Trade talk is percolating loudly in the hours before the start of Friday\u2019s NHL Draft.<\/p>\n
Multiple first-round picks have already changed hands in recent days, and multiple more are still expected to be dealt before the evening is finished amid a trade market overflowing with young talent and proven difference-makers.<\/p>\n
Jason Robertson remains in the No. 1 spot of the offseason trade big board after he scuttled a potential sign-and-trade deal with the Seattle Kraken on Thursday by turning down one of the largest contract offers in NHL history: Eight years and almost $120 million.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s followed by Dylan Larkin, who is waiting for his trade request to be fulfilled by the Detroit Red Wings, and three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, who has already garnered a trade offer from the Buffalo Sabres that would include the No. 4 overall pick going to the Winnipeg Jets.<\/p>\n
Brace yourself, hockey fans: We could be in for a wild day of activity.<\/p>\n
To get you ready, here\u2019s the rebooted big board, with what we\u2019re hearing from sources around the league, granted anonymity to speak about talks that aren\u2019t public.<\/p>\n
As always, players and assets are listed by how closely they demand watching, based on their potential impact and the current amount of buzz around them.<\/p>\n
Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers<\/p>\n
Sean McIndoe and Sean Gentille<\/p>\n
(Note: Contract details via PuckPedia.)<\/p>\n
1. Jason Robertson<\/p>\n
Team: Dallas Stars
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 45 goals, 96 points, 82 games
Age: 26
Contract: Restricted free agent<\/p>\n
The Stars have pivoted to other suitors after the potential sign-and-trade deal with Seattle was shot down and interest from the St. Louis Blues was rebuffed by Robertson. Perhaps this all still leads to the RFA forward signing a long-term extension in Dallas if the team gets more comfortable with the idea of paying him more than teammate Mikko Rantanen\u2019s $12 million annual salary. However, his presence on the trade market can\u2019t be overstated. Robertson is a big winger who consistently drives offense and still has prime years ahead. He\u2019s coming off a 96-point season with the Stars and would instantly improve any team\u2019s lineup in the league.<\/p>\n
2. Dylan Larkin<\/p>\n
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 34 goals, 67 points, 74 games
Age: 29
Contract: $8.7 million AAV through 2031; no-trade clause becomes 10-team no-trade list in 2028-29<\/p>\n
Larkin is a speedy two-way center who is an ever-present threat to score. He can handle big minutes and tough checking assignments and is known as a competitive player who battles his way to the difficult areas of the ice. While his playoff experience is limited to just five games, Larkin was a strong performer for Team USA at the Milan Olympics and 4 Nations Face-Off. His contract makes him an even more attractive asset because he\u2019s locked in at a reasonable rate of $8.7 million for the next five seasons. The Vegas Golden Knights \u2014 one of his favored destinations \u2014 could be lurking in the weeds here.<\/p>\n
3. Connor Hellebuyck<\/p>\n
Team: Winnipeg Jets
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: 23-23-11, 2.86 GAA, .895 save percentage, 57 games
Age: 33
Contract: $8.5 million through 2031; no-movement clause becomes 10-team no-trade list in 2027-28<\/p>\n
If the Jets are going to move Hellebuyck, the backbone of their team for a decade, they need to make sure they\u2019re addressing another roster need (such as a second-line center) while creating another one in goal. As compelling as the Sabres\u2019 offer of the No. 4 pick surely is, it needs to include impact players that can help the cause right now, too. The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes also remain in the mix for Hellebuyck. He\u2019s the total package in the crease \u2014 an Olympic champion with size, durability and elite puck-tracking ability. It\u2019s not often you can find a goalie this good on the trade market.<\/p>\n
4. Matthew Knies<\/p>\n
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 23 goals, 66 points, 79 games
Age: 23
Contract: $7.75 million AAV through 2031<\/p>\n
The Leafs are looking to land a second top-10 pick in Friday\u2019s draft, and Knies represents their most obvious path to it. Of course, they are also asking teams for a roster player to go along with it if they\u2019re going to move one of their organization\u2019s best assets. Knies is a young power forward with an ideal blend of size and skill who is signed until his late 20s. He\u2019s a rare commodity on the trade market, and Toronto seems focused on taking advantage of that scarcity. While the Leafs want to downplay the likelihood of a trade, rival executives believe there\u2019s a move coming here.<\/p>\n
5. Mason McTavish<\/p>\n
Team: Anaheim Ducks
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 17 goals, 41 points, 75 games
