NHL Rumors: 3 Teams Expected to Make Major Trades Early 2024

The calendar has flipped to 2024 and the NHL's trade market is about to heat up in a major way as GM's around the league evaluate their rosters. Expect to see January as a very busy month for transactions with some major trades leading up to March's trade deadline.

There's been a number of teams who have underachieved this season and are expected to make some major moves leading up to the All-Star Game in February and of course before the trade on March 8. Here's three teams expect to see shake things up with a major move or two:

Calgary Flames

While Craig Conroy has already moved Nikita Zadorov this season and there's several other moves coming from the Flames GM. Conroy has held trade talks Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Elias Lindholm and Daniel Vladar and all four could be moved before the deadline. Hanifin has been linked to Arizona, Vegas and Boston, Lindholm heavily to Boston and Colorado, Tanev to Toronto and Vancouver and Vladar to Toronto and Los Angeles. Needless to say, Conroy's going to be very busy as the Flames continue to sit around the bottom of the Western Conference and are looking to re-tool on the fly.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Another season, another year of disappointment for Blue Jackets' fans as Columbus can't seem to get on track regardless of who is coaching. Cell phones or not, it's bad in Columbus. Jarmo Kekalainen is open for business and will be very active ahead of the trade deadline. This even includes the possibility of moving one of Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine. The Blue Jackets need a full reset and their GM knows it. Elvis Merzlikins is also a goalie to watch as there's a few times this season where his name has come up in trade talks. The Blue Jackets are making moves, you can bet on that.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are once again a horrible hockey team this season and GM Pat Verbeek is going to have to give the team a major facelift to get them back on track. Goaltender John Gibson wants out and Verbeek it does sound like, is finally going to move him before March's deadline. Expect to see some salary retention in any Gibson deal. Some other trade candidates include even Trevor Zegras who has struggled this season, Ilya Lyubushkin on defense and up front look for Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg to be moved. Major changes are needed in Anaheim and it sounds like this season they could finally be coming.

Photo credit:  Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports