The 2024 NHL Off-season has seen various notable players find new homes through the trade market. Mikhail Sergachev, Linus Ullmark, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Darcy Kuemper, and Jakob Chychrun are some big-name players who were traded this summer. Now that we are in August, trades around the NHL have cooled off. While this is the case, it is still possible that clubs could look to make some last-minute changes before the start of the season. Due to this, let’s discuss three star players who could be traded before the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
PATRIK LAINE, LW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Patrik Laine is somebody to watch incredibly closely over these next few weeks. Earlier this off-season, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Laine and the Columbus Blue Jackets are mutually interested in parting ways. Now that Laine has been cleared to exit the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, trade talks centering around the 26-year-old have the potential to pick up.
Laine was limited to just 18 games this past season with the Blue Jackets, posting six goals and nine points. While it was essentially a lost season for the Tampere, Finland native, he still has the potential to generate interest. Over his two previous seasons with the Blue Jackets, he posted 48 goals and 108 points in 111 games. Thus, when playing at his best, he is a star sniper.
The major obstacle in a potential Laine trade is his $8.7-million cap hit until the completion of the 2025-26 season. That is an expensive price, but given Laine’s past success, he could still find a new home before the season begins. This is especially so if Columbus is open to retaining a small portion of his cap hit.
TREVOR ZEGRAS, C, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Trevor Zegras has been the subject of trade rumors since this past season. At this juncture, the 2019 ninth-overall pick remains with the Anaheim Ducks, but that could change if the right offer comes around.
The Ducks have an array of young, promising forwards on their roster and in their system, including Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke. Thus, they are in a position to take advantage of Zegras’ high trade value and improve their roster elsewhere if they wish to.
Zegras, 23, played in just 31 games this past season with the Ducks, recording six goals and 15 points. Overall, it was a frustrating year for Zegras, but he could still generate plenty of interest over the next few weeks. Keep in mind, in his two previous seasons with the Ducks, he had 23 goals and at least 61 points in each of them. In addition, given his young age, he would also have the potential to be a long-term part of a club’s roster if acquired.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers has been a top trade candidate all off-season. It is understandable, as the 2014 ninth-overall pick is entering the final season of his contract and will hit the free-agent market next July if he isn’t extended. Losing him for nothing through free agency would be brutal for the Jets, so the prospect of him being dealt before the season should not be ruled out.
Ehlers would be an ideal addition for clubs still needing another top-six forward before the start of the season. His stats from last season effectively display this, as he posted 25 goals, 61 points, and a career-best plus-27 rating in 82 games.
Given the Jets’ off-season departures and desire to stay competitive, they could elect to hold onto Ehlers. However, if they get an offer they can’t refuse for the Aalborg, Denmark native, a trade this summer is still possible.
