B/R's NHL Offseason Trade Block Big Board for May 2024

The first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs will soon draw to a close. As more teams fall by the wayside in the chase for hockey's holy grail, we can expect an increase in media trade speculation.

It's been quiet in the NHL trade market since the March 8 trade deadline, but non-playoff clubs are now allowed to make deals between themselves. However, most will likely wait until the playoffs end in June when all 32 teams can resume trading.

Meanwhile, there's already media conjecture regarding trade candidates among the current non-playoff teams. Some, such as Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun, are no strangers to the rumor mill.

They are among the 10 players on our May NHL Trade Block Big Board. Most belong to clubs that failed to qualify for the current postseason. Skill, experience and contract status factored into the compilation of this list.

Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Is there a player you believe belongs here? Let us know in the app comments below.

Pavel Buchnevich sat at No. 2 on our NHL Trade Block Big Board the day before the March 8 trade deadline, and teams were reportedly calling St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong about the winger's availability.

With his club jockeying for a playoff berth, Armstrong held on to the 29-year-old. The Blues GM was under no pressure to trade his goal-scoring winger as he is signed through next season with an average annual value of $5.8 million.

The Blues failed to secure a playoff berth, but Armstrong has no regrets about retaining Buchnevich. During his end-of-season press conference, the GM indicated his intention to sign the winger to a contract extension. He also wasn't concerned about signing the Russian to a long-term deal despite the fact that he will be 30 next year.

Buchnevich has been a reliable scorer for the Blues. Since his acquisition from the New York Rangers in 2021, he's scored over 25 goals and 60 points per season. Armstrong sees him as a key piece in his efforts to retool his club into a contender again.

The cost of extending Buchnevich's contract could be a sticking point in their negotiations. General managers who called about him before the trade deadline could revisit their interest if they sense those talks are stalling.

In January, Elvis Merzļikins created a stir by telling reporters that he had requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. His agent followed up by saying his client hadn't formally made that request.

Nevertheless, it ensured the 30-year-old goaltender a spot on our February NHL Trade Block Big Board.

Merzļikins finished the season with the Blue Jackets, but his future with the club remains uncertain. Once they hire a new general manager, figuring out what to do with the netminder will be a priority.

In her recap of the Blue Jackets' tumultuous season, Kristen Shilton of ESPN suggested the Latvian might benefit from a change of scenery. The Athletic's Aaron Portzline noted that he was better on the ice this season but was a constant source of dressing room drama. He's also been hampered by injuries and inconsistency.

Merzļikins put up solid numbers earlier in his career when healthy and with a better defense corps in front of him. Perhaps an NHL club seeking a starting goalie might take a chance on him regaining his form with a stronger blue line.

A bigger issue will be his contract. He's carrying an average annual value of $5.4 million through 2026-27 with a 10-team no-trade clause. The Jackets might have to retain part of his cap hit or bundle him with a high draft pick or promising youngster to make him more enticing in the trade market.

Trade rumors began about Trevor Zegras after the Anaheim Ducks shipped defenseman Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers for promising winger Cutter Gauthier.

Some pundits suggested the 22-year-old forward might be next as he endured a difficult, injury-shortened season.

Following the March 8 trade deadline, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek told The Athletic's Eric Stephens that he wasn't shopping Zegras nor had he received any calls about him from other teams. Nevertheless, the rumors about his future have persisted.

On April 20, Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that he felt there was a nagging sense that neither side was comfortable with the other, referring to the relationship between Zegras and Verbeek. Sorting out the young center's future could be what Friedman called "the most fascinating summer decision in the NHL."

Two days later, The Athletic's Eric Stephens reported that Zegras was aware of the trade rumors buzzing about him. He hadn't spoken to Verbeek about it but was wondering where he fits within the team and the club's plans. He has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.8 million and lacks no-trade protection.

Verbeek will likely maintain he's not peddling Zegras in the trade market. Nevertheless, he could receive calls from clubs inquiring about his availability this summer. Perhaps he'll get an offer that could prove tempting.

Chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers at No. 14 overall in the 2018 NHL draft, Joel Farabee has spent the past five seasons as a promising young winger on their roster.

However, media speculation suggests the 24-year-old could become a trade candidate this summer.

On April 20, Friedman wondered about Farabee's future with the Flyers. He had a career-best season with 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points but struggled down the stretch.

The following day, Philly Hockey Now's Jonathan Bailey pointed out that he seemed unhappy with his role during his end-of-season interview. Flyers coach John Tortorella had him playing up and down the lineup this season, finishing the season on their checking lines.

Farabee is completing the second season of his six-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He lacks no-trade protection, making him a potentially tempting trade candidate if Flyers general manager Daniel Brière looks to address his roster's weakness at center and on the blue line.

Bailey believes trading Farabee would be a mistake, citing the lack of left-shot wingers on their roster. He also pointed to his solid offensive numbers despite his late-season drop-off.

However, there's enough questioning about where Farabee fits into the club's future that he's earned a spot on our offseason trade block big board.

Reilly Smith was the first significant acquisition by Kyle Dubas as the Pittsburgh Penguins' new general manager in June 2023.

The former Vegas Golden Knights left winger was coming off his fifth 20-plus goal season and reached the 50-point plateau (56 points) for the sixth time.

Smith's offensive skills and championship experience were expected to help the Penguins bounce back as a contender after missing the playoffs last season. Instead, his production declined to 17 goals and 40 points as he struggled to adjust with the team as it missed the postseason for the second straight year.

Dubas could attempt to make changes this summer to bring in affordable younger talent to the Penguins' aging roster. Smith, 33, could be on the move again if the Pittsburgh GM attempts to shed his contract.

