The NHL’s roster freeze for 2024-25 kicked in last night. GMs: put your pencils down. Although no trades can be made until the freeze lifts on Dec. 27, that will not stop teams from having discussions to improve their rosters.
Some real doozies have happened over the past couple of weeks: Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, Cam Fowler and Mackenzie Blackwood all have new addresses. The ESPN Big Board features some big names this season, and while we don’t expect the likes of Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen to be moved, could Chris Kreider be traded if the New York Rangers continue their free fall?
Instead of speculating on which players can be moved, let’s have some fun. Looking at teams around the league, from contenders to tank commanders, let’s find some new homes for players with trades that would make some sense, or have percolated in the rumor mill already.
Chris Kreider ships up to Boston
The Bruins are thin up front, particularly on the left. Their power play is anemic, ranking 31st at 12.9%. The Bruins are struggling to produce offense in a significant way.
Kreider has been a staple on the Rangers’ power play, leading the franchise in man-advantage goals. No one is the leader in power-play goals for an Original Six franchise by accident, and Kreider is a particularly effective net-front presence. He brings an element of speed too, and he would immediately become the Bruins best left winger, likely playing alongside Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak.
Things have gone horribly awry in New York this season and Kreider is under contract for two more seasons at $6.5 million per year. While Kreider has a 15-team no-trade list, it is hard to imagine the Bruins being on the Massachusetts native’s list.
As mentioned in the Big Board, one executive tossed around the idea of a Brad Marchand-for-Chris Kreider trade. While it seems like an unlikely possibility given Marchand’s standing in the Bruins organization as the team captain, Kreider is younger and faster, and the Rangers might like Marchand’s pending UFA status as they look to reconstruct their roster.
The one-for-one trade would certainly be a jaw-dropper, but it solves two problems: giving the Rangers flexibility past this season, and providing Boston with a legitimate threat on the left side.
Vancouver gets a young puck mover for Brock Boeser
It is no secret the Canucks are looking for a young, puck-moving defenseman. Outside of Quinn Hughes, the Canucks struggle in transition. They struggle to defend the rush, and in moving the puck up ice from the back end.
Meaningful talks between Boeser’s camp and the Canucks have not made much progress, and Boeser is likely looking for a contract worth $8 million per year, coming off a 40-goal season. The reality of the NHL is that wingers, especially on expiring deals, do not garner the trade return that fans believe they are worth.
So what are the options?
The Canucks have had interest in Bowen Byram dating back a few seasons, and it isn’t a secret the something has to give in Buffalo. Byram has taken a step forward with the Sabres, playing top-four minutes and filling in on the power play in Rasmus Dahlin‘s absence. He would be a good option for the Canucks’ second power-play unit.
K’Andre Miller‘s name has been floating around recently, and he is another player in whom the Canucks would have interest. Rick Tocchet likes big defensemen, and the Canucks have their own forest with all the trees on the back end. Miller will be 25 in January, and the 6-foot-5 blueliner is a pending RFA with arbitration rights. Miller is averaging the most 5-on-5 time on ice per game for the Rangers this season, at over 17 minutes. He moves the puck effectively, kills penalties and fits the archetype of a Tocchet defenseman.
Currently on injured reserve, Miller is someone whom multiple teams have interest in, and Boeser makes sense in a trade because he is a big goal-scoring threat on the right side — and the Rangers have the cap space to extend him.
Whether it is Byram or Miller, the Canucks need a top-four defenseman under team control, and they could use Boeser to acquire such a player if they do not believe they can sign him to an extension.
Let’s make something very clear: I think this is a very bad idea and would not do it. But, let’s ponder what the Canucks could get in return for a player of Pettersson’s caliber, if Vancouver wanted to solve the rumored rift between Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
Pettersson is an elite player in the NHL who is under contract through 2031-32, with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million. His no-trade clause does not kick in until this coming July, meaning the Canucks can trade him without his approval (hello, PK Subban).
