There are only a couple of days left for NHL teams to make upgrades to their roster, as the trade deadline looms ahead on Friday afternoon.
The trade deadline is always one of the most hectic times of the year on the hockey calendar. Contenders are looking to add pieces to their championship-caliber rosters, while the pretenders are aiming to sell and gain picks/prospects for the future.
With that said, the 2024 trade deadline is not shaping up to be overly entertaining. There are not a ton of notable names that have been swirling in trade rumors, and a number of the more prominent players have already been traded.
The Flames elected to send star center Elias Lindholm to the Canucks at the end of January, then traded defenseman Christopher Tanev to the Stars the week ahead of the deadline. The Jets also acquired center Sean Monahan in early February from the Canadians.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t players who will be dealt, and there remains a couple of high-profile figures to watch for.
Here’s a look at the 14 players most likely to be dealt and the top landing spots to consider in each case:
MORE: When is the 2024 NHL trade deadline?
14 NHL players most likely to be traded before 2024 deadline
Jake Guentzel, LW, Penguins
The Penguins are in a free fall, and all signs are pointing to a Jake Guentzel trade at the deadline. After re-signing a plethora of the team’s veteran forwards over the past two offseasons, the American winger appears to be the odd man out, as Guentzel is set to hit free agency this summer.
He hasn’t played since Feb. 14 due to an upper-body injury, so his value isn’t as high as it once was, but when healthy, Guentzel is a proven top-line winger with a knack for performing in the playoffs. He has 52 points in 50 games this season, scoring 22 goals in that span. Does he benefit from playing with Sidney Crosby? Absolutely, but Guentzel can still create offense on his own, and he should be one of the most sought-after wingers at the deadline.
Best fits: Hurricanes, Golden Knights, Canucks
Noah Hanifin, LD, Flames
The Flames already traded Elias Lindholm and Christopher Tanev. Hanifin is next. The left-handed 27-year-old is undoubtedly the top defenseman on the trade market. The pending free agent is looking to land somewhere else and sign an extension, so he’s not purely a rental.
Hanifin is a puck-moving offensive defenseman who bolsters any group’s top-four on the blue line. He is up to a career-high 11 goals this season, and his 35 points are on track to set a new career high (45). While he could assist a contender, the long-term addition he presents makes him an intriguing candidate for several clubs, including those not necessarily in contention this year.
Best fits: Panthers, Lightning, Bruins
Adam Henrique, C, Ducks
Another year, another deadline where the Ducks are selling. While the future is bright in Anaheim, the team still is super young, and there are a couple of veteran forwards who make sense to be on the trade block. Henrique is one of those players.
The 34-year-old center has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence this year, with his 42 points in 60 games currently on pace to contend with his career-high of 51 he set back in 2011-12. Henrique may be getting top-line minutes in Anaheim, but for a contender, he would be a strong third-line option. He could be an under-the-radar acquisition who gives a team an edge in the postseason.
Best fits: Avalanche, Bruins, Maple Leafs
Sean Walker, D, Flyers
The Flyers are in a weird spot, but they have multiple pending free agents on the roster. Philadelphia has undoubtedly overachieved this season, with head coach John Tortorella rallying a group viewed as a lottery team heading into the year, and has transformed them into a hard-nosed team that’s a tough out for anyone.
While it might not make sense on the surface to sell, the Flyers very well could, and Walker is a prime candidate. The 29-year-old is a right-handed defenseman — a rarity these days — who has been on contenders’ radars. He’s a strong puck mover and is the kind of gritty blue-liner that teams need to win Stanley Cups.
Best fits: Maple Leafs, Lightning, Jets
MORE: How close Alex Ovechkin is to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record
Frank Vatrano, RW, Ducks
Like Henrique, Vatrano is a veteran Ducks’ forward on the trade block. The 29-year-old is having an exceptional season in Anaheim, already setting career-highs in goals (29) and points (48) through 61 games. He has been a dangerous scorer the past two seasons, and he would be a strong add to a contending team.
The beauty of Vatrano is he has shown an ability to play up and down a lineup in his career. He can be a complimentary winger on a top line with two stars, or take on a third-line role and drive offense that way. He is also signed for one more year after this, carrying a team-friendly cap hit of $3.65 million.
Best fits: Rangers, Bruins, Panthers
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Senators
Tarasenko was one of the biggest names moved at last year’s deadline when the Russian winger went from the Blues to the Rangers. Could he be sporting another team’s jersey yet again this deadline? It’s certainly possible.
The veteran forward signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Senators. It’s safe to say the season in Ottawa has not gone as expected, with the team failing yet again to take the necessary step out of the rebuild. The Senators aren’t sniffing the postseason, so it makes sense to try to move the sniper to a contender rather than let him walk this summer for nothing. Tarasenko’s 17 goals this season are less than stellar, but he could be a strong depth add.
