<body><div>With most teams having completed their roster-building for the 2024-25 season, it's time to start looking ahead to some players who could be on the move once the season begins.Specifically, players that could be rentals and are playing in the final year of their contracts.So let's look at five players that could be on the move during this season and before the 2024-25 trade deadline.It seems unlikely that the truly big names are going to get moved. For example, if Toronto was going to trade Mitch Marner, it would have done so by now, and the Maple Leafs will be in contention during the season to move him.While it is easy to speculate on Sidney Crosby's future given his lack of a contract extension this offseason, it still seems more likely that he gets a new contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins and finishes his career there.The players most likely to get traded are the next tier down on the hierarchy of NHL players. These are some of those potential options.<h2>Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators</h2>1 of 5Ullmark may have just arrived In Ottawa earlier this offseason after coming over in a trade with the Boston Bruins.There is a very good chance it is a short stay in Ottawa.Not only is Ullmark entering the final year of his contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, there is a real chance the Senators miss the playoffs again and fall out of serious playoff contention by the trade deadline.If the Senators are not convinced they can re-sign Ullmark to be their long-term goalie, and if they are not in playoff contention for the eighth year in a row, it would only make sense for the Senators to put him on the market and try to get something back for him.<h2>Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets</h2>2 of 5Ehlers' name has been involved in trade rumors for over a year, and it is a little surprising he has not already been traded by the Jets.He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season and could be one of the skaters available at the trade deadline if the Jets are not in a playoff position. Even though the Jets made the playoffs a year ago, there is no guarantee they do so again this season.Their success in 2023-24 was due to starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck playing out of his mind and at a Vezina Trophy level for the entire season. That masked Winnipeg's flaws, especially on defense.If Hellebuyck takes any sort of a step backwards this season, or simply gets overplayed and overworked, there is a very real chance the Jets also take a big step backwards.Ehlers has remarkably consistent production and can usually be counted on to score 25 goals with 60 points over an 82-game season. A lot of teams could use him in their top-six forward group.<h2>Andrei Kuzmenko, Calgary Flames</h2>3 of 5The Flames acquired Kuzmenko as part of the Elias Lindholm trade during the 2023-24 season. It ended up being a great opportunity for him to get a fresh start and rediscover the goal-scoring touch he displayed during his debut season in the NHL.He might not score 39 goals again, but he still can be a 25-30-goal scorer in the NHL and be a viable complementary player for a contender.The Flames are not going to be that type of contender.Given how many veteran players they have traded away over the past year (Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane) they are likely headed for another non-playoff season and just starting to re-tool their organization. If not completely rebuild it. As a pending free agent, Kuzmenko should be the next player to get moved this season.<h2>Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers</h2>4 of 5Kakko is the type of player that is going to get perpetually underrated and underappreciated.He was a No. 2 overall pick and entered the NHL with huge expectations for a big-market team. But his traditional box score production has not matched any of that.Because of that, he'll be viewed as an underwhelming player, and perhaps even a bust.But he's not.He is a good player who does important things for his line and is the type of player every coach and general manager would love to have. If he was picked 24th instead of No. 2 overall the perception of him would be entirely different as a player.Despite that, it still seems like a trade could be on the horizon. As useful as he is, the Rangers still do not seem to trust him in a top-line role and he is one of several players eligible for restricted free agency this offseason and due a significant raise.Perhaps the Rangers do not want to pay that raise. Maybe they do not want to risk an offer-sheet situation. Or perhaps he is just the type of player who could be dangled as an in-season trade chip to help them get better in other areas.Good player. It still seems like his time with the Rangers could be limited at this point.<h2>Frank Vatrano, Anaheim Ducks</h2>5 of 5Vatrano was mentioned in trade rumors for most of the 2023-24 season as he put together a career year for a rebuilding Ducks team.If they were looking to get maximum value in moving him, they probably missed that chance.But they should still be able to get a decent return for him as a rental this season, especially if he has another big year offensively.In two years with the Ducks, he has scored 59 goals in 163 games. He is not the most complete player, and he can be a little one-dimensional at times, but that one dimension can be extremely productive and valuable.A contender that needs a finisher should be extremely interested.The Ducks are starting to build a promising team, but Vatrano does not figure to be a part of their long-term plans or a key player on the next contending Ducks team.</div></body>

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5 NHL Players Likely to Be Traded Next During the 2024-25 Season

With most teams having completed their roster-building for the 2024-25 season, it's time to start looking ahead to some players who could be on the move once the season begins. Specifically, players that could be rentals and are playing in the final year of their contracts. So let's look at...

5 NHL Players Likely to Be Traded Next During the 2024-25 Season

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