This list is for 1996–97 NHL transactions within professional ice hockey league of players in North America. The following contains team-to-team transactions that occurred in the National Hockey League during the 1996-97 NHL season. It lists what team each player has been traded to, or claimed by, and for which players or draft picks, if applicable.
May
June
July
August
San Jose's sixth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent fourth-round (# 93 overall) and sixth-round picks in the 1997 Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for this pick. Detroit's acquired fourth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on March 24, 1998 that sent Jamie Macoun to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
September
Calgary's third-round pick went to Carolina as the result of a trade on March 5, 1997 that sent Hnat Domenichelli, Glen Featherstone, a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Calgary in exchange for Steve Chiasson and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season. Calgary previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with the Islanders on November 27, 1996 that sent Paul Kruse to the Islanders in exchange for this pick.
October
November
Washington's fourth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 27, 1998 that sent a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Colorado in exchange a fourth-round pick and fifth-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft along with this pick.
December
Carolina's acquired first-round pick went to San Jose as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Carolina in exchange for this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season. Conditions of this draft pick are unknown. Florida made no pick selection belonging to Chicago in the 1999 Entry Draft.
January
February
March
Trading Deadline: March 18, 1997
Conditions of this draft pick was if Washington were able to re-sign Rick Tocchet as a free agent. He signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on July 23, 1997 and Washington got a compensation pick in the 1998 Entry Draft that still went to Boston to complete the trade. Ottawa's sixth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on September 24, 1997 that sent Kirk Daubenspeck to Chicago in exchange for future considerations and this pick. Trade completed on June 27, 1998.