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Final NHL Trade Block Big Board 1 Day From the 2026 Trade Deadline
The 2026 NHL trade deadline is almost upon us. General managers have until Friday at 3 p.m. ET to make their moves.
There could be plenty of activity as playoff contenders attempt to bolster their rosters, while non-contenders move out players who no longer fit into their long-term plans.
We saw our first significant deals this week when the Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and the Vancouver Canucks sent blueliner Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Calgary Flames shipped defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres have a deal in place for St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko. As of publication, they're awaiting whether he'll waive his no-trade clause.
We can expect more moves as the deadline approaches. Some of those deals could involve several of the players from our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board.
They could include centers such as Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames. Defensemen potentially available could include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues and MacKenzie Weegar of the Flames.
In our final NHL Trade Block Big Board before the 2026 deadline, we've listed 15 players we consider the most likely to be moved. We've also included a list of honorable mentions. Skill, experience, contract status, and frequency of appearance in recent trade rumors factored into this compilation.
Honorable Mentions
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Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
A solid performance for Canada in the recent Winter Olympics should've provided a boost to Binnington's stock. However, the 32-year-old Blues goalie has not put up good numbers this season and hasn't been mentioned much in the rumor mill. He's signed through next season with a cap hit of $6 million.
Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
Hamilton hasn't popped up much in recent media rumor chatter. The 32-year-old puck-moving defenseman's declining production and $9 million average annual value through 2027-28 make him a tough sell. Still, we aren't ruling out the possibility that he'll get moved at the deadline.
Å imon Nemec, New Jersey Devils
TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that the Devils were taking calls about the 22-year-old defenseman. He stated that they were happy to keep Nemec, but would listen if they got an offer that would significantly improve their forward lines.
Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators
O'Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are leaving the final say on a trade to him. On Feb. 28, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the 34-year-old center didn't want to leave the club while they're in the playoff race. Still, Friedman thinks some teams will keep trying to sweet-talk O'Reilly.
Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues
Schenn drew plenty of attention at this time last year, but his no-trade clause made him difficult to move. The Blues are open to trading him now, and he now has a 15-team no-trade list. However, the 34-year-old center's declining offense and his $6.5 million cap hit through next season have hurt his trade value.
15. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
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It seems unlikely that Elias Pettersson will be moved by the trade deadline. The Canucks are rebuilding and are open to entertaining offers for most of their players. However, the 27-year-old center is struggling offensively, carries an expensive contract, and has a full no-movement clause.
Nevertheless, Pettersson continues to surface in the rumor mill as the trade deadline approaches. He was on our last three NHL Trade Block Big Boards since January, albeit near the bottom of those lists in terms of trade likelihood.
On Feb. 24, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Canucks were getting calls about Pettersson, but hadn't received any suitable trade offers yet. The center's representatives were aware of the discussions, but they won't bring Pettersson into it until a potential deal is on the table.
Four days later, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun suggested the Detroit Red Wings could be among the suitors. They have salary-cap space and tradeable assets and are seeking a reliable second-line center. However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said there wasn't much happening in the trade market regarding Pettersson.
14. Patrik Laine, MontrƩal Canadiens
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It's been a difficult season for Patrik Laine. The 27-year-old MontrƩal Canadiens winger missed most of this season due to abdominal surgery. Meanwhile, the Canadiens' scoring and roster improved, leaving him the odd man out. He's in the final year of his contract with a cap hit of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
On Feb. 26, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the Canadiens permitted Laine's agent to speak with other clubs about a trade. LeBrun wondered about whether the Los Angeles Kings might be interested, but Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period reported on Feb. 24 that the Kings were considering other options.
Arpon Basu of The Athletic also reports the Canadiens are trying to move Laine. He believes they could try to free up salary-cap space and receive a useful player in return or add a sweetener like a draft pick or prospect to tempt another club to take on his contract, or even half of his cap hit.
Laine tallied 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games last season, with 15 of those goals coming with the man advantage. A playoff contender seeking a power-play specialist might be interested if they don't have to take on the full remaining value of his contract.
13. Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues
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Overshadowed by all the attention given to teammate Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou has been the frequent subject of trade speculation. The St. Louis Blues winger was at No. 12 on our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board.
Like Thomas, the 27-year-old Kyrou has a long-term contract with an $8.13 million annual salary-cap hit and a full no-trade clause. Nevertheless, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on March 3 that the Blues were believed to have spoken with other teams about the speedy scoring winger.
On March 2, Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News reported the New York Islanders were interested. He claimed the Blues have set a high asking price, which could include Isles prospects Kashawn Aitcheson and center Danny Nelson.
The attention on Thomas and the Blues trading Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres may have pushed Kyrou out of the spotlight, but that doesn't mean he's not a trade candidate. If he's willing to waive his no-trade clause, there will be teams interested in adding his speed and scoring touch to their top-six forward line.
12. Evander Kane, Vancouver Canucks
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Evander Kane seemed certain to be traded when we published our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board. Moving the 35-year-old winger was reportedly among the Vancouver Canucks' priorities, while the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning were rumored to be suitors.
