NHL Trade Roundup: Goalies Targeted in Trades Before Free Agency

Hey folks. With the NHL Draft now firmly in the rearview mirror, front offices around the league have shifted their attention to the final stretch before free agent frenzy. As July 1 approached, general managers were making one last push to address roster needs through the trade market before the focus turns to signing unrestricted free agents.

Some organizations are loading up for another Stanley Cup run, others are repositioning for the future, and a few are simply looking to fine tune their roster before the frenzy begins. Whether it's adding depth, reshaping the crease, or taking a chance on a young player, these late June trades could quietly have a meaningful impact on both the NHL landscape and fantasy hockey heading into next season. Let's dive in.

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Panthers and Golden Knights Trade

To the Florida Panthers: Akira Schmid

To the Vegas Golden Knights: Third-round draft pick (2028)

Fantasy Breakdown

This felt like one of those trades that hinted another move was coming. Florida bringing in Schmid suggested the Panthers were looking to get younger in goal while continuing to reinforce a roster that is clearly built to compete for another Stanley Cup. With Sergei Bobrovsky entering the later stages of his career, adding another young netminder to the organization made plenty of sense, even if it didn't appear to be a headline move at the time.

For Florida, Schmid represents a low-risk addition with intriguing upside. While he is unlikely to immediately challenge for the starting role, he gives the organization another young goaltender to develop behind Bobrovsky while also providing valuable organizational depth at one of hockey's most important positions. It is the type of move successful teams often make before a need becomes urgent rather than after.

Vegas, meanwhile, adds a 2028 third-round pick while continuing to show confidence in its current goaltending situation. With Carter Hart appearing to have established himself as the club's starter moving forward, Schmid became a player the Golden Knights could afford to move. A third-round pick is a fair return for a goaltender who was no longer viewed as an essential part of the organization's long-term plans.

From a fantasy perspective, this trade alone does not dramatically shift the landscape, but it is worth monitoring. Schmid remains more of a dynasty stash than a redraft target, though his arrival in Florida could eventually influence the club's succession plan in goal. He is likely to be the backup for our next goalie trade target, and should still stack wins. At the very least, this deal signaled that the Panthers were not finished addressing their crease before free agent frenzy, making it an interesting move in hindsight.

Panthers and Devils Trade

To the Florida Panthers: Jacob Markstrom, Angus Crookshank

To the New Jersey Devils: Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, Ben Steeves

Fantasy Breakdown

The Schmid trade made a lot more sense once this deal became official. Florida has clearly identified Markstrom as its new starting goaltender, and in my opinion, that all but signals the end of Bobrovsky's time as the Panthers' number one netminder. The recent back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are pushing all of their chips into the middle of the table once again, making another aggressive move to strengthen a roster that is already among the league's elite.

For Florida, this is an all-in move designed to maximize another Stanley Cup window. Markstrom gives the Panthers an experienced starting goaltender capable of handling a heavy workload, while Crookshank adds another depth forward to the organization. It is another example of Florida refusing to stand pat after winning the Stanley Cup, instead choosing to continue upgrading key positions before free agent frenzy even begins.

New Jersey, meanwhile, receives a respectable return while moving on from its veteran starter. Rodrigues, Boqvist, and Steeves all provide NHL depth in different ways, and the Devils now appear set to lean on Jake Allen and Nico Daws between the pipes. That tandem may not inspire the same level of confidence as Markstrom did, but it still leaves New Jersey in decent shape as the organization continues evaluating its long-term direction.

From a fantasy perspective, Markstrom receives the biggest boost. Moving behind one of the NHL's deepest rosters should increase both his win potential and overall fantasy value heading into next season. Florida's defensive structure has consistently supported its goaltenders, making Markstrom an attractive option in redraft leagues. Meanwhile, New Jersey's crease becomes one to monitor closely, as Allen and Daws could both see increased opportunities depending on how the club approaches the season.

