Trade Targets: Decision time looms for Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner

One month to go until the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. That means it’s time for our first Trade Targets board of the offseason. Here are 20 names in play:

Trade Targets 🎯

1. Mitch Marner
Right Wing, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 27
Stats: 69 GP, 26 G, 59 A, 85 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $10.9 million AAV
Scoop: President Brendan Shanahan said it: “We will consider everything,” and Marner is at the center of it all. He wants to be a Maple Leaf, that much is clear, but it’s way less clear if the Leafs want the one player who seems to crack under the pressure of the playoffs more than others. And it’s decision time. Marner is entering the last year of his deal, so it’s either time to extend him this summer, or move him. Yes, he holds the full ‘no-move’ clause, but if Toronto signals that no extension is coming, wouldn’t it be in Marner’s best interest facilitate a move to a preferred destination to play out a contract year?

2. Linus Ullmark
Goaltender, Boston Bruins
Age: 30
Stats: 40 GP, 2.58 GAA, .915 Sv%
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: The Bruins very nearly traded Ullmark to Los Angeles during deadline week, agreeing to a deal with the Kings that the reigning Vezina winner nixed with his ‘no-trade’ clause. GM Don Sweeney wasn’t thrilled at the time, but said last week: “You guys do a hell of a job figuring those things out, piecing them together.” Jeremy Swayman is clearly the goalie of the present and future in the Hub. And Ullmark will be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market over the next five weeks. In addition to the Kings, keep an eye on the Sens. Ullmark reminded us his ‘no-trade’ list is in place for a reason, though.

3. Jakob Chychrun
Left Defense, Ottawa Senators
Age: 26
Stats: 82 GP, 14 G, 27 A, 41 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.6 million AAV
Scoop: Chychrun had an excellent season. He shed the label of an oft-injured defenseman, playing 82 games for the first time in his career. He tied a career-best with 41 points and was four short of a career-high in goals. He’s played better in Canada’s capital than he did in the desert. That means he’s also due a raise. And the fact is the Sens can’t afford to pay upwards of $24-plus million to just the left side of their defense with Jake Sanderson ($8.05m) and Thomas Chabot ($8m) plus a new deal for Chychrun. In a perfect world, they’d probably prefer to move Chabot, but that might not be realistic.

4. Martin Necas
Right Wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 25
Stats: 77 GP, 24 G, 29 A, 53 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, due $3.5 million qualifying offer
Scoop: Well, this is interesting. Necas has apparently made it clear to the Canes that he’s looking for more opportunity, which is difficult to find with Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov ahead of you on the depth chart. Opposing teams have made it clear to Carolina that they really want to get their hands on Necas – and the Vancouver Canucks are certainly not the only ones. Necas is due a sizable raise. The Canes have flexibility. Will they take one last run at trying to sign him? The wrench in the calculus is the vision of their next GM. Is that interim manager Eric Tulsky? Someone else? Or has the die already been cast with owner Tom Dundon on Necas’ future in Raleigh?

5. Nikolaj Ehlers
Left Wing, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 28
Stats: 82 GP, 25 G, 36 A, 61 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $6 million AAV
Scoop: If you take a look at his career arc and production, Ehlers is the model of consistency. But he might not be the model of predictability – for either the Jets’ coaching staff, now headed by Scott Arniel, or even his linemates. That likely makes him available as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may tinker with his group a bit this summer following a disappointing first-round exit against Colorado. Winnipeg is all Ehlers has ever known, drafted No. 9 overall in 2014. He is also the only key member of the forward core who doesn’t have a long-term extension.

6. Juuse Saros
Goaltender, Nashville Predators
Age: 29
Stats: 64 GP, 2.86 GAA, .906 Sv%
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: One year ago, Preds GM Barry Trotz dangled Yaroslav Askarov in the hours before Round 1 of the Draft, looking to make a splash as hosts in Nashvegas. This year, it might be Saros who is on the move, after another impressive season for Askarov in AHL Milwaukee. It’s going to cost a ton, though. Nashville has no issue hanging onto Saros and re-signing the undersized Finn to a long-term deal. Saros was average in the Preds’ first-round loss to Vancouver, and he admitted that his next contract sometimes weighs on him.

7. Arthur Kaliyev
Right Wing, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 22
Stats: 51 GP, 7 G, 8 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, due $874,125 qualifying offer
Scoop: The writing was on the wall for Kaliyev, the once promising prospect who was a healthy scratch for a huge chunk of the season – and all five playoff games against the Oilers. A reminder that all is not lost. Last year, Sean Walker was a healthy scratch for five Kings playoff games, was traded to Philadelphia, found his game again and will be one of the more sought-after defensemen on the free agent market this time around. It’s all about perspective. And Kaliyev has obvious talent, 13 and 14-goal seasons under his belt, as a waiver-required player who is trying to find his way.

