The 8 Biggest Stars Who Could Be Traded at the 2024 NHL Draft (2024)

The 2024 NHL draft will be held at Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29. Most of the attention will be on the first round and which promising young players will be selected after the San Jose Sharks choose top prospect Macklin Celebrini first.

Some notable NHL stars could also be on the move during the event. This draft will be the last one in which the general managers from all 32 teams will be on location, potentially setting the stage for wheeling and dealing.

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström could be among those on the move. He and several others on this list frequently appeared in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline. Others, like Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, have recently surfaced as trade candidates.

Markström and Ehlers join six others on our player list, which we consider most likely to be traded at the NHL draft later this month. Follow along as we examine the reasons why.

We've excluded Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. They have appeared recently in the rumor mill, but we believe they're unlikely to be moved because of their expensive contracts and value to their respective teams.

Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Is there someone you believe deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the app comments below.

Acquired by theOttawa Senators before the March 2023 trade deadline, Jakob Chychrunwas expected to be a key part of their rebuilding plan. Having missedthe playoffs this year for the seventh straight season, the26-year-old defenseman could find himself changing teams this summer.

Chychrun has ayear remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.6 million. Hewill be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

During hisend-of-season interview, Chychrun indicated that he hadn't yet hadcontract extension talks with Senators general manager Steve Staios.He added that he was unsure of his future in Ottawa.

The Senators carrythree left-shot defensem*n with Chychrun, Thomas Chabot, and JakeSanderson but they're thin in comparable right-shot blueliners. Thelatter two are under long-term contracts, leaving Chychrun as themost likely trade candidate.

On May 23, theOttawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators could attempt toacquire Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark. He cited a leagueexecutive suggesting Chychrun would have to be part of the tradepackage to get him.

Since joining the Winnipeg Jets in 2015-16, Nikolaj Ehlers has been among their most consistent scoring forwards. The 28-year-old winger has scored 20 or more goals seven times and reached or exceeded 50 points five times.

Ehlers has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. However, there are media rumblings that this season could be his last with the Jets. The Athletic's Murat Ates and the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck believe he could be traded this summer if he and the Jets fail to agree to a contract extension.

The Jets need help for their blue line after the Colorado Avalanche decimated their defense during their first-round playoff series. Ehlers could be a worthwhile trade chip to address that need.

Ates suggested the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and the Utah franchise as possible suitors for Ehlers. The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner suggested he'd be a good fit with the New York Islanders while Sammi Silber felt he'd be a fine addition to the Washington Capitals.

Billeck, meanwhile, suggested the Jets trade Ehlers for draft picks and prospects. They could use the $6 million savings to pursue a defenseman in this summer's free-agent market.

Topping our May Offseason Trade BlockBig Board, Jacob Markström is also the most likely trade candidateentering June. The 34-year-old Calgary Flames goaltender regularly appeared in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline.

Markström was noncommittal about his future in Calgary during his end-of-season media availability.Flames general Craig Conroy indicated he's taking a wait-and-seeapproach toward the situation during the offseason.

The Flames were reportedly close totrading Markström in February to the New Jersey Devils but the dealfailed to materialize. Following the trade deadline, Devils GM TomFitzgerald said he intends to pursue a starting goalie this summer.Markström could remain his primary target.

Markström is under contract for twomore seasons with an average annual value of $6 million. Hisno-movement clause gives him complete control over this situation. Ifhe agrees to be traded, Conroy's asking price could be a first-roundpick and either a top prospect or a good young NHL player.

The Devils might not be the only clubwith an interest in Markström. Toronto Maple Leafs general managerBrad Treliving knows him well from his days as Flames GM and couldmake a pitch. The Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, and LosAngeles Kings could also come calling.

The elimination of the CarolinaHurricanes from the second round of the 2024 playoffs has alreadybrought about some change as Don Waddell resigned last week as theirgeneral manager. Changes could be coming to theirroster as they carry eight active roster players eligible for UFAstatus and six slated to become restricted free agents.

Those changes could include MartinNečas. The 25-year-old forward is an RFA with arbitration rightscoming off a two-year contract with an annual average value of $3million. He'll be looking for a more lucrative deal this summer.

A versatile forward who can play centeror right wing, Nečas reached or exceeded 40 points in each of the lastfour seasons. However, he's also unhappy as a third-line winger andwants a top-six role. There's speculation that he would welcome atrade to a club where he'd have more playing time as a first-lineforward.

Nečas will attract plenty of interestfrom teams in the market for more scoring punch this summer. TheBoston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and VancouverCanucks have been linked to the Hurricanes winger in the rumor mill.

