What Every NHL Team Would Do If the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Were Today
The NHL's annual trade deadline is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026, at 3 pm ET.
Because of the salary cap and the parity among most clubs, most of the activity in the trade market usually occurs in the weeks leading up to that annual deadline. However, some teams have already decided to avoid the rush and make their big moves now.
On Dec. 12, the Vancouver Canucks made a blockbuster deal by shipping superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. Earlier in the day, the Edmonton Oilers sent goaltender Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for netminder Tristan Jarry in a multiplayer deal.
It remains to be seen if more significant trade activity occurs this month, especially with the NHL's holiday roster freeze from 11:59 pm ET on Dec. 19, 2025, to 12:01 am ET on Dec. 28, 2025. Given those two recent major deals, we decided to see what each team would do if the trade deadline were today.
We'll examine each division to determine the roster needs for each club and whether they should buy or sell. For this exercise, we're using the projected trade deadline cap space as per PuckPedia.
Atlantic Division
1 of 4
Boston Bruins: Add a second pairing right-shot defenseman
After finishing last in the Eastern Conference last season, the Bruins were considered at best a playoff bubble team this season. However, improved goaltending by Jeremy Swayman and a potent offense led by David Pastrňák and rising star Morgan Geekie have them battling for first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Bruins could use an experienced right-shot defenseman on their second blue-line pairing. They haven't suitably filled the gap left by trading Brandon Carlo to Toronto last season. They're pressed for cap space, which could leave them shopping for a bargain blueliner by the trade deadline.
Buffalo Sabres: Hire a new general manager
The Buffalo Sabres have missed the postseason an NHL record 14 seasons and counting. They are now on their fourth general manager since their last playoff appearance in 2011. None of them had any previous full-time GM experience building a winning franchise.
Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, this team needs a more seasoned hand in the management seat. Ownership must hire a general manager with a proven record of building contenders, give them whatever they need to get the job done, and stay out of their way.
Detroit Red Wings: Bolster the defense corps
It's been nine seasons since the Red Wings reached the playoffs. They came tantalizingly close to ending their postseason drought during the last two seasons, only to collapse down the stretch partly because of a lack of skilled depth on their defense beyond Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson.
The Red Wings have $49.2 million in trade deadline cap space. They can also draw on their draft picks and their prospect pipeline for trade capital. They're in an excellent position to become buyers, not just for playoff rentals, but for defensemen who could help them beyond this season.
Florida Panthers: Find affordable checking-line depth
Losing Aleksander Barkov to a season-ending knee injury and Matthew Tkachuk until January to offseason surgeries have the Panthers sitting outside a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Getting Tkachuk back will bolster their top-six forwards, but nothing can replace Barkov's two-way brilliance.
The Panthers will still have cap relief with Barkov on season-ending LTIR to bolster their roster depth. However, they don't have as many tradeable assets as they did when they made their big moves in the recent past. They could instead pursue more affordable depth for their checking lines.
Montreal Canadiens: Land a reliable second-line center
The Canadiens' goaltending has been a recent concern, but their need for a reliable second-line center has been an ongoing issue. Since Kirby Dach was sidelined with a fractured foot, they employed rookie Oliver Kapanen in that role. However, they need someone with more experience in that position.
Nashville Predators forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos have been linked to the Canadiens in the rumor mill. However, management could prefer younger options that could fit in well long-term with their rebuilding roster.
Ottawa Senators: Add a top-four, right-shot defenseman
A lack of skilled right-shot blueline depth has been an ongoing issue for the Senators. They'll eventually get some help there when top prospect Carter Yakemchuk is ready for prime time. For now, however, they need immediate help at that position.
They added depth last summer by acquiring Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings. Given Artem Zub's injury history, finding another top-four right-shot blueliner should be a priority if they hope to get past the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Acquire an experienced third-pairing defenseman
No longer a perennial Stanley Cup contender, the Lightning remains a competitive club with an experienced core of talent. However, they have limited cap space to work with by the trade deadline, and not many available trade assets to draw on.