Age: 23
Contract: $7 million AAV through 2031<\/p>\n
The New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues have both tabled serious offers for McTavish in the past 24 hours. A move here is almost certain to happen. This was not the kind of season McTavish or the Ducks had in mind when they agreed to a $42 million, six-year extension in September. Not only did the 23-year-old find himself an occasional healthy scratch, including during the playoffs, but he saw a decline in his average ice time and offensive production. The puck-handling skills, vision and shot that made McTavish a top draft pick remain, but so do some of the questions about his skating ability.<\/p>\n
6. Buffalo Sabres\u2019 No. 4 pick<\/p>\n
The Sabres landed this pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Bowen Byram trade and seem eager to deploy it on a more immediate roster upgrade. If they aren\u2019t able to complete a deal with Winnipeg to add Hellebuyck, there are other places to move it. Buffalo has engaged in talks with Toronto on Matthew Knies and the New York Rangers on Vincent Trocheck in recent days, as well.<\/p>\n
7. Vincent Trocheck<\/p>\n
Team: New York Rangers
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 16 goals, 53 points, 67 games
Age: 32
Contract: $5.625 million AAV through 2029; 12-team no-trade list becomes 10-team on July 1<\/p>\n
The veteran center spent most of the season at or near the top of our trade board and remains there now. After scratching Trocheck for roster management purposes prior to the trade deadline in March, the Rangers opted to hold on to him in anticipation of stronger offers in the summer. Those conversations have since resumed. Trocheck is an appealing target for teams looking to get stronger down the middle as a solid faceoff man and penalty killer who can handle heavy, difficult minutes. He\u2019s one of the few impact players at that position who appears to be truly available right now. Buffalo is the favorite to land him.<\/p>\n
8. Zach Werenski<\/p>\n
Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 22 goals, 81 points, 75 games
Age: 28
Contract: $9,583,333 AAV through 2028; 10-team trade list<\/p>\n
The Blue Jackets are in an uncomfortable position with the reigning Norris Trophy winner. They\u2019ve heard plenty of external discussion about his presumed unwillingness to extend beyond the end of his current contract in 2028, but they\u2019ve yet to actually hear that communicated from the player himself. As Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told reporters on Thursday that he hopes to have a discussion with Werenski soon, speculation around the league went up a couple of notches about the likelihood that this ends up in a trade. As a result, Werenski takes a big jump up the big board.<\/p>\n
9. San Jose Sharks\u2019 No. 2 pick<\/p>\n
In order to consider trading a pick this high in the draft \u2014 the likes of which hasn\u2019t been dealt intentionally during the NHL\u2019s salary cap era \u2014 San Jose needs to get a young top-pair defenseman or young top-line player back to replace what they\u2019d be losing. In other words, a player or players in their prime or approaching it. While that\u2019s a high bar to clear, it\u2019s notable that multiple teams are still making aggressive plays for the No. 2 pick. After making top-four selections each of the past three drafts and building a team on the rise, the Sharks are open-minded to any idea that can improve their roster right now.<\/p>\n
10. Morgan Rielly<\/p>\n
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 11 goals, 36 points, 78 games
Age: 32
Contract: $7.5 million AAV through 2030; no-movement clause<\/p>\n
The Maple Leafs\u2019 longest-tenured player is open to moving on after 14 years with the organization and has submitted a list of four Western-based teams he\u2019d play for. Rielly had previously been unwilling to consider waiving his no-movement clause but has softened on that stance. While Rielly\u2019s skating isn\u2019t the separator it once was, he possesses strong puck skills and can help drive a team offensively. He\u2019s also a high-character player who should be viewed as a dressing room asset.<\/p>\n
11. Darnell Nurse<\/p>\n
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 7 goals, 24 points, 82 games
Age: 31
Contract: $9.25 million AAV through 2030; no-movement clause<\/p>\n
Nurse requested a trade after spending the past 12 years in Edmonton. He\u2019s a hard-nosed defenseman who blocks shots, logs minutes and plays with edge. The only problem? He\u2019s paid like a cornerstone player, not just a really good one, and for an organization operating close to the salary cap in a narrow contention window, there\u2019s a significant opportunity cost attached to Nurse\u2019s inefficient contract. The player owns a no-movement clause and is working with the team to find a suitable landing spot.<\/p>\n
12. Jake DeBrusk<\/p>\n
Team: Vancouver Canucks
