Ideal Trade Targets For Every NHL Team at the 2025 Deadline
The 2025 NHL Trade Deadline (March 7) is creeping closer. There's already been considerable activity in the trade market with notable stars like Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Miller moving in multi-player deals.
Teams comfortably holding playoff berths and those jockeying for wild-card spots are expected to become buyers at the deadline. Those sitting further down in the standings will become sellers as their postseason hopes fade.
The buyers will pursue players to bolster their rosters for a long playoff run or at least help them secure a wild-card berth. The sellers will try to offload pending free agents or move players signed beyond this season who don't fit into their long-term plans.
Most of the attention will be on players on non-contending teams or those on the playoff bubble who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents They include New York Islanders center Brock Nelson and winger Kyle Palmieri.
Several players with term remaining on their contracts have also surfaced in the rumor mill. They include Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens, Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly, and St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn.
Follow along as we look at the ideal trade targets for every NHL team heading toward the deadline. For some teams, we've named specific players while others could require draft picks or prospects or have a need at a position where several trade options could be available.
Anaheim Ducks: A Second Round Draft Pick
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The rebuilding Anaheim Ducks have shown promising signs of improvement this season. They possess promising talent like forwards Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Trevor Zegras and Cutter Gauthier, defensemen Owen Zellweger, Jackson Lacombe and Pavel Mintyukov, and goaltender Lukas Dostal.
As of Feb. 15, the Ducks are nine points outside the final Western Conference wild-card berth. They could become buyers if they gain traction in the standings by March 7. Given their rebuilding status, they're more likely to be sellers.
The Ducks lack a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, having traded it to the Philadelphia Flyers last year to acquire Gauthier. They could attempt to address that need by peddling unrestricted free agent defenseman Brian Dumoulin or trying to move veteran goaltender John Gibson.
Boston Bruins: Prospects
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It's been a difficult season for the Boston Bruins. Having spent the past eight seasons among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, they're jockeying for one of the two wild-card berths. They could miss the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.
On Jan. 15, Bruins president Cam Neely hinted his club could be “retooling a little bit” if they were out of contention by the trade deadline. It might be wise to resist the temptation to waste their limited trade capital on playoff rental players and focus instead on the future.
The Bruins' priority should be restocking a prospect pool recently ranked 30th by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. Pending free agent forwards Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau could be peddled for promising youngsters. Team captain Brad Marchand could fetch much more if they fail to agree to a contract extension.
Buffalo Sabres: Stand Pat and Wait For the Offseason
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It's been another disappointing season for the Buffalo Sabres. Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they're poised to extend their NHL record playoff drought to 14 seasons. The Sabres possess plenty of skilled young players but lack veteran talent with postseason experience to motivate this team and lead by example.
General manager Kevyn Adams has been stymied in his efforts to bolster his roster by adding a scoring forward. It's doubtful he'll have better luck by the trade deadline as teams try to pry away young players like center Dylan Cozens and defenseman Bowen Byram for pennies on the dollar.
The Sabres were linked to Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson but he comes with a hefty contract and faces criticism in Vancouver for his poor play this season. They could be better off standing pat and looking toward the offseason when they could have better luck in the deeper trade and free-agent markets.
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Calgary Flames: Dylan Cozens
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Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy was a seller at last year's deadline, trading Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. He's a buyer now, acquiring forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forwards Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and two draft picks.
On Feb. 4, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Conroy sought a right-shot center and was interested in Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres. The 23-year-old Cozens is signed through 2029-30 with an annual cap hit of $7.1 million but the Flames can easily afford it with $82.5 million of projected trade-deadline cap space.
LeBrun believes the Sabres want a quality player instead of futures for Cozens. Conroy might have to get a third team involved to make it happen. He could also part with one of his two first-rounders in 2025 or 2026 to sweeten the deal.
