With the NHL's annual trade deadline completed for another season, the trade market remains quiet except for deals involving minor-league players on two-way contracts.

Trades involving NHL roster players won't take place until the end of the regular season, and then can only involve non-playoff clubs or those eliminated from the postseason. All teams can resume trading with each other following the 2023 playoffs.

A few noteworthy players, such as Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, were mentioned in trade rumors prior to deadline day. However, they remain with their current clubs.

NHL

NHL Rebuild Rankings: Which Teams Are Closest to Contending?

That could change during the offseason as teams garner more salary-cap space. Interest in Boeser and Karlsson could resurface, as could rumblings surrounding other pre-deadline trade candidates such as the Montréal Canadiens' Joel Edmundson.

Here are eight NHL players most likely be on the move during the 2023 offseason.

 

Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks shipped out Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders, Luke Schenn to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Curtis Lazar to the New Jersey Devils before the March 3 trade deadline. Brock Boeser was also mentioned in rumors as a trade candidate, earning the 26-year-old winger a spot on our pre-deadline NHL Trade Block Big Board.

On March 4, Patrick Johnston of The Vancouver Province observed that Boeser's struggles to score this season resulted in few teams showing interest in taking on his full salary-cap hit of $6.7 million annually through 2024-25. Nevertheless, he speculated that the trade rumors about the winger will carry over into the offseason.

That cap hit could also be an issue in offeseason efforts to move Boeser. Johnston cited sources claiming the Pittsburgh Penguins were interested in Boeser before the trade deadline. Instead, they settled on Mikael Granlund and his $5 million average annual value. He felt that interested clubs could find Boeser more enticing if the Canucks retained part of his cap hit.

The Canucks could remain unwilling to carry any portion of Boeser's cap hit over the next two years. Then again, perhaps they haven't received an offer tempting enough to convince them. They might also be willing to take on a comparable salary for the right deal.