B/R NHL Trade Block Big Board: August 2025

It's mid-August, and we're still in the throes of the NHL's dog days. Although there are 13 clubs with at least $5 million in cap space (with eight of them carrying over $10 million), there's been no activity in the trade market since July 25.

NHL training camps will be opening in mid-September. That could increase activity as teams prepare to evaluate their rosters before the season begins in early October.

We had only eight players on our NHL Trade Block Ranking for July 2025 because most of the notable trade candidates had been moved or were no longer considered available. However, the lack of recent trade activity sparked an increase in speculation involving more players.

Three players on our previous list—Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres, Isaac Howard of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues—have been dropped from our August ranking.

Byram re-signed with the Sabres, Howard was traded to Edmonton, and the Kyrou rumors dried up.

However, notables such as Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi remain on our updated listing. Joining them are noteworthy new names like winger Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars and blueliner Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils.

Follow along as we rank 15 potential NHL trade candidates to determine why they've become the focus of offseason media speculation.

The Dallas Stars' third straight Western Conference Final elimination prompted general manager Jim Nill to shake things up.

On June 19, he traded winger Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken. On July 10, Nill sent defenseman Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Those moves were cost-cutting trades to free up salary-cap room to re-sign core players such as team captain Jamie Benn and center Matt Duchene. However, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos and Ryan Dixon wondered if Jason Robertson might become a trade candidate.

Kypreos observed that Robertson has a year left on his contract and is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July. His cap hit is $7.8 million, and it could cost considerably more to re-sign the 26-year-old winger, given his status among their leading scorers. He also lacks no-trade protection.

Dixon noted it could be difficult to find a suitable trade partner. Nill is under no pressure to move Robertson now and could let the coming season play out before deciding the winger's fate. Nevertheless, he could be a player worth watching in the trade market.

Since his acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2022, Mike Matheson has been the anchor of the Montreal Canadiens' blue line. However, the 31-year-old has been the focus of trade rumors since early July.

The Canadiens' addition of puck-moving blueliner Noah Dobson has some pundits suggesting Matheson could be used as a trade chip to add a second-line center. He's in the final season of his contract with an affordable $4.9 million cap hit.

On July 2, Karine Hains of The Hockey News reported Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was asked if the addition of Dobson made Matheson expendable. He stated that wasn't the case, praising the veteran blueliner's play, including his ability to play big minutes.

Nevertheless, Sportsnet's Eric Engels singled out Matheson, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj as trade candidates during a July 29 appearance on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro. He believes one of them might not be with the Canadiens by this time next year.

For the second straight summer, Nazem Kadri is the subject of trade speculation. The 34-year-old Calgary Flames center frequently surfaced in the rumor mill in June and August 2024, until he shot down the speculation before training camp last September.

On July 2, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun suggested the Maple Leafs should consider reacquiring Kadri to address their need for a second-line center. Ten days later, David Alter of The Hockey News noted Kadri talking to The Knight Shift podcast about the speculation linking him to the Leafs.

Kadri said it was "a bit bizarre" to hear his name mentioned in the rumor mill. Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun (via the Toronto Sun) reported the veteran center repeating how much he and his family love living in Calgary and how he enjoyed playing for the Flames.

On July 25, Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon acknowledged Kadri's importance to the team as its first-line center and leading scorer. He also noted the center is signed through 2028-29 and has a full no-movement clause. Still, the nagging rumors earn Kadri a spot on our August trade board.

Tristan Jarry's struggles as the Pittsburgh Penguins' starting goaltender resulted in the 30-year-old occasionally surfacing in the rumor mill. His difficulties last season led to a stint in the minors as he attempted to regain his form and confidence.

His inconsistent performance and $5.4 million average annual value through 2027-28 make him difficult to move in the trade market. Nevertheless, the Penguins' acquisition of Artūrs Šilovs last month from the Vancouver Canucks could raise questions about Jarry's future in Pittsburgh.

On July 14, Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek suggested Jarry as a trade option for the Edmonton Oilers if they seek an upgrade in goal. Sportsnet's Michael Amato shared that view.

However, the Oilers' limited cap space rules out that possibility even if the Penguins were to retain half of Jarry's cap hit.

The Penguins will likely stick with Jarry for the coming season, with Šilovs or promising Joel Blomqvist as his backup. Nevertheless, we can't dismiss the possibility that they'll attempt to find a suitable trade partner during the offseason or the coming season.

