NHL trade board 7.0: The 4 Nations break is over, and things are about to get real

Not solely have the Islanders cooled off a bit, in addition they seem no nearer to an extension with the pending UFA. And Nelson arguably has the very best commerce worth of any “rental” participant who could be moved at this deadline. The 33-year-old all-situations ahead is a giant, sturdy man with a robust observe document of scoring objectives. He will be slotted as a second-line heart or slide right into a wing spot on the highest line. Principally, he’s precisely the sort of difference-maker that contending groups can be falling over themselves to get their palms on, which is why a number of contenders are monitoring this file intently.

Effectively on his solution to topping 30 objectives and 60 factors this season, Rakell could also be the best offensive participant accessible forward of this deadline. The correct-shot winger is an above-average finisher who has a historical past of holding his personal when taking part in alongside extremely expert linemates. With three years remaining on his contract after this one, the same old caveats apply: The Penguins do not need to maneuver Rakell now, however they’d be keen to do it if the return helped them push alongside their organizational purpose of getting youthful. He’s signed to a particularly cheap contract in a rising cap setting.

A relentless high-motor participant who’s having fun with a profession season in Chicago, Donato is attracting critical consideration on the commerce market. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he profiles as a rental who can add to a crew’s depth whereas taking part in mainly anyplace within the lineup. Donato seems to have made some strides together with his skating this season and has the palms to bury offensive possibilities when he will get them. He’s one purpose away from hitting 20 for the primary time in his NHL profession.

With the Sabres languishing on the backside of the Jap Convention standings and in want of some sort of shakeup, two-thirds of NHL groups have at the very least checked in on Cozens’ availability. Even amid a down season, the 6-foot-3 heart holds loads of attraction. He’s bought nice velocity and talent for a participant his dimension and already has a 30-goal NHL marketing campaign underneath his belt at age 23. Right here’s the rub, although: It’s going to take a significant provide to pry him out of Buffalo — one thing constructed round a longtime participant, not simply prospects — and up to now that hasn’t materialized.

With Laughton signed for one season past this one and producing at a 40-point tempo, the Flyers are underneath no strain to commerce him. But when a contender is keen to half with a first-round choose, they’ll most likely be compelled to tug the set off. Laughton can be a bottom-six improve for lots of contending groups. He’s a glue man who kills penalties and performs with an edge to his sport.

A high-energy participant who brings it on the forecheck and recklessly throws himself in entrance of pucks on the penalty kill, Tanev has a variety of the qualities contenders are searching for. Recognized for enjoying a grindy sport that wears on opponents, he leads all Seattle forwards in short-handed ice time. He definitely doesn’t again down when confronted with a contested piece of ice. As a bonus, he additionally comes with 46 video games of Stanley Cup playoff expertise.

Rantanen lands this excessive on the Huge Board as a result of 1) he’s an enormous title and a couple of) he’s embroiled in an unsure state of affairs main as much as the deadline. The Hurricanes shocked the hockey world by buying him in late January and have since put their finest foot ahead to attempt to get him signed to an extension. To date, no cube. If Rantanen tells the Hurricanes he’s going to hit the open market on July 1 fairly than negotiating with them, do they nonetheless wish to maintain him round as a rental? Understand that Carolina has the power to get his cap hit underneath $3 million in the event that they flip him some other place with retention.

It has been an up-and-down marketing campaign in St. Louis, with a training change and some notable strikes made already made with an eye fixed towards shaking up the group. It additionally didn’t go with out discover not too long ago when common supervisor Doug Armstrong spoke publicly about the potential of making adjustments to his core. Enter Schenn, the Blues captain, who the crew is believed to at the very least be gauging curiosity on. That doesn’t assure a transfer, particularly with Schenn in possession of a full no-trade clause, but it surely’s sufficient to land him on the Huge Board. The veteran heart is having an excellent season and brings worth at each ends of the ice, plus every kind of playoff expertise.

The veteran right-shot winger stays a critical scoring menace into his fifteenth NHL season. He hit 30 objectives in 2023-24 and is on tempo to comfortably cruise previous 20 this season. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Palmieri is a pretty rental choice, particularly together with his willingness to battle his solution to the exhausting areas of the ice. Not not like the state of affairs with teammate Brock Nelson, the one actual query is that if common supervisor Lou Lamoriello will willingly half with a valued member of his crew whereas it is nonetheless hanging across the playoff race.

An efficient skater for a person of his dimension, Armia is thought for his defensive instincts and constant 200-foot play. He’s additionally a strong penalty killer who has chipped in with three short-handed objectives for Montreal this season — third most amongst all NHL gamers via early February. A pending unrestricted free agent, he’s accessible as a bottom-six rental.

Evans is a high-end penalty killer in tandem with Joel Armia, who can be featured on the Huge Board. Actually, it wouldn’t be a shock to see these gamers moved as a package deal deal by the Canadiens. Evans has gone chilly offensively after a red-hot begin however brings a good quantity of worth as a right-shot heart who’s properly above common on faceoffs. He isn’t overly large, however he’s a fast skater who’s an inexpensive rental choice taking part in on an expiring contract.

Mittelstadt’s title began surfacing in commerce discussions after the Avalanche dealt away Mikko Rantanen in a late-January blockbuster. Colorado is keen to get artistic in an effort to improve its top-six ahead group. Mittelstadt has good palms and is called a puck distributor and playmaker fairly than a purpose scorer. Whereas nonetheless younger sufficient at age 26 to hold some upside, his play on the defensive facet of the puck can depart one thing to be desired.

