The NHL offseason has been fairly quiet compared to previous summers, setting the stage for potential blockbuster deals as the 2025-26 campaign quickly approaches. Some players have already been linked to rumors, hinting that big moves could be around the corner.
Earlier in the offseason, we evaluated three players who could be on the move this summer. That list included Chris Kreider, who was shipped off to the Anaheim Ducks just one week later. The other two skaters that were highlighted have yet to be dealt, but their futures remain uncertain.
In the latest edition of the NHL's top trade candidates, here are three skaters that are drawing interest around the league.
Nick Robertson - Toronto Maple Leafs
Despite the fact that Robertson recently avoided arbitration and signed a one-year deal with the Leafs, it's still unclear whether he has a role in Toronto's lineup. The team faces a logjam of forwards where 15 players are under contract with only 12 spots to be filled. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believes Robertson could very well be the odd man out.
The rumor seems to have some credence, given the fact that Robertson requested a trade last summer and then was benched for the majority of the Maple Leafs' playoff run this past season, playing only three of the team's 13 games.
At age 23, Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals in 69 games this year, adding seven helpers along the way. Averaging exactly 12 minutes TOI per game, he could serve as a fourth-liner that is capable of hitting the scoresheet for a team in need of depth scoring from players in a limited role.
Robertson's name has been brought up in discussions involving the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins, according to Sports Illustrated. Both of those clubs could be looking for a young winger with potential to grow into a third-liner. It wouldn't be a surprise if Robertson ends the 2025-26 season in a jersey other than Toronto's.
Rasmus Andersson - Calgary Flames
Entering the final year of his contract, Andersson is due for a big payday next summer and could serve as a solid addition to the blue line for a club in search of an all-situation skater that plays with an edge.
Andersson is capable of putting up 30 or more points in a season on a regular basis, and has averaged nearly 24 minutes TOI per game for the Calgary Flames in each of the last three campaigns. He's not afraid to put his body on the line to block shots or make a wisely-timed hit, but he can just as well spring one of his teammates with an accurate breakout pass through the neutral zone.
The 28-year-old only has a six-team no-trade list but, apparently, he turned down a deal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the summer. Instead, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun says Andersson would be a better fit with the Vegas Golden Knights, who are coming to terms with the season-ending surgery that is threatening defenseman Alex Pietrangelo's career.
Of course, with the cap crunch that the Golden Knights are facing, teams like the Maple Leafs or Carolina Hurricanes could be more likely destinations. Both are top contenders that could use a little bolstering in their top four on the blueline. But Andersson would have to take a reduction in ice time, and it's unclear whether he'd be willing to do that in order to potentially go on a deep playoff run.
Right now, the rumor has it that the Flames and Andersson aren't on the same page regarding a contract extension, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him moved mid-season.
Rickard Rakell - Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins are at a fork in the road in terms of whether the team should retool for the twilight of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin's careers, or commit to a full-blown rebuild. With that in mind, Rickard Rakell is one of many Pittsburgh skaters linked to the rumor mill.
The 32-year-old broke out for a career-best season in 2024-25, notching 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. That performance certainly boosted his trade value, and the fact that he's signed at $5 million annually through the next three seasons is a bargain if he can continue to produce offense at a high rate.
The Hockey News speculates that at least four teams are asking around about Rakell, if not more. The Seattle Kraken, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, and Los Angeles Kings have all been tossed around in the trade conversation. Rakell would serve as a worthy member of the top six for any of those clubs with a strong ability to find high-danger areas of the ice in addition to a well-rounded style of two-way play.
It's still yet to be seen whether Rakell can build on his offensive output from 2024-25, or if he'll regress back to his usual form of producing between 40 and 60 points each year. Still, he is a six-time 20-goal scorer and capable of making a tremendous impact even if it's in a middle-six role.
Keep an eye on these names as we draw closer to the start of the season, and even as games begin to get underway.