5 prominent players not moved at the NHL trade deadline who will be moved in the offseason
While we saw plenty of surprises at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, a few of those surprises involved players who weren’t traded.
Now that the NHL trade deadline has come and gone, there are quite a few players whose names we thought would move this past Friday who remain with their respective teams. While we will only talk about five players in this article, several more will also find themselves on the move for a variety of reasons.
Many would-be rentals not moved at the deadline will nonetheless spend next season playing in a different uniform simply because their contracts are expiring. Other more obscure names with years left on their deals will see themselves inserted into a trade package, but they aren’t quite worth talking about.
Finally, there are rentals just traded elsewhere who will sign long-term deals with another team after their one-to-three months of wearing their latest uniform is up. But they are best suited for another discussion, as they will be highly sought after assets in free agency.
Quite a few big names were not dealt at the NHL trade deadline
Frank Vatrano was one player who just missed the cut for this article, as it doesn’t seem like the Anaheim Ducks are interested in moving their most high-profile player unless general manager Pat Verbeek gets an offer so outstanding that he can’t overlook it. Since Vatrano’s contract runs through next season, Verbeek doesn’t need to trade him in the offseason. Vatrano can instead act as a potential ‘rental’ at the 2025 deadline.
But that won’t be the case for the following five players listed, all of whom either have multiple years left on their deals, are in long-term contract-seeking mode, or their current team doesn’t look like they can afford them.
So, which players will we see moved in the 2024 offseason who didn’t hear their name called last Friday? Here are five players you must keep tabs on this summer.
Jakob Chychrun could be on his way out if the Senators continue to tank
The Ottawa Senators have lost seven straight going into March 12th. And if they weren’t contenders in the days leading to the trade deadline, they definitely aren’t contenders now, and that will likely be the case heading into next season. After acquiring Jakob Chychrun last season and making additions to fuel a potential run this year, Ottawa is instead tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the lowest points total in the East with two games in hand.
A talented player like Chychrun’s services would be best utilized elsewhere next season, and since 2024-25 will be a contract year, he can also sign a potential long-term deal with a team in a better position to contend. This doesn’t mean Ottawa would trade Chychrun to a perennial contender, as one on the outside looking in with ample cap space would suffice.
The Detroit Red Wings were one organization to look for as a potential partner, but there is reason to believe general manager Steve Yzerman is shifting gears. So, let’s not expect too many more blockbuster moves unless it involves a goaltender. Chychrun isn’t a goaltender, but there is one who could very well be on the move this summer.
Jacob Markstrom didn’t find a new home at the deadline, so keep tabs on him
Jacob Markstrom watched a plethora of teammates go elsewhere this season, but he will remain in the net with the Calgary Flames for the rest of the 2023-24 season. Markstrom’s contract expires following the 2025-26 season, so the 34-year-old could go somewhere that needs either a solid 1B or even a 1A for at least a season before he reverts to a 1B.
Despite some below-average performances lately, Markstrom has also shown us often this season that he can still play. Through 41 starts in 2023-24, he’s still sporting a 0.910 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA. No, he’s not giving anyone nine shutouts, as was the case in 2021-22, but Markstrom will help out teams that haven’t performed well when they aren’t in possession of the puck.
For the rest of this season, the Flames aren’t anywhere near the team they were without Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, or Noah Hanifin. While Markstrom’s numbers won’t be what they were from earlier in the year, don’t make the mistake that it means he’s declining. Instead, Markstrom has an opportunity to show doubters otherwise and make the most of what is a less-than-ideal situation in Alberta.
Trevor Zegras could warrant a summer blockbuster
Signed through 2026 before he becomes a restricted free agent, Trevor Zegras, like his teammate mentioned a few slides earlier, is an asset who could be worth a lot in high draft picks and high-end prospects when the Anaheim Ducks ultimately move him. No, a big trade at the deadline wasn’t happening, but there will be quite a few contenders or teams on the cusp of contention looking for a potential game-changer.
Injuries and lack of productivity when healthy prevented Zegras from being a better contributor in 2023-24, but he’s also been outstanding on several pedestrian Ducks teams since his first full season in 2021-22. Zegras can serve a team in so many ways, too, and more than just with top-six minutes, pinpoint accuracy with his shot, and on the man advantage.
He’s a forward who can serve as the missing link on some teams, and Zegras can also become a player other organizations can build around. Take one of the older teams in the NHL, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, or Washington Capitals - assuming they can find a way to afford him, and imagine how much he would stir up one of those fan bases whose teams currently seem like they’re heading into a potential rebuilding phase or at least a major step back.
Juuse Saros’ salary demands won’t keep him in Nashville much longer
Juuse Saros was another netminder in the rumor mill who, predictably, in this case, wasn’t traded at the 2024 deadline. However, he also wasn’t a rental, so the Nashville Predators didn’t have to trade a player who is still young enough to be a franchise goaltender in this league.
They also don’t need to trade Saros in the offseason, but they will likely trade him elsewhere if they can’t make a deal to keep the 28-year-old around long-term. However, there are plenty of suitors out there who wouldn’t think twice about overpaying for someone with franchise goaltender potential, with the New Jersey Devils looking like potential front-runners.
Everyone knows New Jersey’s story this season, as they looked like a good team on paper. They would have even been a complete team had Vitek Vanecek enjoyed a repeat performance this year. But he was so ineffective, the Devils traded him elsewhere while they acquired a patchwork unit of Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen.
The upcoming free agent class of goaltenders also isn’t promising, and it will put a goaltender like Saros in even higher demand. Whether he goes to the Devils or somewhere else, Nashville will get an outstanding return for one of the league’s better netminders.
Scott Laughton could help a contender win the Stanley Cup in 2025
Okay, so to be real, Scott Laughton could technically help the Philadelphia Flyers win a Stanley Cup in 2024, but that’s not likely to happen. We’re all waiting for the Flyers unprecedented run to end at some point in the next month, and when it occurs, general manager Daniel Briere will start selling again.
Laughton will have not one but two seasons remaining on his contract, so a team looking to make multiple runs but needs a sound lower-liner should make a push to acquire him. There are also teams lacking physical play who must also take interest, especially if they’re high-scoring units with not much defense at the forward position.
Teams in playoffs or bust mode for 2024-25 should also strongly consider Laughton, even if it means overpaying for the 29-year-old. Laughton will either help such teams get to the playoffs in 2024-25 or they don’t make it, he makes a prime trade candidate in 2025-26.
He may have plenty of issues when his team has the puck, including but not limited to so-so productivity in scoring and a career Corsi For at 5-on-5 under 50 percent. But he’s more than proven himself as a valuable player when his team needs to regain puck possession.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference, salary information provided by Cap Friendly)