Carolina Hurricanes: John Gibson
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The Carolina Hurricanes' goaltending depth has been an area of concern for some time. Daily Faceoff's Carter Hutton cited oft-sidelined starter's Frederik Andersen's health and Pyotr Kochetkov's inconsistency and limited postseason experience.
On Jan. 10, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Hurricanes had a previous interest in Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson. He repeated it two weeks later but acknowledged it won't be easy to move his $6.4 million annual average value through 2026-27. However, the Ducks could retain part of it to facilitate a deal.
Gibson, 31, has struggled with the rebuilding Ducks but could flourish in Carolina. With a projected trade deadline cap space of $2 million, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky must get creative. He could swing another three-team trade like his recent deal with Chicago and Colorado to acquire Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall.
Chicago Blackhawks: Anyone Who'll Take Seth Jones' Contract
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Former Chicago general manager Stan Bowman acquired defenseman Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets and signed him to an eight-year contract on July 23, 2021. At the time, Bowman hoped that a major addition like Jones would avoid rebuilding the roster, turning the club back into a playoff contender.
Jones carries an annual cap hit of $9.5 million. Critics panned the deal at the time, declaring it unnecessary for a declining club in need of overhauling its roster. Nearly four years later, the criticism was justified as Chicago is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Now 30, Jones has five years left on his deal. He'll be past his prime when Chicago emerges from its rebuild as a playoff contender. Jones still has value as a big-minute blueliner for a contender seeking a top-pairing defenseman who is willing to take on the remainder of his deal in return for draft picks and prospects.
Colorado Avalanche: Brock Nelson
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The Colorado Avalanche made a stunning move last month, trading winger Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for winger Martin Necas and center Jack Drury. With $4.8 million in cap space, they might not be done making moves before the March 7 trade deadline.
They could pursue a second-line center to help them stage a Stanley Cup run. The best one currently available is Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old is a three-time 30-plus goal scorer with plenty of postseason experience. A pending free agent on July 1, he could be available if the Isles become sellers.
Nelson carries a cap hit of $6 million though most will have been paid out by March 7. The Avs could offer up center Casey Mittelstadt in return. The 26-year-old center carries an annual cap hit of $5.8 million for two more seasons. Mittelstadt is struggling this season but might improve under a different system.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Luke Kunin
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On Feb. 6, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Columbus Blue Jackets could be “moderate buyers” by the March 7 trade deadline. Despite being battered by injuries, they're jockeying for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. LeBrun said general manager Don Waddell felt he owed it to his players to add a top-nine forward.
With Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan sidelined, Waddell could seek depth at center, though Jenner is expected to return by late February. He could cast his eye toward someone like Luke Kunin of the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.
Kunin, 27, is on a one-year, $2.8 million contract and is UFA-eligible on July 1. He's a dependable, hard-working two-way forward who can play center or wing, kill penalties and chip in offensively. He'd be an affordable addition who could be had for a third or fourth-round pick.
Dallas Stars: Brian Dumoulin
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On Feb. 1, the Dallas Stars acquired center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks. Two days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested that they might not be done dealing, especially with defenseman Miro Heiskanen sidelined month-to-month following knee surgery.
The Stars won't find anyone in the trade market who can completely replace Heiskanen's all-around skills. They have $5.5 million in projected trade deadline cap space but also traded away three of their top-four picks in this year's draft, leaving them with limited trade capital.
Brian Dumoulin of the Anaheim Ducks could be an affordable depth option. The 33-year-old left-shot defenseman averages 19:48 of ice time per game and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is eligible for UFA status in July and could cost a third-round pick, which the Stars have in this year's draft.
Detroit Red Wings: David Savard
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The Detroit Red Wings could attempt to bolster their blue-line depth by the trade deadline. Veteran defenseman Jeff Petry has been sidelined since Jan. 2 and underwent surgery on Feb. 2, putting him on the shelf for six to eight weeks.
