Buy or Sell the Latest 2025 NHL Offseason Free-agency and Trade Rumors

It's been a month since the NHL trade deadline went into effect on March 7, and the market will remain quiet until the end of the regular season.

Trades are permitted during the postseason among teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs and those eliminated from postseason play.

The lack of trade activity hasn't stopped the buzz in the media rumor mill, though. There's been ongoing speculation regarding non-playoff clubs such as the Nashville Predators and bubble teams like the New York Rangers.

Meanwhile, conjecture continues over Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He could become the top player available when the unrestricted free-agent market opens on July 1.

There's also some media chatter about which restricted free agents might become offer-sheet targets.

We've picked out the most notable recent free-agency and trade rumors to determine which ones are worth buying or selling.

Coming off an entry-level contract, JJ Peterka will be seeking a significant raise on his next deal. The forward is fourth among Buffalo Sabres scorers with a career-best 61 points in 71 games.

The 23-year-old surfaced briefly in trade rumors before the March 7 trade deadline. On March 1, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli claimed teams were calling the Sabres inquiring about his availability. However, Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams claimed there was no truth to that speculation.

On March 31, Seravalli and Carter Hutton discussed the possibility of Peterka being targeted with an offer sheet from another club. Hutton believes the Sabres will have to pay to keep the German in the fold.

The rising salary cap for next season could embolden rival clubs with cap space to target promising players like Peterka. They could attempt to emulate the St. Louis Blues' bold moves last summer when they signed away Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers.

Buy or Sell: Buy

A rival club could target Peterka. With a projected cap space of $23.2 million and 16 active roster players signed for next season, the Sabres have room to match an offer for him. However, things could get complicated as they must also re-sign restricted free agents such as Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod.

Chicago spent the past two offseasons attempting to surround young franchise player Connor Bedard with veteran talent through trades and free agency.

Tyler Bertuzzi was among those additions. He signed a four-year deal last July worth an average annual value of $5.5 million. On Sep. 21, Jim Lynch of Chicago Hockey Now suggested his gritty offensive style could make him the team's biggest offseason add.

The 30-year-old got off to a slow start this season but improved over the second half. He sits fourth among Chicago's leading scorers with 21 goals and 42 points in 77 games.

On March 20, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic wondered if Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson might buy out Bertuzzi or defenseman TJ Brodie to free up even more cap space. They currently have $29.1 million available with 22 active roster players under contract.

Buy or Sell: Sell

Bertuzzi is best suited as a second-line winger, but he can still suitably fill that role if Davidson can use his already plentiful cap space to add one or two quality forwards to the lineup.

Brodie seems the more likely buyout candidate. His performance has declined, and he's been a frequent healthy scratch this season.

Battling for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth, the New York Rangers are a club in transition this season. Since December, they have made several trades to shake up their struggling roster with an eye on a bounce-back performance next season and beyond.

General manager Chris Drury could have more moves in stores during the offseason. The Rangers have a projected salary-cap space of $9.6 million for next season with 18 active roster players under contract. Their notable restricted free agents include K'Andre Miller, Will Cuylle and Zac Jones.

Drury must free up some cap space to re-sign those players and perhaps add to the roster through trades and free agency. That could mean peddling a high-salaried veteran like Mika Zibanejad ($8.5 million through 2029-30) or Chris Kreider ($6.5 million through 2026-27).

The New York Post's Larry Brooks thinks Drury could attempt to convince Zibanejad to waive his no-movement clause. Meanwhile, Stan Fischler of The Hockey News suggested Kreider as the more likely trade candidate.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Moving Zibanejad or Kreider won't be easy given their contracts and declining production. Nevertheless, they could regain their scoring ways on a Cup contender with salary-cap space in need of experienced scoring depth.

The Nashville Predators made two of the biggest splashes in last summer's free-agent pool by signing forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

However, the addition of those veteran stars failed to prevent the team from missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Nashville general manager Barry Trotz was busy making moves in this season's trade market. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic observed on March 25 that his moves at the trade deadline left the team in need of depth on defense and at center.

The Predators have a projected cap space of $17.2 million for 2025-26 with 21 active roster players under contract. They have sufficient cap space to address those needs, but Trotz told LeBrun he wants to ensure he has enough room in case some of his prospects crack the roster next season.

On March 31, Daily Faceoff's Carter Hutton suggested moving Stamkos or Marchessault to free up more cap room.

Stamkos, 35, has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million, while the 34-year-old Marchessault has four years left at $5.5 million.

Buy or Sell: Sell

Trotz could move one or the other if they request it, but their ages, cap hits and no-trade protection are significant sticking points. The Predators GM also indicated he brought in those veterans to keep his club competitive while he attempted to add younger players to his roster.

Before the March 7 trade deadline, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky reportedly offered Mikko Rantanen to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Mitch Marner.

However, the deal never went through and the Finn was traded instead to the Dallas Stars.

Tulsky whiffed on that attempt to land Marner, but he could try again this summer. On March 17, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the Hurricanes GM intends to use his plentiful salary-cap space to pursue big-name talent in this summer's free-agent market.

The Hurricanes have a projected cap space of $36.2 million for next season with 16 active roster players signed for next season. Tulsky indicated he'd have $20 million available if he re-signed all his free agents, which include Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Taylor Hall and Frederik Andersen.

Tulsky never mentioned Marner in his interview with The Athletic, but LeBrun later told TSN he believes the Hurricanes GM will target the Leafs winger if he goes to market on July 1.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Marner would be the biggest name available if he tests the open market this summer. He could seek over $14 million annually on a seven-year contract.

The Hurricanes would have the cap space to sign him, and they also have the additional enticement of being a potential Stanley Cup contender.

Stats and standings (as of Apr.7, 2025) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia.