Half the NHL’s teams have turned the page to the offseason, while another eight will join them in a few days. That means it’s time for Daily Faceoff‘s first Trade Targets board of the offseason.

A few months back, we correctly projected 42 of the Top 50 players who were traded prior to the March 3 Trade Deadline. That isn’t meant to brag, it’s just to say that there was an incredible flurry of action and we were right in the center of it all.

What does the hockey world have in store for an encore? This next trade period might be even more active for a number of reasons, including a weak free agent class and the fact teams may be infused with a substantial salary cap increase for the first time since the pandemic took hold in 2020.

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There is no shortage of intrigue. And perhaps what is most interesting are the situations that have yet to play themselves out, with disappointing playoff losses or front office personnel changes that might dictate different paths. Think of new general managers in Pittsburgh, Calgary, Philadelphia, potentially Ottawa and others.

For now, here are 20 names in play to kick off the offseason Trade Targets board, which always seeks to blend a player’s prominence with his likelihood of a trade:

 

Trade Targets 

1. Erik Karlsson

  • Right Defense, San Jose Sharks
  • Age: 32
  • Stats: 82 GP, 25 G, 76 A, 101 Pts
  • Contract: 4 more seasons, $11.5 million AAV

Scoop: Only once in NHL history has a reigning Norris Trophy winner been traded in the same summer he’s taken home the award for top defenseman: Doug Harvey (1961) going from Montreal to New York. That goes to show you how rare of a transaction this might be. It’s also incredibly complicated. Karlsson put together one of the best offensive seasons of any defenseman ever, yet his contract makes him difficult to move. Sharks GM Mike Grier acknowledged at locker cleanout day he’s ready to listen again on a Karlsson deal. He’ll have to adjust his asking price and be willing to retain salary. If one is to materialize, this trade always felt like an offseason deal. It may also be now or never, because Karlsson’s value to the Sharks is never going to be higher than it is at this exact moment in time, as the first 100-point defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.