NHL Trade Rumors

Trade and Free Agency Rumors from Around the Hockey World

  • 2021 Free Agency Predictions

    Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, and NHL Trade Rumors has made predictions for 50 top unrestricted free agents who should hit the open market.

    Alex Ovechkin
    Washington Capitals
    This one seems like a formality, but it’s not yet done. Expect him to sign a three or four-year deal to stay with the Caps.

    Dougie Hamilton
    New Jersey Devils
    The Devils are reportedly looking to make a big splash in free agency and have reportedly had interest in Hamilton. It would be a big commitment for the 4th-place Norris finisher this year.

    Gabriel Landeskog
    New York Islanders
    In many drafts of this blog post, Landeskog was going back to Colorado, but it’s starting to look like the negotiations have caused too much bad blood to overcome. If the Islanders make a big splash like this, Anthony Beauvillier may be a cap casualty.

    Zach Hyman
    Edmonton Oilers
    Hyman is one of the premier free agents on the market and it seems like he already has a seven-year deal with the Oilers in his back pocket. He’ll go from playing with Auston Matthews to playing with Connor McDavid.

    Blake Coleman
    Dallas Stars
    There have been rumors of the Texas native wanting to return home, and he would happen to fits the Stars’ needs well. Coleman leaves Tampa Bay with two Stanley Cup rings, proving to be a worthwhile investment.

    Phillip Danault
    Columbus Blue Jackets
    Finishing 6th in Selke voting, Danault is starting to get recognition for what he is: one of the premier defensive forwards in the league. He doesn’t see himself as strictly a matchup center though, and in Columbus he’ll have little competition at center for those offensive minutes.

    Phillip Grubauer
    Colorado Avalanche
    The teams don’t appear to be close at the moment, but there appears to be a path to a deal here for the Vezina finalist. There are lots of balls in the air in the goalie market, one wrench will be to see what happens with Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper.

    Ryan Getzlaf
    Anaheim     Ducks
    A 16-year veteran of the Ducks, it’s hard to imagine Getzlaf playing anywhere else. If he does look elsewhere, I’d keep an eye on Vegas, but bet on the Ducks.

    Freddy Andersen
    Chicago Blackhawks
    The veteran goaltender would provide support for Kevin Lankinen after an impressive rookie season.

    Tuukka Rask
    Boston Bruins
    Rask has made it clear that his desire is to stay with the Bruins. He’ll miss the first part of the season so look for the Bruins to add a depth piece to pair with rookie Jeremy Swayman.

    Tyson Barrie
    Edmonton Oilers
    With Adam Larsson moving on to Seattle, the Oilers have an opening on right defense to go with Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard. Last year’s point leader among defensemen, Barrie might have to eat some tougher minutes without Larsson.

    Kyle Palmieri
    New York Islanders
    With Jordan Eberle gone in the expansion draft, the Islanders could find some space for Palmieri, who was a strong performer in the playoffs after a trade deadline move from the Devils.

    David Krejci
    Boston Bruins
    Like Rask, it’s believed that the long-time Bruin would like to make it work to stay in Boston.

    David Savard
    Montreal Canadiens
    After losing Shea Weber for at least the 2021-22 season, the Canadiens have a need for a defenseman to eat some big minutes on the right side. Savard is reportedly more willing to sign in Canada than some of his fellow UFAs.

    Ryan Suter
    Florida Panthers
    I have changed my earlier prediction from the Bruins, as it now seems like the Stars and Panthers have emerged as the favorites for the veteran defenseman.

    Jaden Schwartz
    Seattle Kraken
    The Kraken had a window to negotiate with Jaden Schwartz prior to the expansion draft, and reportedly had constructive talks with Schwartz. They built a competent base on defense and in goal but are lacking up front.

    Casey Cizikas
    Montreal Canadiens
    Presumably losing matchup center Phillip Danault and fourth line center Eric Staal, the Canadiens could use a jolt down the middle in their bottom-six. Cizikas joins Jake Evans to form a formidable center duo for their bottom-six.

    Petr Mrazek
    Edmonton Oilers
    There’s still a chance he returns to Carolina, but if he doesn’t Mrazek could look at Edmonton to team with Mike Smith.

    Nick Foligno
    Minnesota     Wild
    Shortly after Foligno was traded from the Blue Jackets to the Leafs at the trade deadline, there were reports that the Blue Jacket captain might be back. That’s one of two leading considerations for Foligno, but the opportunity to play with his brother Marcus in Minnesota might be too hard to pass up.

