Every NHL season has its share of bad teams. Some end up toward the bottom of the standing because they're rebuilding around younger players. Others waited too long to start rebuilding or attempted to build around a veteran core.
Each of those clubs has good players who could prove useful to other teams, though.
Some, like the San Jose Sharks, have a superstar like Erik Karlsson who might prefer skating for a Stanley Cup contender. Others, like the Anaheim Ducks, have a player like goaltender John Gibson who could be past their playing prime once they've emerged from their rebuild.
The NHL's annual draft is usually when offseason trade activity involving established players peaks. Some players on this season's crop of bad teams could end up on other clubs once this year's two-day draft period (June 28-29) is over.
Here are six players we believe could end up traded at this year's draft. Factors such as a player's salary, trade value, roster role and future potential could determine why they end up being moved.
Jack Roslovic, Columbus Blue Jackets
After joining the Columbus Blue Jackets along with Patrik Laine in a January 2021 trade with the Winnipeg Jets, Jack Roslovic showed potential as a second-line center. He had 34 points in 48 games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Despite a slow start to last season, he finished with a career-best 22 goals and 45 points in 81 games.
Roslovic finished this season with 44 points in 72 games. In late March, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline suggested the Blue Jackets moved Laine to center late in the season to showcase Roslovic as a winger to potentially interested teams.
Eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, Roslovic might not fit into the Blue Jackets' long-term plans. They signed Russian center Dmitri Voronkov last week to a two-year entry-level contract. They also have promising centers Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger on their roster, both of whom could take on larger roles next season.
With a reasonable cap hit of $4 million, Roslovic's contract wouldn't be difficult to move during the draft when teams have plenty of cap room and a willingness to make trades. He could be of interest to clubs seeking a middle-six center.
One of them could be the Vancouver Canucks. The Province's Ben Kuzma recently indicated the Canucks had an interest in Roslovic during his days with the Jets. He believes it would require the Blue Jackets to retain $1 million of the forward's salary with the Canucks offering up a draft pick to get it done.
Nick Schmaltz, Arizona Coyotes
Since Bill Armstrong took over as general manager in 2021, the Arizona Coyotes have been rebuilding primarily with young players they've drafted and developed, including Clayton Keller, Matias Maccelli, J.J. Moser and Barrett Hayton. Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Connor Geekie are all lurking as future Coyotes stars, too.
Nick Schmaltz has been a key part of the Coyotes' roster since they acquired him from Chicago in November 2018. Despite being hampered at times by injuries, the 27-year-old center still puts up solid numbers, including 59 points in 63 games in 2021-22 and 58 points in the same number of games this season.
However, Schmaltz surfaced in rumors prior to the March 3 trade deadline. In late April, GOPHNX.com's Craig Morgan suggested he could become an offseason trade candidate.
Morgan felt Schmaltz probably won't be a major piece of the Coyotes' future once they emerge from their rebuild. He believes the center may never have greater trade value than he does right now.
Schmaltz has three seasons remaining on his contract at a reasonable annual cap hit of $5.9 million. If the Coyotes trade him, the best opportunity could be at the draft before his 10-team no-trade clause kicks in on July 1.