Islanders’ Brock Nelson leads first Trade Targets board of 2025

The march to March 7 is on. We’re now exactly two months away from the NHL’s Trade Deadline on March 7 at 3 o’clock ET.

Trade season might be coming even sooner than some might realize with a 10-day break upcoming in February for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Heck, it’s already been a busy season on that front with four players traded off our board already this year – David Jiricek, Jacob Trouba, Cam Fowler and Alexandre Carrier.

Don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of names on the list with 25 fresh targets.

2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: Two Months

Here is the first Trade Targets board of 2025:

Trade Targets 🎯

1. Brock Nelson
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 33
Stats: 40 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 P
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: It feels like time, doesn’t it? Nelson is a lifelong Islander, part of the fold since he was picked in the first round the year following John Tavares. But he’s a pending UFA and the Islanders don’t appear to be going anywhere fast. There is solid interest, most notably from his home state of Minnesota, whose GM Bill Guerin selected Nelson for Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off entry. Nelson is the most impactful center available, even if he’s on track for his fewest goals and points in a non-shortened season since 2017-18.

2. Yanni Gourde
Center, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 35 GP, 6 G, 10 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5,166,667 AAV
Scoop: Having two centers atop the Trade Targets board highlights the true scarcity of the position. Similar to Nelson, Gourde is hitting free agency as a 33-year-old with numbers on a steep decline this season. He has struggled to produce and his ice time in Seattle has taken a hit as a result, down almost two full minutes per game. What’s most surprising is he’s struggled to get puck on net with just 38 shots in 35 games played. He’s banged up now (day-to-day) but teams see the two-time Stanley Cup winner as an ideal 3C candidate.

3. Taylor Hall
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Stats: 39 GP, 8 G, 13 A, 21 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: This year has been a grind for Hall as much as it’s been the Blackhawks. His production numbers aren’t bad, but there was a glaring healthy scratch from previous coach Luke Richardson that grabbed everyone’s attention. The vast majority of Hall’s production has been at even-strength (18 of 21 points) and he’s capable of playing all over the lineup. Hall said he wanted to stay in Chicago, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point. The Hawks retaining half on Hall will make him an intriguing target.

4. Ryan Lindgren
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 26
Stats: 34 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: Feels like the writing was on the wall for Lindgren when he hit RFA status last summer after a few solid seasons and the Rangers decided to not commit long-term. The one-year deal walks him to free agency. Lindgren has been one of the frequent victims for New York’s issues in their own end this year, which opens the door for him to move on. To me, Lindgren certainly seems like the kind of heart-and-soul competitor that helps teams win in May and June.

5. Dylan Cozens
Center, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 41 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 P
Contract: 5 years remaining, $7.1 million AAV
Scoop: No player player in Buffalo has received more trade attention this season than Cozens – and given the state of the Sabres, the organization hasn’t been in a position to do anything but consider everything. The Workhorse from Whitehorse has experienced a steady drop in production year-over-year from that 31-goal, 68-point season that earned him this $49.7 million contract and seemed to put him on the precipice of stardom. Now what?

6. Joel Farabee
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 24
Stats: 40 GP, 6 G, 8 A, 14 Pts
Contract: 3 years remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Few players on the Trade Targets board need a change of scenery more than Farabee. On pace for just 12 goals and 28 points, this is the worst season of Farabee’s six-year NHL career and John Tortorella doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Yet just last year, Farabee put up 22 goals and 50 points – leaving many to wonder whether he’s still just scratching the surface.

7. Bowen Byram
Left Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 41 GP, 5 G, 17 A, 22 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.85 million AAV
Scoop: It’s been a bit of an odd tenure for Byram in Buffalo. He arrived at last year’s deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt and seemed genuinely excited to be part of the solution. Byram has played well. And yet, he has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1 and is still on track to be a restricted free agent. There’s been no shortage of teams calling as a result.

