2024 NHL Trade Deadline: 10 prospects who could be on the move.
At least one story on the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, which is set for March 8, will be released every day at Daily Faceoff, with less than two months to go.
We’re going in-depth with ten prospects today who could be moving this year.
2024 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 34 days
Trades involving elite prospects are among the best sweeteners in any significant NHL transaction.
The formula is straightforward: exchange a future asset for your win-now portion. In sports, nothing is guaranteed, particularly in a game like hockey where anything can happen at any time. Given turnover rates, many general managers aren’t very concerned about what the team will look like in five years, so take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.
But you’re treading in dangerous territory when sacrificing long-term success for short-term gain. Good teams decimate their prospect pools all the time – just ask Tampa Bay, Colorado, Vegas and Pittsburgh. It’s paid off for all of them, but the comedown can really, really hurt.
That’s not the case for every team listed below – some midpack clubs could be just looking to cash out – but here’s a look at 10 prospects that could be involved in trades come March 8:
Philip Broberg, D, 22 (Edmonton Oilers)
The pick, which was confusing at the time and was selected eighth overall in 2019, hasn’t held up that well, especially because Trevor Zegras was selected ninth. With a powerful 6-foot-3 build, he is a skilled two-way defenceman who excels in the AHL with Bakersfield. But despite spending the last three seasons switching between the two leagues, he hasn’t worked out how to remain relevant in the NHL. Although Broberg’s game has improved somewhat defensively over time, I don’t think it’s enough to be too enthusiastic about.
The Oilers are the hottest team in the NHL right now. I don’t see a situation where Broberg becomes a long-term solution on the blueline. He could be a trade chip, allowing Broberg to get a fresh start somewhere else. There’s potential for him to become an everyday NHLer sooner rather than later, but it might not be in Alberta.
Edmonton needs to go all-out to get Connor McDavid a Stanley Cup. Leave no stone unturned here.
Alex Turcotte, C, 22 (Los Angeles Kings)
It’s easy to feel bad for Turcotte, who was taken fifth overall by the Kings in 2019. The skill was evident from a young age, but injuries plagued the first few years of his pro career. He only has two NHL points to his credit, but he’s having his best AHL season to date with 23 points in 28 games.
Turcotte, a premier playmaker in the minor leagues, doesn’t appear to have a chance to join the Kings on a full-time basis this season. If he’s going to pull it off, like Broberg, it will happen somewhere else. With 54 points, the Kings are in a three-way tie for the top Wildcard berth with St. Louis and Nashville, meaning they may still make the playoffs. They are now 27th in the league after going 2-5-3 in the last ten games and 6-9-6 since December 15. Even though a Cup is unlikely, they will probably act before the deadline. If providing Turcotte with an opportunity to flourish elsewhere means obtaining assistance right away, that seems like the right choice.
Ville Heinola, D, 22 (Winnipeg Jets)
Heinola took a huge blow during the preseason, missing 40 games with a left ankle fracture. He’s back with the Manitoba Moose for a fifth year now, and he’s playing well for someone who missed so much time. Few AHL defenders have been as effective as Heinola over the past few years, but he hasn’t managed to snag a full-time gig with the Jets.
After all this time and false starts, will the Jets finally move Heinola to bring in some help at the deadline? He’s a young, skilled two-way defender that could find work elsewhere, but is stuck in Winnipeg’s defensive logjam. With the club playing as well as they have been, could Heinola be used to bring in some extra depth at the deadline? He’s still the team’s top defensive prospect, but time’s ticking here.
Yaroslav Askarov, G, 22 (Nashville Predators)
Barry, buddy. Don’t do it. Don’t be tempted. Unless you’re getting an absolute diamond here, do not trade Askarov – a goaltender with serious future Vezina Trophy potential. If anything, trade Juuse Saros, who has significant value after establishing himself as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL over the past half-decade – there’s no shortage of teams that could benefit from Saros in the short-term.
Still, Askarov holds some value on the trade front, if the team was to explore the option.
Keeping Askarov in the AHL for another year while working with long-time AHL star Troy Grosenick was always the right call. But the 2024 AHL All-Star is one of the best in the league this year, which included a stretch of three shutouts in a four-game span. His last loss came over a month and a half ago.