Because the Wings have been winning with Petry on the sidelines, they don't have to rush into finding a suitable replacement. Nevertheless, adding a shutdown blueliner would ensure sufficient defensive depth as they attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
David Savard could be a worthwhile option if the Montreal Canadiens become trade-deadline sellers. The 33-year-old is a reliable right-shot shutdown rearguard who won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. His $3.5 million cap hit would fit easily within the Wings' projected $12.6 million cap space.
Edmonton Oilers: A Left-Shot Defenseman
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It's been argued that the Edmonton Oilers need a goaltending upgrade, though Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard proved capable of carrying the Oilers to within a game of the Stanley Cup last year. Another scoring winger would help but sidelined winger Evander Kane is expected back in time for the playoffs.
If Kane remains out until the postseason, the Oilers would have over $5.1 million in long-term injury reserve cap space. That could be put toward adding a left-shot defenseman. In a Feb. 7 interview with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, GM Stan Bowman admitted that could be an area of concern if one of his current blueliners got hurt.
Several options could be available but finding the right one could depend on whether they want a playoff rental or someone signed beyond this season. Possibilities include Jamie Oleksiak of the Seattle Kraken, Ryan Lindgren of the New York Rangers or Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks.
Florida Panthers: An Affordable Depth Defenseman
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Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito must bolster his blueline if the defending Stanley Cup champions hope to return to the Final for the third straight year. He's got some salary cap flexibility with $3.5 million in projected trade-deadline cap room but has limited trade capital this season.
The Panthers have no picks in the first three rounds of this year's draft, carrying two fourth and fifth-round picks. Their prospect pool is shallow, ranked 32nd by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. Unless Zito is willing to shop his 2016 first and second-rounders, he'll have to go bargain-hunting for a defenseman before the deadline.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk ($2.8 million AAV) could be an option. Brian Dumoulin of the Anaheim Ducks ($3.2 million) could be another if the Ducks will retain some salary.
Los Angeles Kings: Rickard Rakell
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The Los Angeles Kings are in third place in the Pacific Division with 65 points. They possess a solid home record (17-3-2) but struggle on the road (12-14-5). Scoring depth is an issue, sitting 20th overall with a goals-per-game of 2.83. They need a scoring boost if they want to avoid another first-round elimination.
Eric Stephens of The Athletic suggested Rickard Rakell pf the Pittsburgh Penguins as the best of his eight suggested trade targets for the Kings. The 31-year-old can play either wing, has 25 goals this season and has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million.
The Penguins are rebuilding and could move Rakell for the right price. Stephens suggested bundling winger Trevor Moore with a first-round pick or a top prospect to make the dollars fit. Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list but the former Anaheim Ducks forward could welcome a return to Southern California.
Minnesota Wild: Stand Pat
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Clinging to third place in the Central Division with 70 points, the Minnesota Wild have struggled in recent weeks as injuries depleted their roster. The most notable absence is superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who underwent surgery in late January for a lower-body injury and was expected to be out for at least four weeks.
The cap-strapped Wild placed Kaprizov on long-term injury reserve to create room for additions like Vinnie Hinostroza off waivers. Because Kaprizov is expected back before the end of the regular season, they can't use the LTIR savings to pursue a top-six forward like New York Islanders center (and Minnesota native) Brock Nelson.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin could try to get creative to bolster his club's offense. However, given his cap limitations, his best option could be hoping his roster gets healthy enough to maintain their hold on a playoff spot until Kaprizov returns.
Montreal Canadiens: Bowen Byram
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Kirby Dach's struggles to regain his form after missing last season with a knee injury prompted speculation that the Montréal Canadiens could shop for a second-line center. On Feb. 5, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported the Canadiens were among the teams interested in Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres.
RG.Org's Marco D'Amico cited an NHL source suggesting Cozens might not be a good fit for the Canadiens given his expensive contract and scoring difficulties. He instead wondered if they might target Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. The 25-year-old is playing well alongside Rasmus Dahlin on the Sabres' top defense pairing.