8. Ivan Provorov
Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 27
Stats: 40 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.75 million AAV
Scoop: It’s far from a slam dunk that Provorov is on the move. For one, the Blue Jackets have surprised everyone and are squarely in the mix for a playoff spot. Two, he’s expressed an interest in staying, as his younger brother has committed to Ohio State. That said, Provorov may be in demand as a defenseman who has mobility and commitment to defend, so if Columbus falls out of the race they could trade him and re-sign him in the summer.

9. Brandon Tanev
Left Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 40 GP, 7 G, 7 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Speed kills and even at 33, Tanev still has it. He’s a fierce forechecker with speed and competitive juice that teams crave. That makes him an ideal trade deadline target once the Kraken begin to make decisions, but nothing is imminent quite yet.

10. Rasmus Ristolainen
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 40 GP, 1 G, 10 A, 11 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.1 million AAV
Scoop: The defense market has thinned already this season with the Cam Fowler trade and a few extensions. Ristolainen’s name has circulated through the rumor mill and the Flyers are hoping he will generate enough buzz between now and March to net a solid return. Teams are still drawn to his size, though his ability to defend is still a question mark and his point production has slid. Staying healthy and on the ice will help everyone’s cause.

11. Jack Quinn
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 34 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $863,334 AAV
Scoop: At the start of this season, we picked Quinn as one of our breakout stars. We were wrong. It’s been a really tough year for Quinn, who sat for a stretch of time as a healthy scratch. It still feels like there is something there. He’s still on his entry-level contract, still two seasons removed from a 14-goal, 37-point year. It doesn’t make much sense for the Sabres to sell low on Quinn, but that’s why teams have been calling.

12. Ryan Donato
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 28
Stats: 38 GP, 11 G, 11 A, 22 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2 million AAV
Scoop: Of all the Blackhawks veterans, it’s Donato and Jason Dickinson that have lived up to their billing this season. Donato has been a model of consistency in Chicago. He’s been impactful and competitive and someone both coaching staffs in Chicago have relied upon in the midst of a career year. Donato is also relatively inexpensive and could be a quality under-the-radar addition.

13. Kyle Palmieri
Right Wing, New York Islanders
Age: 33
Stats: 40 GP, 12 G, 14 A, 26 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Yes, the Islanders operate under the category of “Only God and Lou Know” – so you never truly have line of sight on the GM’s decision-making process. But Palmieri is in a very similar position to teammate Brock Nelson, and equally productive, but plays a position teeming with other candidates. Both players have limited no-trade clauses that could help/hinder discussions.

14. Trent Frederic
Center, Boston Bruins
Age: 26
Stats: 42 GP, 6 G, 6 A, 12 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.3 million AAV
Scoop: Frederic is a guy who has drawn lots of interest from around the league. He’s a pain in the ass to play against. He competes. And he scores – 18 goals last season, 17 the year prior. Frederic is the perfect bottom-six forward and the Bruins have proven they can mine those guys better than any other team.

15. Jake Evans
Center, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Stats: 40 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.7 million AAV
Scoop: Year after year, it feels like Evans has to prove himself, and he’s saved his best season for a contract year. We’re not sold the Canadiens are going to pay a premium to keep him, but his production has been noteworthy. He’s played his most confident hockey over the last few weeks as the Canadiens have come to life again. If they’re in the playoff chase, they’re likely keeping him.

16. Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 32
Stats: 38 GP, 9 G, 11 A, 20 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Over the past six months, Pageau has gone from salary cap casualty candidate to legitimately in-demand as the center market is so thin. Unlike a rental, he has one year left at a manageable $5 million. And with the salary cap increasing (potentially by a sizable amount), if you could trade the same assets and also get to use him for one extra year, wouldn’t he be a smart add?

17. Will Borgen
Right Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 28
Stats: 33 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.7 million AAV
Scoop: Borgen is one of four Rangers defensemen on the board, so you could say that their defense corps as a whole is in-flux. He was acquired just a few weeks ago in exchange for Kaapo Kakko. He’s played well, but not much about Borgen’s game is going to ‘wow’ you – he does a lot of things well, nothing exceptionally well. The Rangers aren’t married to him, though, and much will depend on their position in the standings.

