The 2025 NHL Draft is on the horizon, bringing not only renewed hope for the future with new prospects but also significant opportunities for general managers to engage in trades. With the salary cap experiencing a notable rise, teams are expected to be more aggressive in the trade market this summer.
The combination of an increased salary cap and a relatively weak free-agent class suggests the potential for several high-profile deals in the coming weeks. Prominent players such as Jason Robertson and Marco Rossi have already been subjects of trade speculation for some time.
As the NHL Draft approaches rapidly, rumors and speculation will only intensify. Whether a team aims to gain more salary cap flexibility, initiate a rebuild, or strengthen itself into a contender, the draft weekend is a prime opportunity for significant trades.
This is an exciting period for hockey enthusiasts due to the wide array of possibilities as general managers prepare to adjust their rosters before the start of free agency on July 1. With this context, we highlight several notable players who might be changing teams sooner rather than later.
Here are eight prominent trade candidates as the 2025 NHL Draft approaches.
Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars
Despite being one of the league`s top young scorers, it`s unusual that Robertson`s name has surfaced in trade discussions since the Stars were eliminated in the Western Conference Final. Dallas is facing salary cap constraints with only 18 players currently on their roster, and Robertson is entering the final year of his current contract. Since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Robertson has tallied 151 goals, ranking 14th league-wide in that span. At 25 years old and nearing his prime, he will remain under team control as a restricted free agent in 2026. While Robertson is due a substantial increase from his $7.75 million salary in 2024-25, teams should be eager to make their best offers. It`s likely the Stars will explore all options to manage their cap situation without moving Robertson, but if they cannot, he could be traded during the draft weekend.
Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild
Rossi, a 23-year-old restricted free agent, is coming off a successful 60-point season. As a result, the young center is likely seeking a significant salary increase, which the Wild may be hesitant to match. Given the limited availability of high-quality centers in free agency, a young player like Rossi could fetch a substantial return for Minnesota. Drafted ninth overall in 2020, Rossi has already established himself as a reliable top-six center, accumulating 45 goals and 55 assists over the past two seasons. His size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds) might cause some teams to question his potential as a true first-line center, but a new contract in the $7 million annual range would appear quite reasonable considering his age and the rising salary cap.
Rasmus Andersson, D, Calgary Flames
Entering the final year of his current deal, Andersson is highly likely to be traded if he and the Flames fail to make progress on a contract extension in the coming weeks. Even as a rental for one season, Andersson could offer significant value to Stanley Cup contenders looking to improve their top-four defensive group. Throughout most of his tenure in Calgary, Andersson has been a solid shutdown defenseman capable of contributing offensively regularly. However, Andersson`s performance has declined somewhat in the two years since Darryl Sutter was dismissed as coach. Under coach Ryan Huska, Andersson`s five-on-five statistics have notably dipped. While it`s probably linked to the team`s overall performance worsening, it should give interested teams pause. Nevertheless, Andersson has demonstrated the ability to be a highly effective two-way defenseman when placed in the right environment.
K`Andre Miller, D, New York Rangers
K`Andre Miller`s name has been mentioned in trade discussions involving the Rangers for a couple of years, but this summer seems like the most logical time for the team to potentially move him. Miller is a restricted free agent, and following a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Rangers have already begun making roster changes. Miller might be the next player to depart. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Miller possesses the size and mobility highly desired by NHL teams today. The challenge has been that his on-ice results haven`t fully met expectations. Looking at expected goals metrics at five-on-five, Miller has been below par in all five of his seasons with the Rangers. However, Miller is still only 25 and could potentially thrive in a different system or environment. It will be intriguing to see what kind of assets the Rangers acquire if they trade him and what his next contract will look high.
Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators
It`s widely known that Marchessault`s first season in Nashville didn`t work out ideally for either the player or the team. He recorded 21 goals and 35 assists in 78 games, his least productive season since at least 2016-17. The 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner might be seeking a fresh start elsewhere, and the Predators would likely be open to facilitating that. Marchessault, aged 34, has four years remaining on his current contract at $5.5 million per season. This isn`t ideal for a player of his age, but it`s not a crippling cap hit with the NHL salary cap rising rapidly. Moreover, Marchessault isn`t far removed from scoring 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24. Marchessault holds a no-movement clause in his contract, giving him control over his destination if a trade is agreed upon.
John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks
While Gibson`s performance had been declining over the past few years, he had a bounce-back campaign in 2024-25. The experienced goaltender shared duties with younger player Lukas Dostal and performed well with a lighter workload. Now could be the optimal time for the Ducks to trade him while his value is higher, as Gibson has two years left on his contract at $6.4 million per season. In his 29 appearances last season, Gibson posted a .912 save percentage and 9.29 goals saved above average, according to Natural Stat Trick. Gibson seemed to regain his earlier form, showing the ability to `steal` games, as he frequently did between 2015 and 2019. Gibson would be an appealing target for any team looking for a relatively cost-effective upgrade in goal this offseason (teams like Edmonton, take note).
Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Don`t be misled by the Maple Leafs having $25 million in salary cap space. Key players 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 significant portion of that space, which is why Toronto might consider trading Morgan Rielly to create additional flexibility. Now 31 years old, Rielly might not be as effective as he once was, which was reflected in his production and five-on-five impacts last season. Despite this, Rielly is still capable of performing effectively in a top-four defensive role. Would another team be willing to take on the remaining five years of Rielly`s contract at $7.5 million per season? Would Rielly agree to waive his no-movement clause for a suitable destination? The answers to these questions may become clear soon.
Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
Erik Karlsson`s time with the Penguins hasn`t exactly gone as planned, and he could potentially start the 2025-26 season with a different team. If a contending team seeks a defenseman who can generate offense from the blue line, Karlsson will be a target, although Pittsburgh will likely need to retain some of his significant $11.5 million salary to make a deal feasible. Defense has never been Karlsson`s strongest suit, and that remains a concern, but teams interested in him wouldn`t be expecting him to play a shutdown role. With a combined 109 points over the last two seasons, Karlsson can still drive offense from the back end and quarterback a power play. Pittsburgh generated 3.0 expected goals per 60 minutes with Karlsson on the ice at five-on-five last year, per Natural Stat Trick. This stat suggests Karlsson can still impact the game offensively, even if his performance might not fully justify his massive cap hit anymore.