On July 28, 2021, the New Jersey Devils signed free-agent defenseman Dougie Hamilton to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million.

Three years later, there's speculation suggesting the puck-moving 32-year-old could become a cost-cutting candidate.

On July 6, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said there was a low-percentage chance Hamilton would be moved, but he said his name was out there in the trade market. Two days later, Frank Seravalli told B/R he felt the Devils had explored the trade market for Hamilton.

RG.Org's James Murphy noted the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars were among the clubs believed to be interested in Hamilton. However, the Devils weren't expected to move him anytime soon.

On July 21, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now suggested a Hamilton trade might depend on what happens with other defensemen in the trade market, like Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson and Calgary's Rasmus Andersson. He also noted Hamilton has a 10-team list of preferred trade destinations.

Since his acquisition from the Nashville Predators during the 2016-17 season, Samuel Girard has been a top-four defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche. For most of that time, the 26-year-old puck-mover has been on their second defense pairing.

Girard has occasionally surfaced in trade rumors over the last couple of seasons, but his role as their third defenseman made it difficult to justify moving him. He's in the sixth season of his seven-year contract with an affordable $5 million cap hit.

On July 30, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now speculated the Avalanche could trade Girard at some point this season. He pointed to the decline in the blueliner's ice time during the 2025 playoffs, as well as their offseason addition of veteran Brent Burns.

Denn doesn't believe the Avalanche intend having a $5 million blueliner like Girard play third-pairing minutes. That's why he thinks he could be moved.

The Avalanche aren't under any pressure to move Girard, but they could use him as a trade chip later in the season if they need to address a roster issue.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions were determined to keep their roster core intact this summer. On June 30, they surprised the hockey world by re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad to long-term contracts, keeping them off this summer's unrestricted free-agent market.

Those moves put the Panthers above this season's $95.5 million salary cap by $3.8 million. Teams can be over the cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but they must be compliant before the season opener in October.

The Panthers could get short-term cap relief to start the season by placing winger Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injury reserve if he undergoes surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. However, they'll have to shed salary once he returns to action later in the season.

On July 23, NHL.com's Dan Rosen suggested Evan Rodrigues could become a cost-cutting trade candidate. The 31-year-old forward carries an annual cap hit of $3 million through 2026-27.

Rosen indicated the Panthers think highly of Rodrigues, but he could be the cost for those expensive re-signings.

The New Jersey Devils' goaltending duo of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen seemed destined to last only one season, with the latter's eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. However, he and the Devils agreed to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $1.8 million.

That prompted James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now to consider Nico Daws' future. The 24-year-old has appeared in 52 games for the Devils since 2022. It was expected he'd take over as Markstrom's backup if Allen signed elsewhere.

Daws is in the final season of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $812,500. He's no longer waiver-exempt, meaning the Devils could lose him to another club if they attempt to send him to their AHL affiliate in Utica.

Nichols believes the Devils must trade Daws either on his own or in a package deal. He recommended peddling the netminder to the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames.

Given the lack of quality goalies currently available, Daws could be an enticing early-season trade target.

Perched at No. 7 on our July 2025 NHL Trade Block Rankings, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins continues to surface in this summer's rumor mill.

Only two years after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks, the Penguins could attempt to peddle the 35-year-old defenseman before the start of the coming season.

On July 9, RG.Org's James Murphy reported the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars were believed to be interested in Karlsson. Two weeks later, Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff suggested the Red Wings could benefit from his skills and experience.

However, Shayna Goldman of The Athletic suggested the Penguins could find it increasingly difficult to move Karlsson. She believes moving him this summer could be their best option, lest his performance decline this season and adversely affect his trade value.

Karlsson is signed through 2026-27, with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value. His full no-movement clause will also complicate any efforts to move him, though he could waive it to go to a contender. The Penguins will have to retain salary to facilitate a deal.

The stalled contract negotiations between the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi led to the 23-year-old center landing on our July 2025 NHL Trade Block Rankings.

He's a restricted free agent coming off an entry-level contract. So far, no rival club has attempted to sign him away from the Wild with an offer sheet.

On July 8, The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported there were clubs interested in acquiring Rossi. However, they were offering up draft picks and prospects, while the Wild would prefer a top-six forward in return. They also indicated Wild general manager Bill Guerin would match any offer sheet for Rossi.

