#4 – Kirill Kaprizov
In 2015, the Minnesota Wild struck gold in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft. That’s when they selected the left-winger from Novokuznetsk, Russia, Kirill Kaprizov.
Kaprizov played his first NHL games in 2020-21. He showed that that’s where he belongs. In his rookie season, he registered 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points in 55 games. Kaprizov followed that up with 47 goals in his sophomore season. He also added 61 helpers for 108 total points in 81 games. Last season, the 26-year-old played in just 67 contests and still managed to score 40 goals. He also had 35 assists for a total of 75 points.
Kaprizov has three years remaining on his contract, which is carries a $9M cap hit. This is the final season on the deal before a no-move cause is activated.
#3 – Jack Hughes
For the third time on this list, we find a player who shares a name with another active player in the NHL. This time, instead of having one forward and a defenseman, there are two centers in the NHL named Jack Hughes.
This Hughes is the 22-year-old from Orlando, Florida who plays for the Devils. He was New Jersey’s first-overall pick in the 2019 draft.
In 2021, Tom Fitzgerald, the Devils’ GM signed Hughes to a big extension. They agreed on an eight year $64M pact that carries an $8M AAV. There won’t be any restrictions on moving Hughes for the next three years of the deal. It’s not until the 2026-27 season that Hughes will have to submit a 10 team no trade list.
If the Devils wanted to move Hughes, they would surely be getting a massive return. Last season, playing in his fourth NHL season, he competed in 78 games where he picked up 43 goals and 56 assists for a total of 99 points. While there may be no restrictions, there’s a very low chance of New Jersey trading their star.