Big board: Top 25 players who could be dealt before NHL trade deadline

With the Feb. 4-22 Olympic roster freeze nearing and March 6 trade deadline roughly six weeks away, here's a look at 25 of the most interesting names potentially available. Players are ranked based on odds of being traded and level of on-ice impact. All contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Tap on each player's name for analysis.

1. Artemi Panarin, LW

$11.64-million cap hit through 2025-26 (no-move clause)

Panarin ranks sixth in points per game over the past decade and remains one of the NHL's premier playmakers. If the Rangers are willing to retain half of the 34-year-old's salary, surely a handful of general managers will be presenting legitimate offers. That said, Panarin holds much of the power. He can pick his destination (no-move clause) and timeline (extension or test free agency).

2. Dougie Hamilton, D

$9-million cap hit through 2027-28 (10-team "yes" trade list)

Hamilton was recently scratched, and his production is down. But the 32-year-old is still an effective right-handed offensive defenseman. The hard part for Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald will be finding a team that's on Hamilton's "yes" list and can stomach his deal. The term is fine, but $9 million is difficult to move midseason, which means New Jersey likely needs to retain salary here.

3. Nazem Kadri, C

$7-million cap hit through 2028-29 (13-team "no" trade list)

Kadri, a key member of the 2022 Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche, is an ultracompetitive two-way center with three years left on his deal beyond this season. The 35-year-old's cap hit is palatable for most clubs in an era of cap growth. A half dozen playoff-bound teams could upgrade their second-line center, while a return to the Central Division (Avalanche, Wild, or Stars) is possible.

4. Vincent Trocheck, C

$5.63-million cap hit through 2028-29 (12-team "no" trade list)

Trocheck is a faceoff-winning, all-situations forward who's on pace for 59 points in 68 games. He's also a leader on a completely reasonable contract. Put another way, GM Chris Drury will be fielding plenty of calls on Trocheck in the coming weeks. The Wild are an obvious fit. Cup-contending Minnesota needs a top-six center, and its GM, Bill Guerin, recently made Trocheck an Olympian.

5. Alex Tuch, RW

$4.75-million cap hit through 2025-26 (5-team "no" trade list)

Tuch, a lifelong Sabres supporter who's blossomed into a fan favorite, may sign an extension. Yet, until a deal is finalized, the pending unrestricted free agent's future hangs in the balance. Tuch is a fast, 6-foot-4 winger with finishing chops. The combination of first-line talent, low cap hit, and limited trade protection makes him a hot commodity. Tuch likely doubles his yearly earnings moving forward.

6. Blake Coleman, LW

$4.9-million cap hit through 2026-27 (10-team "yes" trade list)

Coleman checks off a lot of boxes: physical bottom-six winger. Culture-setter. Owner of two Cup rings. Contract includes a digestible cap hit and some term (but not too much term for a 34-year-old). Current team - the selling Flames - can talk trade with most clubs without having to check in with the player.

7. Boone Jenner, LW

$3.75-million cap hit through 2025-26 (8-team "no" trade list)

Jenner, 32, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Blue Jackets and served as team captain for the past five. Despite a history of injuries, the hard-nosed winger pitches in offensively (25 points in 35 games) and holds his own defensively when healthy. He's one of the most appealing rental forwards.

8. Justin Faulk, D

$6.5-million cap hit through 2026-27 (15-team "no" trade list)

Faulk jumps off the page as an appropriate Plan B for the various teams who lost the Rasmus Andersson sweepstakes. The minute-munching, shot-blocking right-handed blue-liner is quietly enjoying a highly productive age-33 season, bagging 11 goals in 50 games. He's on pace for a career-high 18.

9. Steven Stamkos, RW

$8-million cap hit through 2027-28 (no-move clause)

Stamkos, who turns 36 in February, isn't the electric player he used to be, especially at even strength. Yet the dude remains lethal with the puck on his stick and sits tied for 31st in goals (21 in 49 games). Complicating factors include Nashville climbing back into the playoff hunt after a disastrous start; Stamkos' high cap hit; and the future Hall of Famer owning a no-move clause.

10. Brayden Schenn, C

$6.5-million cap hit through 2027-28 (15-team "no" trade list)

Schenn's contract carries the same cap hit and trade protection as Faulk's but runs for one more year. The Blues captain has struggled to produce in his 17th season (19 points in 50 games), yet he's rocking a career-high faceoff win percentage. Schenn can be a solid third-line center for a playoff-bound club.

11. Conor Garland, RW

$4.95-million cap hit through 2025-26 (zero trade protection)

Garland, 29, is this list's most unique case because any team that acquires him inherits the extension he signed with the Canucks last July. That deal - six years, $6 million cap hit, no-move clause - doesn't kick in until this coming offseason. Garland is speedy, possesses impressive playmaking skills, and wins a ton of puck battles for a guy listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds.

12. Elias Pettersson, C

$11.6-million cap hit through 2031-32 (no-move clause)

Pettersson's had a minor resurgence in 2025-26. However, his on-ice value still doesn't align with such a mammoth contract. That said, rebuilding Vancouver is motivated to cut deep into its core, and there must be teams out there (Carolina? Los Angeles?) that believe they can bring out Pettersson's best.

