NHL Predictions: 5 Players Who Will Be Traded in 2022

The NHL's trade deadline is scheduled for late March and now with another pandemic pause hopefully behind us, general managers around the league will feel much more comfortable pulling the trigger on their next move. Let's take a look at five players you can expect to see traded in 2022.

Claude Giroux

We reported yesterday on Giroux as a potential option for the Toronto Maple Leafs, however this move would require some serious creativeness and some salary retention. While Giroux isn't likely heading to Toronto, he's much more likely to just be leaving Philadelphia. The Flyers great is in the final season of his contract and if the team doesn't find themselves cemented into a playoff spot in a couple of months, look for management and Giroux to have the crucial conversation. The soon-to-be 34-year-old has a full no-movement clause and will have his pick of the litter.

Jason Zucker

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward is currently out with injury and that's slowed down the trade chatter surrounding the move. However, belief is the team has tried to move Zucker multiple times this season as he's been ineffective at times and awful at others. He's not scoring and hasn't performed well since the big trade that landed him in Pittsburgh out of Minnesota. Ron Hextall and Brian Burke would love to free themselves of his $5.5 million salary for next season and look for the team to move on from Zucker regardless of their team's success this season. Four goals in 30 games will do that. 

Justin Holl

The Toronto Maple Leafs are open for business and looking to make some changes on defense. They finally have a healthy group of forwards and on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators will be the first time all their healthy forwards play together this season. Their defense is a whole other story. Holl and Travis Dermott were on the trade block earlier this season and Holl's name has stayed. All the numbers point to him being the worst of the bunch on the Maple Leafs and his teammates have been visibly frustrated with his game on the ice at times this season. Look for the right-handed defenseman to be moved before March 21.

Mark Giordano

The Seattle Kraken have been a disappointment in their first season and Giordano has had to Captain the whole thing. The veteran defenseman was hoping to stay in Calgary before the expansion draft and has put on a brave face since being selected. The Kraken have discussed Giordano's name with a number of teams including the New York Rangers, Flames and Edmonton Oilers. 

Jake DeBrusk

With Tuukka Rask coming back to the Boston Bruins, perhaps the team moves DeBrusk along with one of their other goaltenders in a mega-deal. The Bruins forward formally requested a ticket out of town a few weeks back and has been toughen it out listening to a head coach he has no interest in. The interest has been huge in DeBrusk with the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken being heavily involved in talks. The 25-year-old has eight points in 25 games so far in 2021-22 and his next game could be in a different jersey. 

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