Nevertheless, management could try to find affordable depth leading up to the March deadline. That could send them into the market for an experienced defenseman to add to their third pairing.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Improve the defense corps
The Maple Leafs could use an experienced and reliable starting goalie, but they are difficult to find this season. It's the depth of their defense corps that remains an ongoing issue. Injuries to Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo have highlighted the need to address that problem.
The Leafs are squeezed for cap space, so they might have to ship out a salaried player to add a blueliner. Forwards such as Nick Robertson, Calle Järnkrok, and Bobby McMann have been mentioned as trade candidates, but it could take packaging one of them with a draft pick or a prospect to make it happen.
Central Division
2 of 4
Chicago Blackhawks: Stay the course
Over four years after GM Kyle Davidson began rebuilding the roster, Chicago is jockeying for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. He has plenty of draft picks and prospects to pursue rental players or veterans with term left on their contracts to boost their chances of clinching a playoff berth.
However, Chicago remains a rebuilding club. They shouldn't sacrifice quality assets or cap space to secure a wild-card spot. There's nothing wrong with an affordable pickup or two, but Davidson will likely continue to bank on his current roster regardless of the season's outcome.
Colorado Avalanche: Bring back Kiefer Sherwood
The Avalanche have dominated the league thus far. They sit atop the overall standings in points (51), goals per game (4.00), goals-against per game (2.19), and penalty killing percentage (86.4), but they need something to improve their 26th-ranked power play.
Acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks might help. He has a very affordable $1.5 million cap hit, tallied a career-best 40 points last season, and could reach a career-high 30 goals this season. The former Avalanche winger's feisty style of play is well-suited for the physical grind of a long postseason run.
Dallas Stars: Acquire Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames
Western Conference finalists in each of the past three seasons, the Stars fell short each time in reaching the Stanley Cup Final. One reason is the ongoing lack of a skilled, reliable right-shot second-pairing defenseman.
Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames might be the missing piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle. A skillful all-around defenseman, he carries a cap hit of $4.6 million. With Tyler Seguin possibly headed to season-ending LTIR, it would free up his $9.8 million cap space to take on Andersson as a postseason rental.
Minnesota Wild: A depth move or two
The Minnesota Wild made what will likely be the biggest trade of this season. On Dec. 12, they acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. That move signaled their intention to finally bring the Stanley Cup to "The State of Hockey."
Wild GM Bill Guerin could stand pat if he wanted to, but he has $6.2 million in projected trade deadline cap space. That leaves enough to bring in an affordable depth rental player or two if necessary.
Nashville Predators: Trade Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O'Reilly
Predators general manager Barry Trotz hoped the additions of Stamkos, Marchessault, and O'Reilly could keep his club competitive while easing younger talent into the roster. However, it hasn't worked, leaving the Predators floundering near the bottom of the standings for the second straight season.
Trotz must acknowledge that big changes are required, starting with trying to peddle those three veterans as soon as possible. It won't be easy, especially with Stamkos and Marchessault carrying no-movement clauses, but it's time to move them for returns that speed up their transition toward youth.
St. Louis Blues: Time to retool the roster
Last month, Blues GM Doug Armstrong reportedly informed his peers that he was open for business in the trade market. While his club's performance has improved a bit since then, it's time for Armstrong and GM-in-wait Alexander Steen to retool the roster.
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, the Blues haven't come close to regaining that championship form. They have a core of twenty-something talent to build around, led by Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Veterans such as Jordan Binnington and Brayden Schenn should be shopped for the best possible returns.
Utah Mammoth: Consider a coaching change
After an 8-2-0 start, the rebuilding Mammoth seemed poised for a breakout season. Since then, they've won only seven of their last 23 games and are in danger of tumbling toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings. To make matters worse, first-line center Logan Cooley is out indefinitely with a leg injury.
Instead of making any moves in the trade market, the Mammoth might consider a change behind the bench. Head coach André Tourigny can't seem to find a solution to his club's current free-fall. It could be time to explore other options.
Winnipeg Jets: Find some secondary scoring
Having won the Presidents' Trophy last season for the first time in franchise history, expectations were high for the Jets to take the next step toward Stanley Cup contention. However, they're now struggling to remain in the playoff chase in the Western Conference.