The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported Dubas looked into moving Smith before the trade deadline, but he found no takers because he wasn't on an expiring contract. With a year left on his deal worth $5 million and an eight-team no-trade list for 2024-25, he might be able to find suitors this summer.

Rossi's colleague Josh Yohe cited Penguins sources claiming Smith never wanted to leave Vegas and wasn't happy playing in Pittsburgh. If that's the case, Dubas will have additional motivation to find a club willing to take him.

With a year left on his contract, Juuse Saros can begin contract extension talks on July 1 with the Nashville Predators.

The 29-year-old goaltender carries an average annual value of $5 million on his current deal and could seek a significant raise on his next contract.

Saros surfaced in the rumor mill leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. There were reports of the New Jersey Devils looking into his availability, but Predators general manager Barry Trotz maintained he wasn't moving his starter as his club battled for a wild-card berth.

This postseason could be crucial for Saros' future in Nashville. The Hockey News' Rob Couch felt he hadn't elevated his game in the postseason to a level expected of a starting goaltender. He believed his performance would determine the course of his contract negotiations with Trotz.

A strong effort by Saros in this postseason could help him land a lucrative long-term offer from the Predators, or the Nashville GM could evaluate his value in this summer's trade market.

Moving the Finn would also create a path for promising Yaroslav Askarov, who could split the goaltending duties with Kevin Lankinen provided he re-signs with the Predators.

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald could revisit his interest in Saros if he's available in the trade market. Other clubs seeking an experienced starting goalie may also come calling.

Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in July 2022, Filip Gustavsson enjoyed a promising breakout performance with the Minnesota Wild in 2022-23.

Sharing the goaltending duties with Marc-Andre Fleury, he had 22 wins, nine losses and seven overtime losses with a 2.10 goals-against average, a save percentage of .931 and three shutouts.

Gustavsson, 25, entered this season considered the Wild's starting goaltender, but he struggled with a record of 20-18-4 with a 3.06 GAA and an SP of .899 as they missed the playoffs.

The Wild re-signed Fleury on April 17 to a one-year contract extension. Meanwhile, promising Jesper Wallstedt was called up for two games in the same month and won both. That's sparked speculation that Gustavsson could be the odd man out.

The Swede has two years left on his contract with a cap hit of $3.8 million. Shedding his salary could provide some much-needed wiggle room for the cap-strapped Wild.

On April 19, The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported Gustavsson acknowledged the possibility he could be traded during the offseason, citing in part his inconsistent 2023-24 performance. Five days later, they speculated he could become a trade chip with Fleury signed to a new deal and Wallstedt waiting in the wings.

Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman provide the Boston Bruins with one of the NHL's best goaltending tandems.

They played a big role in ensuring the Bruins remained among the top teams in the Eastern Conference despite the offseason retirements of centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí.

However, Boston could break up that tandem during the offseason. On March 9, Friedman reported they had a deal in place before the March 8 trade deadline that would have sent Ullmark to a club on his 16-team no-trade list. However, the 30-year-old rejected the move.

Swayman is due for a significant raise this summer as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The 25-year-old is younger than Ullmark and had better stats this season and in this year's playoffs thus far.

With promising Brandon Bussi also waiting in the wings, the Bruins could move on from Ullmark.

Signed through next season, Ullmark carries a cap hit of $5 million. He'll be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Rather than lose the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner to free agency, Boston can shop him this summer for a quality return while his trade value is high.

The Bruins may prefer moving Ullmark to a Western Conference team, but most of those clubs could be on his no-trade list. Instead, they might have to peddle him to an Eastern Conference rival like the New Jersey Devils, whose management has made no secret of its intent to pursue a starting goalie this summer.

During his end-of-season interview, Jakob Chychrun told the media he was unsure about his future with the Ottawa Senators.

The 26-year-old defenseman has one year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $4.6 million and a 10-team no-trade list.

Chychrun indicated contract extension talks haven't started with Senators general manager Steve Staios. He's taking things day by day, but his uncertainty over his situation has rekindled the rumors that popped up before the March 8 trade deadline.

The Athletic's Ian Mendes believes Staios faces a choice between Chychrun and team captain Thomas Chabot. Both are left-side defensemen along with rising star Jake Sanderson. However, the Senators have a pressing need for right-shot blueliners.

With Chabot and Sanderson under long-term contracts, Chychrun could become the odd man out. On March 25, Adam Gretz suggested the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars as possible offseason landing spots.

Chychrun still has considerable value as a trade chip for the Senators. Staios may attempt to swap him for a right-handed defenseman, perhaps around the draft on June 28-29 in Vegas.

It appears Jacob Markström's days with the Calgary Flames could be coming to an end.

A fixture in the rumor mill leading up to the March 8 trade deadline, the goaltender was noncommittal about his future with the club during his end-of-season interview.

Flames general manager Craig Conroy said time would tell what happens with Markström during the offseason. Based on the remarks of both men, Sportsnet's Eric Francis believes the goaltender could be on his way out this summer.

Reports emerged before the trade deadline claiming the Flames were close to shipping the 34-year-old to the New Jersey Devils but the deal fell through.

Following the deadline, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald stated his intention to pursue a starting goaltender this summer. He could revisit his interest in the Flames netminder.

Markström has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause giving him complete control over possible trade destinations.

That contract could be difficult to move given the amount remaining. Conroy could also set a high asking price consisting of a first-round pick, a top prospect and a good young NHL player. Nevertheless, teams in the market for reliable starting goalies may be willing to meet that price this summer.

Salary and contract info via Cap Friendly.