Top 5 Trade Candidates Named In Insider's 1st Trade Targets Board for '24-'25

We've heard plenty of names circulating on the rumor mill since the season began, now we have Daily Faceoff's first official Trade Targets Board of 2024-25 couresty of insider Frank Seravalli, and these five names top the list:

1. Marcus Pettersson, LD, Pittsburgh Penguins

2. Yanni Gourde, Center, Seattle Kraken

3. Rasmus Ristolainen, RD, Philadelphia Flyers

4. Ivan Provorov, RD, Columbus Blue Jackets

5. Frank Vatrano, C/W, Anaheim Ducks

It's seemed like centers and top-four defensemen have been the apple of many teams' eyes thus far this season, and there are some nice targets here.

Pettersson is certainly the top blueliner available, as the Penguins are "open for business". The pending UFA, a steady top-4 D-man, would bring back the biggest haul for Pittsburgh of any of their tradeable assets.

Seravalli says "interest will be ramping up" on Provorov, who is an impending UFA. The Blue Jackets are considering their options, but should get a nice return for the Russian D-man still in his prime at 27.

As the availability of defensemen on the market is being thinned out by a recent slew of extensions, the 6'4" Ristolainen has also become a top 5 option on this list. He has a $5M cap hit, but has an extra year attached to him for next season. The big D-man, however, has seen his offense substantially drop off in recent seasons. But, "if you really want someone with size who can add to your group, that's Rasmus Ristolainen," says Seravalli.

At center, Gourde is off to a brutal start with the Kraken, and he is overpaid for his production (1 goal, 6 points this season, 11 goals last year in 80 games) with a cap hit of $5.17M. Although he hasn't been an impact piece for three seasons now, Seattle has received some calls, and Seravalli writes "he’s still formerly a big contributor to a two-time Stanley Cup winner whom teams will want to acquire."

Vatrano can also play center, and would be a much higher-end trade target for teams looking for help up the middle. He is off to a slow start, but is coming off an All-Star season with a career-high 37 goals.