3 “Under The Radar” Trade Candidates Heading Into New Season

There are plenty of players whose names have been on the rumor mill at times during the offseason, some more than others. But which ones are more likely trade candidates than others heading into the season is the tricky part to figure out.

Adam Herman of Bleacher Report has proposed a list of "under the radar" trade candidates—though it's hard to say that any of these names are under anyone's radar. Let's frame it more as a "Players that teams would much rather NOT trade, but might ultimately have to by the trade deadline."

Let's look at three names on this list:

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The 6'4" forward has had back-to-back strong seasons, though fell off last year from the career-high 36 goals and 73 points the previous campaign to a 22-goal, 59-point season. The top-line winger is being heavily counted on to help the Sabres to the promised land of the playoffs... finally... after a 13-year absence.

But if this iteration of the team doesn't take that next leap into postseason contender status, changes will be necessary. At the age of 28, with two seasons left (including this one) on a reasonable $4.75 million cap hit, Tuch should be able to bring back a nice return, and isn't one of the young cornerstone pieces that Buffalo would really be loathe to deal.

Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins

It was a huge splash last summer when GM Kyle Dubas landed the then-defending-Norris Trophy winner and 100-point man. But Karlsson didn't deliver in nearly the same way in his first year with the Penguins, and the team once again missed the playoffs. If it looks like they won't make the postseason again this year, Dubas may finally put his "we need to get younger" plan into action and try to unload Karlsson by the trade deadline. By then, he'll only have two+ seasons remaining on a $10 million cap hit (yes, still pretty hefty, but he could be a massive deadline add for a contender).

Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers

He's starting the season on injured reserve, and signed only a one-year, $4.5 million "prove it" deal this past summer as an RFA. Negotiations on a longer-term deal for the top-four D-man are expected to resume in the new year. This is a very important season for Lindgren to show the Rangers exactly what he's worth on a more lengthy deal.

But starting the season injured already isn't a good sign. Herman suggests that if the Rangers aren't sold on him as a long-term option, and they are "able to swing a trade for a high-end left-handed defenseman at the deadline, they could consider moving Lindgren out" to bring in a nice haul. And, we might suggest, create more cap space for the challenge of signing Igor Shesterkin. He's already just turned down a massive offer.