Even with Oliver Ekman-Lar son, teams seeking to make major upgrades to their roster this summer likely will do better on the trade market than through free agency.

The amount of high-quality players rumored to be available via trade is far greater than the list of UFAs where, after John Tavares and John Carlson, there is a significant drop-off in Briley Moore Jerseys impact stars.

Let's take a look at the list of high-end players who could be dealt this summer.

2018 UFARANKINGS: | |

Erik Karl son

He was , so Erik Karl son sits at the top of this list, 12 months shy of unrestricted free agency.

Can the Sens afford to sign the 28-year-old Karl son to an extension befitting a two-time Norris Trophy winner and one of the best individual talents in the sport? Let's just say faith inowner Eugene Melnyk is . Plus, a potential Karl son trade could fillmyriad holes on the roster and in the organization.

No matter what happens, this is the last season Karl sonwith a cap hit of $6.5 million will be viewed as a bargain.

MORE: What can Senators expect to get in an Erik Karl son deal?

Phil Ke sel

Coming off a career-high A.J. Brown Jerseys 92 points, and already a two-time Stanley Cup champion in Pittsburgh, there would seem to be little stomach for the Penguins to trade away 30-year-old Phil Ke sel.

However, the mercurial Ke selreportedly was not happy with how he was deployed during this year's failed postseason run, and head coach Mike Sullivan is not enamored with Ke sel's attitude and subpar efforts during the playoffs this past spring.

Sounds pretty toxic; and GM Jim Rutherford may just decide it's time to move on from Ke sel. The added bonus wouldbe freeing up a $6.8 millionhit over the next four years on what is a robust salary cap.

GRETZ:

Mike Hoffman (Traded)

Speaking of toxic, there was the. However, six days after allegations his fiancee cyber-bullied Melinda Karl son, wife of Ottawa captain Erik Karl son

It was likely Hoffman was going to be dealt anyway, but GM Pierre Dorion was forced into a sell low situation, receiving from the Sharks in return for the four-time 20+-goal scorer. Adding salt to Ottawa's wound is that the Sharks , one of the Sens rivals in the Atlantic division.

NHL DRAFT 2018: |

Ryan O'Reilly

Even though he backpedaled on his negative end-of-season comments about the Sabresin April, 27-year-old Ryan O'Reilly could very well be traded this summer. He is a coveted center who reached 50-pluspoints six times in his career, is solid on the power play, outstanding on face offs and thrived for Team Canada at five World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Buffalo has Jack Eichel down the middle and Casey Mittelstadt on the way, making an O'Reilly trade more feasible.

The biggest stumbling block is O'Reilly's contract which calls for another five years at a bloated $7.5 million a year.

MORE: Sabres weighing pros and cons of trading Ryan O'Reilly

Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk (Traded)

These Canadiens forwards are paired because either NFL Tennessee Titans Jerseys Montreal will trade one though not both or neither this summer.

That was the original lead sentence and Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin followed through by on June 15. So, now will that first sentence hold up? Did the Habs GM make his big trade and will Pacioretty remain in Montreal?

Pacioretty, the Habs captain, is 29, becomes a UFA next summer and is a solid value at $4.5 million this year coming off a disappointing 17-goal, 37-point season. There is no reason to believe Pacioretty will not return to form, which saw him score 30 goals or more the previous four years. If the Habs do make him available, they should be able to fill one of the holes on the roster -- either on defense or at center. Of course, they could plan on re-signing Pacioretty, too.

MORE: It sure looks like Coyotes will try Alex Galchenyuk at center

Artemi Panarin

A A.J. Moore Jr. Jerseys late addition to this group, and a surprising one. Artemi Panarin decided with the Blue Jackets, one year ahead of unrestricted free agency, immediately catapulting him into the thick of trade rumors ahead of the NHL Draft. While the Blue Jackets publicly stated it is their goal to sign Panarain and they have plenty of time to do so, there is no way Columbus management would let the talented Ru sian walk away without getting something in return next July. Hence the trade rumors.

Over three years in the NHL, Panarin won the Calder trophy, been an NHL All Star, topped the 30-goal plateau twice, recorded 88 goals and 233 points in 243 games and is coming off a career-high 82 points in 2017-18. Oh, and he only turns 27 in October.

Philipp Grubauer

There's no real potential No. 1 goalie , so the Capitals could get a solid return if they deal 26-year-old Philipp Grubauer.

Now that Braden Holtby backstopped the Caps to the Stanley Cup, Grubauerapending RFA this summer isa luxury the Cap-stretched Capitals no longer can afford. One would think Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders will inquire and the Hurricanes likely will make a call, too.

Grubauer,who carried the flag of Washington D.C. at the Caps victory Jeffery Simmons Jerseys parade on Tuesday, established career-highs with 35 appearances, 28 starts and 15 wins this past season and helped the Caps finish strong down the stretch, though he nearly derailed the Cup run in losing the first two games of the playoffs before Holtby took over.

Derick Bra sard

The Penguins have the league's strongest group of centers, lining up with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bra sard and Riley Sheahan. However, it might be Treylon Burks Jerseys a luxury they can not afford much longer.

Pre sed up against the salary cap, especially if Phil Ke sel remains on the roster, GM Jim Rutherford may look to deal Bra sard, the 30-year-old who is one year away from UFA status anyway.

Bra sard scored 21 goals last season though only one in 12 playoff games and a career-high 27 with the Rangers in 2015-16, and is a solid playmaker and quality teammate. Plus he plays center, and how many teams do not need a quality pivot this offseason?

Mats Zuccarello

Fitting to follow Derick Bra sard with Mats Zuccarello, his best buddy from the Rangers days.

The diminutive Zuccarello hit the big 3-0, saw his point total slip for the second year in a row(to 53)and was not nearly the spark plug he was in prior seasons. He does remain one of the few veteran leaders on the Rangers, and his contract is a reasonable $4.5 million for one more year.

If Jeff Gorton believes he is not finished retooling this roster, Zuccarello could be gonzo this summer,though it might be more likely he chooses to trade one of his younger pending RF