Losing starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck for several weeks to knee surgery hasn't helped, but a lack of scoring depth beyond the first line has become an issue. They haven't addressed last summer's departure of playmaking winger Nikolaj Ehlers. They could put their $16.2 million in cap space toward addressing that problem.
Metropolitan Division
3 of 4
Carolina Hurricanes: Bolster the power play
Considered among this season's Stanley Cup contenders, the Hurricanes are jockeying for top spot in the tight Eastern Conference standings. They're among the league's highest-scoring clubs, but their power-play percentage ranks near the bottom.
The Hurricanes have a recent reputation for bold moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Jake Guentzel in 2024 and offloading Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars last season. They have $39.5 million in projected trade deadline cap space, so they'll likely use it to find themselves a reliable goal scorer.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Buy! Buy! Buy!
Having narrowly missed the playoffs last spring, there was an expectation that the Blue Jackets could clinch a postseason berth this season. They're not far off the pace in the Eastern Conference standings, but they've yet to show signs that they're going to break out as a serious contender.
The offense has cooled down following a strong start, and they could use another reliable top-four defenseman. With $58.4 million in projected trade deadline cap space, they should invest that money to improve their lineup, especially if they can get players who are signed beyond this season.
New Jersey Devils: Find another Tyler Toffoli
The Devils have been struggling since superstar center Jack Hughes was sidelined last month with an injured hand. Hughes will return to the lineup in a few weeks, and when their banged-up lineup is healthier, they should attempt to address the void left among their scoring lines when they traded Tyler Toffoli in 2024.
Toffoli was (and still is) an established offensive forward with considerable postseason experience. Finding a similar forward won't be easy, especially given the Devils' salary-cap constraints, but it will be necessary if they hope to become a Stanley Cup contender.
New York Islanders: A replacement for Kyle Palmieri
Losing an experienced top-six right wing such as Palmieri to a season-ending knee injury is a big blow for the low-scoring Islanders. Defenseman Alexander Romanov is also out for six months with a shoulder injury, but their system and defensive depth can offset his absence.
The Isles can grind it out defensively, but sitting among the bottom third in goals per game and power-play goals could cost them a playoff berth. Finding someone to replace Palmieri's production could become a priority.
New York Rangers: Find Affordable Depth
It remains to be seen if Rangers general manager Chris Drury will wheel and deal like he did last season. The club has been inconsistent thus far, but remains within striking distance of the playoffs. They should get sidelined defenseman Adam Fox back by January.
If Drury believes the Rangers can reach the playoffs, he should ignore the calls to pursue big-ticket rentals and focus on affordable depth players who can handle the heavy physical style of the postseason. Their limited cap space likely leaves him with little choice.
Philadelphia Flyers: Add affordable long-term scoring depth
The rebuilding Flyers were predicted to be among the bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference, but they have responded well to first-year head coach Rick Tocchet. Whether they can remain in the playoff picture could depend on whether they can improve their offensive numbers, which rank among the bottom third.
The Flyers have plenty of trade deadline cap space and trade assets. If general manager Daniel Briere becomes a buyer, he won't get crazy and overspend for rental players. He'll want younger talent with scoring upside or cost-effective players with playoff experience.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Add a cost-effective defensive forward.
Expected to be outside the playoff picture again this season, the Penguins are jockeying for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They also made a significant trade on Dec. 12, shipping long-time starting goaltender Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers for goalie Stuart Skinner.
Despite the club's improved performance and the goalie swap, GM Kyle Dubas is sticking with his roster retooling timeline. If the Penguins remain a playoff contender by the deadline, he could seek an affordable defensive forward to help his club in the faceoff circle.
Washington Capitals: Improve the special teams
The Capitals finished atop the Eastern Conference standings last season and are currently battling for first place with the Carolina Hurricanes. While their 3.39 goals per game and 2.39 goals against per game averages are among the league's best, their power-play (15.7) and penalty-killing percentages (75.8) are among the worst.
With $10.3 million in projected trade deadline salary-cap space, the Capitals have the wiggle room to add a power-play specialist and/or a reliable penalty killer. Putting together the right return could mean parting with a first or second-round pick or a quality prospect.