The Sabres would set a high asking price for Byram but he's the right age to fit into the Canadiens' long-term roster plans. He's slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. It's unlikely the Sabres would move him but the Habs could be among the suitors if they put him on the trade block.
Nashville Predators: Draft Picks and Prospects
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It's an understatement to suggest that this season hasn't gone as expected for the Nashville Predators. They made the biggest moves in last summer's free-agent market by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei but are stuck near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
General manager Barry Trotz could become a seller at the trade deadline now that his team's playoff hopes are all but dashed. Pending free agent winger Gustav Nyquist could be shopped, along with players like Colton Sissons and Luke Schenn with a year left on their contracts.
The Predators already have five picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft, including three first-rounders. Trotz could attempt to add more which he could use to bolster his prospect depth this summer or peddle some of them for younger talent signed beyond this season.
New Jersey Devils: Ryan O'Reilly
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In a Jan. 17 interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald indicated he'd like to bolster his club's depth at center. That's become a more pressing need with team captain Nico Hischier sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
LeBrun speculated Ryan O'Reilly of the Nashville Predators might be a trade target. The 33-year-old two-way center is a former winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and the Frank J. Selke Trophy as top defensive forward. He's signed through 2026-27 with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million.
O'Reilly lacks no-trade protection but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the Predators are treating him like he does. Fitzgerald could use his $5.6 million of projected trade deadline cap room to make a significant addition. If O'Reilly would agree to it, he could be a solid third-line center for the Devils.
New York Islanders: Casey Mittelstadt
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The New York Islanders are trying to climb into a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. General manager Lou Lamoriello could become a seller if they fail to gain ground in the standings. He could peddle UFA-eligible players like center Brock Nelson.
Lamoriello could shop Nelson for draft picks and prospects to restock his depleted prospect pipeline. He could also try to swing a deal for a package that includes a younger center such as Casey Mittelstadt of the Colorado Avalanche, who acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres last season.
Mittelstadt has struggled to fill the second-line role with the Avalanche. The 26-year-old is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.75 million. Mittelstadt's playmaking skills could help offset Nelson's departure while his defensive game could improve under Isles coach Patrick Roy.
New York Rangers: Brandon Tanev
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New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury has been busy in this year's trade market. Since Dec. 6, he's shipped Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, sent winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen, and acquired forward J.T. Miller in a multi-player swap with the Vancouver Canucks.
Drury's machinations enabled the Rangers to recover from a two-month tailspin, helping them rise to within three points of an Eastern Conference wild-card berth. With a projected trade deadline cap space of $16.5 million, he has plenty of room for more additions to help his club clinch a playoff berth.
The Rangers GM traded away his 2025 first-round pick and has no second-rounders in the next three drafts. However, he could go for a hard-working, bottom-six rental forward like the Kraken's Brandon Tanev. He has an affordable $3.5 million cap hit and could only cost a third-round pick if Drury moves quickly.
Ottawa Senators: A Forward or Defenseman If They Can Afford It
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Sitting in the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot, the Ottawa Senators are in a position to secure their first playoff berth since 2016-17. On Feb. 1, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported general manager Steve Staios was scouring the trade market hoping to bolster his roster for the final push down the stretch.
Garrioch claimed Staios sought a forward and a defenseman. However, the Senators are pressed against the $88 million salary-cap ceiling. The forward option could be addressed by the recent return of veteran David Perron from a back injury but that still leaves no wiggle room to add a blueliner.
Staios must get creative to free up cap space for an affordable defenseman. That might mean a dollar-for-dollar swap involving a current roster player or a three-team swap in which salary is spread around.
Philadelphia Flyers: A First-Line Center
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Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere made a surprising move on Jan. 31, trading forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames, In return, the Flyers received UFA-eligible winger Andrei Kuzmenko, promising forward Jakob Pelletier, and two draft picks.
