2024 NHL Trade Deadline: Ranking the top five seller teams

Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

With less than two months until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline March 8, we’re delivering at least one deadline-focused story every day at Daily Faceoff.

Today, we’re looking at five teams that could be busy selling off their assets.

2024 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 32 days

We’re just over a month away from the trade deadline, and a few seller teams have already been active.

it all started with the Calgary Flames shipping off Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks in a deal that sent Andrei Kuzmenko and some future assets the other way last Wednesday. On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens then moved Sean Monahan to Winnipeg for a pair of draft picks, giving them team some excellent value after acquiring him and a first-rounder for future considerations in 2022.

And neither team is likely done – although Montreal’s moves might be a bit less significant.

Today, we’re looking at five sellers with substantial assets available. Most of the players are pending UFAs – potential rentals or others just needing changes of scenery. Others are players on deals past this season that could provide the missing piece for contenders looking to solidify their core. So let’s get to it.

1. Philadelphia Flyers

Who’s available: Travis Konecny (RW, 26), Sean Walker (D, 29), Nick Seeler (D, 30), Morgan Frost (C, 24), Scott Laughton (C, 29), Marc Staal (D, 37)

Current Salary Cap Space: $516,438

The Flyers started off hot, but everything has started to crumble – both on and off the ice. But no matter what, GM Danny Briere needs to stay the course and continue the rebuild – and that means moving out a few key players this year.

The one with the potential to bring in the best return is Konecny. The 26-year-old winger has another year left on his deal worth $5.5 million, and the Flyers could look to capitalize on what’s shaping up to be a career-best season. Konecny can still be a big part of the team’s rebuild, but if teams are calling, Briere needs to listen.

The team’s relationship with Frost early on in the season – where he found himself as a healthy scratch more often than not after scoring 19 goals and 46 points last year – has been a hot topic this year. He’s still producing well, but he could still fetch a decent chunk of change. Same goes for Laughton, who could be a nice get for a contending team in need for some depth from a consistent 30-point producer.

On the point, Walker and Seeler’s names have swirled around for most of the season. Walker has played more than 21 minutes a night, but he’s a pending UFA at $2.65 million – teams that lose out on the Chris Tanev sweepstakes could score huge here. Seeler is having a breakout season for Philly, so teams needing a third-pair defensive D-man could do much worse than Seeler’s $800,000 AAV. But if the Flyers elect to hold on to him, could they move Staal instead?

2. Anaheim Ducks

Who’s available: John Gibson (G, 30), Frank Vatrano (RW, 29), Trevor Zegras (LW, 22), Ilya Lyubushkin (D, 29), Adam Henrique (C, 33)

Current Salary Cap Space: $21,866,294

Take your pick. With the Ducks more focused on landing a good draft pick than being competitve this season, the team could end up moving a handful of quality talent ahead of the deadline. They were already active last month, acquiring top prospect Cutter Gauthier in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a pick, which left an immediate hole on their blueline.

Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if they moved Lyubushkin. The 29-year-old is in the final year of his deal worth $2.75 million, and there’s no shortage of teams that could use a physical, shutdown defenseman. In net, Gibson is having himself a decent season and the Ducks could look to capitalize on that – some teams might be enticed with the fact he has three more years on his deal, though he carries a hefty $6.4 million cap hit.

But it’s up front where things get interesting. Would the Ducks really trade Zegras? His broken ankle could prevent that, but it’s been a miserable season altogether for the 22-year-old. Injuries, a lack of production and the delayed start to the season due to a lack of a contract makes you wonder if a fresh start would be best. The Ducks are much more likely to move Henrique – the best center still on the market – and should get a nice return for him after watching Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan moved last week. As for Vatrano – a 29-year-old on a cap-friendly deal with another year on it? Yeah, teams will come calling.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

Who’s available: Jack Roslovic (C, 26), Andrew Peeke (D, 25), Adam Boqvist (D, 23), Elvis Merzlikins (G, 29), Alexandre Texier, (LW, 24)

Salary Cap Space: $10,514,608

Despite signing Johnny Gaudreau in 2022 and promoting some young talent into key roles, the Blue Jackets have seemingly managed to go backwards over the past two years. And it’s unlikely anything changes without major changes on the management side, either.

GM Jarmo Kekäläinen has an important off-season ahead – one that could dictate the future of his NHL career. Does give up on Roslovic? Has Merzlikins’ value dropped beyond repair after all the injuries and his public trade request? How much of a market will there be for someone like Peeke?

The Blue Jackets have a great pipeline, but they’re still years away from being a legitimate NHL threat. It’s time to maximize future assets and just fully give up on the rest of the season – while also giving the kids a fair shake.

4. San Jose Sharks

Who’s available: Anthony Duclair (LW, 28), Kaapo Kahkonen (G, 27), Mike Hoffman (LW, 34), Alexander Barabanov (LW, 29)

Salary Cap Space: $5,860,499

The Sharks are probably going to be sellers for at least a few more seasons – and teams seeking depth this year could come calling. It starts with Duclair, who is struggling offensively but still is speedy and plays with an edge. The Sharks might need to retain a bit of his $3 million AAV, but he has proven what he can do offensively very often in his career – including as a middle-six option during Florida’s improbable playoff run after missing 62 games due to injury.

It’s not easy being a goaltender for this franchise, especially this season. Kahkonen has had some shining moments, but he’s the type of goaltender a team could look to add as potential third option to shore up the crease heading toward the postseason. He’s had stretches as a No. 1, and the Sharks have been showcasing him all season long with the potential of snagigng a decent return.

As for Hoffman? That $4.5 million cap hit hurts. The Sharks will definitely need to either retain salary or take another contract if they’re going to ship the bottom-six scorer out. Barabanov could be a decent secondary option for a team looking for a short-term addition, too.

5. Calgary Flames

Who’s available: Chris Tanev (D, 34), Noah Hanifin (D, 27), Jacob Markstrom (G, 34)

Salary Cap Space: $194,262

Think quality over quantity here. The Flames shipped out Lindholm last week, helping to set the market over the next month leading up to the deadline. But with the team on the outside looking in and with a couple notable pending UFAs in the fray, the Flames could look to blow things up and retool.

That stands with Tanev, one of the top names on the market. He’s always been willing to sacrifice himself to block a shot, which is exactly what teams need from a rental during the playoffs. He’s costly at $4.5 million, but might be exactly what helps a team get over the edge.

If generating scoring chances from the point is more your thing, Hanifin at $4.95 million is a perfect target. The Flames would probably like to keep him around, but at 26 and playing at just under a 50-point pace, Hanifin could be a decent sign-and-trade or trade-and-sign option for a team looking for something a bit more long-term – current contender or not.

As for Markstrom, moving him seems less likely, but not an uncertain possibility. With Dustin Wolf ready for the next level, Markstrom – one of the better goalies over the past half-decade – could draw interest. A team like New Jersey, for example, could benefit by having Markstrom as the team’s No. 1. Markstrom certainly has more value than Daniel Vladar, but the Flames don’t need to move No. 25 any time soon.

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