Hurricanes and Ducks Trade

To the Anaheim Ducks: Noah Philp

To the Carolina Hurricanes: Kyle Masters

Fantasy Breakdown

This feels like a straightforward “change of scenery” trade involving two players still searching for a consistent NHL role. Neither player has established themselves at the highest level, making this more of an organizational depth move than one expected to impact either team's roster immediately.

For Carolina, reacquiring Masters gives the organization another young defenseman to develop after previously moving him as part of the John Carlson rights trade just days earlier. The Hurricanes clearly saw enough value to bring him back, even if he projects as a longer-term depth piece.

Anaheim takes a chance on Philp, who has shown flashes of being capable NHL depth but has spent much of his recent time in the AHL. A fresh opportunity with the Ducks could provide a clearer path to earning a roster spot if he can impress in camp.

From a fantasy perspective, there is little immediate value here. This is simply a hockey trade between two organizations exchanging depth pieces in hopes that a new environment helps each player take the next step.

Penguins and Golden Knights Trade

To the Pittsburgh Penguins: Kaedan Korczak

To the Vegas Golden Knights: Parker Wotherspoon (50% salary retained by Pittsburgh)

Fantasy Breakdown

This is another trade that feels more like smart roster management than a headline grabbing blockbuster. Pittsburgh swaps a 28-year-old defenseman for the younger Korczak while retaining $500,000 of Wotherspoon's salary, allowing Vegas to add an experienced blueliner at a very affordable cap hit. It is the kind of under the radar move that helps both organizations accomplish different objectives ahead of free agent frenzy.

For the Penguins, the appeal is getting younger on the back end. General manager Kyle Dubas loves these types of deals. He is a tinkerer at heart. Korczak is four years younger than Wotherspoon, is under contract long term, and still has room to develop into a regular NHL contributor. Pittsburgh continues to gradually reshape its defensive core without sacrificing much in the process, making this a sensible hockey move rather than a splashy one.

Vegas, meanwhile, gains a dependable depth defenseman while also creating additional salary cap flexibility. Retaining 50% of Wotherspoon's contract made the deal easier to complete, and the savings generated by moving Korczak's larger cap hit give the Golden Knights more room to maneuver as free agency begins.

From a fantasy perspective, there is very little movement here. Neither defenseman projects to carry meaningful value in standard formats, making this a trade that is far more significant from a roster building and salary cap standpoint than it is for fantasy managers.

Predators and Stars Trade

To the Nashville Predators: Mavrik Bourque, Ilya Lyubushkin

To the Dallas Stars: Second-round draft pick (2027), third-round draft pick (2028)

Fantasy Breakdown

I actually like this move for both organizations. Nashville continues to mix up its roster by adding two serviceable NHL players, while Dallas takes a different approach by adding valuable draft capital for the future. After several seasons of aggressively retooling and making deep playoff pushes that ultimately fell short of expectations, it's refreshing to see the Stars thinking a little further down the road.

For Nashville, Bourque is the headline piece. The former first-round pick still possesses intriguing offensive upside and should benefit from a fresh opportunity with the Predators. Lyubushkin adds exactly what Nashville was looking for on the back end - a reliable, physical veteran capable of logging defensive minutes while bringing experience to a roster that continues to evolve heading into next season.

Dallas, meanwhile, walks away with what I believe is an excellent return. Acquiring a second-round pick in 2027 and a third-round pick in 2028 gives the Stars additional flexibility, whether they choose to use those selections at the draft or package them in future trades. It's a patient move from an organization that has often prioritized the present over the future, and I like seeing them replenish some of their draft capital.

From a fantasy perspective, Bourque is the player to watch. A change of scenery could create more opportunity than he had in Dallas, making him an interesting dynasty option if he earns a larger offensive role in Nashville. He is coming off of a 40+ point season, although will now be on a less skilled team. Otherwise, this trade is more about organizational direction than immediate fantasy impact, with Dallas strengthening its future assets and Nashville continuing to reshape its NHL roster.