Many NHL players are in good stances with their current organizations. You have guys like Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Connor Bedard all looking to make big impacts for their current franchise this season and beyond.
Being that the 2023-24 NHL Trade Deadline has passed, it’s too late to trade certain players who should have been traded at said deadline.
With that said, let’s go over the top 10 NHL players who need to be traded in the 2024 off-season.
Sidney Crosby
The first entry Sid the Kid on this list may come as a surprise to many of you, however, with the Pen’s recent woes, it’s not that far-fetched.
Crosby has played his entire career with the Penguins up until this point spanning over 18 seasons with the club, captaining the team since 2007.
With the Penguins’ recent struggles to remain among the top teams in the NHL whilst having a top roster, it may be time for a rebuild. Crosby will be entering his age 37 season next year and the Penguins are not the most promising teams in the league.
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A trade would not only shock the hockey world, but it would change the NHL landscape forever and to be honest, seeing Crosby’s number 87 in a Vegas or even Chicago jersey may be interesting for NHL fans.
Jacob Markstrom
Markstom signed a 6-year deal in Calgary in 2020 where he was expected to be the Flames’ full-time starter in goal for the next few years to come.
Markstoms time with the Flames has been very up and down as he has struggled through injuries and poor play. His 2023-24 season has seen him bounce back in a remarkable way becoming one of the top goaltenders in the league once again.
The Flames’ downward trajectory has seen star players like Matthew Tkachuk, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev traded as well as Johnny Gaudreau leaving in free agency.
As much as Flames fans might not like to hear it, Markstrom needs to be traded this off-season and Calgary needs to capitalize on a possibly great return for the star net-minder.
Frank Vatrano
The Ducks forward has had a breakout season so far in 2023-24 as he was named to the first NHL All-Star game of his career.
As of the writing of this article, Vatrano has topped his point total from last season of 41 with 51 points through 10 fewer games and is on pace for nearly 60 points.
While he is not set to become a free agent until 2025, he could be looking for a new place to play as Anaheim has struggled to remain competitive through his first few seasons with the team.
Maybe a place like Toronto or Detroit would be a nice destination for the now 30-year-old forward as he could be the final piece that either team would need.
Pavel Buchnevich
Buchnevich was one of the top players who has shopped around at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, however no team bit on the 28-year-old Russian.
Through 507 career games, at the time of writing this article, Buchnevich has accumulated a total of 394 career points with 56 of those coming this season.
Buchnevic was traded to the Blues in the 2021 off-season and has yet to win a cup in the league and the Blues are in the position to help him do so soon.
He, like Vatrano, may be able to aid in a Detroit Cup run or, even if things work out, an Edmonton Cup run would be an enticing offer.
Jacob Chychrun
The Ottawa Senators traded for Chychrun after he put up 28 points in 36 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season.
After signing Vladimir Tarasenko in 2023 free agency, the Sens were slated to be a top team in the eastern division however they have yet to make the playoffs with their last time being in 2017.
After a disappointing start to his Senators tenure, Chychrun has been involved in trade rumors and now that the deadline has passed, the Sens have to make a big trade with the Chychrun trade chip.
Tanner Pearson
Pearson has been to the Stanley Cup Finals and has won the cup, but the last time he did that was in the 2013-14 season.
At 31 years old, Pearson’s main goal is surely another Stanley Cup ring, but he plays with the Montreal Canadiens who don’t necessarily give him the best option to do so.
Pearson should seek out a trade in the 2024 off-season to a contender, say Vegas where he would be a perfect fit.
John Gibson
The second goaltender to make our list, Gibson is ultimately the more tradeworthy out of the two netminders.
Gibson has been looking for a trade for what seems like forever at this as the Ducks have not made the playoffs since the 2017-18 season and Gibson has been carrying the team on his back ever since.
Gibson’s play has slightly declined over the last 2 seasons, however this is to be expected. His talent would be more suitable for a team like New Jersey or even the Red Wings.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003 with the first overall pick. He played with the team for the first 13 seasons of his NHL career before being selected in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft.
After winning two Stanley Cups, Fleury would go on to play for the Knights, Blackhawks, and now the Wild as he continues his quest for another Stanley Cup ring.
In 2024, Fleury’s best bet would be a trade to a contending team like the Colorado Avalanche or Carolina Hurricanes.
Rasmus Andersson
Andersson is the second Flames player to make the list as the defenseman was also in trade talks around the league.
As previously mentioned, the Flames are currently in a rebuild and need to look to trade many of their core assets and get younger.
Andersson’s contract, which he previously signed on January 8th, 2024 has a 6-team no-trade clause, and therefore Andersson has the right to refuse teams the Flames may want to send him to which may make it difficult for the team to trade the defender.
The Flames blueliner should look to head to a team that can better use his services on a playoff run next season, say join Gaudreau in Columbus or even head over to Boston to strengthen their competitive case.
Juuse Saros
Saros is considered to be one of the best goaltenders in the league after learning behind the Predators’ great Pekka Rinne.
After retiring in 2021, Rinne would hand the keys to the franchise to the then 26-year-old netminder who has since garnered a record of 71 wins and 69 losses with the franchise, at the time of writing this. However, the team has yet to make the playoffs in his tenure as the team’s starter.
Saros is now 28 years old and should be looking to compete. As the Predators are sitting on the edge of a rebuild, it’s time they trade him to a contending team in need of a goaltender, say the Carolina Hurricanes or the Los Angeles Kings.