8. Filip Gustavsson
Goaltender, Minnesota Wild
Age: 25
Stats: 45 GP, 3.06 GAA, .899 Sv%
Contract: 2 years remaining, $3.75 million AAV
Scoop: The Wild are open for business and listening on Gustavsson, who one year ago at this time was considered the savior of their season and a driving force on why they made the playoffs. Gustavsson wasn’t nearly as good last season. Beloved Marc-Andre Fleury is back for his 40-year-old campaign. And 2021 first-round pick Jesper Wallstedt is waiting patiently, ready to be mentored by Fleury. It’s not that the Wild don’t like or trust Gustavsson. They just have flexibility at the position and moving Gustavsson would free up $3.75 million to be used somewhere else for a team with $15.1 million in dead cap space this season. There should be a market for a mid-tier option like Gustavsson.

9. Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 31
Stats: 82 GP, 11 G, 22 A, 33 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Eleven months ago, the Islanders traded a second-round pick to Chicago to take Josh Bailey’s $5 million cap hit off their hands. Last week, the Islanders traded down in the first-round – which is ultra rare one month out from the Draft – and received an extra second-round pick in the process. Will Lou Lamoriello use that extra capital in an attempt to entice someone to take Pageau? The difference between Pageau and Bailey is that Pageau has an extra year remaining. The Blackhawks bought out Bailey. Pageau still has game left, but not at that price, and the Isles only have $6 million in space to add five more players.

10. Jacob Markstrom
Goaltender, Calgary Flames
Age: 34
Stats: 48 GP, 2.78 GAA, .905 Sv%
Contract: 2 years remaining, $6 million AAV
Scoop: What a long, strange trip last year was for Markstrom. He said goodbye to a few close friends as teammates, especially Chris Tanev. The realization of the Flames’ retool set in. He was asked to waive his ‘no-trade’ clause and agreed to go to New Jersey, only to see the deal fall apart at the finish line. But all is well that ends well, as the initial read in the spring is that things have been smoothed over between Craig Conroy, Markstrom and the Flames. They are still open to moving him, and Markstrom still holds all the cards (and could force a deal), but they’re going to need a high return to make it happen – because they don’t intend to tank. How does Dustin Wolf factor into all of this? Maybe the time to trade Markstrom to get the best return was in March with other high-value goalies available on the market this summer.

11. One St. Louis Blues Defenseman
Possibilities: Torey Drug, Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk
Scoop: It’s no secret. For a couple years now, GM Doug Armstrong has been looking to shake up St. Louis’ defense corps, to no avail. He tried to move Torey Krug last summer, who held firm on his ‘no-trade’ clause. Now what? The Blues are in the same spot. They missed the playoffs for the second consecutive spring. And as currently constituted, the defense isn’t changing for the next few years unless Armstrong makes a move. Krug, Leddy and Faulk all have ‘no-trade’ clauses, which has put the Blues in a bind. There would definitely be interest in Colton Parayko. But the 6-foot-6 blue liner is the one guy they should keep, under contract for the next six seasons at what will only be a more valuable $6.5 million.

12. Reilly Smith
Left Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 33
Stats: 76 GP, 13 G, 27 A, 40 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Smith was no stranger to the Trade Targets board last season. Oddly, he didn’t seem to generate as much buzz or interest as other wingers. He has Stanley Cup pedigree and is a proven playoff performer. He still ended up with 40 points in 76 games in a year with a ton of change, moving from Vegas to Pittsburgh. The Penguins could well hang onto him. They want to compete and Smith could help that cause. But at $5 million, if they find someone with solid interest in Smith, they could re-jig their cap picture a bit and perhaps find multiple players to aid their depth for that amount of money instead of a guy who finished the season on their third line with Lars Eller and Valtteri Puustinen.

13. Morgan Frost
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 25
Stats: 71 GP, 13 G, 28 A, 41 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $2.1 million AAV
Scoop: After a rocky year that saw Frost sit as a healthy scratch for a chunk of time, it sure ended well. Frost closed the campaign with 30 points in 44 games in the 2024 calendar year. One thing that doesn’t appear to be changing: John Tortorella as Flyers coach. While some pushback from Frost seemed to do him well in Tortorella’s books, it’s not entirely clear whether they’ll ever see eye-to-eye. Or if Frost’s style of game will mesh with what Tortorella is looking for on a nightly basis. The Flyers see plenty of upside on Frost and wouldn’t hesitate to keep him. They’re also interested in anything creative thrown their way, so they’d be open to moving Frost and Joel Farabee and others in the right deal. But there hasn’t been much action on that front yet.

