Five Non-Rental Players Who Could Get Moved

The NHL saw a pair of trades in the last week involving veterans with term remaining on their contracts being moved prior to the league’s Christmas trade freeze. The New York Rangers shipped defenseman Jacob Trouba to Anaheim for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick, and on Saturday, the Ducks swapped veteran blueliner Cam Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick for a 2027 second-round pick and a minor league defenseman from the Blues.

Related: St. Louis Blues Acquire Cam Fowler From The Anaheim Ducks

While the trade market for pending unrestricted free agents will begin to percolate after the New Year and ramp up towards the March. 7 trade deadline, there may be several deals involving players such as Trouba and Fowler who are not rentals.

Here are five players from five teams who could be on the move:

Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres could be one of the most disappointing clubs in the NHL, with nine straight losses and fading playoff hopes before the halfway mark of the regular season. Elliotte Friedman on FAN 590 earlier this week indicated that several NHL clubs were sniffing around the 23-year-old center, who signed a seven year, $49.7-million deal in 2023 during a career-high 31-goal season, but his offensive numbers dropped to 18 last season and six so far this year.

John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun indicated last month that the emergence of youngster Lukas Dostal could make the trade of the 31-year-old Gibson more likely. The goaltending market lost one of its primary targets when Colorado acquired rental MacKenzie Blackwood. Gibson represents more of a long-term commitment, as he has two years left after this season on an eight-year deal at $6.4 million AAV.

Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames

The rebuilding Flames are rumored to be considering shipping out veterans after dealing rentals like Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm last season, plus Jacob Markstrom and Andrew Mangiapane over the summer. Kadri, 34, has four years left at an AAV of $7 million and THN’s Steve Macfarlane says that there has been consistent chatter of the center generating interest, but GM Craig Conroy would likely have to retain salary to make a deal possible.

Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Philadelphia Flyers

TSN’s Chris Johnston late last month said the former Buffalo Sabre blueliner could get moved by the Flyers if the right deal came along. Ristolainen missed 51 games last season with a torn tricep but has been healthy all this year. The big righty has two more years at a $5.1 million AAV, which could require Philly GM Danny Briere to retain salary or take a contract back to make a deal possible.

Nils Hoglander, LW, Vancouver Canucks

Hoglander scored a career-high 24 goals last season and was signed to a three-year, $9-million contract extension just before the start of the regular season, but the 23-year-old has earned a spot in Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet’s doghouse with just two goals in 29 games. According to the Athletic’s Josh Yohe, the Pittsburgh Penguins are rumored to be interested in the winger.

Related: Thatcher Demko’s Re-Entry Is A Process — For Him And The Canucks

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