With the Stanley Cup Final well in the rearview mirror and the NHL Draft and Free Agent Frenzy approaching, the focus aggressively shifts to roster construction for the 2026-27 NHL campaign.
And with a thin free agent class and a $104 million salary cap for next season, the trade market will undoubtedly heat up in the coming days and weeks.
With that, take a quick look at the Top 10 players on TSN’s summer Trade Bait board:
1. Dylan Larkin, Detroit - C
Shockwaves went through the league after reports surfaced that the captain asked for a trade from the Red Wings.
He registered 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games this past season and also helped the United States claim gold at the Olympics in February, posting two goals and one assist in six games.
Drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in 2014, Larkin has 276 goals and 643 points in 808 career games. He reached the playoffs just once with Detroit - his rookie season in 2015-16.
2. Bowen Byram, Buffalo - LD
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports “multiple teams” are exploring a trade with the Sabres for the 25-year-old blueliner.
Dreger adds that Byram’s agent, Darren Ferris, has a history of marching his clients to unrestricted free agency, which is motivating the Sabres towards a trade with one year left on his contract at a cap hit of $6.25 million.
Byram posted 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games with the Sabres this past season, adding four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games.
3. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton – LD
Nurse, who requested a trade from the Oilers a couple of weeks ago, had seven goals and 24 points in 82 games last season while averaging 20:58 of ice time. The 31-year-old averaged 23:03 of ice time in six playoff games as the Oilers fell in the first round.
The 6-foot-4, left-shot blueliner is entering the fifth season of an eight-year, $74 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $9.25 million. He has a full no-movement clause through next season that will then shift to a 10-team no-trade list in 2027-28.
4. Vincent Trocheck, NY Rangers – C
Trocheck was heavily involved in trade rumours ahead of the March deadline.
The 5-foot-11 centre is entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $39.375 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5.625 million. He has a 12-team no-trade list that will shift down to 10 teams on July 1.
Trocheck, who will turn 33 in July, had 16 goals and 53 points in 67 games with the Rangers last season. He also represented the United States at the Olympics, recording three assists en route to winning a gold medal.
5. Morgan Rielly, Toronto – LD
Many believe the Maple Leafs may attempt to move Rielly this summer after a disappointing season and newly named general manager John Chayka now on the job.
Rielly scored 11 goals and 25 assists over 78 games for the Leafs in 2025-26, his 13th season in Toronto.
The 32-year-old blueliner has played four seasons of an eight-year, $60 million contract, featuring an average annual value of $7.5 million.
6. Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh – LW
Rakell, 33, had 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games with the Penguins last season. He added a goal and four points in six playoff games as the Penguins fell in the first round to the Flyers.
The 6-foot-1 winger is entering the fifth season of a six-year, $30 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5 million.
7 Mason McTavish, Anaheim - C
McTavish, 23, registered 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games with the Ducks last season. He added a goal and six points in 10 playoff games before his team was eliminated in the second round.
The 6-foot-1 centre is entering the second season of a six-year, $42 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $7 million.
8. Matthew Knies, Toronto – LW
According to Dreger, there are a number of NHL executives out there who believe that Knies will be traded, as Chayka is doing his due diligence, as are other clubs, finding out why Knies would be available.
Knies, 23, registered 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games with the Maple Leafs last season.
The 6-foot-3 winger is entering the second season of a six-year, $46.5 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $7.75 million.
9. Pavel Zacha, Boston – C
Zacha, 29, recently set career highs in goals (30) and points (65) in his fourth season in Boston. He currently has a $4.75 million AAV in the third year of a four-year contract and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
10. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg – G
Dreger reports that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is at least willing to listen on calls that come on regarding the star goaltender.
Hellebuyck, 33, went 23-23-11 last season with a 2.86 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage.