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 23 goals, 42 points, 81 games
Age: 29
Contract: $5.5 million AAV through 2031; no-movement clause<\/p>\n
A player who doesn\u2019t fit the mold of the rebuilding efforts underway in Vancouver. DeBrusk is a strong skater with a nose for the net, having potted 28 and 23 goals during two trying seasons for the Canucks. There\u2019s a lot of meat left on the bone, but there\u2019s also a contract that includes a no-movement clause, which definitely complicates things. DeBrusk is at an age where getting back to a competitive team remains a priority.<\/p>\n
13. Kirill Marchenko<\/p>\n
Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 27 goals, 67 points, 76 games
Age: 25
Contract: $3.85 million AAV through 2027 (RFA)<\/p>\n
With one year remaining on his contract and unrestricted free agency looming one year beyond that, Marchenko has started to draw attention beyond Columbus. He\u2019s a big, talented winger with a knack for putting the puck in the net \u2014 he\u2019s scored 102 goals across his first four NHL seasons \u2014 and projects as a top-line winger with upside. The Blue Jackets will need to be blown away with an offer to move now, but they may get one given how frothy the marketplace currently is.<\/p>\n
14. JJ Peterka<\/p>\n
Team: Utah Mammoth
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 25 goals, 47 points, 82 games
Age: 24
Contract: $7.7 million AAV through 2030; 10-team no-trade list<\/p>\n
Talented young players have been netting massive trade returns in the past week, and Peterka\u2019s name has surfaced amid the frenzy. His first season with the Mammoth wasn\u2019t smooth sailing following last summer\u2019s trade from Buffalo, although Peterka did still manage to score 22 even-strength goals while seeing a big dip in ice time. Peterka is a strong north-south skater with a nose for the net who carries the added benefit of being cost-controlled for the next four seasons.<\/p>\n
15. Alexander Nikishin<\/p>\n
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 11 goals, 33 points, 81 games
Age: 24
Contract: RFA<\/p>\n
After winning a Stanley Cup in his first full season with the Hurricanes, Nikishin is a restricted free agent whose name has popped up in trade conversations. He\u2019s a big man who skates well and scored 11 goals during the regular season. Carolina must weigh the merits of what he can bring back in a trade with what it\u2019s going to cost to sign him to his next contract. He\u2019s believed to be looking for a deal in the $8 million range annually.<\/p>\n
16. Adin Hill<\/p>\n
Team: Vegas Golden Knights
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: 10-9-6, 3.04 GAA, .871 save percentage, 27 games
Age: 30
Contract: $6.25 million through 2031; 10-team no-trade list<\/p>\n
Supplanted by Carter Hart during the Vegas Golden Knights\u2019 run to the Stanley Cup Final, Hill is a prime candidate to be moved with the team facing a tight cap situation. Big and experienced \u2014 Hill earned Conn Smythe Trophy votes when Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023 \u2014 he would represent an upgrade for several teams on their existing situation in the crease. Moving him would create the flexibility the Golden Knights need to take care of other business. Of note: Hill is owed a $7 million signing bonus payment as part of his compensation for the 2026-27 season and should have even more value if he\u2019s traded after that\u2019s already been paid out.<\/p>\n
17. Pavel Dorofeyev<\/p>\n
Team: Vegas Golden Knights
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 37 goals, 64 points, 82 games
Age: 25
Contract: RFA<\/p>\n
A restricted free agent in line for a big raise after scoring 72 goals over the past two seasons, Dorofeyev may have to sign that deal somewhere other than Vegas. He\u2019s a big chip for the Golden Knights to play, and they\u2019re not an organization known for sitting on their hands when facing roster and cap challenges. Dorofeyev protects the puck well and has great hands, making him especially dangerous when deployed as a power-play threat.<\/p>\n
18. Elias Pettersson<\/p>\n
Team: Vancouver Canucks
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 15 goals, 51 points, 74 games
Age: 27
Contract: $11.6 million AAV through 2032; no-movement clause<\/p>\n
The Canucks are still charting their direction under a revamped front office, but there can only be so much patience with Pettersson. While new GM Ryan Johnson has spoken about wanting to \u201cwipe away all expectations,\u201d the fact remains that the Swede is a long way off the performer he was when Vancouver signed him to a $92.8 million, eight-year extension in March 2024. And the Canucks are in the early stages of a rebuild. Pettersson has a massive amount of salary owing and a no-movement clause in his contract, but it wouldn\u2019t surprise anyone if a fresh start was in order here.<\/p>\n
19. Pavel Zacha<\/p>\n
Team: Boston Bruins
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 30 goals, 65 points, 78 games
