at No. 13 on our previous Trade Board, Steven Stamkos and his Nashville Predators were struggling through the opening weeks of this season.
However, they've been on a roll of late, winning seven of 11 games since Nov. 26, with Stamkos having a four-goal game against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 11.
Nevertheless, he continues to surface in media conjecture. On Dec. 5, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the New Jersey Devils had internal discussions about the 35-year-old forward. He noted the Devils were among the teams interested in Stamkos before he signed with the Predators in July 2024.
Stamkos is signed through 2027-28 with an annual cap hit of $8 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause. LeBrun doubted the former Maurice Richard Trophy winner would be going anywhere, but he claimed the Predators would listen to offers for him.
Any offers for Stamkos would have to from clubs he would consider acceptable trade destinations. There is no indication that management has approached him about it, but LeBrun considered this a situation worth watching as the trade deadline approaches.
6. Phillip Danault, Los Angeles Kings
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This season hasn't gone well for Phillip Danault thus far.
The 32-year-old two-way center netted over 40 points in each of his last four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, but he has only five points in 30 games this year. He carries an average annual value of $5.5 million and a 10-team no-trade list through 2026-27.
On Dec. 6, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported multiple teams inquired about Danault's availability. Despite his offensive struggles, the thin market for centers has made him a target for teams seeking help at that position.
Five days later, Seravalli claimed Danault's former team, the Montreal Canadiens, were among the potential suitors. Friedman noted sources claimed the Kings were reluctant to move him because good centers are difficult to find.
On Dec. 16, Danault's agent, Allan Walsh, denied a rumor claiming his client requested a trade. Two days later, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Kings aren't sellers in the trade market. It's his understanding that if they were to trade him, they want a player in return instead of draft picks or prospects.
5. Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames have shown signs of improvement after stumbling through the opening six weeks of the season, but it hasn't kept them out of the rumor mill as a potential seller in the trade market.
Blake Coleman was among the players considered potential trade bait. The 34-year-old winger surfaced in the rumor mill in mid-November and wound up as No. 3 on our previous Trade Board. The Flames weren't believed to be shopping him, but that hasn't put an end to the speculation.
On Dec. 4, RG.Org's James Murphy reported the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs were among the teams with strong interest in Coleman. However, the Flames aren't in a rush to move him. The two-way winger is signed through next season with an average annual salary of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
After the Vancouver Canucks traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, Kent Wilson of the Calgary Sun suggested it could put pressure on other playoff contenders to make a splash in the trade market. He indicated Flames players such as Coleman, Nazem Kadri, and Rasmus Andersson could draw interest from those clubs.
4. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
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On Dec. 15, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported sources told him that Dougie Hamilton was among the players being discussed in potential trade scenarios involving the New Jersey Devils.
The 32-year-old defenseman is signed through 2027-28 with an annual cap hit of $9 million and a 10-team trade list.
Hamilton appeared at No. 11 on our October Board as the emergence of Luke Hughes as a top defenseman prompted speculation over how the Devils could carry two $9 million blueliners. However, Hamilton stated he wants to stay and help the Devils win the Stanley Cup.
During the Dec. 15 episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman claimed the Devils had a couple of cost-cutting trades vetoed in a failed attempt to clear salary-cap space to acquire Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. He said he didn't know who the players were, but he believed it happened.
Soon afterward, Weekes' reports emerged mentioning Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reported Hamilton downplayed the rumors, while Palat claimed there was no truth to the speculation.
Nevertheless, Hamilton's situation will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks.
3. Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators
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The ongoing struggles of the Nashville Predators had Ryan O'Reilly sitting at No. 4 on our previous board. While the Preds have improved of late, trade rumors continue to swirl around the 34-year-old center.
O'Reilly has one year left on his contract with an affordable annual cap hit of $4.5 million. He lacks a no-trade clause, but management is treating him as though he has one, meaning he'll have the final say on any potential trade destinations.
During the Dec. 8 episode of Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman said the New Jersey Devils were believed to have O'Reilly among their trade targets. They're trying to add depth to their injury-battered roster, but their cap constraints mean it'll have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out deal.
LeBrun reported the Devils were among the teams to make a legitimate offer to the Vancouver Canucks for Quinn Hughes before his trade to Minnesota. Having lost out in the Hughes sweepstakes, they could shift their focus toward O'Reilly to bolster their depth at center.
2. Kiefer Sherwood, Vancouver Canucks
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Before trading Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, the Vancouver Canucks informed the rest of the league they were entertaining offers for players who were eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer.
That earned Kiefer Sherwood the No. 2 spot on our previous board. The 30-year-old checking-line forward reached a career high of 40 points last season and is on pace for 30 goals for the first time in his NHL career. His $1.5 million cap hit also makes him an affordable trade target for most teams.
On Dec. 2, LeBrun reported the Wild, Montreal Canadiens, and Dallas Stars were among the clubs with an interest in Sherwood. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic confirmed the Columbus Blue Jackets had contacted the Canucks about the winger.
Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic claimed the Wild were very interested in Sherwood. However, they indicated that the Canucks set a high asking price, seeking a roster player and a first-round pick.
1. Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
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Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames remains the player most likely to be traded this season. He is the top defenseman eligible for UFA status next summer, and there is no indication he and the team will reach agreement on a contract extension.
Andersson was atop our previous board and remains there on this ranking. The 29-year-old blueliner is in the final season of a six-year contract with a cap hit of $4.6 million and a six-team no-trade list.
On Dec. 6, Daniel Austin of the Calgary Herald reported Andersson was thriving in his contract year. He's ignoring the trade speculation and is focused on his play, sitting second among Flames scorers with 22 points in 34 games. Austin's colleague, Kent Wilson, believes Andersson could fetch a solid return for the Flames.
LeBrun noted the Flames received more calls about Andersson following the Quinn Hughes trade. He indicated the Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to acquire him at last season's trade deadline and are revisiting their interest in him.
Stats and standings (as of Dec. 18, 2025) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.
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