NHL Trade Block Big Board For December 2022

It's the season to be jolly as the NHL's 2022-23 schedule enters December. For general managers exploring the trade market, there are limited shopping days until the holiday roster freeze goes into effect at 11:59 PM ET on Dec. 19 until 12:01 AM ET on Dec. 28.

Only three trades occurred in November. On Nov. 23, the New York Rangers shipped winger Ryan Reaves to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Later that day, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Connor Timmins from the Arizona Coyotes for forward Curtis Douglas. And on Nov. 30, the Carolina Hurricanes acquired Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zack Hayes for future considerations.

Several notable players who were part of our November Trade Block Big Board, such as Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat and Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, are part of our December listing of noteworthy trade candidates. Others, such as San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, are making their debut.

The following is our listing of 10 NHL trade candidates for December 2022 based on media-generated trade rumors throughout November. They are ranked based on talent, market value and possibility of getting traded during this season.

Do you agree or disagree with our December Trade Block Big Board? Did we miss anyone or is there someone here who doesn't belong? Let us know in the comments section below.

Since joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2020, Kasperi Kapanen has struggled to regain the promising 20-goal, 44-point form he displayed in 2018-19 with the Leafs. Penguins general manager Ron Hextall gambled on Kapanen last summer by signing him to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $3.2 million.

So far, however, Kapanen's performance has been disappointing. The 26-year-old winger has just one goal and five points in 14 games and was a healthy scratch for nine games through November.

On Nov. 28 Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski suggested the Penguins attempt to swap Kapanen for a struggling forward on another club in the hope a change of scenery might be worthwhile for both players. Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujärvi, Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic or San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc were his proposed options.

It remains to be seen what the Penguins will do with Kapanen. His ongoing struggles, however, suggest he could become a trade candidate before the March 3 deadline.

On Oct. 27, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported hearing from other clubs that San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier was willing to entertain trade offers on nearly every player on his roster. That raised questions about Timo Meier's future.

Meier, 26, is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. His salary-cap hit is $6 million, but he's earning $10 million in actual salary this season. That's what it will cost the Sharks just to qualify his rights for 2023-24 unless he and Grier can agree to a contract extension with a lower average value.

On Nov. 4, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek wondered if the Sharks would move Meier before the March 3 trade deadline. He felt that the winger could become a playoff rental as few clubs could afford that hefty qualifying offer. Duhatschek's colleague Kevin Kurz suggested Meier would be a good fit with the New York Islanders provided he signs with them.

San Jose Hockey Now's Sheng Peng reported on Nov. 25 that Meier indicated there's nothing new going on with his contract negotiations. Earlier in the season, his agent said he didn't expect to receive any offers until the end of 2022-23. Unless that situation changes, Meier will likely pop up more frequently in media trade chatter.

Speculation over Patrick Kane's future with the Chicago Blackhawks died down through the first half of November. However, it has started up again recently as the Blackhawks struggle on the ice and tumble in the standings.

Slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July, Kane's contract could be difficult to deal given his $10.5 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. Nevertheless, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported on Nov. 22 that Blackhawks management is expected to meet with the 34-year-old winger in December to see if he's open to being traded.

On Nov. 27, The Athletic's Mark Lazerus wrote that he believed Kane's preference would be to stay in Chicago. However, he pointed out that the winger's production has been affected by the Blackhawks' recent poor performance. Lazerus thinks Kane could be feeling worn down, making a trade inevitable before the March 3 deadline.

As we noted in our November Trade Block Big Board, playoff contenders could come calling if the Blackhawks start shopping Kane. The possibility of that decision being made this month combined with his championship pedigree ensures him a spot on our December board.

The Vancouver Canucks' struggles through October and November generated trade rumors about team captain Bo Horvat. They also spawned a report linking defenseman Tyler Myers to the Ottawa Senators.

On Nov. 19, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks and Senators had discussed a trade that would've sent the 32-year-old Myers to Ottawa in exchange for blueliner Nikita Zaitsev. The move would've provided some depth to the Senators' banged-up defense. The Canucks, meanwhile, would've shed Myers' $6 million cap hit for Zaitsev's $4.5 million.

Two days later, CHEK-TV'S Rick Dhaliwal indicated Myers is due for a $5 million signing bonus next July which most teams would have difficulty paying. He believes the Senators wanted something else packaged with Myers but the Canucks weren't willing to do it.

Myers' signing bonus and his 10-team no-trade clause could keep him in Vancouver for the remainder of this season. However, the fact that the Senators apparently looked into acquiring the 6'8”, 229-pound defenseman suggests another club desperate for experienced blue-line depth could come calling before the March 3 trade deadline.

The Columbus Blue Jackets surprised the hockey world in July by signing superstar winger Johnny Gaudreau. That move was seen as management accelerating the club's roster retooling process. Despite the addition of Gaudreau, however, the Blue Jackets are mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

That's sparked conjecture over Vladislav Gavrikov's future with the Blue Jackets. A two-way defenseman who netted a career-best 33 points last season, the 27-year-old Russian is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He'll likely seek a substantial raise over his current average annual value of $2.8 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could shop for a defenseman with Jake Muzzin on long-term injured reserve. On Nov. 16, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli suggested Gavrikov among his list of potential options. Three days later, Sportsnet's Luke Fox included the Jackets blueliner among his list of players the Leafs could target to upgrade their defense.

