The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is rapidly approaching, and as it instills each franchise with fresh optimism regarding what lies ahead, it also presents the opportunity for general managers to orchestrate deals. As the salary cap continues to climb, teams might demonstrate a greater willingness to be proactive in the trade market this summer.
Given the escalating cap and a rather uninspiring free agency group, there’s a strong chance that some significant trades could materialize over the coming weeks. Several prominent players, such as Jason Robertson and Marco Rossi, have been consistently mentioned in trade discussions for quite some time now.
With the NHL Entry Draft drawing nearer, the volume of rumors and speculation will only intensify. Regardless of whether a team is looking to enhance their salary cap situation, kick-start a rebuilding effort, or establish themselves as a contender, there are potential trades to be executed this weekend.
This is an exhilarating period to be a hockey enthusiast because the possibilities are seemingly endless as general managers start fine-tuning their rosters in anticipation of free agency on July 1. Considering this backdrop, we have focused on noteworthy players who might find themselves on the move in the near future.
Here are our eight prime trade candidates in the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft.
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Oddly enough, Robertson’s name has surfaced in trade chatter ever since the Stars’ season concluded in the Western Conference Final. Robertson is recognized as one of the premier young goal-scorers in the sport, but Dallas is encountering salary cap constraints with just 18 players currently on their active roster, and Robertson is entering the final year of his existing contract.
From the beginning of the 2021-22 season onward, Robertson has accumulated 151 goals, placing him at No. 14 during that period. The 25-year-old is approaching his peak performance years, and he will remain under team control as a restricted free agent come 2026. Robertson is positioned to receive a significant pay raise beyond the $7.75 million he is slated to earn in 2024-25, yet teams should be prepared to present their most enticing offers to secure him. I anticipate the Stars will explore every possible means to make the financial situation work without trading Robertson, but if they are unable to do so, he might be on the move during the draft this weekend.
Rossi, at 23 years old, is a restricted free agent who is coming off of a 60-point season. As a result, the promising center is likely looking for a considerable increase in pay, but the Wild may not be inclined to fulfill Rossi’s demands. Taking into account the scarcity of high-caliber centers in the free agency market, a young talent like Rossi could fetch a substantial return for Minnesota.
As the No. 9 overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Rossi is already demonstrating the qualities of a reliable top-six center, having amassed 45 goals and 55 assists over the course of the past two seasons. Rossi’s physical dimensions (5-foot-9 and 182 pounds) may give certain teams some apprehension when it comes to entrusting him to become a legitimate first-line center, but a new contract in the range of $7 million annually would be quite justifiable given Rossi’s age and the increasing salary cap.
Heading into the last year of his current agreement, Andersson will almost certainly be dealt if he and the Flames don’t make significant strides toward a contract extension in the weeks ahead. Even as a short-term acquisition, Andersson could offer significant value to Stanley Cup-aspiring teams seeking to bolster their top four defensemen.
For the majority of his tenure in Calgary, Andersson has been a dependable shutdown defenseman who is also capable of contributing offensively on a consistent basis. That being said, Andersson’s value has decreased in the two years since Darryl Sutter’s departure. With Ryan Huska at the coaching helm, Andersson’s five-on-five statistics have taken a noticeable hit. It is probably not a coincidence that the team’s overall performance has declined around him, but it should raise concerns for teams. Nonetheless, Andersson has proven his ability to be a highly effective two-way defenseman within the proper environment.
It appears that Miller has been a potential trade target for New York for the past couple of years; however, this summer seems to be the most opportune time for the Rangers to part ways with him. Miller is classified as a restricted free agent, and the team has already initiated changes in the aftermath of a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Miller could be the next one to depart.
Miller, standing at 6-5 and weighing 210 pounds, possesses the physical attributes of a sizable and mobile defender that NHL teams are actively seeking nowadays. The challenge lies in the fact that his on-ice performance has not quite matched expectations. Regarding expected goals at five-on-five, Miller has been in negative territory throughout each of his five seasons with the Rangers. Miller is still just 25 years old, and he has the potential to thrive in the right circumstances. It will be intriguing to observe what kind of return the Rangers secure and what Miller’s subsequent contract will entail.
It’s fairly evident that Marchessault’s inaugural season in Nashville wasn’t an optimal match for either party involved. Marchessault recorded 21 goals and 35 assists in 78 games, resulting in his least productive season since at least 2016-17. The recipient of the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy might be in search of a fresh start elsewhere, and the Predators would probably be willing to accommodate his wishes.
Marchessault, aged 34, has four years remaining on his current contract with an annual value of $5.5 million. This is not ideal for a player of his age; however, it is not an excessive financial burden given the NHL’s rapidly escalating salary cap each year. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Marchessault recently achieved a remarkable feat of scoring 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2023-24 season. Marchessault’s contract includes a no-movement clause, granting him authority over his destination if a trade were to transpire.
Gibson’s performance had been on a downward trend in previous years, but he experienced a resurgence during the 2024-25 campaign. The experienced netminder shared playing time with up-and-comer Lukas Dostal, and he flourished while experiencing a lighter workload. Now would be an opportune moment for the Ducks to capitalize on his increased value, as Gibson has two years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $6.4 million.
Throughout his 29 appearances this past season, Gibson registered a .912 save percentage and 9.29 goals saved above average, according to Natural Stat Trick. Gibson rejuvenated his game and displayed the ability to steal games, similar to what he consistently accomplished from 2015-19. Gibson would be a desirable acquisition for any team seeking to make a comparatively economical upgrade in net this offseason (particularly Edmonton).
Don’t let the Maple Leafs’ $25 million in available salary cap space deceive you. Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies all require new contracts this summer. Even if Marner departs, re-signing the other two will consume a considerable portion of that available space, thus explaining why Toronto might contemplate parting ways with Morgan Rielly in an effort to gain some flexibility.
Now at 31 years of age, Rielly may not be quite as effective as he once was, and this was reflected in his offensive output and five-on-five contributions last season. Despite these considerations, Rielly remains capable of thriving in a top-four role. Would another team be amenable to assuming the remaining five years of Rielly’s contract, which carries an annual cap hit of $7.5 million? Would Rielly be willing to waive his no-movement clause in order to facilitate a trade to the right destination? Answers to these questions may become apparent in the foreseeable future.
Karlsson’s tenure with the Penguins hasn’t particularly flourished, and he might be wearing a different uniform at the outset of the 2025-26 season. Should a contending team be in search of a player who can generate offensive opportunities from the blue line, Karlsson will be a sought-after target, though the Penguins will likely have to shoulder a portion of his $11.5 million salary to facilitate a trade.
Never recognized as a defensive stalwart, that facet of Karlsson’s game continues to be a cause for concern, but teams with interest in him wouldn’t exactly assign Karlsson to a shutdown role. Having compiled a total of 109 points over the past two seasons, Karlsson is still capable of dictating the pace from the defensive end, and he can effectively direct the power play. Pittsburgh did generate 3.0 expected goals per 60 minutes with Karlsson on the ice at five-on-five last year, as per Natural Stat Trick. This serves as a reliable indication that Karlsson can still influence the game offensively, even if he no longer justifies his substantial cap hit.