Age: 29
Contract: $4.75 million through 2027; 8-team no-trade list<\/p>\n
Zacha is fresh off his strongest NHL season, which included 30 goals and 65 points, and he holds the hammer with the possibility of hitting the free-agent market next summer. That\u2019s forced Boston to at least listen to offers in the absence of an extension with its top center. Zacha is a big man (6-foot-4, 211 pounds) who is difficult to contend with in the offensive zone, and he\u2019s consistently found the back of the net, even in seasons that don\u2019t feature the kind of shooting percentage bender he enjoyed in 2025-26, when 22.9 percent of his shots went in. A late bloomer, he\u2019s developed into a reliable faceoff man.<\/p>\n
20. Danila Yurov<\/p>\n
Team: Minnesota Wild
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 12 goals, 27 points, 73 games
Age: 22
Contract: $2.95 million through 2028 (RFA)<\/p>\n
The Wild have dangled Yurov as part of packages aimed at landing bigger fish. The No. 24 pick in 2022 is coming off his rookie NHL season and demonstrated deft stickhandling skills and strong instincts while lining up as a third-line center by the end of his first year in North America. Yurov is a shifty player with upside who is cost-controlled with an entry-level contract covering the next two seasons, which is an attractive set of attributes.<\/p>\n
21. Brandon Carlo<\/p>\n
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 0 goals, 7 points, 55 games
Age: 29
Contract: $4.1 million AAV through 2027; 8-team no-trade list becomes 3-team no-trade list on July 1<\/p>\n
The Leafs are seeking two mid-range picks in exchange for the veteran right-shot defenseman. Carlo has plenty of attractive attributes, including the fact that he\u2019s 6-foot-5 and can kill penalties and help shut the game down. He\u2019s not overly physical, but he\u2019s no stranger to big-game hockey with 85 career Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume. He\u2019s one year from being a UFA, too.<\/p>\n
22. St. Louis Blues\u2019 Nos. 11, 15, 16 and 29 picks<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no way the Blues want to make four selections during the first round of Friday\u2019s draft. That\u2019s why they inquired on Jason Robertson, made an offer on Mason McTavish and have poked around the Matthew Knies discussions. The Blues loom as a major player on the trade market due to their array of picks and strong desire to upgrade their existing roster.<\/p>\n
23. Rickard Rakell<\/p>\n
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 24 goals, 48 points, 60 games
Age: 33
Contract: $5 million AAV through 2028; 8-team no-trade list<\/p>\n
With two seasons remaining on a contract where he\u2019s delivered an outsized amount of production for the Penguins, Rakell\u2019s trade value may never be higher. It also helps that his no-trade list is limited to eight teams. The right-shot winger is an above-average finisher who has a history of holding his own when playing alongside highly skilled linemates. While he hasn\u2019t shown any apparent sign of slowing down, Pittsburgh is looking at the big picture.<\/p>\n
24. Owen Tippett<\/p>\n
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 28 goals, 51 points, 81 games
Age: 27
Contract: $6.2 million AAV through 2032; 10-team no-trade list<\/p>\n
Signed for six more seasons to a positive-value contract, Tippett is not a prime candidate to be moved. But his name has started to appear in trade chatter because of the potential haul he could bring back to a Flyers team trying to take the next steps toward contention. Tippett\u2019s biggest weapon is a lethal and accurate shot that\u2019s had him knocking at the door of a 30-goal season. His contract includes a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in July 1.<\/p>\n
25. Tom\u00e1\u0161 Hertl<\/p>\n
Team: Vegas Golden Knights
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 24 goals, 58 points, 82 games
Age: 32
Contract: $8.1375 million AAV through 2030; 3-team trade list becomes 15-team trade list in 2028<\/p>\n
Hertl is another potential salary cap casualty in Vegas. However, he\u2019ll have a huge say in whatever happens because of a three-team approved trade list. The veteran center is coming off an up-and-down season that saw him endure a 29-game goalless drought before rediscovering his touch in the later rounds of the playoffs. Hertl is a big man who protects the puck well and can create havoc around the net. His cap hit ($6.75 million) is lower than his AAV because the San Jose Sharks retained salary when they traded him to the Golden Knights.<\/p>\n
26. Shane Wright<\/p>\n
Team: Seattle Kraken
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 12 goals, 27 points, 74 games
Age: 22
