10 salary-cap dump trade candidates for contending NHL teams
The concept of a salary-cap dump is far from new in the NHL. There are numerous examples every season of a team recognizing a contract they signed is a bad one, finding a taker for it, and moving on from the contract. Oftentimes, they have to give up assets to make the move happen.
But the 2025-26 season may see a significant increase in cap dumps. It may even become the primary method for teams to move money. This season is the first in which contracts can’t have money retained on them twice within a 75-day period. So if teams want to create cap space, they may have to shed some bad contracts.
Several contenders find themselves with underwhelming contracts on their books this year. If they want to make any major acquisitions, they may need to move on from those contracts to make the money work, whether they are part of the return or moved in a separate deal.
Here are 10 players who could see themselves dumped from contending teams in order to create salary cap space. This means players like Dougie Hamilton are not included, since the New Jersey Devils are not a contender this year.
Ryan Strome, Anaheim Ducks
$5 million AAV, one year remaining
Strome’s contract is a classic “day one of free agency” overpayment. After three seasons with Artemi Panarin on his wing with the New York Rangers, Strome was paid well in free agency with a five-year contract with the Ducks. The cap hit was more than he was worth but also one a rebuilding Anaheim team could afford then. After a consistent first three seasons (41 points in each year), Strome’s fallen out of favor under new head coach Joel Quenneville, only playing in 32 games. While the Ducks have more than enough cap space this season to stomach Strome’s deal, they’ll need the space next season. Jackson LaCombe’s $9 million AAV kicks in, and Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier also require new contracts after this season. If the Ducks can find a taker for Strome’s contract, they shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
$4 million AAV, pending UFA
Among players on this list, it seems less likely Arvidsson is traded. He’s played well on the Bruins with 30 points in 48 games, which is third on the team in goals and sixth in points. Boston will have more than $5 million in cap space at the deadline, so if they are looking for minor additions, they have the room to bring in some players without needing to move out any money, especially a player performing well like Arvidsson. But if the Bruins want to make a big splash, they’ll need to create space. In that scenario, Arvidsson may be the most expendable contract for Boston.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Carolina Hurricanes
$4.82 million AAV, four years remaining
For an organization who consistently makes smart moves, the Hurricanes acquiring and retaining Kotkaniemi always felt like an emotionally charged mistake. Carolina spent a first- and third-round pick to sign Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet in a petty response to the Canadiens doing the same to Sebastian Aho two years prior. Then, the Canes doubled down on the move by signing the Finn to a cap hit well above his value for far too long. Now the contract is a drag on Carolina’s roster, as Kotkaniemi’s provided minimal value while making too much money. It’s also contributed to the Canes’ inability to finish in the playoffs and their lackluster center depth. It’s a tough contract to move, as few teams will want to take on the entirety of it. But perhaps Carolina can send Kotkaniemi in a deal with extra assets to a team beginning a rebuild and not looking to contend for the remainder of his contract. Those teams may look at the contract as a way to have salary on the books while tanking.
Andrew Mangiapane, Edmonton Oilers
$3.6 million, one year remaining
The Oilers have had bad luck signing scoring wingers to complement Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Last year, it was Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Both players struggled to contribute and wound up as healthy scratches at points during Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final run. This season, it’s Mangiapane, although his contract aging poorly shouldn’t have been as big of a surprise as it was. Aside from a 35-goal, 55-point season in 2021-22, Mangiapane hasn’t surpassed 18 goals or 43 points. Maybe he should have produced more playing with McDavid and Draisaitl, but it’s proof that not just anyone can play with them. The Oilers already know no one wants Mangiapane for nothing, as he cleared waivers a couple days ago. But maybe knowing he doesn’t require waivers makes him a more attractive asset for some teams. Regardless, Edmonton will need to move his contract if they want to make another move, and they’ll likely need to attach an asset to do so.
Warren Foegele/Alex Laferriere, Los Angeles Kings
$3.5 million AAV, one year remaining | $4.1 million AAV, two years remaining
Do the Kings have the strongest roster this season? Not quite, at least not to the level of contending for a Stanley Cup. But it’s clear they want to make the playoffs this year and give Anze Kopitar one more playoff showing in his final season. This mentality is already quite apparent after they traded for Panarin and fired Jim Hiller last month, and it appears Los Angeles is not done on the trade market. They’ll have some cap space to work with already, and possibly more if Kevin Fiala doesn’t return at all. But the Kings have fallen out of love with Foegele and Laferriere and may move their contracts to create more space. $3.5 and $4.1 million aren’t overpayments for what they bring to the table, but it is a lot if Los Angeles doesn’t like those players. With that in mind, it makes sense to move either player to create cap space in a push for the playoffs.
Ryan Hartman, Minnesota Wild
$4 million AAV, one year remaining
The Wild had an interesting phase in 2023, where they signed three middle-six players in their lineup in Marcus Foligno, Frederick Gaudreau and Ryan Hartman to term and money. While none of those contracts was back-breaking on its own, the combination of them has added up. With Kirill Kaprizov’s extension and the Quinn Hughes trade, Minnesota is all in, and they need every cent they can get. They moved on from the cheapest of those contracts in the summer in Gaudreau, but now Hartman feels like a heavy weight in the top six, especially as the Wild are looking for a center. Gaudreau has played well with Kaprizov, but at $4 million a year, he feels like the easy candidate to move out if Minnesota upgrades down the middle. On top of that, they’ll need the cap space next season when Kaprizov and Filip Gustavsson’s extensions kick in. With just one year left on Gaudreau’s contract after this season, a move shouldn’t be too difficult.
Patrik Laine/Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
$8.7 million AAV, pending UFA | $3.15 million, one year remaining
The Canadiens have two primary candidates for cap dumps in Laine and Montembeault. But which is the more likely candidate depends on what move Montreal makes over the next couple days. If they choose to acquire another center for their top-six, they’ll need a lot more than $1.5 million in cap space to do so. If that’s the case, moving on from Laine’s $8.7 million will give the Habs enough room to bring in almost anyone on the center market. It may seem unlikely a team will want to take on his cap hit, but never underestimate tanking teams looking to stay above the salary floor. But perhaps they want short-term help in net instead while Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler establish themselves in the NHL. In that scenario, they likely move Montembeault to free up a spot on their roster and not clog up their goalie depth chart.
Anthony Duclair, New York Islanders
$3.5 million AAV, two years remaining
Duclair might be the least qualified cap dump on this list. That’s because he finds his name in the rumor mill for reasons beyond the Islanders wanting to move out money. Duclair has found himself in Patrick Roy’s dog house this season, and while the winger has produced well despite his situation, it’s clear a change of scenery will benefit both parties. The Islanders wouldn’t mind getting rid of Duclair’s $3.5 million cap hit, especially as it will put them back under the salary cap limit. If it gives him a change of scenery in the process, it’s a win for both sides. Even at 30 years old, he can still contribute as a speedy middle-six winger for any team, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for the Islanders to find a suitor.
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