With the NHL Draft around the corner, general managers are preparing for their first opportunity to make trades since the deadline in March and it seems that no player is safe after the latest round of rumors.
As the summer draws closer, take a look at some of the most impactful players that could be targeted in offseason trades.
Marco Rossi -- Minnesota Wild
Contract talks have stalled between Marco Rossi and the Wild after GM Bill Guerin has been attempting to negotiate for months now. Rossi was originally offered a five-year deal at $5 million annually earlier during the season, and the Wild rejected Rossi's counter offer.
With free agency approaching and Rossi becoming eligible for offer sheets starting July 1, Guerin has the option to make a trade and allow another team to sign him. That would bring in more assets for the Wild than the standard offer sheet compensation.
Rossi was selected ninth overall in the 2020 draft and is developing at a solid pace. He tallied 21 goals and 40 points in his first full season last year, following that up with 24 goals and 60 points in his sophomore campaign. But during the first round of the playoffs, Rossi played just 11:08 per game, a huge decrease from his regular season average of 18:15.
The 23-year old from Austria has a lot to offer any team. Rossi's game is defined by his hockey IQ, with the ability to create scoring chances and set up his teammates. He's also dabbled on the power play, which is a situation he excelled in during his junior career.
Guerin has stated that he's in no rush to deal Rossi, and both sides seem to be open to negotiation under the right circumstances. But Rossi's agent has gone on record to say that he does not believe the Wild's proposals are giving him the proper value, saying "what the future holds for Marco and the Wild, only time will tell."
Chris Kreider -- New York Rangers
It's been an open secret that GM Chris Drury has been shopping Chris Kreider for a while now. Several months ago, Drury sent out a memo to all of the NHL general managers, sharing a list of players who he would be willing to trade if the price is right.
Kreider is perhaps one of the more surprising on that list based on the legacy he has with the Rangers franchise. The 34-year-old is just 11 goals shy of passing Jean Ratelle to become the second leading goal-scorer in team history.
But Drury has been trying to retool his roster on the fly, and it hasn't been incredibly effective to this point. He dealt captain Jacob Trouba as well as former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko mid-season, receiving Urho Vaakanainen from the Ducks and Will Borgen from the Kraken. New York is trying to get younger and faster, which would leave Kreider as one of the odd men out.
Kreider's offense fell off pretty significantly this past season, but mostly because he was plagued by nagging injuries. The one-time 50 goal scorer managed to hit the net 22 times in 68 games for a total of 30 points -- a career low, outside of the COVID shortened 2020-21 season.
That doesn't mean that Kreider can't return to his old scoring abilities if he remains healthy. Kreider is at his best in front of the net where he can jump on rebounds, and as a power play specialist he still moves the puck and shoots it very efficiently. He also offers a lot outside of the scoresheet with his physicality, leadership, and strong work ethic.
Kreider has two years left on his current deal at $6.5 million annually, and he also has a 15 team no-trade list to work with. He's come out and said in no uncertain terms that he wants to stay in New York, but Drury has made it clear that anyone is fair game.
Erik Karlsson -- Pittsburgh Penguins
With three Norris Trophy wins under his belt, the Penguins were hoping that Erik Karlsson would boost the team in a positive direction after missing the playoffs in 2022-23 for the first time in 16 years.
Karlsson is only two seasons removed from a 101-point campaign with the Sharks, but after joining the Penguins in 2023-24, he has not produced at the same level he's capable of. In fact, he has notched 109 points during his 164 games in Pittsburgh.
Those are still impressive totals from a defenseman, and Karlsson is valuable in more ways than just his offensive production. His passing is still elite, he has great speed and puck movement, and he's remained healthy for the most part over the last five years aside from a surgery to repair a torn muscle in 2022.
Karlsson has also shown flashes of what he is still capable of, especially at the 4 Nations Face-Off where he was arguably Team Sweden's best player. He had four points in three games during the tournament, and is expected to once again hold down the blueline at the Winter Olympics next year.
Still, GM Kyle Dubas has been clear about his disappointments, saying "Erik is and will forever be a polarizing figure. My view would be we expect him to be one of the people who pulls us from where we’re at into contention... his actions have to match his ambitions."
Karlsson has been equally non-commital about his future in Pittsburgh, so a trade seems to be in the cards. He is still a very capable quarterback for any NHL team in need of a Top 2 D-man who can reliably play upwards of 23 minutes a night. However, his $11.5 million cap hit might pose some problems in trade talks.