Contract: $886,666 AAV through 2027<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still not clear what Wright\u2019s high-water mark will look like as an NHL player, but there\u2019s reason to believe he might help bring Seattle back the kind of scoring boost it\u2019s looking for in a trade. For starters, he\u2019s still got one year remaining on his entry-level contract and presumably levels of growth still to come in his game. And even coming off a dip in his offensive production \u2014 going from 44 points to 27 points \u2014 he profiles as an intriguing two-way center, which is a commodity in demand right now.<\/p>\n
27. Ottawa Senators\u2019 No. 25 pick<\/p>\n
The Senators already moved one of the first-round picks they got from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade, sending it to San Jose for William Eklund earlier this week. As they remain on the hunt for another forward, it would not be surprising to see them deploy the second 2026 first-rounder they got for Tkachuk in order to satisfy that need.<\/p>\n
28. Blake Coleman<\/p>\n
Team: Calgary Flames
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 20 goals, 35 points, 69 games
Age: 34
Contract: $4.9 million AAV through 2027; 10-team trade list<\/p>\n
Coleman is another player who attracted interest ahead of the trade deadline that could still be moved this summer. The rebuild is on in Calgary \u2014 even if they\u2019re not officially using the \u201cR\u201d word \u2014 after Rasmus Andersson (Vegas Golden Knights), MacKenzie Weegar (Utah Mammoth) and Nazem Kadri (Colorado Avalanche) were dealt in-season, and Coleman has one year left on his existing deal. He\u2019s an excellent skater and a defensively sound winger who usually sees the puck headed in the right direction when he\u2019s on the ice. Coleman is also a 20-goal scorer who has been dangerous on the penalty kill over the years and ideally slots in on the third line of a top team, as he did for the Tampa Bay Lightning while winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n
29. Jordan Binnington<\/p>\n
Team: St. Louis Blues
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: 13-20-7, 3.33 GAA, .873 save percentage, 41 games
Age: 32
Contract: $6 million AAV through 2027; 14-team no-trade list becomes 10-team on July 1<\/p>\n
One year out from potential unrestricted free agency, the Blues face a decision on Binnington. He\u2019s coming off a season where his numbers cratered, but his reputation as a big-game goalie was still burnished during a strong performance for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Binnington should hold appeal for teams that can offer him a better playing environment and are looking for an experienced player in the crease to help push them over the top. His competitive nature remains a major asset.<\/p>\n
30. Jacob Markstrom<\/p>\n
Team: New Jersey Devils
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: 23-19-1, 3.07 GAA, .883 save percentage, 44 games
Age: 36
Contract: $6 million AAV through 2028; 20-team no-trade on July 1<\/p>\n
The Devils are gauging the marketplace on the veteran goalie, who owns a 20-team no-trade list as of July 1. While Markstrom struggled last season \u2014 producing an .883 save percentage, the lowest of his NHL career \u2014 he\u2019s got a strong track record of above-average results. He\u2019s a big man who covers a lot of net and is considered elite at the position when he\u2019s at his best.<\/p>\n
31. Connor Zary<\/p>\n
Team: Calgary Flames
Position: Winger
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 12 goals, 25 points, 74 games
Age: 24
Contract: $3.775 million AAV through 2028 (RFA)<\/p>\n
A strong skater with high-end speed, Zary profiles as a depth forward who can chip in a little bit offensively at five-on-five. The Flames are shopping the 24-year-old for a mid-range draft pick. Zary is under contract for the next two seasons.<\/p>\n
32. Bryan Rust<\/p>\n
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 29 goals, 65 points, 72 games
Age: 34
Contract: $5.125 million AAV through 2028<\/p>\n
Rust\u2019s name has circulated again with the Penguins focused on getting younger and looking to build off a return to the playoffs. His speed, forechecking prowess and two-way ability have allowed his game to age gracefully, and the 34-year-old is playing on a cap-friendly contract. The fact that Rust scored 60 goals across the past two seasons should be appealing to rival teams.<\/p>\n
33. Mason Lohrei<\/p>\n
Team: Boston Bruins
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 7 goals, 26 points, 73 games
Age: 25
Contract: $3.2 million AAV through 2027<\/p>\n
Lohrei\u2019s name circulated in trade rumors when the Bruins engaged in discussions on Rasmus Andersson last season. He\u2019s signed through next year at a reasonable cap number and has one year of team control remaining as a restricted free agent beyond that, making him an attractive asset. Lohrei is incredibly mobile for his size and will chip in with a bit of offense from the back end. He\u2019s also made strides defensively.<\/p>\n
34. Sebastian Cossa<\/p>\n
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: Played in AHL
Age: 23
Contract: Restricted free agent<\/p>\n