The Hurricanes will want a reasonablereturn for Nečas. They could seek a top-four defenseman to offset thelikely departure of Brett Pesce via free agency this summer.

The Nashville Predators can sign JuuseSaros to a contract extension as early as July 1, when he'll beofficially a year away from eligibility for unrestricted free-agentstatus. However, there's ongoing speculation over the 29-year-oldgoaltender's future.

Saros was a frequent fixture in therumor mill before the March 8 trade deadline. Most of theconjecture linked him to the New Jersey Devils, but Predators generalmanager Barry Trotz opted to retain him as his club pushed for aplayoff berth.

The Predators have a promising youngnetminder in Yaroslav Askarov who could be ready to join their rosternext season. They could re-sign Saros and have him share the net withthe 21-year-old Askarov, keep Saros for next season and move him atnext year's trade deadline, or attempt to trade him this summer.

Saros carries a reasonable $5 millioncap hit for 2024-25. He also lacks no-trade protection, enablingTrotz to peddle him wherever he wants. Teams seeking a reliablestarting goaltender like the Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and LosAngeles Kings could be very interested in his services.

Trotz could use Saros as trade bait toadd a scorer to his forward lines. He could also seek a first-rounddraft pick or a top prospect as part of a return containing assetsthat could be put toward building up the Predators' long-term future.

Vegas Golden Knights general managerKelly McCrimmon said there was a strong mutual interest to work on anew contract for Jonathan Marchessault. The 33-year-old winger isslated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Doing so,however, could involve shipping out Shea Theodore before the end ofJune.

The Golden Knights possess only $897,516 in salary cap space for 2024-25 with 20 active roster playersunder contract. They'll get an additional $5 million in capflexibility if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injuryreserve. Nevertheless, that won't leave enough to re-signMarchessault and fill out the remainder of the 23-man roster.

On May 13, The Athletic's Jesse Grangersuggested a defenseman like Shea Theodore or Zach Whitecloud as a tradecandidate. Whitecloud carries an average annual value of $2.8 millionfor the next four seasons. Theodore, 28, is a year away fromunrestricted free-agent eligibility with an AAV of $5.2. million.

Granger also pointed out that the GoldenKnights recently signed Noah Hanifin to a seven-year contractextension. Acquired from the Calgary Flames before the Marchtrade deadline, Hanifin plays a similar puck-moving style to Theodore.

McCrimmon will get plenty of callsabout Theodore if he's put on the trade block. He carries a five-teamno-trade list but that shouldn't adversely affect efforts to get asolid return of futures to restock the Golden Knights' prospectpipeline.

The goaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman played a significant role in the Boston Bruins enjoying a record-setting performance in 2022-23 and exceeding expectations in 2023-24, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. This season, however, could be the last time they play together.

Winner of the Vezina Trophy last season, Ullmark popped up in the rumor mill before the March 8 trade deadline as reports emerged the Bruins had a deal with a club on his 16-team no-trade list. The 30-year-old goaltender is said to have rejected the deal, as is his right. Neither Ullmark nor the Bruins would comment on the rumor.

Swayman supplanted Ullmark during the Bruins' 2024 playoff run as their starting goaltender. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer and is expected to be re-signed to a long-term extension with a raise well above his $3.5 million cap hit for this season.

Ullmark, meanwhile, has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5 million and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Bruins could peddle him before the draft and promote promising Brandon Bussi as Swayman's backup.

Several teams could be interested in acquiring Ullmark. The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils were among the clubs interested in the Bruins netminder before the trade deadline. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believes the Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes discussed a deal involving Ullmark.

A disappointing injury-shortened 2023-24 made Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras the subject of media conjecture leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. While Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek denied shopping Zegras or receiving trade calls from other clubs, that hasn't stopped some pundits from pondering the youngster's future.

A dazzling puck-handler and a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, Zegras was poised to become the rebuilding Ducks' franchise player following back-to-back 60-plus point performances. However, their trade of Jamie Drysdale in January to the Philadelphia Flyers for winger Cutter Gauthier prompted questions about Zegras' future in Anaheim.

Following this season, Zegras admitted it was difficult to be mentioned in trade rumors. He has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.8 million. The young forward also lacks no-trade protection.

Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette suggested Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes should have an interest in Zegras, pointing out the young winger's friendship with Canadiens star Cole Caufield. The Hockey News' Sammi Silber believes he'd make a good addition to the Washington Capitals as they transition toward younger talent.

The Ducks are under no pressure to move Zegras and could look for a bounce-back performance from him next season. However, there could be more speculation and trade suggestions about him in the coming weeks as the NHL draft approaches.

Stats and standings via NHL.com, salary info and line combination via Cap Friendly.