This is part of my new weekly article series, highlighting the most prominent name players who could be on the move soon.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW St. Louis Blues
Tarasenko has found himself in many trade rumors this past offseason after he reportedly asked to be traded from St. Louis. Tarasenko was the 16th overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft and has spent his entire career with the Blues. In the 2020-21 season, he had four goals and 14 points in 24 games played. He currently has one year left under a contract that carries an AAV of $7.5 million, it also includes a full NTC, but he will likely waive that for nearly any team if he does want out. Tarasenko could fit on many teams as a top-line scoring winger. He has a lethal shot that he knows how to use to his advantage, which has led him to score five 30+ goal seasons.
Filip Forsberg, LW Nashville Predators
It seems pretty clear that Forsberg is on his way out of Nashville, whether through trade or Free Agency, after showing apparent displeasure when the Predators traded Viktor Arvidsson to the Los Angeles Kings. This wouldn’t be the first time Forsberg has been traded. He was traded to the Predators after the Capitals traded him on April 3rd, 2013, for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. The 27-year-old was drafted 11th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. Forsberg is currently in the last year of his six-year contract, which carries an AAV of $6 million, which he signed on June 27th, 2016. In the 2020-21 season, he scored 12 goals and 32 points in 39 games played. Forsberg would fit on many teams as a top-line Left Wing who is no stranger to scoring goals, having scored 20+ goals six times throughout his career.
Reilly Smith, RW/LW Vegas Golden Knights
Smith has seen himself in the rumor mill to move cap out after the Golden Knights traded for Jack Eichel. Smith is no stranger to being traded after having been traded three times throughout his career thus far, having been traded to the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. Smith put up 14 goals and 25 points in 53 games played during the 2020-21 season. In the final year of his five-year contract, he carries an AAV of $5 million. Smith is a great depth forward who can play both left and right-wing and is no stranger to scoring goals, having scored 20+ goals four times throughout his career.
Marc-Andre Fleury, G Chicago Blackhawks
Fleury has had a rough start this season, with the Chicago Blackhawks currently sporting a record of 3-7-0, with an SV% of .897 and a GAA of 3.50. The Blackhawks acquired Fleury in a trade with the Golden Knights, which sent Mikael Hakkarainen to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the 2021 Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury. This probably isn’t the start the three-time cup champion had in mind when he was traded to Chicago. Fleury is on the last year of his three-year contract, which carries an AAV of $7 million; he also has an M-NTC. Fleury would fit on many teams that need a good goaltender and has a solid defensive group.
Jake Debrusk, LW Boston Bruins
Debrusk has found himself on the front end of a lot of hate by Bruins fans with his mediocre performances last season and to start this season having put up a total of eight goals and 18 points in 54 games played between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. This is not where the 14th selection in the 2015 NHL entry draft wants to be at this point in his career. Debrusk is in the final year of his two-year contract carrying an AAV of $3.675 million; at the end of the contract, he can become an RFA. With Debrusk, it seems like he needs a change of scenery to set him back on track. Debrusk has only hit the 20 goal mark once, which came in the 2018-19 season, where he had 27 goals and 42 points in 68 games played.