Kane could still be moved by the deadline, perhaps to one of those aforementioned teams. However, the speculation seems to have dried up as the focus shifted toward teammates such as Elias Pettersson, Conor Garland, and Tyler Myers.
While Kane's production has declined this season, he could regain his offensive spark on a deeper club. His physical style is also well-suited for postseason competition. He carries a $5.13 million cap hit with a 16-team no-trade list, and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
On Feb. 26, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Kane remained the forward most likely to be moved by the trade deadline. Just because he hasn't surfaced in recent speculation doesn't mean that the Canucks aren't getting calls about him from other clubs, but he does move down on our list.
11. Scott Laughton, Toronto Maple Leafs
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A year ago, Scott Laughton was among the top-10 players on our NHL Trade Block Big Board one day before the 2025 trade deadline. He wound up being among the six players on that list who changed teams, as the Philadelphia Flyers shipped him to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the deadline.
Fast-forward to this year, and Laughton once again finds himself a trade candidate as another deadline approaches. The Maple Leafs are poised to miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years and are expected to become sellers.
Laughton's stock as a checking line center has tumbled somewhat since last season. Nevertheless, he could still draw interest from playoff contenders seeking depth at that position. He carries an average annual value of $3 million and lacks a no-trade clause. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
On Feb. 26, TSN's Chris Johnston reported the Maple Leafs could peddle Laughton and fellow UFA forward Bobby McMann by the trade deadline if they haven't signed contract extensions by then. On March 1, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested he'd make an affordable addition for the Colorado Avalanche.
10. Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks
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The Vancouver Canucks have been in sell mode since December, trading away Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, and Tyler Myers. They might not be done dealing before Friday's deadline.
Conor Garland could be the next Canuck out the door. The 29-year-old winger sat at No. 12 on our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board. He has a six-year, $36 million contract extension (with a full no-movement clause) beginning on July 1, but lacks no-trade protection on his current deal.
James Murphy of RG.org reported that the Boston Bruins have been tracking Garland. Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News claimed the New York Islanders had previously expressed interest. TSN's Darren Dreger reported that other clubs could also be looking at the gritty two-way winger.
Garland's energetic, physical style of play makes him enticing to playoff contenders. However, his new contract could make those with long-term salary-cap concerns leery about taking him on.
9. Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames
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Sitting at No. 6 on our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board, Blake Coleman has frequently appeared in the rumor mill throughout this season. However, the amount of buzz over the 34-year-old two-way winger has faded somewhat since the Olympic break.
One reason could be that Coleman was sidelined by an injury for several weeks before the Olympic break. Another could be the focus on centers and right-shot defensemen in the trade market as the deadline nears.
Nevertheless, Coleman's skills and playoff experience should still draw interest from contenders seeking depth at right wing. On Feb. 24, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Coleman was among several Flames players who were drawing interest from other teams.
Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal included Coleman among his list of affordable trade targets for the Golden Knights. He pointed out that the two teams have a trade history, with the most recent being the deal that sent defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames to Vegas in January.
8. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Sinking in the Eastern Conference standings, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be sellers by Friday's deadline. It's believed they will attempt to peddle their pending unrestricted free agents. On Feb. 28, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported they could also consider moving some players with term left on their contracts.
Friedman stated that they're not going to move core players such as Auston Matthews or William Nylander, but rather secondary players such as Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The 34-year-old defenseman has two more years left on his contract with an affordable annual average value of $3 million and a 16-team no-trade list.
According to Friedman, Ekman-Larsson could have been on the Edmonton Oilers' radar. They were seeking a right-side defenseman, which is a position he's played before. However, the Oilers subsequently addressed that need by acquiring Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks.
On March 2, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun reported the Leafs haven't approached Ekman-Larsson about a trade. He claimed he and his family love it in Toronto and want to stay. Nevertheless, we can't rule out the possibility that a club not on his no-trade list makes an irresistible offer to the Leafs by the deadline.
7. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
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Talk of trading Sergei Bobrovsky was unthinkable a year ago. At that time, the Panthers were poised to make their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final and win their second straight championship, backstopped by their future Hall-of-Fame goaltender.
However, the Panthers are 10 points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card berth. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports they've decided to entertain offers for their pending unrestricted free agents, which include the 37-year-old Bobrovsky.
On Feb. 26, LeBrun raised the possibility of trading Bobrovsky if he's unsigned by the trade deadline. The following day, his colleague Craig Button suggested a trade to the Montreal Canadiens might make a lot of sense if Bobrovsky were open to it.
Bobrovsky has a 16-team no-trade list, and his salary cap hit is $10 million, but he earns $5 million this season in actual salary. On Feb. 26, he told George Richards of Florida Hockey Now that he's unconcerned about the lack of contract extension talks, adding that he wants to stay with the Panthers.
6. Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
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A solid performance with Finland's Men's hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics bolstered Rasmus Ristolainen's stock in the trade market. The lanky Philadelphia Flyers' right-shot defenseman carries an average annual value of $5.1 million and lacks no-trade protection.
On Feb. 23, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported half a dozen teams were interested in the 31-year-old Ristolainen, including the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings. Four days later, he claimed that the Bruins had a moderate interest in the Flyers' blueliner.