It seemed like Briere waved the white flag on this season but he could have bigger moves in mind. Moving Farabee cleared his $5 million cap hit from the Flyers books, freeing up room to add a true first-line center to his rebuilding roster. He could clear another $5.1 million by peddling defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Briere could surprise again by acquiring that center at the trade deadline. However, it's more likely he will make that move during the offseason via trade or free agency, perhaps by targeting a rival club's restricted free-agent center like Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Future Assets
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Kyle Dubas has been retooling the Pittsburgh Penguins since taking over as president and general manager two years ago. On Feb. 1, he sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O'Connor to the Vancouver Canucks for depth players Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, a prospect and a conditional first-round pick.
The Penguins are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, poised to miss the playoff for the third straight year. Rather than a full-scale roster teardown, Dubas is adding draft picks, prospects, and roster players to maintain a competitive group around veterans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
Dubas could peddle pending free agents like Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Grzelcyk for draft picks. An offer of a good young NHL-ready player could tempt him to part ways with winger Rickard Rakell or Michael Bunting.
San Jose Sharks: More Draft Picks and Prospects
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The rebuild under general manager Mike Grier continues for the San Jose Sharks. His efforts have given his club what Scott Wheeler of The Athletic considers the best prospect pipeline in the league, featuring budding stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. He's also loading up on draft picks.
Expect that trend to continue for the Sharks leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. Grier got an early start on things, shipping forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars on Feb. 1 for a first and a conditional third-round pick in this year's draft.
Pending free agents like goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Alexandar Georgiev, defenseman Jan Rutta, and forwards Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm could also become trade bait for the right price.
Seattle Kraken: Add More Promising Young Players
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The Seattle Kraken are nine points out of the final Western wild-card spot, making it likely that they'll miss the playoffs for the third time in their four-year existence. General manager Ron Francis could become a seller, shopping UFA-eligible players like Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev for draft picks and prospects.
Francis could consider peddling veterans signed beyond this season like forwards André Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jamie Oleksiak. He could seek promising young NHL players in return.
Francis made a similar move by shipping defenseman Will Borgen to the New York Rangers on Dec. 18 for winger Kaapo Kakko. The move invigorated the 23-year-old Kakko, who has 17 points in 24 games since coming to Seattle. Finding similar talent could help the Kraken get closer to playoff contention next season and beyond.
<strong>St. Louis Blues: Affordable Young Players</strong>
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Barring a turnaround down the stretch, the St. Louis Blues will miss the playoffs for the third straight year. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported they're willing to listen to offers on several players, including captain Brayden Schenn. His colleague Nick Kypreos listed forwards Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou as possible trade chips.
Kypreos claimed general manager Doug Armstrong isn't happy with his team's performance and wants to shed around $8 million in salary. With a projected $11.6 million in cap space for 2025-26, freeing up additional space will be necessary if he hopes to add younger players on more affordable contracts.
Armstrong could also use some draft picks as he has no second, third or fourth-rounders in this year's draft and no second rounders in 2026 and 2027. However, his priority could be finding young, cost-effective NHL talent to fit into his long-term plans of restoring the Blues into a Cup contender.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Jake Evans
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Led by Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel, the Tampa Bay Lightning possess plenty of scoring punch among their top-six forwards. However, they could use a good two-way forward on their checking lines who can provide secondary scoring and solid defensive play.
Jake Evans could be a good fit. The speedy 28-year-old Montréal Canadiens forward is a solid two-way player who could exceed his career-best 13-goal, 29-point performance in his contract year. He can play center or wing and is a solid penalty killer. He also carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit for this season.
The Canadiens could peddle Evans if unable to re-sign him by the trade deadline for a second-round pick or a promising young NHL player. The Lightning have two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders in this year's draft to draw on for trade capital.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Scott Laughton
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Depth at center has been an issue for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They're set on their top-two lines with Auston Matthews and John Tavares but desperately need an experienced center for their third line.
GM Brad Treliving could have his eye on Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco reported on Feb. 8 that the Leafs are among several teams interested in the 30-year-old center. A feisty, hard-working two-way forward, Laughton is signed through 2025-26 with an annual cap hit of $3 million.
