Entering the second month of the 2024 NHL offseason, player movement around the league has hit a bit of lull. However, there are still a handful of impact players involved in significant trade rumors this offseason. Although things are quiet now, these players could be traded at any moment leading up to the opening of training camps in September.
The Ducks may be looking to trade their young star in Trevor Zegras. The 23-year-old center is coming off an injury-riddled campaign where he just got 15 points in 31 games. Despite that, Zegras has been a 60-point scorer who scored 23 goals in both of his first two seasons. His overall game still has some room for development, but his upside as a productive scorer is apparent.
The trade rumors regarding Zegras have been ongoing throughout last season, making a move seem almost inevitable. NHL analyst Stu Grimson recently expressed his belief that this could be the summer a trade finally formulates. Once one of Zegras’ many suitors gives the Ducks the substantial return they’re seeking, it seems as though he’ll be on his way out of Anaheim.
Patrik Laine’s tenure as a Columbus Blue Jacket has been highly tumultuous. In his four seasons there he’s dealt with major inconsistencies in his play, lost ice time and even got flat-out benched. After spending most of the previous season in the player assistance program, Laine is ready to return to play and has requested a trade. The 26-year-old was once an elite goal scorer, scoring 30+ goals in each of his first three seasons.
He hasn’t gotten to that mark since leaving the Winnipeg Jets but is usually good for 20+ goals. While his goal scoring is elite, his full effort isn’t always there, which is a notable concern. That, along with his $8.7 million cap hit over the next two seasons, make him somewhat difficult to move. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell recently noted that only one team has shown interest in Laine thus far. Even with all of the concerns and difficulties, it seems likely that someone will take a chance on him. Laine is still a relatively young player that has a decent floor as a scorer and an even better ceiling.
The New York Rangers’ captain has been involved in trade rumors since the opening days of the offseason. After an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign, the Rangers brass began to seek out ways to clear out his $8 million AAV contract. They were allegedly working on a deal with the Detroit Red Wings, but that never came to fruition. Despite his struggles, the veteran defenseman will still garner his fair share of interest, as proven by the Red Wings efforts.
The main complication in moving Trouba, aside from his lofty contract, is his 15-team no movement clause. As his wife is completing a residency program, Trouba is reportedly disinterested in moving long distance, if at all. That being said, the Rangers’ options are very limited if they’re seeking to move him before next season. However, given that they’ve already tried trading him, one would have to assume they’d pull the trigger if a suitable match for the team and player comes along this offseason.
Trade rumors surrounding Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner were one of the hottest topics in the league back in June. After another disappointing Leafs playoff run, he and his $10.8 million AAV contract became the primary scapegoat. The trade rumors have cooled down since then, yet the possibility of a trade still exists. Marner is approaching unrestricted free agency in 2025 and could demand an even loftier contract than his current one.
Trading him eliminates the possibility of losing a valuable asset for nothing and will garner a high quality return. Additionally, the Leafs would likely wind up having more open cap space towards assembling a deeper roster. They’ll have no shortage of suitors interested in paying top dollar for Marner, the only question is if they’re willing to make such a drastic change. It’s something worth keeping an eye on as the new season inches closer.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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