NHL Players Who Could Be On The Move Before 4 Nations Face-Off

Given how tight playoff races are in the Western and Eastern Conferences, trades are expected to be plentiful ahead of the 2025 NHL trade deadline on March 7.

But could we see players moved well before that date?

Over the last few years, pre-deadline trades have become more common, as teams that buy players, especially rentals, want them to contribute for as long as possible.

With the 4 Nations Face-Off beginning on Feb. 12, those earlier trades could happen again.

This tournament will not be like an All-Star Game but more like NHL action, so for teams planning on selling, injuries could be a big problem for the trade market.

The New York Islanders, who are currently not in a playoff spot, hold one of, if not the No. 1 player on trade boards in Team USA's Brock Nelson.

Nelson (10 goals, 11 assists) is in the final season of a six-year deal worth $6 million.

The Islanders could get a haul for the 33-year-old, a potential trade that could be the key to a retool.

The Boston Bruins, meanwhile, are third in the Atlantic Division after a slow start to the season. If things take a turn for the worse by the end of the month, however, they must decide on Team Canada left winger and their 36-year-old captain Brad Marchand (15 goals, 16 assists), who is in the final season of an eight-year deal worth $6.125 million annually.

Related: NHL Free Agency: Will These Six Eastern Conference Pending UFAs Go Elsewhere?

The New York Rangers have taken a historic nosedive and will be looking to sell off struggling players. Team USA's Chris Kreider (12 goals, one assist), who is in the fifth season of a seven-year deal worth $6.5 million annually, has been M.I.A. Team Sweden's Mika Zibanejad (six goals, 15 assists), who is in the third season of an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually, has stood out for all the wrong reasons.

Looking in the Western Conference, St. Louis Blues and Team Canada defenseman Colton Parayko is in the third season of an eight-year deal worth $6.5 million annually. He has 15 assists and 21 points in 39 games, but the Blues are still outside of a playoff spot. Parayko has surfaced in trade rumors over the years, which could happen again.

A pair of bottom-six forwards on Team Sweden, San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund and Nashville Predators right winger Gustav Nyquist, always seem to be on the move.

Granlund (11 goals, 23 assists) is in the final season of a four-year deal worth $5 million annually.  Nyquist (six goals, eight assists) is in the final season of a two-year deal worth $3.185 million annually.

The question left is which GM gets the ball rolling.

Related: NHL Free Agency: Seven Western Conference Pending UFAs Who Could Demand Big Bucks

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