The 2024-25 NHL regular season has been underway for nearly a month. There's been plenty of action and excitement on the ice. Meanwhile, business seems to be picking up in the trade market, as three deals occurred during October.

Meanwhile, the media rumor mill has kept busy with plenty of chatter about teams needing early season help and which players could be available.

Some of the speculation involves Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and goaltender John Gibson, who featured in our October NHL Trade Block Big Board. They're the only players from that list to make our November Board as the others disappeared from the rumor mill throughout October.

The new players to emerge as trade candidates include a promising Montreal Canadiens defenseman struggling to secure a regular roster spot, a Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender, and a teammate of Fowler's and Gibson's. Read on to find out who they are and why they're the subjects of trade conjecture.

Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments section.

8. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins

This season has gotten off to a horrible start for Tristan Jarry. The 29-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender had one win in three games with a goals-against average (5.47) and save percentage (.836) near the bottom of the league.

Jarry's inconsistency carried over from last season when he lost the starter's job down the stretch to Alex Nedeljkovic. The Athletic's Josh Yohe believes the Penguins should part ways with him in favor of Nedeljkovic and promising Joel Blomqvist. He acknowledged that his $5.4 million annual cap hit through 2027-28 makes him tough to move.

Yohe's colleague, Aaron Portzline, pointed out that Columbus Blue Jackets starter Elvis Merzlikins was having his own difficulties between the pipes. Noting that the two goalies have identical annual average salaries, he suggested the two clubs swap their starters as the change of scenery might help both players.

Jarry was sent to the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilke-Barre Scranton on Oct. 26 for a two-week conditioning stint in the hope he'll regain his confidence and form. A trade is unlikely but his current situation should keep him the subject of media speculation throughout November.

7. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks

As noted in our intro, John Gibson was featured in our October NHL Trade Block Big Board, sitting at No. 6. The Anaheim Ducks have tried to find the 31-year-old goaltender a new home. However, the decline in his performance combined with his $6.4 million contract through 2026-27 made it difficult for the Ducks to move him.

Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on Sept. 26 that will sideline him for three to six weeks. However, he was traveling with the team during their recent four-game road trip in preparation for his eventual return to action.

The Colorado Avalanche's goaltending struggles in early October prompted an Oct. 17 article by The Athletic's Eric Stephens and Jesse Granger discussing the possibility of Gibson going to Denver. The next day, Colorado Hockey Now's Aarif Deen cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's speculation over whether the Avalanche should pursue the Ducks' goalie.

On Oct. 25, the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos claimed the Carolina Hurricanes were close to acquiring Gibson this summer but the deal fell through. While the Hurricanes now seem fine in goal, the Avalanche or another playoff hopeful with goalie issues could show interest in him if he plays well following his return in November.

6. Arber Xhekaj, Montreal Canadiens

Following a strong training camp, Arber Xhekaj joined the Montreal Canadiens in 2022 as an undrafted defenseman. He quickly established himself as a favorite among Habs fans for his physical, energetic style and willingness to defend his teammates, becoming one of the few bright spots for the rebuilding Habs in 2022-23.

Xhekaj spent the first half of last season with the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Laval to work on other aspects of his game. On July 30, the 23-year-old blueliner signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.3 million.

This season has been rocky for Xhekaj so far. The Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan reports the 6'4", 240-pounder is on a short leash with head coach Martin St. Louis, who expects improvement from the rearguard now that he's in his third NHL season. Cowan cited former Canadien George Laraque saying he wouldn't be surprised if Xhekaj got traded.

This comes amid reports the Canadiens were in the market for a defenseman or a forward, though they're not prepared to deviate from their long-term rebuilding plan. Nevertheless, Xhekaj could pop up more frequently in the rumor mill if he doesn't get more opportunities to improve his game in Montreal.

5. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks

Once considered a foundation player for the Anaheim Ducks, Trevor Zegras has been a frequent subject of trade speculation since January. The 23-year-old forward was featured in our July and September NHL Trade Block Big Boards.

Zegras is in the second season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million. Nevertheless, his struggles last season and the Ducks' status as a rebuilding club raised questions about his future.

