The NHL is full of surprises, and every season some trade shakes the league to its core. It's hard to believe, but we're now roughly 13 percent through the 2023-24 season already. Time flies, doesn't it?
Despite the small number of games played, some trade rumors have carried over into the new season from the offseason, and a few have only been exacerbated by on-ice performances. The Calgary Flames have been one of the worst teams in the NHL so far, and Nikita Zadorov's colorful and incendiary comments on the team's situation might indicate that the sky will fall in Calgary sooner rather than later.
3. Carolina Hurricanes land Elias Lindholm from Calgary Flames
The Carolina Hurricanes were supposed to be one of the NHL's better teams once again this season, but it hasn't been all rainbows and flowers for them. Star defenseman Brett Pesce is injured, and the goalie tandem of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta hasn't been cutting it at all. To help patch that up, they add a guy who can do a bit of everything.
Elias Lindholm returns where it all started for him at the NHL level. After being traded alongside Noah Hanifin for Dougie Hamilton in 2018, Lindholm blossomed into a star with Calgary, recording 20 goals for the first time and racking up 78 points in total. The 28-year-old is one of the game's best defensive centers and carries a $4.85 million cap hit heading into free agency this summer. Returning to Carolina gives him the best chance to win a Stanley Cup right now.
Alexander Nikishin is one of the hottest defense prospects in the world right now, but the Flames desperately need prospects that can and will make a difference as they start to rebuild. For the Hurricanes, you have to give in order to get, and they'll still have their draft picks to replace Nikishin in their pipeline.
2. Washington Capitals land Jake DeBrusk from Boston Bruins
With the amount of depth they lost due to the retirements of team legends Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, it's actually a bit surprising the Boston Bruins haven't been more active in the trade market. Right now, the team's top-six centers are Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle, and while those two have been good players throughout their careers, they won't be enough for a team with aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup.
The Washington Capitals are no longer the postseason powerhouse they once were, and apparently, they've been sniffing around for top-six wingers, such as Conor Garland. Well, Jake DeBrusk is a lot better than Garland, but his cold start to the season is putting a major dent in his free-agency plans. These two clubs did major business with each other last season, and maybe they'll revisit talks again.
Evgeni Kuznetsov is still a good player, but he's 31 now and playing on a bad team. He's probably better than what the Bruins already have, but it would be a surprise if he's anything more than above average these days.
1. New Jersey Devils land Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators
The New Jersey Devils have been linked to a big move for a goalie for what seems like eons now, but nothing has come of those rumors ... yet. The team's defense has been scattershot to start the year, with their veterans regularly having breakdowns in their own zone. However, they haven't had the goaltending to help offset that either.
Assuming 2022 No. 2 overall pick Simon Nemec is off the table, the Nashville Predators will have to make do with other Devils prospects. Alexander Holtz isn't coming out of the Lindy Ruff love-hate cycle better, even with his strong start, and would be better suited for a real top-six opportunity in Nashville under his former coach Andrew Brunette.
Seamus Casey has been one of the most productive players in all of college hockey but doesn't seem to have a real shot to make the Devils as a right-shot defender with Dougie Hamilton, John Marino, and Simon Nemec seemingly all ahead of him. Vitek Vanecek has to be moved for salary cap purposes and will help the Predators avoid a complete tank job without their star netminder.
Denis Gurianov is still a young player at the age of 26 and comes with plenty of NHL experience. The Russian might fit what the Devils are trying to do a little bit better and made his debut under Ruff with the Dallas Stars in the 2016-17 season. Juuse Saros, of course, is the big fish here, and immediately propels the Devils to the very top of contender status regardless of defensive performance. Saros is the next best thing with Connor Hellebuyck off the board, and he's signed for two more years at a very manageable $5 million cap hit. New Jersey takes that all day, and twice on Sundays.