13. Jordan Kyrou, RW

$8.13-million cap hit through 2030-31 (no-trade clause)

Kyrou, 27 years old and in the third year of an eight-year deal, is part of St. Louis' long-term core. At the same time, he's for a while been a prime suspect for a change of scenery trade, and the Blues are seemingly at a crossroads with their underperforming roster. Kyrou is a quick and crafty playmaker with strong underlying numbers and three 70-point seasons on his resume.

14. Jonathan Marchessault, RW

$5.5-million cap hit through 2028-29 (no-move clause)

Marchessault is in a similar situation to Stamkos - mid-30s, contract with term, riding the Predators' roller coaster - except his season has been filled with injuries and inconsistent play, not goals. Still, the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has a long history of rising to the occasion (36 goals in 102 playoff games).

15. Jordan Binnington, G

$6-million cap hit through 2026-27 (14-team "no" trade list)

Binnington's been flat-out terrible this season (.869 save percentage and minus-16 goals saved above expected in 28 appearances). His trade value is almost entirely reliant upon a heroic showing at the Olympics. If he plays well for Canada and the Blues enter full sell mode, interested parties will emerge.

16. Ryan O'Reilly, C

$4.5-million cap hit through 2026-27 (zero trade protection)

Nashville's MVP through 49 games, O'Reilly hasn't gotten his flowers league-wide for an exceptional season. He's the definition of a detailed two-way center who's a playoff warrior and, at that cap hit, would be a tremendous addition for any center-seeking contender. The question is, does O'Reilly want to leave Nashville? While his deal lacks trade protection, GM Barry Trotz won't be making an O'Reilly trade without significant input from the soon-to-be 35-year-old.

17. Carson Soucy, D*

*Jan. 26: Soucy traded to Islanders for 2026 third-round pick

$3.25-million cap hit through 2025-26 (12-team "no" trade list)

Soucy fits the "rental" stereotype perfectly. A veteran shutdown defenseman playing on an expiring deal, he can slot in nicely on a contender's third pair. Bonus: The Viking, Alberta, native can slide over to the right side in a pinch.

18. Brett Kulak, D

$2.75-million cap hit through 2025-26 (zero trade protection)

Kulak was acquired from the Oilers in December in the Stuart Skinner-Tristan Jarry trade. He's a dependable third-pair guy with penalty-killing utility. The Penguins can flip him or keep him for what could be a fun stretch drive.

19. Robert Thomas, C

$8.13-million cap hit through 2030-31 (no-trade clause)

Thomas is the one player on this list who, if declared officially available, would wreak havoc on 31 front offices. He's that good of a player. Thomas, who's currently on injured reserve, is an above-average first-line center in the prime of his career. He's an elite passer, only 26 years old, and under contract for five seasons after this one. The trade package sent back to St. Louis would be massive.

20. Connor Murphy, D

$4.4-million cap hit through 2025-26 (10-team "no" trade list)

Murphy is the longest-tenured Blackhawks player by six years. He's also a pending UFA who doesn't fit into Chicago's long-term plans. The well-respected, physical blue-liner is suited to fill a third-pair spot elsewhere.

21. Jamie Oleksiak, D

$4.6-million cap hit through 2025-26 (16-team "no" trade list)

Oleksiak is a 6-foot-7, 252-pound pending UFA defenseman who plays a straightforward game. While his cap hit isn't ideal, he could help improve a playoff-bound team's depth. Of course, Seattle is also in the playoff hunt.

22. Andrew Mangiapane, LW

$3.6-million cap hit through 2026-27 (no-trade clause)

The Mangiapane-Oilers experiment has been a complete failure. Despite prominent usage early on, the former 35 goal-scorer hasn't found his footing in Edmonton and is now a consistent scratch. On one hand, the market for his services won't be robust. On the other, the Oilers' asking price won't be high.

23. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C

$4.82-million cap hit through 2029-30 (10-team "no" trade list)

Kotkaniemi, drafted third overall in 2018 by the Canadiens, is skating a career-low 11:13 a night for the Hurricanes. He was scratched earlier in the year, but perhaps he can fill a bottom-six center role elsewhere. The 25-year-old's cap hit is alright in an era of cap growth. The term, however, is rough.

24. Ondrej Palat, LW

*Jan. 27: Palat traded to Islanders with 2026 third-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick for forward Maxim Tsyplakov

$6-million cap hit through 2026-27 (10-team "no" trade list)

Palat, once an effective top-six winger, is a shell of his former self and now a whipping boy within the Devils' fan base. With an underwhelming game and anchor of a contract, he's become a negative asset. Can New Jersey wiggle its way out of this commitment somewhat gracefully and turn the page?

25. Luke Schenn, D

$2.75-million cap hit through 2025-26 (zero trade protection)

Schenn is a plodding, physical defenseman in search of a third Cup at age 36. It would be a hell of a story if a team acquired he and brother Brayden and the former Flyers teammates shared the ice once again.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email ([email protected]).