14. David Savard
Right Defense, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 33
Stats: 60 GP, 6 G, 18 A, 24 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Last summer, the Habs unloaded another veteran defenseman in Joel Edmundson on July 1 in exchange for third and seventh-round picks. Savard is in a different position as a right-shooting defenseman, where there is a premium. But so are the Canadiens this time around. They will need a veteran presence to help shepherd the young guys through their lineup this season. But Montreal also has a bit of a logjam on defense, with plenty of right-shot guys coming. The Canadiens will be listening on Savard, even if they end up keeping him through the summer, to begin initial conversations in the lead-up to next year’s trade deadline.

15. Kaapo Kakko
Right Wing, New York Rangers
Age: 23
Stats: 61 GP, 13 G, 6 A, 19 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, due $2.4 million qualifying offer
Scoop: What a difference one year makes – for both Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere. At this time last year, Kakko was coming off a strong, 40-point season with 18 goals that was a solid step forward for the 2019 No. 2 overall pick. This season, he missed 21 games and couldn’t find his footing, chipping in with 13 goals and 19 points. He now has five NHL seasons under his belt. He will also be due a raise – based on his goals scored and that 40-point season. He is eligible for arbitration. Can the Rangers afford another $3+ million forward in their bottom six?

16. Elvis Merzlikins
Goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 30
Stats: 41 GP, 3.45 GAA, .897 Sv%
Contract: 3 years remaining, $5.4 million AAV
Scoop: One of the first orders of business for new President and GM Don Waddell, aside from salivating over the Blue Jackets’ prospect pool, is to solve the Merzlikins issue. He made it clear that his trade request has been outstanding. And Waddell did say in his final press conference in Carolina that he didn’t have enough fingers or toes to count the players who wanted to be dealt in his tenure. Is there a fit for Merzlikins somewhere? His numbers are in the tank, but Columbus has had two dog-ass seasons, he wants a change of scenery, and he’s clearly a talented goalie.

17. Andrew Mangiapane
Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Age: 28
Stats: 75 GP, 14 G, 26 A, 40 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5.8 million AAV
Scoop: If you view Mangiapane’s season through the prism of his entire career, with the exception of one statistical outlier in 2021-22, he pretty much nailed his averages this season. Approximately 16-18 goals (over a full 82 GP) and 38-42 points. The problem? Mangiapane was paid commensurately for that one outlier season, when he collected 35 goals and 55 points. It also came in a summer when the Flames lost Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, so there was reason to make sure they kept him. Now? He’ll be walking next summer anyway, so might as well start conversations now, or keep him as a rental at the deadline.

18. Christian Dvorak
Center, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 28
Stats: 30 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $4.45 million AAV
Scoop: Dvorak has struggled to stay healthy in his time in Montréal, missing 96 games over his three-season tenure. He was acquired by the Marc Bergevin regime in Sept. 2021 from Arizona in exchange for first and second-round picks, one of which is in this June’s Draft (No. 37 overall). It’s clear that Dvorak hasn’t worked out with the Habs. Even when healthy, he hasn’t been able to break through the ceiling that initially indicated promise in Arizona. Montreal will be moving on from him, the only questions are when (now or later) and how (trade or free agency).

19. Darnell Nurse
Left Defense, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 28
Stats: 81 GP, 10 G, 22 A, 32 Pts
Contract: 6 years remaining, $9.25 million AAV
Scoop: We outlined the short and long-term problem that Nurse presents for the Oilers on Tuesday. This would be a difficult, complicated transaction to tackle – and there are so many unknowns now, including: who will be the next GM in Edmonton? What will his view of the situation be? At the very least, the Oilers should be looking for ways to be creative, maybe swap one problematic contract for another. Because Nurse could rebound into a solid Top 4 defender. But he’s already not on the first unit power play or penalty kill, he’s stuck on the second pair, and that doesn’t leave him much opportunity to play up to his $9.25 million cap hit. Other teams are already leery of his contract structure with regards to the $24 million in backloaded signing bonus that makes it almost impossible to buy out.

20. Trevor Zegras
Center, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 23
Stats: 2 years remaining, $5.75 million AAV
Contract: 31 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 15 Pts
Scoop: This season was a grind for Zegras. Period. Full stop. He was late to camp after GM Pat Verbeek ground him down on a bridge deal. Then he was injured (twice) and missed a total of 51 games. Zegras was believed to be part of the group of players pressured to participate in offseason training activities in Florida, which earned the Ducks a $50,000 fine. Oh, yeah, and his close friend Jamie Drysdale was traded to Philadelphia. There has definitely been some friction there. And the belief is the Ducks aren’t sold Zegras can add dimensions to his game. But he finished the season on a high note with eight points in eight games. Was that to show teams watching he can do it? Or to show the Ducks?

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