The top goaltender selected in the 2021 NHL Draft found himself struggling to get playing time at the end of the AHL season behind Grand Rapids teammate Michal Postava. With Trey Augustine, another top goaltending prospect, also in the pipeline and Cossa no longer exempt from waivers starting next year, the most prudent play for Detroit may be to deal him for other assets this summer. Cossa is a big, athletic goaltender who spent three seasons with the WHL\u2019s Edmonton Oil Kings and is viewed as a potential trade target for the Oilers.<\/p>\n
35. Devon Levi<\/p>\n
Team: Buffalo Sabres
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 stats: Played in AHL
Age: 24
Contract: $812,500 AAV through 2027<\/p>\n
The Sabres used three goaltenders last season, and Levi wasn\u2019t one of them. He\u2019s been surpassed in the organization after making 23 NHL appearances in 2023-24. A 2020 seventh-round pick who had a stellar NCAA career at Northeastern, Levi is still viewed favorably by other NHL teams. While on the smaller side for a top-level goaltender, he compensates with agility and athleticism.<\/p>\n
36. Brendan Gallagher<\/p>\n
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 7 goals, 23 points, 77 games
Age: 34
Contract: $6.5 million AAV through 2027<\/p>\n
A heart-and-soul member of the Canadiens for 14 seasons, Gallagher is seeking a fresh start after being a frequent healthy scratch down the stretch. He\u2019s an agitator who gets in on the forecheck, plays hard along the walls and can chip in with a little offensive production. Gallagher is also a first-class dressing room presence. If a trade can\u2019t be found, he\u2019s a potential buyout candidate.<\/p>\n
37. Ryan Hartman<\/p>\n
Team: Minnesota Wild
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
2025-26 stats: 23 goals, 43 points, 76 games
Age: 31
Contract: $4 million AAV through 2027; 15-team no-trade list becomes 10-team on July 1<\/p>\n
The Wild are going to need to get creative to strengthen themselves down the middle, and it could mean parting with one of their existing centers. Hartman is a potential UFA in 2027 and should bring back value in a trade. He\u2019s versatile, affordable, can handle top-six deployment and got his game back on the right side of the line last season after previously drawing attention from NHL disciplinarian George Parros. There\u2019s a two-way element to his game as he can be trusted defensively.<\/p>\n
38. Jesperi Kotkaniemi<\/p>\n
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 2 goals, 9 points, 42 games
Age: 25
Contract: $4.82 million AAV through 2030; modified no-trade list<\/p>\n
Kotkaniemi has fallen right off the map in Carolina, where he was a healthy scratch throughout the team\u2019s entire run to the Stanley Cup. That followed a regular season in which a player once prized for his 200-foot game saw a big dip in his ability to drive play. Kotkaniemi\u2019s typically inconsistent offensive numbers trended hard in the wrong direction, too. Still, he\u2019s a reclamation project worth considering due to his age and ability to play a premier position. He still has four seasons remaining on his contract at a reasonable cap number if he can recapture his previous form.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Trade talk is percolating loudly in the hours before the start of Friday\u2019s NHL Draft. Multiple first-round picks…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":761795,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[556],"tags":[1419,64,63,5789,6581,7525,3615,7520,7522,3936,7521,3064,3275,7530,3274,7526,7524,5790,7523,7519,5791,3617,575,6597,3065,4785,7527,3066,85,3935,4788,2370,7528,2371,7529,4791,6000],"class_list":["post-761794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-anaheim-ducks","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boston-bruins","tag-buffalo-sabres","tag-calgary-flames","tag-carolina-hurricanes","tag-chicago-blackhawks","tag-colorado-avalanche","tag-columbus-blue-jackets","tag-dallas-stars","tag-detroit-red-wings","tag-edmonton-oilers","tag-fantasy-hockey","tag-florida-panthers","tag-los-angeles-kings","tag-minnesota-wild","tag-montreal-canadiens","tag-nashville-predators","tag-new-jersey-devils","tag-new-york-islanders","tag-new-york-rangers","tag-nhl","tag-ottawa-senators","tag-philadelphia-flyers","tag-pittsburgh-penguins","tag-san-jose-sharks","tag-seattle-kraken","tag-sports","tag-st-louis-blues","tag-tampa-bay-lightning","tag-toronto-maple-leafs","tag-utah-mammoth","tag-vancouver-canucks","tag-vegas-golden-knights","tag-washington-capitals","tag-winnipeg-jets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/761794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=761794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/761794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/761795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=761794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=761794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=761794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}