Best Landing Spots for The Top Rumored NHL Trade Candidates

The March 6th NHL trade deadline is still a ways away, but the rumor mill is hot, and plenty of general managers are already starting to get antsy for some activity. Trade boards and lists are starting to come out around the league, including TSN insider Chris Johnston’s top 25 targets to watch in the coming weeks and months. 

With that officially up, it’s the perfect time to connect some of the marquee available players to a new destination, so here we go. 

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Steven Stamkos

Best Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Lightning

Is it that realistic or likely? Probably not, but if you took the contract out of the equation, there is no better fit for Stamkos than back in Tampa Bay with the Lightning. 

The 35-year-old’s production, particularly at even strength, has fallen off a cliff in Nashville, but he can still stand in his office and rip home goals on the power play. The Bolts currently rank 20th in the league on the man advantage, and Oliver Bjorkstrand just has not cut it as the new right-shot on the left-half wall in Tampa. 

Stamkos, of course, has extreme familiarity with the players, coaching staff, organization, and city, so there’s no questioning whether this could work; we know it does. 

Rasmus Andersson

Best Landing Spot: Vegas Golden Knights

It almost came to fruition in the offseason, and there remains an obvious fit for Andersson in Las Vegas.

As always, the Golden Knights are in it to win it as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the Pacific Division. If there’s any weakness on this roster, it’s the right side of the defense corps with Alex Pietrangelo out of action and on LTIR.

Andersson is the best available player in that position. and could slot in very nicely, potentially alongside former Flames teammate Noah Hanifin. We already know there’s mutual interest between the team and player; all that would need to be sorted out is a way to make the money work.

Jonathan Marchessault

Best Landing Spot: Carolina Hurricanes

Predator number two, scattered on trade boards, is the other big-time free agent forward signing from 2024 in Marchessault. Like Stamkos, an Eastern Conference contender makes a lot of sense for Marchessault, and that’s the Hurricanes.

General manager Eric Tulsky has shown himself to be ultra-aggressive and has suggested he’ll continue to swing big moving forward. His Hurricanes are once again atop the Metropolitan Division, but what always comes back to bite them is a lack of goal-scoring come the playoffs, which is why acquiring a top-six winger is a must.

The 34-year-old can provide them with that as a three-time 30-goal scorer and a steady veteran presence who’s known to step up on the biggest stage come the postseason. They might want to shoot bigger than him, but that’s easier said than done, and Marchessault is far from a consolation prize.

Brayden Schenn

Best Landing Spot: New Jersey Devils

With or without Jack Hughes, New Jersey needs to add a center, and Schenn could be exactly what they’re searching for.

When healthy, the Devils’ forward group is full of speed and skill. What they’re missing is a skilled veteran who plays with an edge, preferably down the middle of the ice. Schenn fits that description to a tee, and while it’s been a rough start in St. Louis, a change of scenery could do him wonders.

The veteran could fill in as the number two center until Hughes returns and slide down to 3C when he gets back, creating a formidable 1-2-3 punch along with Nico Hischier.

Ryan O’Reilly

Best Landing Spot: Montreal Canadiens

Ryan O’Reilly is yet another Nashville Predator that could be on the move as they potentially blow up their roster. The only other team as desperate as New Jersey for center help is Montreal.

That was true before injuries to Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach, and it’s been amplified even more since. Oliver Kapanen and Jake Evans are nice players, but O’Reilly is much better suited to handle a second-line center role behind Nick Suzuki.

The Habs have enough high-end skill and talent; they need more veteran experience up front, and that’s what O’Reilly will bring. Not to mention, he won’t be fussed about power play time and can be a huge help to the penalty kill, as a true team player who helps with winning.

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