Predicting the Biggest Winners and Losers of the 2025-26 NHL Trade Deadline
The 2025-26 NHL Trade Deadline is still a little more than a month away, but it is not too soon to start thinking about the teams in the best position to do well for themselves when it comes to adding to their rosters and organizations.
It might be a little premature to decide trade deadline winners and losers before the trade deadline even arrives, but think of this as more of an assessment of the situations teams have, the players available, and what might happen.
Some teams are well-positioned to make a big move. That opens the door for them to take significant action. Some teams need help at a position where talent is scarce. Other teams might be stuck in a no-man 's-land where they need to sell but probably cannot, or need to buy but probably should not.
So let's consider all of that and let's try to predict who will be the biggest winners and losers of the trade deadline.
Predicted Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
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There is honestly no reason the Hurricanes shouldn't be a big winner at this deadline.
This is one of those situations where, ahead of time, it's easy to look at the team in question and say, "They have an opportunity to do something big here."
They have been extremely aggressive in each of the past two seasons in swinging for blockbuster trades. They have a win-now mentality and are facing pressure to break through in the Eastern Conference. They also have more salary cap space than almost any contender in the NHL and four first-round draft picks over the next three years. If a top player becomes available, the Hurricanes figure to be in the running to acquire them.
If recent history is any indicator, there is a good chance they will get one, or at least make one heck of an effort to get them.
Predicted Loser: Teams That Need Centers
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There are not many contenders that are totally set down the middle. Some contenders might need an upgrade at their No. 2 center position. A lot of contenders could still use a No. 3 center. Heck, some potential playoff teams might even need a No. 1 center. The problem is that there are likely not enough centers available to fill all those spots.
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck and Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri figure to be available as their teams look to rebuild or retool, but neither team is under pressure to move either player right now. They still have years left on their contracts; they can revisit trade options in the offseason and hold out for the return they want. Given the fact that both players still have so much term remaining, the asking price could be significant, especially given the lack of depth at the position.
If you want one of these guys you are probably going to have to pay up at the deadline.
If you do not want to pay up, you might still be in need of a center when the playoffs begin.
Predicted Winner: Artemi Panarin
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At this point, it is simply a matter of when and where for a Panarin trade. The Rangers have already told their fans that a retool is on the horizon, and they are holding him out of the lineup in anticipation of a trade.
He is not only going to be a winner because he will almost certainly go from one of the worst teams in the NHL to a contender, but also because that might come with a brand new contract extension, depending on the team that gets him.
He is still a big-time offensive player, and even at age 34, he should still have a couple of big years of production ahead of him.
The only question is, where will he end up? Carolina seems like a popular bet. Maybe Florida? Perhaps an up-and-coming team like San Jose? There should be plenty of options.
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Predicted Loser: Toronto Maple Leafs
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This basically comes down to, why should you have much faith in this current front office to do the right thing?
Pretty much everything they have touched over the past year has backfired.
The 2025 trade deadline is looking like a mess, given how they depleted their most significant draft-pick assets and traded away a strong young player in Fraser Minten.
They fumbled the transition away from Mitch Marner by replacing a superstar talent with a collection of grinders.
The team itself is one of the worst in the Eastern Conference entering play on Sunday and is just as close to last place in the conference as it is to a playoff spot.
They need to sell. Will they sell? If they do, will they manage it properly? Do they even have ENOUGH to sell? Or will they throw more assets at trying to salvage this season? It just seems like a pretty grim situation.
Predicted Winner: Colorado Avalanche
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This is pretty clearly an all-in season for the Avalanche, and despite their dominant record, they could still use some tweaks in their lineup and an upgrade here and there. They are also one of the teams that could probably use some additional center depth.
They have a little bit of salary cap flexibility, and they also have something some of their other top contenders in the Western Conference do not have at the moment -- some trade capital.
While their 2026 draft pick pool is largely depleted, they still have their 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and two 2027 second-round picks. Prospect Gavin Brindley could also be a significant trade chip. They have options to get what they need.
Predicted Loser: Seattle Kraken
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This just seems like a difficult situation to navigate.
They should probably sell, especially some of their pending free agents. But will they be willing to do that when they are right on the playoff bubble with a realistic chance of getting in?
Spending future assets to add to this team is also probably not a good idea.
Shane Wright's name has surfaced in trade speculation, and that seems like a risky move to even consider, given his untapped potential and age. There is still a chance he can break out. If you are Seattle, you want that to happen to you, not to somebody else. Especially when his current value is probably at its lowest level.
This just seems like a no-win situation for Seattle. It will be fascinating to see how management handles it.
.png?w=480 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
