NHL Trades We Need to See In the New Year

The NHL trade freeze has lifted, which means NHL GMs can make all the trades they want. With the calendar flipping to 2025 in just a few days. The NHL rumor mill will be alive and well, even more so than it has been in the last number of weeks.

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As of January 7, it’ll be three months until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. So, here are a few NHL trades that we need to see in the new year.

Chris Kreider to Carolina

To make this trade work, there will most likely need to be a third team involved. The Carolina Hurricanes only have $1.9 million in cap space as of right now. That could increase if they place Fredrik Andersen on LTIR. If they were to do that, they would up their available cap space to $5.3 million. Kreider has a cap hit of $6.5 million, leaving $1.2 million needing to be moved out to bring in Kreider.

New York Rangers: Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick & 2025 3rd Round Pick (CHI)

Carolina Hurricanes: Chris Kreider

The Rangers are looking like they may be headed for a small retool. If that’s the case, then a trade that brings in a 24-year-old Jack Drury may be intriguing. It also makes the deal go through since he has a $1.7 million cap hit. Additionally, the Rangers would receive a second and third-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft to help with their retooling.

As for the Hurricanes, they get a power play and net front specialist who works hard. Kreider would fit in perfectly with the Rod Brind’Amour style of play.

Yanni Gourde to Toronto

This trade seems like it could be happening before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. Pierre LeBrun reported that Yanni Gourde would be willing to waive his NTC to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs do have the ability to make this deal work if Calle Jarnkrok and Jani Hakkanpaa stay on LTIR for the remainder of the season and Matt Murray is sent back down. That would bring their available cap space to $4.4 million. Gourde’s AAV is only $5.1 million, which makes the deal a bit easier to make work. Regardless, Toronto would be wise to add David Kampf into the deal if anyone returns from LTIR; it gives them more room.

Seattle Kraken: David Kampf, 2025 3rd Round Pick (COL) & 2026 6th Round Pick (SJS)

Toronto Maple Leafs: Yanni Gourde

This deal gives the Kraken a defensive center who can play behind Chandler Stephenson, Matty Beniers, and Shane Wright. Trading Gourde would clear a spot in the team’s top six so that they could give more playing time to their young stars. They also would be getting two draft picks to continue to add to their prospect pool.

As for the Maple Leafs, they would be getting a player who can play the wing in their top six. Or someone who can play 3C and add center depth to their lineup, especially down the stretch.

Next: NHL Trade Talk’s 2024-25 Top 20 Trade Bait Board