Buy or Sell: Breaking Down the Hottest NHL Rumors of the 2024 Preseason .Giang

NHL training camps opened last week and preseason play has begun. With autumn underway and the start of the 2024-25 regular season on the horizon, the buzz is picking up in the rumor mill.

Jeremy Swayman’s contract standoff with the Boston Bruins raises questions about whether this will be settled before the season begins, while Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson has signed a one-year contract despite being the subject of offseason speculation.

Nevertheless, both players are among several recently mentioned as trade candidates. Follow along as we examine the latest notable rumors to determine if they’re worth buying or selling.

Do you agree with our analysis? Let us know in the app comments below.

Once a promising young forward for the Los Angeles Kings, Arthur Kaliyev struggled through 2023-24, finishing with a career-low of 15 point in 51 games.

The 23-year-old reportedly requested a trade during the offseason, earning a spot on our August Trade Block Big Board and our list of five young players who need a trade immediately.

Kaliyev lost the confidence of Todd McLellan before he was replaced as head coach in February by Jim Hiller. Things didn’t get better for him, though, as he became a frequent healthy scratch.

On Sep. 19, The Athletic’s Eric Stephens included Kaliyev’s future among his five big questions facing the Kings entering training camp. Despite the winger recently signing a one-year, $825,000 contract, he doubted that resolved the issue, suggesting the youngster would need more playing time to bolster his sagging trade value.

Things got bleaker for Kaliyev after suffering a fractured clavicle during the Kings’ second day of training camp. He’s listed as sidelined indefinitely.

Buy or Sell: Sell

Kaliyev’s low value in the trade market made it unlikely that he’d be moved before the start of the season. His injury ensures he’ll be staying put for at least 10-12 weeks, meaning the earliest he could return is mid-January.

He will need several weeks after that to get back up to speed before he could start to draw some interest in the trade market.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson raised eyebrows in June when he reportedly requested a trade after telling management he didn’t intend on re-signing with them.

That made the 23-year-old a fixture in our NHL Trade Block Big Boards throughout the summer.

Coming off his entry-level contract with no arbitration rights, Robertson had little leverage in this situation. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving refused to yield, suggesting the winger had a great opportunity to establish himself as a middle-third forward.

The 2019 No. 53 pick had little choice but to sign a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Leafs and report to training camp. However, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggested on Sept. 10 that he could still be moved before the season begins.

Seravalli claimed there’s still “solid interest” in Robertson. He thinks the winger is easier to trade now that he’s under contract for the season.

Buy or Sell: Buy on Trading Robertson

The move might not happen as early as Seravalli projects, but it could come during this season. Robertson faces stiff competition for a regular spot from veteran Max Pacioretty, who’s in camp on a professional tryout.

If Pacioretty nails down a spot, Robertson could get his wish for a trade.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers was the subject of considerable trade speculation through late June and early July. He is in the final season of his seven-year contract with a $6 million average annual value and a 10-team no-trade list.

The 28-year-old’s eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status next July fueled the conjecture about his future in Winnipeg, earning him a regular spot in our July and August NHL Trade Block Big Boards. But the trade chatter about the winger faded as the summer progressed.

On Aug. 25, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press noted that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel praised Ehlers’ performance, prompting McIntyre to suggests a contract extension could be in the offing. However, The Athletic’s Thomas Drance reported the GM was taking a wait-and-see approach.

Some rival general managers could keep tabs on the Dane’s performance and availability this season. Drance’s colleague, Matthew Fairburn, suggested on Sept. 11 that the Jets winger could be a good fit with the Buffalo Sabres.

Buy or Sell: Sell on a trade before the New Year

Like Cheveldayoff, it’s best to see how this season shakes out for the Jets. They won’t peddle Ehlers if they’re in playoff contention leading up to the March 7 trade deadline but could consider that option if they’re out of the postseason race by then.

A strong effort by Ehlers could also prompt the Jets GM to sign him to an extension.

Cam Fowler is about to begin his 15th season with the Anaheim Ducks. It could also be the defenseman’s last with the only NHL club he’s played with.

On the Sept. 6 episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported the 32-year-old and Ducks management were discussing his future with the team. With the club shifting more playing time toward its promising young players, the two sides could seek a trade that benefits both sides.

Fowler confirmed those discussions on Sept. 12 with The Athletic’s Eric Stephens, saying his career had reached a transitional stage that could lead to a trade.

Nine days later, Stephens reported it was anyone’s guess when that move might happen. Meanwhile, Fowler said he’s focused on being the best player he can be for the Ducks.

Stephens said moving a player like Fowler could take time. He carries a $6.5 million annual cap hit plus a four-team trade list, though the report said the blueliner had expanded that list to double digits.

Buy or Sell: Buy on Trading Fowler

Fowler is signed through 2025-26. Playoff contenders looking for a top-four, puck-moving defenseman could be interested in adding him for two postseason runs, especially if the Ducks retain some salary in the deal. Anaheim could seek a quality return that includes a first-rounder or a promising young NHL player.

The Boston Bruins opened training camp last week without their starting goaltender. General manager Don Sweeney told the media that Jeremy Swayman wouldn’t report to camp until he had a new contract.

The 25-year-old completed a one-year, $3.5 million arbitration-awarded contract last season. Sweeney said he remained optimistic he’d get the goalie signed before the Dec. 1 deadline for signing restricted free agents.

If Swayman isn’t signed by the deadline, he’ll be ineligible to play the remainder of this NHL season. Neither side will want things to reach that stage. He would lose a year of his playing career and the salary that goes with it, while the Bruins would be without their starting netminder for an entire season.

During the Sept. 20 edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he’d been asked if the Bruins might consider trading Swayman. He said he hasn’t spoken to Sweeney, who’s trying to keep a low profile while negotiations continue.

Nevertheless, Friedman doesn’t expect the Bruins GM will trade the young netminder.

Buy or Sell: Sell on Trading Swayman

It’s far too early to speculate whether the Bruins will trade Swayman. They’re unlikely to get equal value if they were to consider that option. They still see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders and need Swayman in goal to make that happen.