5 NHL Players in Desperate Need of a Trade

Every NHL season sees a number of players changing teams via trade. Despite the limitations of a salary cap remaining flattened at $81.5 million leaving many teams with limited cap space, we should expect trade activity to increase as the season progresses toward the March 21 trade deadline.

Players can be moved for various reasons. Those who no longer fit into a club's long-term plans can end up playing elsewhere. Teams will also move those eligible for unrestricted free-agent status they don't intend to re-sign. A team with depth at one position might swap a surplus player for one who can address a weakness at another position.

Sometimes, a disagreement between player and management, such as the ongoing impasse between Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres, can set the stage for a trade. In the case of New York Rangers right wing Vitali Kravtsov, it could be because he's unhappy with his spot in the lineup.

Here's a look at five NHL players who could benefit from getting traded as soon as possible. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below.

The ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, Vitali Kravtsov was projected to become a top-six winger with the New York Rangers. Three years later, the 21-year-old winger's NHL career has stalled as he sits at home in Russia awaiting a trade. The Rangers are seeking a top prospect in return, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek.

After his 20-game debut with the Rangers last season, Kravtsov had an opportunity to move up among their top forwards after Pavel Buchnevich was traded to the St. Louis Blues. Kravtsov entered training camp among their top-nine forwards but didn't survive the final round of cuts. He refused to report to the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford and returned to Russia.

Kravtsov had difficulty cracking the Rangers' top six due to their depth in wingers. Clubs around the league in need of promising right wings could give him a better opportunity to prove himself, and a change of scenery could be what he needs to resuscitate his NHL career.

Acquired from the Arizona Coyotes early in the 2018-19 season, Dylan Strome tallied a career-best 57 points, 51 of those in 58 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Three years later, the 24-year-old forward is a frequent healthy scratch and the subject of trade chatter.

Injuries and inconsistent play contributed to Strome's slide down the Blackhawks depth chart. His lack of playing time this season suggests head coach Jeremy Colliton has lost confidence in his skills as a top-six forward. On Oct. 12, TSN's Pierre LeBrun said several clubs had expressed interest in Strome. However, a trade has yet to materialize.

Strome only played in three of the Blackhawks' nine games in October. He won't get an opportunity to regain his scoring touch sitting in the press box in Chicago. A trade to a club seeking a versatile scorer who can play center or wing could be just the ticket to get his NHL career back on track. 

Following the departure of Sergei Bobrovsky via free agency in 2019, Joonas Korpisalo appeared poised to take over as the Columbus Blue Jackets' starting goaltender. He'd spent four seasons as Bobrovsky's understudy and had an opportunity to establish himself as an NHL starter.

Two years later, Korpisalo is once again relegated to backup status, this time behind Elvis Merzlikins. With Merzlikins recently inking a five-year contract extension, the 27-year-old Korpisalo no longer seems to fit into the Blue Jackets' long-term plans. He made just three starts in October, posting a 3.27 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July, Korpisalo could be shopped before the March 21 trade deadline if the Jackets are out of playoff contention. Moving on to another club could give him a chance to prove his worth and perhaps improve his value in next summer's free-agent market.

Phil Kessel is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He could, however, be changing teams at some point this season. On Oct. 15, GOPHNX.com's Craig Morgan reported it's no secret the 34-year-winger wants to be traded and the Coyotes are "working feverishly to grant him his wish."

Kessel has been a durable and productive winger throughout his NHL career. Appearing in 909 consecutive games, he's tallied 392 goals and 908 points over the course of his 16 NHL seasons. While no longer in his playing prime, he was the Coyotes' leading scorer last season with 20 goals and 43 points in 56 games.

With the Coyotes rebuilding and likely to miss the playoffs, Kessel needs a chance to prove he can help a postseason contender and bolster his value in next summer's free-agent market. With the Coyotes carrying $6.8 million of his $8 million cap hit, it could take some time to find a suitable destination before the trade deadline. His eight-team no-trade clause could also determine where he ends up.

The impasse between Buffalo Sabres management and Jack Eichel over which procedure he'll undergo to repair a herniated disc in his neck has dragged on for months. In his season-ending interview on May 10, the 24-year-old center expressed unhappiness with management over the situation. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has fielded calls from other clubs since the summer but hasn't found a suitable trade offer yet.

It appears there's no reconciliation to be had between Eichel and the Sabres front office. He requires surgery for both his quality of life and to continue his playing career. He prefers a disc replacement procedure, while Sabres doctors advise neck fusion. It's important for both sides to reach a resolution in the form of a trade as quickly as possible.

The Sabres need to get the best return possible in order to quickly move on from this situation. Eichel needs to join a club that will allow him to undergo the surgery he prefers. It will also give him a fresh start and an opportunity to resume his career in a more stable environment than what he's faced with the Sabres.

When healthy, Eichel is among the NHL's top centers. Several teams are believed to be interested in acquiring him. On Oct 29, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Ed Graney noted the Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks were linked to the Sabres star. Vegas Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski cited a source suggesting the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche could also be in on Eichel.

Salary cap info (as of Nov. 1, 2021) via Cap Friendly.