Meanwhile, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Montreal Canadiens looked into the 31-year-old Ristolainen's availability. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico replied that the Canadiens made a brief call but didn't make a serious push.
According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the Flyers seek a return similar to what the Bruins received last year from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Brandon Carlo. That means they could want a top prospect, a first-round pick, and a fourth-rounder.
5. Bobby McMann, Toronto Maple Leafs
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With the Toronto Maple Leafs poised to miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years, they're expected to peddle their pending unrestricted free-agent players by Friday's deadline. Among them is 29-year-old winger Bobby McMann, who sat third on our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board.
McMann has 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games, putting him on pace to exceed 20 goals and 40 points for the first time. A big, hardworking middle-six winger, the 6'2", 217-pounder also carries a $1.4 million cap hit, which will make him enticing for contenders seeking affordable depth.
On Feb. 26, TSN's Chris Johnston said he believed the Maple Leafs would move McMann and fellow UFA forward Scott Laughton if they were unsigned by the trade deadline. He indicated that they don't want to carry them to free agency in a season that is heading in the wrong direction for the team.
Two days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said things could go either way for McMann, claiming there's an extension that both sides know could happen. He thinks the reason he's still with the Leafs is that they haven't found anything suitable in the trade market for him.
4. Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames
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A frequent fixture in the NHL rumor mill for the past two years, Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri could end up getting moved by the trade deadline.
As we noted in our previous NHL Trade Block Big Board, the feeling in Calgary is that a trade seems inevitable, with Kadri wanting to be moved.
On Feb. 24, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Flames were still testing the trade market for Kadri. His colleague, Chris Johnston, raised the possibility of a reunion with the Colorado Avalanche for the center, who helped the Avs win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
During a March 1 appearance on NHL on TNT, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman cast doubt on the 35-year-old going to Colorado. He said the Flames don't want to retain any part of his salary, while the Avalanche must ensure they have sufficient salary-cap space to re-sign Cale Makar in 2027.
Kadri is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million. He also has a 13-team no-trade list. Friedman indicated the Flames are being patient.
If no one will take Kadri's full salary, they could wait until the offseason for better opportunities when teams have more cap space.
3. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
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Since November, the St. Louis Blues have been in sell mode as general manager Doug Armstrong attempts to shake up his struggling roster before turning over the management duties to assistant GM Alex Steen. That's made Robert Thomas a fixture in the rumor mill and our Trade Block Big Boards.
As a skilled first-line center, Thomas is drawing plenty of attention in the trade market. However, he has a full no-trade clauseĀ in his contract, which runs through 2030-31 and has an average annual value of $8.13 million.
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reports the Blues have set a high asking price for Thomas. They want "three first-half-of-the-first-round assets". He explained that it could mean a player, a prospect, and a draft pick all selected or to be chosen within the top 15 picks. That expensive pricetag prevents Thomas from topping this list.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Utah Mammoth could be a suitor. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco claimed the Boston Bruins like Thomas. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico stated the Montreal Canadiens made inquiries. TSN's Darren Dreger said the Buffalo Sabres were in talks with the Blues, but those discussions fell through.
2. Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues
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For the third straight time, Justin Faulk sits at No. 2 on our NHL Trade Block Big Board. With the St. Louis Blues in sell mode and teams in the market for experienced right-shot defensemen, the 33-year-old Faulk should remain an enticing target in the trade market.
Faulk's contract remains a potential sticking point. He's signed through next season with an average annual value of $6.5 million with a 15-team no-trade list. Nevertheless, the need for experienced right-shot, top-four defensemen in the trade market has kept Faulk in the rumor mill.
On Feb. 25, Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now had Faulk at the top of his list of suggested trade targets for the Red Wings. Two days later, Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco reported the Boston Bruins were interested in Faulk and fellow Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
Appearing on NHL on TNT on Sunday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the Edmonton Oilers were interested in Faulk, but they subsequently addressed that need by acquiring Connor Murphy from Chicago. Two days later, Friedman indicated the Blues continue to talk to teams about Faulk.
1. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
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The top player on our previous two NHL Trade Block Big Boards, Vincent Trocheck is the name we consider the most likely to be moved by Friday's deadline.
The 32-year-old two-way New York Rangers center carries an average annual value of $5.63 million through 2028-29 and has a 12-team no-trade list.
On Feb. 27, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported there was speculation tying Trocheck to the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. He also believed the Los Angeles Kings were interested, having attempted to have him included in the deal that sent Artemi Panarin to the Kings from the Rangers.
Friedman also mentioned the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins as potential suitors. On March 1, he told NHL on TNT that the Carolina Hurricanes could consider reacquiring Trocheck. He also said that the Rangers set a high asking price for him, but his flexible contract makes it easier for them to move him.
There were rumors Trocheck preferred to remain in the Eastern Conference for family reasons. On March 2, he told New York reporters it was no secret that West Coast teams are on his no-trade list. That could take the Kings and maybe the Avalanche out of the equation, but the Wild might be close enough.
Stats and standings (as of March 4, 2026) via NHL.com. Salary and contract info via PuckPedia.
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