BS Meter on the Latest Rumors 2 Weeks from the NHL Trade Deadline

As the 2026 Winter Olympics reaches its conclusion, the NHL trade deadline is fast approaching on March 6. Once the Olympic trade freeze is lifted at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, general managers will have less than two weeks to get busy in the trade market.

That trade freeze hasn't affected the media rumor mill. It continues to buzz about which teams could make moves, and which players could become trade candidates.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk is reportedly drawing interest among teams in the market for a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils are rumored to be planning a major move to shake up their roster.

How much stock should be put in all this conjecture? Find out as we dust off our trusty BS Meter to separate fact from fiction.

Will the Philadelphia Flyers Become Trade Deadline Sellers?

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Entering January, the Philadelphia Flyers were holding a playoff spot, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division. Five weeks later, they had slipped to sixth in the division and 13th in the conference, sitting eight points out of a wild-card spot.

That has prompted speculation that general manager Daniel Brière could be a seller by the March trade deadline. On Feb. 7, William James of Philly Hockey Now observed a rumor from Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggesting he could move out wingers Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett in a blockbuster.

James dismissed the Konecny rumor, citing his no-movement clause and his value to the Flyers' plans to improve sooner rather than later. As for Tippett, James believes Philly would like to keep him, but its surplus of wingers could force its hand. He also suggested Bobby Brink could be a trade candidate.

Veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could also be a trade candidate. James suggested Noah Juulsen, Nick Seeler, or Emil Andrae could have uncertain futures in Philadelphia.

BS Meter: Not BS

Brière could gauge the trade market for Tippett, Brink, or Ristolainen to see what they might fetch. He might make a blockbuster move at the trade deadline, but he'll likely wait for the offseason when teams have more cap space and a willingness to make big deals.

Could the Utah Mammoth Become Buyers at the Trade Deadline?

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After several seasons of rebuilding, the Utah Mammoth are in a position to clinch a playoff berth.

They entered the Olympic break holding a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. They managed that feat with first-line center Logan Cooley sidelined by a lower-body injury for the past two months.

Cooley is expected to return to action soon after the Olympic break, but Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong could be active in the trade market as a buyer. On Feb. 7, Marco D'Amico of RG.org reported Armstrong could make a significant addition before the trade deadline.

D'Amico's sources claimed Armstrong looked into the availability of Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. It's believed the Mammoth GM could also inquire about Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks or Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.

The Mammoth could use an experienced second-line center to support Cooley. Those three have various forms of no-trade protection, but if one of them were to accept a trade to Utah, Armstrong has plenty of salary cap space and tradeable assets, such as draft picks, prospects, and young players, to make an enticing trade offer.

BS Meter: Not BS

Armstrong displayed his willingness to make big moves by acquiring winger JJ Peterka last summer and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in 2024. He might not land Kadri, Pettersson or Thomas, but we can't rule out the possibility he'll make a major trade at the deadline.

Will the New Jersey Devils Shake Up Their Roster?

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New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (right) and center Dawson Mercer.

It's been a difficult season for the New Jersey Devils. Injuries have sidelined several key players, including Jack and Luke Hughes. Starting goalie Jacob Markstrom has struggled, and the club entered the Olympic break sitting 11 points out of a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

Trade rumors have been swirling for some time, with the most recent involving defenseman Dougie Hamilton. The Devils made two trades before the Olympic break, shipping Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders on Jan. 27, and acquiring center Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 4.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald could have more moves up his sleeve. On Feb. 14, RG.org's James Murphy reported a source claimed Fitzgerald wanted to make a "hockey trade" that would shake up his roster and send a message to the players that no roster spot was guaranteed.

Murphy mentioned Hamilton again as a trade candidate, especially with Luke Hughes expected to come off long-term injury reserve following the Olympic break. He also mentioned multiple teams are interested in Devils center Dawson Mercer.

BS Meter: Not BS

Fitzgerald's recent trade activity suggests he's trying to make a significant deal, perhaps a player-for-player swap. Those moves aren't easy to pull off in-season, but they're not impossible. It could involve moving Hamilton, but Mercer is younger and carries an affordable contract that could be easier to trade.

Could the Boston Bruins Acquire Justin Faulk?

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The St. Louis Blues are expected to be among the sellers leading up to the March trade deadline. Their trade of center Nick Bjugstad to the New Jersey Devils before the Olympic break seems a harbinger of more moves to come.

Justin Faulk could be among the Blues on the move by March 6. The 33-year-old right-shot defenseman's puck-moving skills earned him the No. 2 spot on our February NHL Trade Block Big Board. He carries an average annual value of $6.5 million through 2026-27 and has a 15-team no-trade list.

On Feb. 17, RG.org's James Murphy reported the Boston Bruins were among multiple teams interested in Faulk. He claimed that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was pursuing the Blues defender after a failed attempt to acquire Rasmus Andersson, who was later traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.

After finishing near the bottom of the standings last season, the Bruins are jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Sweeney's attempt to land Andersson was part of his ongoing roster retool that has put his club back among the playoff contenders.

BS Meter: Not BS

Sweeney came very close to acquiring Andersson, even garnering permission from the Calgary Flames to speak with the blueliner's camp about a contract extension before he was traded to Vegas. It would be understandable that he'd shift his focus to Faulk, but it remains to be seen if he'll have better luck with him.

Elias Pettersson to the Los Angeles Kings?

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The Los Angeles Kings made a significant addition to their offense before the Olympic break by acquiring superstar winger Artemi Panarin and signing him to a two-year contract extension.

However, winger Kevin Fiala's season-ending injury in the Olympics could send them back to the trade market.

On Feb. 16, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province considered whether the Kings would be interested in Elias Pettersson. The 27-year-old Vancouver Canucks center is in the second year of an eight-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million and a full no-movement clause.

Kuzma wondered if Pettersson might waive his clause to go to Los Angeles, where his wife lived for 13 years. He also noted that the Kings have a projected $15.7 million in trade deadline cap space. With long-time Kings center Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of this season, Kuzma believes they're in "go-for-it" mode.

The Kings will need a long-term replacement for Kopitar. Pettersson doesn't play the same two-way style, but he has terrific offensive skills. He could also use a fresh start away from the pressure in Vancouver after struggling to meet the expectations that come with that expensive contract.

BS Meter: It's BS

Kuzma questioned whether the Kings have the tradeable assets to acquire Pettersson. He noted that the Canucks would want a young center as part of the return, but he doesn't see the Kings parting with Quinton Byfield.

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