Here are 5 NHL players who may very well Request a trade next

Both players made it onto our July NHL Trade Block Rankings, largely due to reports of their desire to move to a different team. According to The Athletic's Harman Dayal and Shayna Goldman, Nečas has been dissatisfied with his role on the Hurricanes, prompting him to seek a change of scenery. Similarly, their colleague Pierre LeBrun reported that Laine is looking for a fresh start with a new club.

Brian Dumoulin also requested a trade from the Seattle Kraken last month, aiming to move to an East Coast team. Instead, he was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks.

These developments got us wondering if other NHL players might request a trade between now and next offseason. The following players have been involved in trade speculation since last season, and some are approaching unrestricted free agency, while others are young talents struggling with their current clubs.

Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Is there someone we missed? Let us know in the app comments below.

The Nashville Predators signing Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension on July 1 put an end to months of trade speculation regarding the 29-year-old goaltender. However, this move also signals that Yaroslav Askarov might no longer fit into the Predators' long-term plans.

Askarov, 22, was selected 11th overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft. A highly promising young goaltender, he has spent the past two seasons with their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranked him No. 2 on his list of the top-20 drafted NHL goalie prospects.

There was an expectation that Askarov would be promoted to back up Saros for the 2024-25 season. However, the Predators signed veteran Scott Wedgewood to a two-year deal on July 1, relegating Askarov to another season in Milwaukee.

With Saros and Wedgewood in place for the next two years, Askarov's path to the NHL remains blocked. A strong performance in Milwaukee this season could prompt him to request a trade to a team where he has a better chance of becoming an NHL starter.

Selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Morgan Frost seemed poised for a breakout season after recording 19 goals and 46 points in 81 games during the 2022-23 campaign. However, he struggled with inconsistency in 2023-24, finishing with 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games.

Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon speculated on July 11 that Frost could be traded this summer, highlighting the trade rumors surrounding the 25-year-old. Frost found himself in head coach John Tortorella's doghouse at times but showed improvement after a midseason meeting with the coach.

Frost has a chance to start the season as the Flyers' second-line center and could move up if captain Sean Couturier struggles or is sidelined by injury. He's also in the final year of his two-year contract and could secure a lucrative new deal with a strong performance.

However, if he has another slow start or finds himself benched by Tortorella, trade rumors will intensify. This could lead Frost to request a trade to a team where he can get a fresh start.

Entering the 2023-24 season, Kaapo Kakko seemed ready for a breakout performance following his 18-goal, 40-point effort in 2022-23. Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency limited the 23-year-old winger to just 13 goals and 19 points in 61 games.

The second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kakko was expected to become a scoring right wing for the Rangers. While he's shown flashes of potential, he has yet to fully develop as anticipated, leading to trade rumors despite signing a one-year, $2.4 million contract.

Kakko is entering his sixth NHL season under considerable pressure to meet expectations. He might find inspiration from teammate Alexis Lafrenière, who also faced challenges before silencing critics with a 28-goal, 57-point season in '23-'24, followed by 14 points in 18 playoff games.

Another disappointing season from Kakko could fuel trade speculation. In that scenario, he might request a trade to a team where he can have a fresh start.

A challenging contract negotiation followed by injuries made the 2023-24 season one to forget for Trevor Zegras. This situation also made him a frequent subject of trade rumors, landing him at No. 7 on our July NHL Trade Block rankings.

Zegras, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, burst onto the NHL scene with 61 points in 75 games during the 2021-22 season. A dazzling playmaker, he was invited to the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition and was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Zegras followed up with a 65-point sophomore season, but expectations were higher. After signing a three-year contract with the Ducks, he missed training camp and the preseason, setting the stage for a disappointing, injury-plagued campaign.

Expectations are high for Zegras to bounce back this season. However, if he struggles, trade rumors will resurface. In that case, Zegras might request a trade if he feels he's not getting the playing time needed to reach his full potential with the Ducks.

Nazem Kadri signed a seven-year contract with the Calgary Flames on Aug. 18, 2022, following a Stanley Cup win with the Colorado Avalanche. At the time, the Flames had lost Johnny Gaudreau to free agency and traded Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers but were still considered playoff contenders.

However, the Flames missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, despite Kadri's efforts. His stats dropped from a career-high 86 points with the Avalanche in 2021-22 to 56 points in 2022-23 as he adjusted to his new team. Kadri rebounded last season with 75 points.

As the Flames have moved veterans like Elias Lindholm, Jacob Markstrom, and Noah Hanifin, teams have reportedly inquired about Kadri's availability. Despite the speculation, the Flames view Kadri as a key part of their rebuild, and he enjoys living and playing in Calgary.