Nyquist has discovered a pleasant dwelling in Nashville and may want to remain, but it surely has been a tough trip for the Predators this season and he’s essentially the most marketable rental asset presently of their secure. One 12 months faraway from an surprising 75-point season, Nyquist’s manufacturing has dipped considerably. However the 35-year-old stays a robust skater and proficient playmaker, and he might be had for an inexpensive worth.

Whereas Frederic has seen a decline after posting profession bests with an 18-goal, 40-point marketing campaign final season, he nonetheless brings intangibles groups admire. He’s a giant man who skates properly and may successfully be deployed as a checker. With senior management in Boston acknowledging publicly that the group is contemplating turning into a vendor forward of the deadline, Frederic is a sizzling commodity.

A rough-and-tumble winger who boasts a powerful battle card, Olivier has caught the eye of at the very least a few groups presently eyeing potential depth ahead choices. The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has even managed to chip in additional than his share of anticipated objectives this season. However what makes him most engaging is his dimension, power and willingness to embrace an power position. Olivier is constructed for playoff hockey.

Contract talks haven’t produced any traction, which leaves the Canucks going through a choice whereas attempting to hold robust within the playoff race: maintain Boeser as an personal rental or money in on him as an asset? The sniper has skilled a decline following a 40-goal marketing campaign — not solely in manufacturing, but additionally within the variety of photographs and shot makes an attempt he’s producing. Nonetheless, he’s bought good puck abilities and a robust historical past as a power-play contributor.

Marchand says he desires to spend his complete profession in Boston, and the Bruins say they’re attempting to signal their captain to an extension. However … discuss is reasonable. Marchand stays a pending UFA. Can a retooling franchise threat strolling him to free company? Contemporary off serving to Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, Marchand stays a high-end winger who can contribute offensively, kill penalties and, sure, get underneath an opponent’s pores and skin. His sluggish begin following a number of offseason surgical procedures seems to be within the rear-view mirror.

Gourde isn’t anticipated to return to the Kraken’s lineup earlier than the commerce deadline after present process surgical procedure to restore a sports activities hernia in January. Nonetheless, he ought to be able to play video games once more in some unspecified time in the future in March. So whereas his well being state of affairs could barely diminish his commerce worth, it hasn’t fully submarined it. Gourde is a robust skater and two-way participant who owns a few Stanley Cup rings from his time in Tampa — which signifies that he’s precisely the sort of participant a crew gearing up for the playoffs will likely be intently.

Dependable right-shot facilities who can fill a depth position at all times have foreign money come deadline time. Bjugstad has proven that earlier than — getting traded in 2022 from Arizona to Edmonton in a deal that introduced again a third-round choose and defenseman Michael Kesselring — and he’s trending towards being that sort of asset once more for Utah HC. He’s a dependable play-driver who profiles as a super bottom-six utility man. After all, Utah could elect to hold on to him relying on how the subsequent few video games go.

An enormous winger at 6-foot-6 and 230-plus kilos, Greenway is on the radar for contenders searching for a bottom-six improve. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he will be acquired as a rental forward of the deadline and the price shouldn’t be too prohibitive given his restricted offensive output this season. Consistency is a little bit of a query mark right here.

The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has two extra seasons remaining on his contract and has already indicated a want to remain in Nashville. Nonetheless, it may not finally be his name. The group desires to do proper by O’Reilly, however common supervisor Barry Trotz will likely be compelled to decide if he will get a robust commerce provide amid a disappointing season for the crew. O’Reilly is a wonderful two-way heart who will be counted on to chip in offensively and has the power to be a real difference-maker for a contender. As an added bonus, he’s a menace within the faceoff circle, too.

A mountain of a person at 6-foot-6 and 232 kilos, McCarron could discover himself in demand since he’s taking part in on an inexpensive cap hit for yet one more season. He’s a proper shot who can kill penalties and win some attracts. Even when he’s restricted offensively, there’s worth to be present in a fourth-liner who performs his model of sport.

Accidents have saved Zegras from constructing any optimistic momentum the previous two seasons. A recent begin may assist that alongside. The Geese are demanding extra consideration to element from the offensive specialist, and getting it, however Zegras remains to be trying to find a solution to grasp on to the components of his sport that after separated him. Do not forget that he already has two 60-point campaigns underneath his belt at age 23. The manufacturing has dried up, as has a few of the participant’s enthusiasm.

One other large depth ahead at 6-foot-5 and 220 kilos, Brazeau traveled the lengthy highway to the NHL and has earned a elevate on his league-minimum $775,000 contract. He’s already hit the 10-goal mark for the primary time in his profession this season. Brazeau is a hard-working participant who doesn’t hesitate to complete his checks.

Robertson has bit his lip since a summer season commerce request went unfulfilled by the Leafs, however the state of affairs may nonetheless come to a head earlier than the deadline. He has at the very least helped his commerce worth with some extra productive outings since a short string of scratches in December. Nonetheless, within the large image, Robertson hasn’t gained a lot traction underneath new head coach Craig Berube, and he should get his desired recent begin as soon as the Leafs start different acquisitions.

A bottom-six ahead choice who performs exhausting at each ends of the ice, what you see is what you get from Kunin. He can chip in a bit offensively and has loads of expertise as a penalty killer. The correct shot has made strides within the faceoff dot this season as properly.

A pending unrestricted free agent in Pittsburgh who has contributed some offense this season, Beauvillier might be on the transfer but once more. He’s bounced from Lengthy Island to Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville to the Penguins previously three seasons. Nonetheless, Beauvillier is a talented winger with respectable puck-handling abilities. He’s a reasonably good skater, too.

A contract throw-in as a part of the Flames-Flyers deal on the finish of January, it might not be a shock to see Kuzmenko flipped. The proficient scorer has seen the objectives disappear totally this season and is on an expiring contract. However he stays a menace on the facility play and might be due for a bounce-back.