The 7 Underrated Players Teams Should Target at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline
The NHL schedule is resuming, and with it comes the trade deadline.
By now, we've heard plenty about the big names who could be moved by the deadline, but there are also several under‑the‑radar players who could quietly swing a playoff race.
We've already seen some moves involving sneaky-good players after the Olympic trade freeze ended, and there's plenty of room for more now that teams look to attack the final stretch of games.
We've picked out a few players who check a lot of boxes for traits that could be useful and aren't in the class of bigger names like Artemi Panarin.
We picked these players out based on speculation, contract status and the roles they have on their current teams. Let's take a look at names who would make for potentially savvy buys at the deadline.
Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim Ducks
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It might seem strange for the Anaheim Ducks—currently in a playoff spot and playing some of their best hockey this season—to consider moving a 22‑year‑old puck‑moving defenseman, but with Joel Quenneville firmly installing his own approach, some players once pegged as part of the Ducks' future core are struggling to find their place, and Pavel Mintyukov is one of them.
Mintyukov has been a healthy scratch a few times this season and is entrenched on the team's third pairing after fellow young defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger leapt over him on the depth chart.
Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this season that Mintyukov was open to a move, yet he's still logging steady minutes—nearly 18 per game—and is being used in all situations.
Still, the Russian is not meant to be a third-pairing defender, and a player at his age and skill level would not come cheaply for a team enterprising enough to make a competitive offer.
While a rebuilding team might be tempted to target him, he could be a sneaky good pickup for a club in need of a youthful injection of depth to grow on.
Nick Foligno, Chicago Blackhawks
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It's shaping up to be another season without the playoffs in Chicago, which should mean some Blackhawks players will be traded. Captain Nick Foligno makes a lot of sense to be one of them.
Foligno has dealt with injuries this season, limiting him to 33 games. He has nine points and has played mostly a fourth-line role, while serving as a key veteran to show numerous young players the ropes in the NHL.
He's in the final year of his contract, though, and doesn't have any trade protection, which makes him an ideal trade candidate.
Foligno would provide classic grit and experience for a team in need of depth help in the playoffs, as well as someone to help wear down opponents with his physical style of play.
At 38 years old, teams will know what they're getting from him, but he has the classic makeup of a player who can be valuable in the postseason when given the chance.
Brandon Carlo, Toronto Maple Leafs
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When the Maple Leafs acquired Brandon Carlo at the deadline last season, it caught a lot of us off guard, but after almost a calendar year of watching him play there, it sure feels like it's not a great fit.
The Leafs have a lot of issues, but Carlo's fit in their blue line has been awkward to say the least, and moving him again at this deadline might work out best for both the player and the team.
We've seen how good Carlo can be from his time with the Boston Bruins, and it's that kind of highlight reel that teams in need of a strong, right-shot defenseman should keep in mind. While there have been some highs in Toronto, his play there hasn't fully reflected what he's done the rest of his career.
There have been injuries this season, and his five points in 33 games don't help make the case for him to be a big pickup, but it makes him an ideal candidate to be an under-the-radar steal as a change-of-scenery case.
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Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks
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Although Evander Kane is generating a lot of attention in Vancouver as a trade target, if the Canucks are going to go into a full rebuild, Jake DeBrusk would be a great addition.
The 29-year-old is third on the Canucks in scoring, and now that Kiefer Sherwood is gone to San Jose, he's tied for first on the team with 13 goals.
It's been rough in Vancouver, but DeBrusk is another former Bruin on our list who could be highly valuable to a team headed to or gunning for the playoffs.
DeBrusk isn't quite as easy to acquire, though. He's got a full no-move clause as well as five more years left on his contract after this one with a $5.5 million cap hit.
The motivation for trying to add him would be to build a team that's not ready to dive into a multi-year rebuild, but one that's poised to make the playoffs this season and beyond.
Given how poorly things are going in Vancouver, however, it might not be a hard sell to get him to waive his NMC to get out of town.
Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
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If there's one player from the Olympics who might've greatly improved his trade value, it's Rasmus Ristolainen after he helped Finland win bronze.
The big, physical defenseman played inspired hockey in Milan for Finland, and now that he's been back healthy in the Flyers' lineup after a brutal triceps injury. He offers the kind of player profile that would make him a valuable deadline pickup for a team in need of blue line help.
Ristolainen's rugged style of play is made for playoff hockey, and it proved effective in a similar style at the Olympics. He's also capable of moving the puck, and if he has room to shoot, he can hammer the puck on net.
Obviously, there will be concerns about his health given how much time he missed and how the hard years have taken a toll on him, but he could be an excellent addition for a team that's in need of help on the back end.
Ryan Strome, Anaheim Ducks
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Teams in need of a forward who can score goals and contribute to the offense might do well to give the Ducks a call.
Anaheim is set to get star center Leo Carlsson back from injury, and veteran Ryan Strome, who's already been moved down the lineup, will feel the squeeze even more now.
It wasn't that long ago that Strome was in the Ducks' top-six forward group, but now he's playing barely more than 12 minutes per game and is a virtual non-factor in their overall lineup.
At 32 years old, he's had offensive success in the past, but the Ducks have seemingly moved on from him in that kind of role.
A team in need of offensive support could use Strome and could even get the Ducks to eat some of his $5 million cap hit this season and next to make a deal happen.
With eight points in 32 games, Strome's stock is down, but in the right role and situation, he could rebound and give his new team a much-needed lift.
Logan Stanley, Winnipeg Jets
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Even though the Jets have Connor Hellebuyck in goal, they're in a position to be sellers at the deadline after a dreary start to the season. One player who could have teams calling is defenseman Logan Stanley.
Stanley will be attractive to teams in need of a blueliner who can really lay the body. His physical play and hard edge make him attractive to teams that think they could use some extra "oomph" in the corners and around the net.
Stanley's 97 penalty minutes are fourth most in the NHL, and while that's his most standout statistic, he also has nine goals and nine assists to go with them, which makes him not a one-trick player.
Stanley is a highly affordable player with a $1.25 million cap hit and is due to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, making him the ideal rental.
The 27-year-old is meant to be a third-pairing defenseman, but he can play up on the second pair as well. He can also more than hold his own if the gloves have to come off. If a team desires a true deterrent in the playoffs, he would be a good one.
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