Buy or Sell Latest NHL Rumors 3 Weeks From the 2026 Trade Deadline
The NHL is currently on its Olympic break until Feb. 25, with a roster freeze in place until 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Once the freeze is lifted, general managers will have 12 days until the March 6 trade deadline (3:00 PM ET) to make their moves.
Playoff contenders, such as the Detroit Red Wings, could be buyers to bolster their rosters. Meanwhile, non-contenders like the New York Rangers will be sellers as they begin to rebuild for the future.
Despite the current freeze on trades, the media rumor mill continues to churn about which moves these teams will make and which players could be on the move.
Which rumors are worth buying or selling? Follow along as we examine some of the more notable speculation.
Will the Detroit Red Wings Add a Defenseman?
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Entering the Olympic break, the Detroit Red Wings sit fourth overall in the Eastern Conference. Once the league returns to action, they'll be in a good position to end their nine-year playoff drought.
General manager Steve Yzerman might make a move or two before the March 6 trade deadline to help his club clinch a postseason berth. He could add an experienced right-shot defenseman to his second pairing. Rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka is currently filling that role alongside Ben Chiarot.
On Jan. 30, Jake Tye of The Hockey News quoted Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, suggesting the Red Wings could have a match with the Winnipeg Jets. Friedman speculated it could involve Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley, but Stanley is a left-shot blueliner. Yzerman might also prefer adding players signed beyond this season.
Four days later, Ansar Khan of MLive.com suggested Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues as a trade target. The 33-year-old Faulk is signed through next season with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list, but could be a fit if he agrees to be traded to Detroit.
Buy or Sell: Buy
The Red Wings have a projected $59.4 million in trade-deadline cap space. They also have depth in tradeable assets such as prospects and promising young players to draw on for trade bait to acquire Faulk, Scheen, or someone else to address their need for a right-shot rearguard.
Will the Edmonton Oilers Become Buyers?
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Having come up short in two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers could attempt to shore up their roster by the trade deadline in the hope of getting another shot at winning hockey's holy grail.
On Feb. 7, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal noted some rumors making the rounds linking the Oilers to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and center Nicolas Roy. He also pointed out Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggesting that they attempt to acquire winger Patrik Laine from the Montreal Canadiens.
Staples dismissed the notion of the cap-strapped Oilers acquiring any part of Laine's $8.7 million cap hit. He also noted that rumors had them linked to Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann, who carries an affordable $1.35 million cap hit.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings could be shopping former Oilers winger Warren Foegele. Staples suggested bringing him back by offering up Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane, who's been the subject of trade rumors since December. Foegele has a $3.5 million cap hit through next season, while Mangiapane's is $3.6 million.
Buy or Sell: Buy, but only if they can move Mangiapane.
The Oilers have $2.9 million in projected trade-deadline cap space. The more they can free up, the better, be it swapping Mangiapane for a player with a comparable cap hit, or moving him out in a cost-cutting deal to clear space for another player.
Will the Montreal Canadiens Trade Patrik Laine?
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Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine has been sidelined since October, recovering from abdominal surgery. He was skating with his teammates before the Olympic break and is expected to be ready to resume playing following the break.
However, conjecture suggests Laine might be playing elsewhere by the March 6 trade deadline. The improving Canadiens have the third-best offense in the league without him, prompting Sportsnet's Eric Engels to suggest they could attempt to move him in a cost-cutting deal.
Engels believes the Canadiens might be willing to retain up to half of Laine's $8.7 million cap hit, but he also claimed sources told him they won't include another asset to sweeten the deal. The 27-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
RG.Org's Marco D'Amico suggested the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and Seattle Kraken as trade destinations. David Staples of the Edmonton Journal referred to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos proposing that the Oilers pursue Laine, but Staples doubted the cap-strapped Oilers would be interested.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Laine's 20 goals (five of them game-winners) helped the Canadiens clinch a playoff berth last season. However, their improved scoring punch makes him expendable. Moving him won't be easy, but there might be a contender in the market for a power-play specialist willing to take him on.
Could the Nashville Predators Put Jonathan Marchessault on the Trade Block?
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It's been an eventful season for the Nashville Predators. A poor start prompted trade rumors involving forwards Steven Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly, and goaltender Juuse Saros. They rallied to within striking distance of a wildcard berth, but that was overshadowed by Barry Trotz announcing he will step down as general manager.
On Feb. 6, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman speculated that Jonathan Marchessault could be a trade candidate. He cited the winger's full no-movement clause, but felt he could waive it for an NHL city with a good minor-hockey infrastructure for his young children.
Marchessault signed with the Predators in July 2024, coming off a successful seven-year run with the Vegas Golden Knights. Their struggles last season prompted trade speculation in the offseason, but Trotz spiked those rumors last June.
It's been a difficult season for Marchessault. Injuries limited him to 17 points in 38 games, putting him on pace for his lowest production since his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015-16, when he had 18 points in 45 games.
Buy or Sell: Sell
Marchessault might not draw much interest in the trade market. He is 35, signed through 2028-29 with a $5.5 million AAV, his production has declined, and injuries are catching up with him.
Is Vincent Trocheck the Next Player to be Traded by the New York Rangers?
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The New York Rangers made a blockbuster trade before the Olympic break, sending superstar winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. This wasn't an unexpected move, as the Rangers had held the 34-year-old Panarin out of the lineup while searching for the right trade partner.
That deal also raised speculation about which player the retooling Rangers might trade next. Vincent Trocheck is considered the obvious candidate. The 32-year-old center surfaced frequently in the rumor mill before the Olympic break, earning the top spot on our February NHL Trade Block Big Board.
Trocheck will draw the interest of contenders seeking a top-six center with term remaining on his contract. He's signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $5.6 million and also carries a 12-team no-trade list.
Michael Russo of The Athletic reported the Minnesota Wild were interested in Trocheck. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed the Kings attempted to have Trocheck included in the Panarin deal, but he prefers to stay in the East. He also indicated that the Detroit Red Wings attempted to sign Trocheck in 2022.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Playoff-bound clubs with cap space and tradeable assets could see Trocheck as the solution to their depth needs at center. His skills, playoff experience, and affordable contract make him a valuable trade chip that should fetch a good return for the Rangers.
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