18. Mathieu Olivier
Right Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 27
Stats: 40 GP, 10 G, 6 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.1 million AAV
Scoop: As soon as we added him to the Targets board in December, the Blue Jackets pointed out that they’re interested in extending him. In a lot of ways, he’s the player teams drool over – a physical presence, one of the last true tough guys, also leading the league with 79 PIM – but there is a limit to what teams are willing to pay. Is he worth more to Columbus to keep? His shooting percentage is double his career average this year with 10 goals.

19. Morgan Frost
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 25
Stats: 36 GP, 7 G, 11 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $2.1 million AAV
Scoop: Frost has a few things going for him on the trade market. He’s a center. And he has shown that he still has the potential to be a higher-end point producer. Two seasons ago, Frost netted 19 goals and 46 points as a 23-year-old. Last year, he was a frequent target of healthy scratches, and he still collected 41 points. John Tortorella said recently he “can’t coach him that way anymore,” as it wouldn’t be fair to Frost. So what is fair?

20. Zac Jones
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 24
Stats: 26 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $812,500 AAV
Scoop: Jones has sat for six straight games as a healthy scratch and the Rangers have given him permission to speak with other teams to seek a trade. His frustration was apparent in his comments last week, a well-liked competitor who is looking for opportunity. Jones can move well and has offensive instincts, but his undersized frame has created some limitation in the market.

21. Dan Vladar
Goaltender, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Stats: 19 GP, 3.08 GAA, .888 SV%
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.2 million AAV
Scoop: There isn’t a big goalie market this season mostly because so few teams (outside of Carolina) seem to be interested in a netminder. Colorado already did their shopping, and Carolina has checked in to understand the price. But the Flames are looking to get back at the very least what they spent to get Vladar from Boston, which was a third-round pick. Vladar has taken on the tougher workload this season in Calgary, but Devin Cooley is waiting patiently with the Wranglers as the owner of truly eye-popping AHL numbers.

22. Josh Anderson
Wing, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 30
Stats: 40 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: Eighteen months ago, the Canadiens’ phones were ringing off the hook with teams willing to give up a haul for Anderson. In retrospect, it seems like the Habs probably should’ve taken them up on it. But there is still interest in Anderson, his massive frame is appealing to so many front offices. He could be an absolute menace in a playoff series. But the Canadiens have to get there first.

23. Andrei Kuzmenko
Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Age: 28
Stats: 30 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: What happened to Kuzmenko? His game has fallen off a cliff, from bursting on the scene with a 39-goal, 74-point campaign as a rookie with the Canucks in 2022-23. He has 56 points total in the two seasons since and has been a regular healthy scratch in Calgary this year. It will be difficult for the Flames to mine value but he could be a solid buy-low candidate, even for a non-playoff team looking to learn more about him.

24. K’Andre Miller
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age:24
Stats: 33 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.872 million AAV
Scoop: With the entire defense corps in-flux outside of Adam Fox and Braden Schneider, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Miller is moved before March 7. With such a rare combination of size and athleticism, lots of teams would love to get their hands on the insanely gifted Miller. The flashes of brilliance are there but he just hasn’t been able to put it all together on a consistent enough basis. So much of what GM Chris Drury is willing to consider will hinge on how the Rangers perform over the next few weeks.

25. Elias Pettersson
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 34 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 Pts
Contract: 7 years remaining, $11.6 million AAV
Scoop: The Canucks have been taking calls on Pettersson, that is no surprise, as they gauge the marketplace for him. When GM Patrik Allvin said it’s a possibility that Pettersson is moved before his full ‘no-trade’ and ‘no-move’ clauses kick in this July, that took things to another level. It’s still an incredibly difficult transaction to pull off in-season. But if someone must be on the move, it seems like it would be Pettersson, who still has value with his age and position, and the fact that Vancouver can move him unencumbered unlike J.T. Miller.

Traded: No. 1 David Jiricek; No. 6 Jacob Trouba; No. 15 Cam Fowler; No. 18 Alexandre Carrier.
Re-Signed: No. 5 Frank Vatrano.

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