5 intriguing players under 24 who should be traded at the NHL trade deadline

Quite a few young players should find themselves heading elsewhere at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, and five of them stand out more than the others.

Jan 5, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) in action against the
Jan 5, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) in action against the | Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Trevor Zegras is one young player the Anaheim Ducks would benefit from trading

Trevor Zegras is a good fit for what the Anaheim Ducks want to do this season, and that is to retain young talent and brew a core. Recently, Zegras has put up 61 and 65-point seasons, and he possesses a complete skill-set that’s hard to find, but seven points in 20 games this season and a serious lower-body injury may have changed the franchise’s outlook

Plus, there is still the strong possibility he can bring the kind of compensation the organization can’t pass up. So, despite his sheer talent and young age, Anaheim could get a lot for the intriguing forward who should return in time to help a contending team snag a respectable playoff spot in their final 15 regular season games, and even over the next two seasons, at minimum. 

For a rebuilding team like the Ducks, trading Zegras looks counterintuitive, but current playoff contenders looking to win a Cup and are interested in acquiring more than a rental know what he can bring. While the offseason could be more realistic than the trade deadline to move Zegras, it doesn’t mean the Ducks shouldn’t do all they can to set a high price and execute a deal if a contender is willing to match it by March 8th.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Elite Prospects as of March 1st)