Cash out on Saros and go all-in on Askarov next year. Seriously.
Johnny Beecher, C, 22 (Boston Bruins)
If the Bruins will empty the pipeline to address depth needs at the deadline, Beecher could be tantalizing. The 6-foot-3, 216-pound forward had five goals and seven points with the Bruins before being sent back to Providence in mid-January. It was inevitable, given he only surpassed the 10-minute mark once over his final nine games. But this year was about adjusting to the fast pace of the NHL, and he brought value as a bottom-six big-bodied center.
But guys like that can be valuable as an extra chip-in piece to bring in immediate depth, especially down the middle. Beecher is a solid prospect but one the team could easily move past. You want guys like him in the lineup because he wins faceoffs, hits guys and plays with confidence, but that might come useful in trade talks – especially if they can hold on to Matt Poitras, Mason Lohrei and Fabian Lysell.
Oskar Olausson, LW, 21 (Colorado Avalanche)
Like Boston, Colorado’s prospect pipeline is… bare. Olausson is one of the bright spots, showing promise as a potential bottom-six scorer with a 6-foot-2 frame. He’s an excellent skater who handles the puck well and likes to get physical, and his offensive confidence is starting to show a bit more, too. In the right role in the right situation, Olausson could be a valuable piece.
But it doesn’t have to be in Colorado. And the Avs will want to do whatever it takes to keep their Cup contention window alive. They don’t have many assets to spare, but Olausson could be an enticing piece in a package to bring in some extra depth.
Matyas Sapovaliv, C, 19 (Vegas Golden Knights)
The Golden Knights have made it clear they’re not too concerned about the future and are willing to move picks at any cost. That’s why Sapovaliv would be an interesting chip to dangle, given his big 6-foot-4 frame and his love for generating chances around the net. He’s difficult to push around in front of the crease, but he has the skill to show he’s more than just a big man doing things.
Big centers that score and move are difficult to come by, and he could become one of the more notable names moved this year. Vegas could look to capitalize on that if they can make the cap space work – likely through LTIR – but he could be one of the key pieces in making a trade work. There’s a bright future here for Sapovaliv, whether it be in Vegas or elsewhere – it just depends on what room GM Kelly McCrimmon has to work with.
Jonatan Berggren, RW, 23 (Detroit Red Wings)
Berggren appeared to be nearing the end of his career in Michigan, having played 67 games with the Wings in the previous season. With the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, he has played for the most of the season and is now averaging more than 70 points per game for the first time in his career.
Since Berggren doesn’t seem to fit in Detroit, trade speculations involving him have been circulating throughout the whole of the season. But what exactly are the Wings? Will they be the first team out of the playoffs and barely make it?
Are they going to fall flat down the stretch run? Is moving one of the best young players in the system worth it if they can get an impact player right now? GM Steve Yzerman has a few interesting weeks ahead of him.
Seamus Casey, D (New Jersey Devils)
Matt Larkin brought up Casey as a possible comeback in his recent article on Juuse Saros’s possible destinations. It makes sense: Casey would be ideal for the Preds in the long run, and the Devils have some talented young defense. They are not alone, either, as many teams would be drawn to a dynamic, hard-hitting, creative two-way player like Casey. Despite his small stature of 5 feet 9 inches, the 20-year-old defenseman has a tendency to put opponents into the boards.
When it comes to offensive defensemen, the Devils are well-stocked. Two of the best young blueliners in the league right now are Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. But they don’t have strong defensive depth beyond that.
They moved Shakir Mukhamadullin in the Timo Meier trade last year, which could be what keeps the Devils from moving Casey. But it might be worth moving Casey to shore up goaltending if they’re looking to make an immediate push.
Scott Morrow, D (Carolina Hurricanes)
At UMass, Morrow is running out of things to prove. He has been one of the best offensive defenseman in the NCAA, has won a Hockey East championship, was selected twice for the HE all-star team, and at No. 40, he is beginning to look like an excellent value selection.
Quality right-handed defenseman are hard to come by, but with the Hurricanes in a bit of a logjam at the point, Morrow might be a useful trade asset. He would be appealing to a team that was looking to add another game-changing forward or perhaps a quality goaltender. The Canes are set up for a run, but they require assistance. Morrow’s shipment out can enable that.
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