The Flyers are in sell mode after trading Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31. They'll want a good return for Laughton like a first-round pick. The Leafs lack a first-rounder in this year's draft but might part with their 2026 first-rounder for someone with term remaining on their contract like Laughton.
Utah Hockey Club: Trevor Zegras
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The Utah Hockey Club has shown improvement during their first season in their new city. Led by young stars like Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, they're getting closer to becoming a regular playoff contender. Given their current position in the standings, however, they could use some help to clinch a berth.
Meanwhile, Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras has struggled through injuries and inconsistent play since last season. A change of scenery with new linemates and a different coaching system might help the 23-year-old Zegras regain the dazzling scoring touch that saw him exceed 60 points in each of his first two NHL seasons.
A rejuvenated Zegras could reach his potential as a scoring star in Utah, in turn helping them become a playoff team. They have plenty of salary cap room to absorb his $5.8 million annual cap hit through next season plus the trade capital in draft picks and prospects to tempt the Ducks.
Vancouver Canucks: Rasmus Ristolainen
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The Vancouver Canucks made two significant trades in recent weeks. On Jan. 31, they shipped center J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers for a return that included center Filip Chytil. The next day, they acquired left-shot defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O'Connor from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin could consider adding a right-shot defenseman. Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers would be a worthwhile addition. The 30-year-old blueliner has improved this season and is signed through 2026-27 with an annual cap hit of $5.1 million.
The Canucks have $16.3 million in projected trade deadline cap space to acquire Ristolainen. Meeting the rebuilding Flyers asking price could cost a second-round pick and a prospect or young NHL player. Ristolainen could be worth it if he brings additional skill and stability to their blue line.
Vegas Golden Knights: Kyle Palmieri
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The Vegas Golden Knights have a well-earned reputation for making bold moves despite their salary-cap constraints. Recent examples include the acquisitions of Tomáš Hertl and Noah Hanifin before last year's trade deadline.
They could plunge into this season's trade market to address their need for a middle-six scoring winger like Kyle Palmieri. The 34-year-old New York Islanders forward is poised to reach the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time. He's slated to become a UFA this summer and could be shopped if the Isles become sellers by deadline day.
The Golden Knights possess almost $3.5 million in projected trade deadline cap space and could request the Isles retain half of the remainder of Palmieri's $5 million cap hit. It could cost them top prospect Trevor Connolly but Vegas has never worried about sacrificing the future if it helps them contend for the Stanley Cup.
Washington Capitals: Trent Frederic
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The Washington Capitals confounded the experts this season by jockeying for first overall in the NHL standings. They're in good shape with Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois centering their top-two lines but could use depth among their bottom-six forwards at that position.
Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins could be a good trade target. The 26-year-old is a physical, two-way forward who can play center and the wing. He also has a decent scoring touch, with 18 goals and 40 points last season. Frederic carries an affordable $2.3 million cap hit and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.
If the Bruins become sellers at the deadline, Frederic could become available. With $3.7 million in projected trade-deadline cap space, the Capitals can afford to take on his remaining salary. They could dangle one of their two second-rounders in this year's draft as trade bait.
Winnipeg Jets: Brayden Schenn
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On Feb. 6, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that there was “potential” for St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn to be traded. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kypreos also suggested the 33-year-old two-way center could become available in the trade market.
The Winnipeg Jets could be very interested if the Blues put Schenn on the trade block, provided he agrees to waive his no-trade clause. They need a skilled, reliable second-line center who would bring leadership, physical style and Stanley Cup experience to their lineup.
Schenn is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $6.5 million. With $12.5 million in projected trade deadline cap space, the Jets can afford his contract. He could become the missing piece of their Stanley Cup puzzle, but it could cost them a first-round pick and a top prospect or a good young NHL player.
Stats and standings (as of Feb. 15, 2026) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff. Prospect info via The Athletic.
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