    Linus Ullmark
    Buffalo Sabres
    They’ve tried for a while and haven’t been able to come to a contract, but seeing what else is out there might bring the sides together.

    Zach Parise
    New York Islanders
    Rumored to be going to the Islanders for over a year now, this could finally be the time that Parise moves to Long Island.

    Derek Forbort
    Colorado Avalanche
    With the Avalanche moving on from Ryan Graves and Patrik Nemeth, they are losing a lot of PK minutes on their back end and Forbort will help will that void.

    Tomas Tatar
    Colorado Avalanche
    If they move on from Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche will need to address their scoring. A trade might be the most likely route there, but Tatar would help.

    Brandon Saad
    Los Angeles Kings
    The Kings were looking to add two top-six forwards. They already picked up one in Viktor Arvidsson before the expansion draft. The playoff tested Saad figures to be the type they’re looking to add to their emerging young core.

    Mikael Granlund
    Nashville Predators
    The Predators keep going back to the well on Granlund and he’s performed well for them.

    Tony DeAngelo
    Carolina Hurricanes
    If Dougie Hamilton walks as a free agent, the Hurricanes will be looking for a powerplay quarterback and DeAngelo has had a lot of success there in the past.

    Alex Goligoski
    Buffalo Sabres
    Goligoski would fit the Sabres as a veteran left defenseman on a short-term deal while they transition to their next phase.

    Mike Hoffman
    Montreal Canadiens
    Montreal was interested in Hoffman last off-season, but he decided to sign with the Blues instead. He’ll help the powerplay of any team who signs him.

    Paul Stastny
    Winnipeg Jets
    Stastny had a fairly successful season in his return to Winnipeg. The Jets might have heavy competition in the current market for centers.

    Joel Armia
    Buffalo Sabres
    The Sabres will go into next season without Sam Reinhart and likely Jack Eichel, so they’ll need some bodies up front. Armia’s impressive playoff run increased his stock.

    Brandon Montour
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    The Leafs will be looking to replace right-defenseman Zach Bogosian, and Montour could be of interest if the price is right.

    Ryan Murray
    Winnipeg Jets
    The Jets tried to address their blueline prior to the trade deadline, but were unable to do so. The former #2 overall pick Murray has shown he’s a sound, albeit oft-injured, defensive defenseman.

    Mattias Janmark
    Tampa Bay Lightning
    Tampa Bay will have little cap space this off-season, but after losing a full line up front, they will need to add depth options. Look for the Lightning to lay low during the initial wave of free agency.

    Eric Haula
    New York Rangers
    The Rangers have lost penalty killers Pavel Buchnevich and Brett Howden while picking up only Barclay Goodrow, so Haula would help there.

    Jordan Martinook
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    The Leafs will be looking to add to the fringes of their roster, and Martinook is a physical depth forward for them.

    Alex Wennberg
    Arizona Coyotes
    The Coyotes pick up the versatile playmaking forward to insulate some of their forward prospects from more minutes than they can handle.

    Jonathan Bernier
    Carolina Hurricanes
    With Alex Nedeljkovic traded and Petr Mrazek and James Reimer both free agents, the Hurricanes have two spots open in goal. Bernier, whose UFA rights came to Carolina in the Nedeljkovic trade, figures to have an inside track.

    Corey Perry
    Montreal Canadiens
    There appears to be mutual interest between the Canadiens and Perry, who has been Stanley Cup runner up in back-to-back years.

    Mike Reilly
    Philadelphia Flyers
    The Flyers could be looking for a depth defenseman to play behind their big acquisitions and Reilly could fit the bill.

    Keith Yandle
    Montreal Canadiens
    The Canadiens were after Tony DeAngelo prior to picking up Erik Gustafsson for their powerplay-heavy role. Yandle, who played junior hockey in the QMJHL, would fit that role.

    Alex Edler
    Pittsburgh Penguins
    It seems as if the veteran defenseman is moving on from Vancouver and the Penguins could provide a home.

    Derek Stepan
    Vegas Golden Knights
    Stepan brings some depth at center and playoff experience to the Knights.

    Jake McCabe
    Ottawa Senators
    McCabe missed all of last season with an injury, but he’s a very good defenseman when he plays.

    Antti Raanta
    Carolina Hurricanes
    Elliotte Friedman reported that there’s some buzz that the Hurricanes really like the oft-injured Raanta.

