3 Under-The-Radar Trade Candidates For $2.5M or Less

While all the attention is on the big names around this trade deadline, like the Robert Thomases, the Vincent Trochecks, the Nazem Kadris and the Justin Faulks, for teams without a lot of cap space looking for an under-the-radar bargain, here are some names to consider.

With the help of Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, we run through these three low-key, low-cost candidates to watch, who can still serve an impactful role. We start in the crease and work our way out.

Alex Nedeljkovic, G, San Jose Sharks

While Jordan Binnington ($6M) and Sergei Bobrovsky ($10M) have taken up all the oxygen in the goalie trade rumor discourse, Nedeljkovic is sitting there with a relatively miniscule $2.5M cap hit. He's a pending UFA as well.

We haven't heard his name much on the trade market, but with Jaroslav Askarov the man in the crease for the Sharks, both now and for the future, Ellis writes that "with few goalies on the trade market, a team could look to Ned for some stability heading into the playoffs. His contract isn’t too bad, and the cost to snag him is likely a decent draft pick at best." His .902 save percentage in 21 starts (26 appearances) makes him a strong pickup for a team in need.

Pavel Mintyukov, D, Anaheim Ducks

Moving to the blueline, Ellis suggests the young blueliner wrapping up his entry-level deal this season in Anaheim as a target. Mintyukov, 22, has been subjected to some healthy scratches and is frustrated with his ice time in Anaheim (though he's been consistently over 20 minutes a night since returning from the Olympic break). Mintyukov has expressed an interest in moving on in order to get more playing time. At just $918,000, his cap hit for this season is minimal, though he will be an RFA in July. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Ryan Lomberg, F, Calgary Flames

While Kadri, Blake Coleman and Mackenzie Weegar have been all the rage on the rumor mill, Lomberg could be one of the more under-the-radar names that the Flames move this week. A pending UFA on a $2M cap hit, the Toronto native doesn't see the ice very much in Calgary, averaging under nine minutes a night. But the physical, speedy fourth-liner makes the most of it, and he brings Stanley Cup pedigree from his 2024 playoff run with the Panthers. His energy, forechecking and physicality make him the ideal fourth-line player for a Cup contender. The 5-foot-9 dynamo is a fan favorite in Calgary, however, so the Flames won't just give him away.