This former Bruin is one of the top players in the trade market.
Now that most big-name free agents have found their new homes, the NHL trade market should only heat up. Teams that were unable to address their roster issues through free agency should be particularly aggressive in the trade market before we get to the 2024-25 season.
Due to this, one player who should receive plenty of interest from here is former Boston Bruins forward Frank Vatrano. The Anaheim Ducks forward has been in the rumor mill since the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, and this will only continue.
Teams looking for more scoring help in their top six should be in the mix for Vatrano. The Massachusetts native is coming off a fantastic season, posting new career highs with 37 goals, 23 assists, and 60 points in 82 games. He was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career. After a strong campaign like this, teams would surely love to have him on their roster.
Besides being quite impactful offensively, Vatrano also played a chippier game in 2023-24, recording new career highs with 85 penalty minutes and 156 hits. This element of his game should also make teams interested, as clubs love skilled players who play with an edge.
With the Ducks rebuilding, they are also in a prime position to move Vatrano. His excellent season has raised his trade value. In addition, he is entering the final season of his deal, which could make the Ducks more open to moving him.
It will be intriguing to see what the Ducks decide to do with Vatrano this summer. A reunion with the Bruins could be great, especially considering they lost Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen this summer. However, a trade for Vatrano would be tricky, as the Bruins still have not signed RFA Jeremy Swayman.