With just $11.9 million in projected cap space for 2023-24 and 11 active contracts, the Blue Jackets could find it difficult to retain Gavrikov unless they shed salary elsewhere. He should remain a player of interest as the March 3 trade deadline approaches.

Acquired from the Calgary Flames on Aug. 18, Sean Monahan is enjoying a solid bounce-back performance with the Montreal Canadiens. Showing no ill effects from the hip surgery that prematurely ended his final season with the Flames, the 28-year-old center has a respectable 14 points in 22 games centering the Habs' third line.

Monahan is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. It's assumed that Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes will attempt to move him leading up to the March 3 trade deadline for a high draft pick or a quality prospect.

Carrying a cap hit of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause, Monahan could be difficult to move unless the Canadiens retain part of his salary. Hughes could be willing to do that for a first-round draft pick.

On Nov. 10, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun included Monahan on his list of centers who could be targeted by the Colorado Avalanche. Eleven days later, Montreal Hockey Now's Marco D'Amico had Monahan atop his list of the Canadiens' three most valuable trade chips this season.

The Anaheim Ducks stumbled into December at the bottom of the overall standings with just six wins and 14 points in 23 games. Barring a significant reversal of fortune, they're likely to become sellers once again leading up to the trade deadline.

John Klingberg and his one-year, $7 million contract remains their most likely trade chip. On Nov. 17, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch cited TSN's Jay Onrait including Klingberg on his list of potentially available rearguards.

Klingberg currently has a full no-trade clause, but it reverts to a 10-team clause on Jan. 1. The puck-moving blueliner has managed just eight points in 20 games, but he's reached the 40-point plateau six times in the last eight seasons.

A trade to a playoff contender could improve Klingberg's stats. On Nov. 19, Sportsnet's Luke Fox included him among his list of defensemen who could help the Toronto Maple Leafs' injury-ravaged blue line.

San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier created a stir by telling reporters on Nov. 15 of his willingness to listen to trade offers from any club for Erik Karlsson. While he's not actively shopping the 32-year-old, the potential availability of the high-scoring defenseman puts him at No. 3 on our NHL Trade Block Big Board for December.

A two-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, Karlsson's puck-moving skills would make him an invaluable addition to any NHL club. His contract, however, will be difficult to deal. He carries an average annual value of $11.5 million through 2026-27 as well as a full no-movement clause.

That hasn't prevented pundits from dreaming up trade destinations for Karlsson. Appearing on The Jeff Marek Show on Nov. 16, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said he believed the Ottawa Senators (Karlsson's former club) spoke to the Sharks. However, he doubted the Senators could afford him even if the Sharks retained part of his salary.

During his 32 Thoughts podcast two days later, Friedman also suggested the Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals as possible suitors. On Nov. 17, the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos wondered if there was a way for the Maple Leafs to acquire Karlsson.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun topped our October and November trade block big boards, but he slides to No. 2 in our December ranking.

Chychrun made his season debut Nov. 21 after offseason wrist surgery and has looked good so far, with three points in four games and a plus-minus of plus-three. Nevertheless, interested clubs could want more time to evaluate the 24-year-old blueliner's performance. On Nov.22, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Coyotes are seeking two first-round picks and a prospect or a young NHL player.

LeBrun believes one reason behind Armstrong's expensive price tag for Chychrun is the first-round pick and two second-rounders the Anaheim Ducks received from the Boston Bruins last season for Hampus Lindholm. Another is the two first-rounders the Chicago Blackhawks received from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Brandon Hagel.

Trade speculation stirred following Chychrun's return. On Nov. 24, the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos had the Coyotes rearguard at the top of his list of suggested targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Three days later, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek mentioned the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders as potential suitors.

The Vancouver Canucks' sputtering start to this season led to Bo Horvat being ranked No. 4 on our November Trade Block Big Board. While they've shown signs of improvement entering December, the 28-year-old center's strong two-way play and his eligibility for unrestricted free agency next July put him atop this month's trade block.

Horvat's played quite well despite the Canucks' inconsistent performance. He leads them with 17 goals and also sits among the league's top three in that category. The Canucks captain carries an affordable $5.5 million cap hit and lacks no-trade protection, giving management considerable leeway to entertain offers from rival clubs.

Appearing on the Nov. 26 episode of the Sekeres & Price podcast, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal said he's had no indication that the two sides don't want to get a new contract hammered out. While there hasn't been much to report on those negotiations, Dhaliwal believes those talks could turn on a dime.

Nevertheless, Horvat was a topic of trade conjecture last month. During his Nov. 18 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals as potential destinations. The longer Horvat goes without a contract extension, the more speculation there will be about his future in Vancouver.

Stats (as of Nov. 30, 2022) via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.