    Marcus Johansson
    St. Louis Blues
    Presumably losing Jaden Schwartz, the Blues will need some depth up front.

    Jaroslav Halak
    Nashville Predators
    Halak would replace Rinne and split the crease with Juuse Saros.

    Tyler Bozak
    Vancouver Canucks
    Shedding a lot of salary upfront, the Canucks will need to pick up some cheaper depth for forward.

    Ian Cole
    Calgary Flames
    Cole won’t replace Giordano, but the veteran defenseman adds experience to a blueline lacking in that element.

    Luke Glendening
    San Jose Sharks
    Glendening would help the Sharks with their faceoff percentage, which was in the bottom third of the league in 2020-21.

    Eric Staal
    Detroit Red Wings
    Staal would join his brother Marc in Detroit.


  • Rangers Expected to Sign Patrik Nemeth

    Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the Rangers are expected to sign Patrik Nemeth when free agency opens.

    He suggests it will be a two or three-year deal for between $2.25 and 2.75 million per season.

    Nemeth split last season between the Red Wings and Avalanche. He was one of three defensemen that the Avalanche leaned on for penalty killing in the playoffs along with Ryan Graves and Devon Toews.

    Nemeth will be expected to form a third pair with fellow swede and rookie Nils Lundkvist.

  • Panthers Sign Sam Bennett

    The Panthers have re-signed Sam Bennett to a four-year deal.

    Bennett took off once traded to the Panthers at the trade deadline and centered the Jonathan Huberdeau line. He had 6 goals and 9 assists in 10 regular season games with the Panthers, and 1 goal and 4 assists in 5 playoff games.

    The four-year deal covers two RFA years and two UFA years.

  • Vegas Close to Signing Martinez

    The Vegas Golden Knights are close on re-signing Alec Martinez, reports Frank Seravalli.

    Martinez had grown into a very important defenseman for the Golden Knights. The 34-year old defenseman had 9 goals and 23 assists in 53 games last seasons and led the league with 168 blocked shots.

  • LeBrun on Hurricanes: Hamilton, Goalies

    Pierre LeBrun reports that the Hurricanes haven’t given up hope that they can sign Dougie Hamilton as a free agent. He notes that the Devils will have interest in the defenseman. He suggests that it’s unlikely that the Hurricanes will trade him to another team so another team can sign Hamilton for 8 years.

    If they can’t re-sign Hamilton, GM Don Waddell says they will target another powerplay quarterback. LeBrun suggests that Tyson Barrie would be of interest if the Oilers don’t re-sign him. They’ve been rumored to have interest in the recently bought-out Tony DeAngelo as well.

    Don Waddell also says he’s confident the team will re-sign one of their three UFA goalies in Petr Mrazek, James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier prior to free agency opening on July 28. They will look to unrestricted free agency to get another one. LeBrun suggests they have interest in Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper.

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  • Friedman: Rangers and Sabres Haven’t Got Close on Eichel

    Elliotte Friedman reports on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast (31:00) that the Rangers and Sabres haven’t gotten particularly close on agreeing on an appropriate trade package for Jack Eichel.

    He says the Sabres were after right-defense prospects Nils Lundkvist or Braden Schneider or top young players already on the roster but the Rangers didn’t want to go there in either case. He says there was no intersection between what the Sabres were after and what the Rangers were willing to give.

    Rick Carpiniello of the Athletic reports that Buffalo owner Terry Pegula wants to trade Eichel to the Western Conference.

    Michael Russo of the Athletic reports that Wild GM Bill Guerin doesn’t want to pay Buffalo’s ask of young players and also would need to clear about $10 million of cap commitments. So it doesn’t appear an Eichel deal is close anywhere.

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  • Marc Staal Re-Signs in Detroit

    Bob McKenzie reports that Marc Staal has re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings on a one-year deal.

    The Red Wings got Staal before the 2020-21 season from the Rangers along with a second-round pick to alleviate the Rangers’ cap problem.

    Chris Johnston reports the deal is worth $2 million and carries a full no-movement clause.

  • Ryan Suter Interested in Dallas

    There is mutual interest between Ryan Suter and the Dallas Stars, reports Saad Yousuf of the Athletic.

    Elliotte Friedman reports that the Stars, as well as the Bruins, Avalanche, Panthers and Islanders are interested in Suter’s services. He expects a decision by Monday.

    Arthur Staple reports that it appears the Islanders are out of the Suter sweepstakes.

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