Trade season always turns its eyes to goalies. Contenders want stability. Bubble teams wish to gain an edge. Rebuilders want futures. The position rarely moves in bulk, but this season’s landscape has created a deep pool of potential options. General managers will need to sort real value from HotTakes and fan wish lists, but there are legitimate targets available.
Cap pressure, aging curves, and depth chart crunches all play a role here. Some of these names are associated with a specific term. Others are rentals. Some are blocked by prospects or internal competition. All of them sit on a spectrum between “likely to move” and “only if the right offer hits the table.” With that in mind, here are the goalies most worth watching as the deadline approaches.
Jordan Binnington: Big Name, Big Questions
Jordan Binnington is the biggest name on this list and maybe the hardest to move. His numbers this season have cratered, with a bloated goals-against average, a sub-.900 save percentage, and one of the worst goals saved above expected marks in the league. That profile makes him more of a reclamation project than a plug-and-play savior.
His contract is the second hurdle. Binnington carries a $6 million cap hit through 2026-27 and owns a 14-team no-trade list. That combination limits the market and likely requires St. Louis to retain the salary or take a loss. Doug Armstrong also runs Canada’s Olympic roster, which adds another layer to how the organization views Binnington’s long-term arc.
On the other hand, teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens have been loosely associated with him in the public sphere. The bet would be that Binnington’s track record in big moments, including his Stanley Cup run and recent 4 Nations performance, outweighs his current struggles. For the Blues, the question is whether they want to sell at the lowest point of his NHL value or ride out the volatility.
Penguins’ Tristan Jarry And The Oilers Angle
Tristan Jarry fits the “good goalie, tough contract” mold. He is signed through 2027-28 at a $5.375 million cap hit and holds a 12-team no-trade clause. Pittsburgh has leaned on him heavily, and his underlying numbers remain strong, including double-digit goals saved above expected and enough consistency to keep them in the wild-card mix.
Any talk of Jarry to Edmonton reflects a fit rather than an easy decision. Edmonton clearly needs an upgrade over its current tandem, but a Jarry deal almost certainly requires Pittsburgh to retain salary or take back a contract such as Stuart Skinner’s. That kind of move forces the Penguins to decide if they are retooling on the fly or still chasing a playoff push in the Sidney Crosby window.
If the Penguins slide in the standings and ownership greenlights a bigger reset, Jarry becomes one of the most impactful pieces on the goalie market. Until then, this is more of a situation to monitor than a lock to materialize by the deadline.
Edmonton’s Own Goalies: Skinner And Pickard
The Oilers are both buyers and potential sellers in net. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are pending UFAs, with Skinner carrying a modest mid-range cap hit and Pickard sitting in true backup territory. Edmonton’s front office would like to improve behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, yet the cap squeeze means it might have to move one of its own to bring in a more established starter.
Skinner has shown stretches of starting-caliber play but has also struggled in high-leverage playoff moments. Pickard, meanwhile, profiles as a capable depth option but not a long-term solution for a contender. If a Jarry or Binnington-type deal ever gains traction, one of these two almost has to be involved as money and minutes go the other way.
There is also a smaller move possible. Edmonton could seek a more experienced 1B or insurance policy and dangle Pickard as part of a package. That would not grab headlines, but could shape how comfortable the Oilers feel about a long playoff run.
Depth Chart Squeezes: Brossoit, Daws, DiPietro
Several goalies sit buried on depth charts and could benefit from a move. Laurent Brossoit in Chicago stands out. At 32, with a $3.3 million cap hit and a recent history of injury and recovery, he projects as a stopgap or strong backup rather than a full-time starter. For a team needing short-term stability, he offers experience, playoff reps, and manageable cost if Chicago retains some salary.
Nico Daws in New Jersey and Michael DiPietro in Boston fall more into the “change-of-scenery” category. Both carry inexpensive cap hits under $1 million and sit behind more established options. Their value lies in age and upside rather than proven NHL production. A rebuilding team or a club looking to reset its goalie pipeline could see them as smart, low-cost bets.
These types of trades typically emerge late, once larger names either move or drop off the table. Still, Daws and DiPietro have enough pedigree to draw interest from teams that prefer to develop their own solution rather than overpay for a name brand.
Elvis Merzlikins: Long-Running Saga In Columbus
Elvis Merzlikins remains one of the longest-running trade stories in the league. Columbus has explored options for years, but term and performance have slowed the process. He carries a $5.4 million cap hit through next season, which lands him in an awkward middle ground: too expensive for a backup, not efficient enough for a clear No. 1 in most situations.
For a team that believes its structure can shelter a goalie and coax out league-average numbers, Merzlikins could be a worthwhile gamble. The ask from Columbus will matter. If the Blue Jackets eat some salary and lower the acquisition cost, his name will climb up trade boards. If not, he risks staying in rumor limbo until the summer.
Cam Talbot And The Prospect Push In Detroit
Cam Talbot gives Detroit an interesting decision point. He signed a two-year deal with a $2.5 million cap hit and has played like their most reliable goalie. On pure performance, he is the type of veteran the Red Wings should want for a playoff run, especially with their young core pushing forward.
The variable is Sebastian Cossa. If the highly touted 23-year-old continues to dominate in the AHL, Detroit could decide that opening an NHL lane for him makes more sense than riding out Talbot’s deal. In that scenario, Talbot becomes a premium rental with recent strong play, a digestible cap hit, and a long track record. Multiple contenders would call.
That kind of move would signal confidence in Cossa and trust in Detroit’s defensive structure. It would also give the Red Wings more flexibility to address other needs while adding futures to a growing prospect pool.
Who Actually Gets Moved?
Not every name here will move. Binnington and Jarry sit in the “blockbuster if it happens” category because of their contracts, no-trade protection, and importance to their current teams. Their situations can flip if their clubs pivot toward longer-term planning or if a contender makes an aggressive, cap-compliant offer.
More likely trade chips include Brossoit, Merzlikins, and one of Edmonton’s goalies, with Daws, DiPietro, and potentially Talbot serving as key swing pieces. Much will depend on injuries, late-season surges, and how many general managers believe they are one save away from a deeper run. In a league where margins stay razor-thin, a goalie deal at the deadline can still redefine a spring.