Pacific Division
4 of 4
Anaheim Ducks: Improve their defensive game.
After several seasons of rebuilding, the Ducks have emerged as an exciting run-and-gun team jockeying for first place in the Pacific Division. They have the second-best goals per game average (3.44), and have received solid goaltending from starter Lukáš Dostál.
However, their goals-against per game (3.34) and penalty-killing percentage (75.0) are among the league's worst. They possess plenty of cap space, draft picks, and prospects to use as trade bait to pursue an experienced shutdown defenseman and a reliable two-way forward.
Calgary Flames: Trade Rasmus Andersson.
Contract extension talks stalled between the Flames and Andersson last June. The 29-year-old is the top defenseman eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer. There is no indication that the two sides will agree to a new deal before then.
The Flames are currently near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Even if they manage to rise toward wild-card contention, they won't get far in the postseason. It's best to peddle Andersson for a return that would accelerate their roster retool next summer.
Edmonton Oilers: Improve the defense.
The Oilers believe they've addressed their inconsistent goaltending by shipping starter Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry. They could stand pat if Jarry overcomes his own history of erratic play and helps the Oilers rise up in the standings.
However, Skinner wasn't solely to blame for Edmonton's difficulties this season. He didn't get much help from the Oilers' defense, which has noticeably declined this season. As they did in acquiring Jarry, they'll have to get creative to overcome their salary-cap limitations to bolster their blue line.
Los Angeles Kings: Find a scoring forward.
A strong defense and solid goaltending have been the hallmarks of the Kings since their first Stanley Cup run in 2011-12. It's why they're in the thick of the Western Conference playoff chase. However, they lack scoring punch, sitting near the bottom of the league in goals per game (2.70) and power-play percentage (14.0).
The Kings have the cap room ($12.8 million) to add a top-six scorer. Doing so could cost a prospect from their already shallow prospect pool as part of the return. Nevertheless, it could be necessary if they hope to be more than a first-round-and-out club for the fifth straight year.
San Jose Sharks: Stay the course and wait for summer
Led by rising young stars such as Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund, the rebuilding Sharks are an exciting young team battling for a wild-card berth. With the league's top prospect pool, they have tradeable assets to add a couple of veterans to improve their chances of clinching a playoff spot.
However, it wouldn't be wise to sacrifice pieces of the future for a brief postseason appearance. Management will likely stay the course and wait for the offseason, when they'll have more cap space to consider acquiring more skilled players who can be part of their long-term success.
Seattle Kraken: Boost their scoring punch.
The Kraken could use help with their penalty-killing, but scoring is their biggest need. They've been lacking an elite scorer since their NHL debut in 2021-22. It's why they're among this season's lowest-scoring teams, and it's why they could end up missing the playoffs again.
Finding a scoring star isn't easy during the season, especially when there are few sellers and a lot of buyers. Nevertheless, they must try to find someone who could be a long-term solution to their scoring woes. With four first-round picks in the next two drafts, they have the trade capital to work with.
Vancouver Canucks: Continue the rebuild
Trading superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12 signaled the Canucks are rebuilding their roster. They won't tear it down to the studs, but will peddle their pending free agents and those with less than two years on their contracts for assets that can speed up the process.
UFA-eligible players such as Evander Kane, Kiefer Sherwood, and Teddy Blueger will be on the trade block. Defenseman Tyler Myers and forwards Filip Chytil and Drew O'Connor could also be shopped.
Vegas Golden Knights: Find another scoring forward
The Golden Knights are always on the lookout for a significant player who could improve their Stanley Cup chances. They have a creative, ruthless front office that always gets what they want, even if it's at the expense of their prospect pool and draft picks.
Having signed Carter Hart to shore up their goaltending, the Golden Knights could be in the market for a reliable playoff scorer. Despite having stars such as Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Tomáš Hertl, and Mark Stone, they're middle of the pack in goals per game (3.07).
Stats and standings (as of Dec. 13, 2025) via NHL.com. Salary and draft pick info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff. Prospect info via The Athletic.