As noted above, Byram is a young, puck-moving defenseman who would likely become the Canucks’ second-best blueliner upon arrival. Alex Tuch is another player the Canucks would have interest in because he brings speed, size and skill at a very reasonable price. However, Tuch is a Western New York native, and the Sabres do not seem keen to move him.
The player of interest instead is Dylan Cozens, a 23-year-old, right-handed center with five years remaining on his current contract at an annual cap hit of $7.1 million. The cap numbers could work out as a wash, too; Byram needs a new contract this summer, and it is likely that he and Cozens would combine for a number in the neighborhood of Pettersson’s $11.6 million per year.
If the Canucks were to trade Pettersson — and again, let me be clear in saying I do not think they should! — acquiring a second-line center and top-four defenseman (both 23 years old) would be a fair return.
Ivan Provorov balances Edmonton’s blue line
Provorov is in the final year of his deal and can be acquired on a double-retention deal for the Oilers at $2,362,500. Adding the veteran makes sense because of how the Oilers are deploying their defense pairs currently.
Mattias Ekholm with Evan Bouchard on the top pairing with Darnell Nurse with Brett Kulak on the second pair has been successful. Slotting in Provorov on the third pair at under $2.5 million with Troy Stecher or Ty Emberson on the right side provides the Oilers with more balanced depth heading into the playoffs.
Provorov plays in every situation, can eat considerable minutes and can take the matchup load off some of the other defensemen in the Oilers’ lineup as needed. He retrieves and moves the puck very well, a skill set that is vital in the playoffs.
Columbus is well within its right to ask for a first-round pick, top prospect or proven young player in return. While acquiring Provorov won’t be cheap, the Oilers came as close as a team could last season and should be all-in again this season while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are firing on all cylinders.
Yanni Gourde shores up Toronto’s third line
Under Craig Berube, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. However, they have struggled with injuries this season and can ill afford another early playoff exit.
Yanni Gourde would fit perfectly as their third-line center; he forechecks well, can kill penalties and contributes offensively. When Berube won the Stanley Cup in St. Louis, Tyler Bozak was the third-line center; Bozak was a solid two-way center who possessed similar qualities to Gourde (who won the Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning).
Toronto’s current situation sees Max Domi in this 3C spot. Moving him to the wing alongside John Tavares and Matthew Knies is an option, meaning a third line of Bobby McMann, Gourde and the newly physical Max Pacioretty could provide the forechecking, tough-to-play-against combination that Berube prefers.
Nick Robertson has long been rumored as a player who could be moved the other direction in this type of deal. Seattle’s recent acquisition of Kaapo Kakko shows it’s willing to take chances on players who are out of favor with their clubs. However, Toronto would need to move more money out than Robertson’s hit to make the cap work, even if Seattle retained on Gourde.
Mikael Granlund brings scoring punch to the Lone Star State
After losing Tyler Seguin to injury for the rest of the season, the Dallas Stars have $9.85 million worth of cap space to use — and the need to fill a major offensive hole.
Granlund is on an expiring deal in San Jose, producing a point per game, and would be the perfect fit for Dallas. His ability to play center and wing makes him attractive to the Stars. Granlund can produce at even strength and on the power play. He gets the top-line minutes in San Jose but should be capable of providing secondary scoring and remain a power-play threat in a smaller role for the Stars.
Dallas has both the cap space and the prospects to make a trade worthwhile for San Jose. This one makes too much sense.
Looking ahead
There are surely more depth players to be moved ahead of the March 7 deadline, and one thing is certain: there will be some eye-popping returns for some of those players.
A few eyebrow-raisers have already happened, and perhaps we will see earlier movement this season. Teams do not want to be left without that “final piece” this season, and it seems as though a few teams are willing to make moves they have not been willing to do in the past.
The upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa will be a seeding ground for many trades. It is easier there for GMs to fly in, watch players and meet their teams and colleagues than it would be if the tournament was held overseas. It’s an opportunity for many to get together and discuss things, get viewings on players of interest and formulate a plan. For now, we’ll have to wait for the roster freeze to end and all the excitement to begin.