Best fits: Hurricanes, Kings, Golden Knights
Scott Laughton, C, Flyers
Laughton has been in trade rumors for over a year now. He was almost a part of the deal that sent Kevin Hayes from the Flyers to the Blues this offseason, but he ultimately was not included. Now, his name is swirling yet again as teams have expressed interest in the 29-year-old, middle-six center.
The major caveat is that Laughton doesn’t want to leave the Flyers, according to multiple reports. He has been vocal about how much he enjoys the team, wanting to stick it out in Philadelphia and see the entire transformation through. However, from a business standpoint, he is a valuable deadline piece as a cheaper player with terms that the Flyers most certainly could gain multiple assets for.
Best fits: Red Wings, Oilers, Avalanche
Pavel Buchnevich, LW/RW, Blues
Buchnevich was a steal for the Blues when they acquired him in the 2021 offseason from the Rangers. However, he could be on his way out of St. Louis due to the Blues not contending for playoffs this year.
The appeal with Buchnevich — outside of the fact that he is a yearly 20-goal scorer — is that he comes with term. He has one year left on his deal after this season, and he carries a very reasonable cap hit of $5.8 million. The 28-year-old Russian could be enticing for contenders to try and nab, but the Blues may be hesitant to move Buchnevich if they want him as a part of their future.
Best fits: Oilers, Red Wings, Sabres
Tyler Toffoli, LW, Devils
When the Devils traded for Toffoli last offseason, it was viewed as a pivotal piece for a young team on the verge of becoming perennial contenders. Oh, how a few months can alter all of that.
New Jersey defensive and goaltending woes have resulted in the Devils likely becoming sellers at the deadline, and that includes the potential of trading Toffoli. The veteran winger has over 25 goals for New Jersey, but he’s a 2024 free agent. His scoring ability — paired with plenty of playoff experience — should make him a tempting target for those with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Best fits: Kings, Golden Knights, Canucks
Matt Dumba, RD, Coyotes
Dumba was a prominent name at last year’s deadline; however, the Wild ultimately decided to keep him on the roster for the back end of the season. It’s unlikely the same happens this year.
The right-handed defenseman signed a one-year, prove-it deal this offseason with the Coyotes. He hasn’t exactly “proven” much, with just nine points in over 50 games with Arizona, and Dumba is not known to have stellar defensive work. Still, right-handed defensemen are valuable, especially at the deadline, and the Coyotes blue-liner fits that bill.
Best fits: Maple Leafs, Canucks
Anthony Duclair, RW, Sharks
Any team in need of a speedy winger should be calling the Sharks on Duclair. The 28-year-old was traded to San Jose this offseason from Florida due to cap reasons, but now is almost definitely going to be moved again.
The pending free agent is up to 14 goals this season for the Sharks. He has been scratched at times by head coach David Quinn, but that says more about the Sharks than Duclair. The winger has displayed an ability to play up and down the lineup as a strong forechecker and complimentary winger.
Best fits: Lightning, Stars, Avalanche
Kaapo Kahkonen, G, Sharks
When it comes to the goaltending market at the deadline, there are a lot of question marks. Boston’s Linus Ullmark, Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, and Nashville’s Juuse Saros all might be traded by Friday afternoon, but it’s not a definite.
One goaltender that should have a new team is Kahkonen. The Sharks goalie is fair from a bonafide No. 1 like the others mentioned, as he has been fine as the 1B to Mackenzie Blackwood on an extremely bad San Jose team. However, if a team is in need of depth in the crease, Kahkonen is the perfect rental candidate since he is a pending free agent.
Best fits: Oilers, Avalanche
Nick Seeler, D, Flyers
Anyone in need of a defensive defenseman who has a knack for blocking shots, Seeler is the guy. With Tanev off the trade block, any contenders looking for a defensive depth addition should be calling Philadelphia to inquire about Seeler’s services.
The 30-year-old has been a steady presence on Philadelphia’s blue line for two seasons now, but the biggest change in his game has come by way of shot-blocking. Seeler leads the league in blocked shots heading into deadline week, billing out as a solid depth addition for a team in need of strong defensive play on the blue line.
Best fits: Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Jets
Nic Dowd, C, Capitals
The Capitals have slipped out of contention and are in prime position to sell. One of those potential trade pieces is Dowd, a free-agent center who can be a depth forward addition for a team in need of a bit more grit down the middle.
Dowd is a shutdown center who most likely should be playing fourth-line minutes. He’s an exceptional defender, especially at 5 on 5, and he’s not a pure rental either. Dowd has one more year at the extremely cheap price of $1.3 million.
Best fits: Bruins, Rangers
