Trade Ideas to Push 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Contenders Over the Top

The NHL's March 6, 2026, trade deadline is three months away. Nevertheless, speculation is already brewing over which players could be moved and which teams will be the most active in the trade market.

With the regular season schedule now in the final weeks of 2025, several clubs are starting to establish themselves as potential Stanley Cup contenders in each Conference. They'll be the ones most likely to become buyers as the trade deadline draws nearer.

Those clubs will be scouring the market searching for a key player or two that can improve their chances of winning hockey's holy grail. They will seek out those who can address any weak areas on their rosters.

So far, the standings remain tightly packed, with only four clubs that can be considered early Stanley Cup contenders. More teams could emerge as the trade deadline approaches. For now, here are our trade ideas that could help each of those four clubs achieve their Cup dreams.

Carolina Hurricanes: Acquire Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators

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Next June will mark 20 years since the Carolina Hurricanes won their first-ever Stanley Cup. They will attempt to end that two-decade drought this season. General manager Eric Tulsky showed his willingness to make big moves last season by pursuing Mikko Rantanen, and could attempt another major acquisition this season.

The Hurricanes have been a playoff contender since 2018-19. Over that time, they've been among the better teams in the league, finishing first or second in their division five times. They have also reached the Eastern Conference Final three times, including twice in the past three seasons. They're currently second in the Conference.

This season, the Hurricanes are among the top-10 teams in goals per game with an average of 3.32. However, their power play percentage (15.3) ranks among the bottom 10. They could use a skilled sniper with considerable playoff experience to improve their production with the man advantage.

Steven Stamkos could be a good solution here. The 35-year-old forward has struggled with the Nashville Predators since joining them as a free agent in 2024. Before that, he was among the league's top goal scorers, sitting second in goals with 532 between 2009-10 and 2023-24, with 205 of those coming on the power play.

Age could be catching up with Stamkos, but his production has also suffered because he lacks a talented playmaker in Nashville. The opportunity to move on to a more talented club could rejuvenate his offense, as he'd have the chance to play alongside playmakers like Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers.

Stamkos has two more seasons on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-movement clause. If he accepts a trade to the Hurricanes, they have the cap space to afford his full salary, while the decline in his scoring means it could only cost a couple of draft picks to land him.

The Hurricanes could prefer acquiring young scorers before the March trade deadline, but there might not be more suitable options available, and those could end up costing much more to acquire. The pressure to win this season could make Stamkos their best option to put them over the top.

Colorado Avalanche: Reacquire Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks

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As 2025 draws to a close, the Colorado Avalanche have been unquestionably the most dominant team thus far this season. They've held first place in the overall standings since Nov. 1, winning 21 of 29 games, with only two losses in regulation time.

Led by superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche are the only team averaging almost four goals per game (3.97). They're also solid defensively with a league-best 2.17 goals-against per game, while their penalty-killing percentage (86.9) is second overall.

It's still early in the season, and the Avalanche's stats could be affected as games become more competitive in the second half, especially down the stretch. They must also be prepared for the physical grind of postseason competition. Of the Avs' current roster, only nine players remain from the 2022 Stanley Cup run.

Based on their current stats and roster, the Avalanche could use a two-way, middle-six forward. They must bolster their secondary scoring, especially with a power-play percentage (16.0) ranked 23rd overall. They could also benefit from more grit on their checking lines.

Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks could be a good option. He played for the Avalanche from 2020-21 to 2021-22. The 30-year-old winger has since developed into a feisty physical forward with a decent scoring touch for the Canucks, but a lack of progress in contract talks has made him a trade candidate.

The Avalanche have limited trade assets after several years of wheeling and dealing to improve their roster. In August, The Athletic ranked their prospect pipeline at 32nd overall. They also have $7.1 million in projected trade deadline cap space.

Sherwood's $1.5 million cap hit could enable the Avalanche to take him on and leave enough room for other additions if needed. The Canucks could push for promising forward Gavin Brindley in return. The Avalanche could counter with their 2027 first-round pick to get him, since they don't have one for next year.

Dallas Stars: Acquire Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames

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Over the last six seasons, the Dallas Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and advanced to the Western Conference Final in each of the past three years. They're again among the Stanley Cup contenders, sitting second in the overall standings with 45 points.

Stars general manager Jim Nill isn't afraid to make significant moves in the trade market. Last season, he acquired first-line right wing Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes and signed him to an eight-year contract extension. He also added center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci as playoff rentals.

Nill could be in the market for a second-pairing right-shot defenseman. With Tyler Seguin possibly out for the season, the Stars GM could put him on season-ending long-term injury reserve, freeing up over $9.8 million to put toward bolstering his roster for the playoffs.

Center Matt Duchene has returned from injury and should help to offset Seguin's absence, allowing Nill to focus on a right-shot blueliner such as Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.6 million.

Adding a strong all-around defenseman such as Andersson would bring more experienced right-side depth to their defense corps. He could also improve their scoring punch from their blue line.

Andersson is projected to be the top defenseman in next summer's unrestricted free-agent market. The Flames will set a high price for him, and could be content to wait until the March 6 trade deadline to get a bidding war going.

The Stars have no first-rounders in 2026 or 2028, so it could cost them their 2027 pick to get Andersson. They might also have to part with a prospect such as Cameron Schmidt or Emil Hemming, or a promising young roster player, such as currently sidelined defenseman Lian Bichsel.

Washington Capitals: Acquire Jonathan Marchessault from the Nashville Predators

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Considered a playoff bubble team entering last season, the Washington Capitals exceeded expectations by finishing first in the Eastern Conference. They overcame a 10-game slump from late October into early November, regaining first place in the Conference.

With no clear dominant teams in the East, the Capitals can make the case for Stanley Cup contention if they remain at or near the top of the Conference this season. However, they do have a couple of roster issues to be addressed if they hope to make a push for the Cup.

The Capitals sit third in goals per game average with 3.43. Ageless captain Alex Ovechkin continues to produce on the scoresheet, rugged winger Tom Wilson is on a career-best point-per-game pace, and the underrated Dylan Strome remains a reliable producer.

However, two-way center Pierre-Luc Dubois is out until February at the earliest. Rookie Ryan Leonard was recently sidelined, and forwards Aliaksey Protas and Connor McMichael are behind their rates of production from last season.

The Capitals could use another experienced top-six scoring forward with proven postseason experience, preferably one who can bolster a power play percentage (15.9) that ranks 24th overall. Jonathan Marchessault of the Nashville Predators could be a fit here.

Marchessault, 34, won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup. He tallied a career-high 42 goals the following season, but his production has declined since joining the struggling Predators. A move to the Capitals might help him regain his scoring touch.

The Capitals will have a projected $15.1 million in cap space by the trade deadline, giving them plenty of room to take on Marchessault's $5.5 million cap hit. It could cost them a first or second-round pick plus a prospect such as Ivan Miroshnichenko or Lynden Lakovic.

Stats and standings (as of Dec. 9, 2025) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.