Sarah McLellan of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on July 12 that Guerin holds all the leverage in negotiations with the Rossi camp. While teams have expressed an interest in the young center, McLellan indicated the Wild GM prefers to retain him. Nevertheless, Rossi remains the subject of trade chatter.

On July 28, Russo and Smith reported the two sides haven't had contract discussions since early June. Rossi's representatives seek between $6 million and $7 million on a long-term deal. Russo and Smith suggest a short-term deal at $5 million annually might be needed to end the stalemate.

With the start of NHL training camps less than a month away, Mason McTavish and the Anaheim Ducks have yet to agree to a new contract. The 22-year-old center is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

A promising, physical forward, McTavish would be a tempting target for an offer sheet. So far, that hasn't happened, largely because the Ducks' $20.5 million in cap space enables them to match any offer.

Nevertheless, The Athletic's Shayna Goldman and B/R's Frank Seravalli have suggested McTavish could receive an offer sheet. The latter thinks he might welcome a change of scenery after several seasons of losing with the rebuilding Ducks.

If teams want McTavish, it'll likely have to come via a trade. On Aug. 6, RG.Org's James Murphy cited sources claiming the Detroit Red Wings are showing serious interest, suggesting the relationship between Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and Wings GM Steve Yzerman could facilitate a deal.

Sitting at No. 2 on our July 2025 NHL Trade Block Rankings, Rasmus Andersson remains a prime candidate to be moved.

The 28-year-old defenseman has not reached an agreement with the Calgary Flames for a contract extension. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Nevertheless, Andersson is likely to start the coming season with the Flames. Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun reported on July 25 that it seems almost inevitable Andersson will get traded this season. However, Flames general manager Craig Conroy has no problem with him playing this season in Calgary.

On Aug. 9, Ryan Pike of Flames Nation noted an interview Andersson gave to Swedish hockey journalists, in which he denied rejecting a trade to the Los Angeles Kings earlier this summer. He also said a rival club made a "very good" trade offer, but he declined to say which one.

There is no indication contract talks will resume between Andersson and the Flames. Unless that changes, he'll remain a fixture in this season's trade rumor mill and continue to hold a high position on our trade boards.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins rebuilding their roster, there's speculation suggesting winger Rickard Rakell could become a trade candidate.

Coming off a career-best season (35 goals, 70 points), the 32-year-old winger was among the top five in our July 2025 NHL Trade Block Rankings.

Rakell is signed through 2027-28 with a team-friendly $5 million annual cap hit and an eight-team no-trade list. On July 7, The Athletic's Josh Yohe reported Rakell and teammate Bryan Rust remained "considerable commodities" on the trade market.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski listed the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Seattle Kraken as possible destinations for Rakell. On July 17, Kingerski claimed the Penguins set a sky-high asking price for Rakell and Rust. Yohe believes each player could fetch a first-round pick or top prospect.

On July 24, Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin suggested teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres could use a top-six forward like Rakell or Rust if they could make the dollars work.

On July 17, the agent for Yegor Chinakhov said his client had sought a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Chosen 21st overall in the 2020 draft, the 24-year-old forward indicated misunderstandings with head coach Dean Evason were behind the request.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell was surprised by Chinakhov making his request public.

Waddell said he'd spoken with the young forward previously, indicating he didn't take well to being a healthy scratch late in the season after returning from a back injury.

Chinakhov is under contract this season with a cap hit of $2.1 million. Both sides agree he will report for training camp in September. On July 19, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch speculated Waddell might seek an established forward in return.

It could take a while for Chinakhov to be traded. Hedger believes his injury history and inconsistent play during his NHL career thus far make him an unpolished forward with high-end potential. His request ensures a spot on this board, making him the likely focus of further speculation as training camp approaches.

Bryan Rust has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017.

With the Penguins' glory days well behind them, the 33-year-old winger's potential as a trade candidate put him among the top five in our July 2025 NHL Trade Block Ranking.

Signed through 2027-28, Rust carries a $5.13 million average annual value and lacks no-trade protection. On July 7, The Athletic's Josh Yohe suggested Rust and winger Rickard Rakell remain valuable commodities on the trade market, and followed up by speculating each could fetch a first-round pick.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski reported the Penguins have set a high asking price for Rust and Rakell. Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin felt both players could be intriguing to clubs seeking a top-six forward, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres.

Rust's lack of a no-trade clause makes him easier to move than Rakell, who has an eight-team no-trade list. However, the Penguins could give him the option of choosing his destinations, given his lengthy service to the club.

Salary information via PuckPedia.