Buying or Selling the Latest NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors

Activity in the NHL trade market has picked up in recent days, spurred along in part by the approach of the league's annual holiday roster freeze period running from Dec. 20 to 27.

On Dec. 6, the Buffalo Sabres acquired checking-line forward Eric Robinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Two days later, the New York Islanders sent a conditional 2024 seventh-rounder to the St. Louis Blues for rugged defenseman Robert Bortuzzo.

As the roster freeze period draws nearer, there could be more moves as teams attempt to address their roster needs.

Speculation abounds suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs could attempt to shore up their injury-depleted defense corps. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils' need to bolster their goaltending has prompted one pundit to ponder whether the Anaheim Ducks' John Gibson would be a good fit.

Are any of the recent conjectures worth buying into? Follow along as we examine the most noteworthy rumors of the past week. Feel free to express your views in our app comments section.

A first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2019 NHL Draft, Philip Broberg was projected to become a skillful two-way defenseman. However, the 22-year-old Swede has had difficulty cracking the Oilers' blue line, spending the past two seasons bouncing between Edmonton and their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

On Dec. 5, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported it was his understanding that the Oilers had granted Broberg's camp permission to speak with other teams about a trade. He indicated they wanted a player rather than a draft pick in return, speculating they'll have to find a player in a similar situation.

Hours later, however, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported Oilers general manager Ken Holland denied giving Broberg's agent Darren Ferris consent to pursue a trade. Ferris indicated that he and his client were frustrated with the Oilers, but he was "actively collaborating with Ken to address and resolve the issue privately."

Two days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in his weekly "32 Thoughts" column that Broberg may not have official permission to speak with other clubs, "but the word is out and there is interest." While rumors swirled, TSN.ca reported the Oilers loaned the blueliner to Bakersfield.

Buy or Sell: Sell...for now.

Holland appears reluctant to part with Broberg and risk him reaching his full potential elsewhere. Nevertheless, we can't fully dismiss the possibility of the young defenseman becoming a trade chip if a roster issue becomes a pressing need for the Oilers. They've been in the market for a goaltender for several weeks.

For 18 seasons, Marc-Édouard Vlasic has patrolled the San Jose Sharks blue line. Throughout most of his career, he was among the league's best shutdown defensemen. Between 2013-14 and 2017-18, he received votes for the James Norris Memorial Trophy and won a Gold Medal with Canada's men's hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

By the time Vlasic turned 30, his solid defensive play earned him an eight-year, $56 million contract. However, his best seasons are now behind him. The 36-year-old rearguard's play has declined since 2018-19. He's been a frequent healthy scratch this season, appearing in just 16 games. When he does play, he's averaging just 14 minutes of ice time per game.

That's given rise to speculation the Sharks could try to trade Vlasic. On Dec. 7, The Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman saying he has "no doubt" they want to move the veteran blueliner.

Pashelka, however, poured cold water on Friedman's remarks. He believes Vlasic's age, declining performance and expensive contract make him difficult to trade. The Sharks could retain half of Vlasic's $7 million annual salary cap hit through 2025-26 but Pashelka doubts they're in a good position to do that. He also carries a three-team trade list.

Buy or Sell: Sell

With so many teams pressed for salary-cap space this season, there's simply no market for an aging defenseman with a still-hefty cap hit who will only approve a move to three clubs. As Pashelka suggested, the Sharks could instead wait until next summer when they can buy out the remainder of Vlasic's contract.

On Dec. 7, The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla pointed out the Colorado Avalanche's need for a reliable second-line center. They were using Ross Colton in that role, but he's better suited on the third line. Offseason acquisition Ryan Johansen has just 11 points in 27 games and has dropped down their depth chart.

Kiszla believes the Avalanche don't stand a chance of winning their second Stanley Cup in three years without making a trade for a proven second-line center. He acknowledged the club's limited salary-cap space but felt that they have to find some way to address that issue.

Two days earlier, The Athletic's Peter Baugh wrote that he felt the Avalanche needed another center. He noted the Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm, Philadelphia Flyers' Morgan Frost, Montreal Canadiens' Sean Monahan and the Anaheim Ducks' Adam Henrique could be available.

The Avalanche would have to clear cap space to take on Lindholm's $4.9 million cap hit or Henrique's $5.8 million. Monahan ($1.9 million) and Frost ($2.1 million through 2024-25) would be more affordable.

Buy or Sell: Buy

The Avalanche have been winning despite their hole at the second-line center position. Nevertheless, they could make a move before the March 8 trade deadline to fill that spot. Whether they'll pursue those listed by Baugh or find other, more affordable options remains to be seen.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' defense corps has been battered by injuries in recent weeks. Timothy Liljegren is out with a lower-body injury, Mark Giordano is sidelined with a broken finger and John Klingberg will undergo season-ending hip surgery later this month.

With Klingberg going on long-term injury reserve, the Leafs will have some cap flexibility to pursue a replacement via the trade market. There's no shortage of media speculation over who they could target.

The Athletic's Jonas Siegel has the Calgary Flames' Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev atop his list of possibilities. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen and San Jose Sharks' Matt Benning. TSN's Darren Dreger brought up the Flyers' Sean Walker and the Anaheim Ducks' Ilya Lyubushkin.

Friedman noted that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving wants to add a right-hand shot with an edge to his game. Treliving also added that there aren't many high-end defensemen available at an affordable cost right now. Dreger noted the asking prices around the league are high and the Leafs are limited in what they can offer up in terms of draft picks.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Despite their injury-riddled defense, the Leafs remain very much in playoff contention. That will buy Treliving some time to allow for the asking prices on blueliners to become more reasonable. His focus could shift toward his goaltending, however, if Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones fail to suitably fill in for injured starter Joseph Woll.

Following last season's franchise-best 112-point performance, expectations were high for the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24. Having emerged from a long rebuilding period, they appeared poised to become a Stanley Cup contender.

Instead, they find themselves struggling for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. One reason is the poor performance of goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Their combined goals-against per game (3.62) is second-worst in the league.

On Dec. 4, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli said he had no confidence in the Devils' current goaltending tandem. He felt they needed an upgrade if they hope to be a Cup contender this season. Three days later, The Athletic's Eric Stephens pondered whether the Anaheim Ducks' John Gibson would be a good fit with the Devils.

Gibson's decent numbers (2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage) behind a porous Ducks defense led Stephens to suggest he'd be an upgrade in goal for the Devils. However, his $6.4 million average annual value through 2026-27 could be too expensive for the Devils unless the Ducks retained part of it, which could increase the latter's asking price.

Buy or Sell: Sell

The Devils lack the cap space to take on Gibson's full cap hit this season. That could change if sidelined defenseman Dougie Hamilton ($9 million annual cap hit) ends up on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the season. However, the Ducks could still set a high asking price in terms of draft picks and prospects.