On Oct. 9, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported things were quiet on the Zegras front. Two days later, Andrew Knoll of The Orange County Register wondered about Zegras' place with the Ducks. He noted that Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish have taken over the top two center roles, leaving Zegras relegated to the wing.

Zegras has had a slow start this season with two points in his first nine games skating on the Ducks' third line. If his production doesn't improve he will generate buzz in the rumor mill again. Zegras might benefit from a trade to another team with more depth and a more offensive-minded system.

4. Mackenzie Blackwood, San Jose Sharks

The rebuilding San Jose Sharks are off to a brutal start this season. Their 7-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 26 made them the first team in league history to lose their first nine games in back-to-back seasons. They won their next two games but still sat at the bottom of the overall standings entering their Oct. 31 game against Chicago.

Trade speculation has already started to swirl around Mackenzie Blackwood. The 27-year-old goaltender is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.4 million. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Sharks' struggles haven't prevented some pundits from suggesting Blackwood could be targeted in the trade market by teams looking for goaltending depth. On Oct. 18, Colorado Hockey Now's Aarif Deen cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggesting Blackwood as a trade option for the Avalanche.

The Avalanche's goaltending has since stabilized so they face less urgency to make a trade. Nevertheless, Blackwood could become an affordable midseason trade option for any club with issues between the pipes. He'll be worth monitoring as the season goes on.

3. Michael Carcone, Utah Hockey Club

The Utah Hockey Club suffered two big blows to their defense corps with Sean Durzi and John Marino sidelined for months recovering from injuries. On Oct. 29, they bolstered their blue line by acquiring Olli Määttä from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Michael Carcone could become a trade chip for a blueliner if Utah continues to struggle defensively. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted on Oct. 23 that the 28-year-old winger tallied 21 goals last season but Utah's forward depth has made Carcone a frequent healthy scratch, appearing in just three games thus far.

Carcone is in the second season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $775,000. He'd be an affordable trade target for cap-strapped clubs looking for a middle-six scoring winger.

Friedman believes Carcone could land a regular roster spot on another club if there's no room for him with Utah. Whether he's used to add a defenseman or to acquire a draft pick or prospect, it seems like he could become an early season trade candidate.

2. Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks

In our intro, we noted that Cam Fowler appeared in our October NHL Trade Block Big Board. Reports of his discussions with Anaheim Ducks management about his future made the 32-year-old defenseman the top player on that board.

On Sept. 30, Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon predicted the Detroit Red Wings could acquire Fowler if they're chasing a playoff spot later this season. Dixon felt he'd be a good defense partner with promising Simon Edvinsson on the Wings' second defense pairing.

Dixon's colleague, Elliotte Friedman, believed Fowler would draw interest in the trade market. He reported on Oct. 9 that the St. Louis Blues took a long look at the Ducks blueliner before the start of the season. However, he felt it would take time for teams lacking cap space to accrue enough cap dollars to land him.

Since then, speculation over Fowler's future has grown quiet, though that doesn't mean there isn't any interest in him. The puck-moving rearguard seems more likely to move near the March 7 trade deadline when teams have accumulated more cap space.

1. Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets

After seven seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Ivan Provorov was traded on June 6, 2023, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old defenseman could be on the move again before the March 7, 2025 trade deadline.

On Oct. 24, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Utah Hockey Club contacted the Blue Jackets about Provorov. They were looking for replacements for defensemen Sean Durzi and John Marino, who've been sidelined for months recovering from recent surgeries. They've since acquired blueliner Olli Määttä from the Detroit Red Wings.

A big, skilled puck-moving defenseman, Provorov could be in demand near the trade deadline. However, LeBrun indicated the Blue Jackets aren't in a rush to move him as they don't want to make any major moves right now.

Provorov carries a $6.8 million cap hit, but the Blue Jackets carry $4.8 million because the Kings retained $2.8 million in that three-team trade. That will make the 6'1", 213-pounder even more enticing to playoff contenders seeking a skillful rental defenseman.

Despite the Blue Jackets' reluctance to move Provorov, his size, skills, experience and affordable cap hit put him atop our November Trade Block Big Board.

Stats via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.