Ranking the NHL's Top Offseason Trade Block Targets for April 2026
The 2025-26 NHL regular season ends on Apr. 16. Non-playoff clubs can make trades with each other during the postseason, including clubs that are eliminated during the course of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
However, most teams will wait until after the postseason, when all 32 clubs can make deals again.
Less than a week after the March 6 trade deadline, we published our Way-Too-Early 2026 NHL Offseason Trade Big Board. It consisted of players frequently mentioned as trade candidates who weren't moved by the deadline but could be available in the offseason trade market.
With the end of the regular season just over two weeks away, we're ranking the 10 players we consider the top offseason trade targets.
They include most of the players on our previous offseason trade board, including New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and New Jersey Devils blueliner Dougie Hamilton were on our previous list. However, we've dropped Karlsson because the Penguins don't intend to trade him. Hamilton didn't surface in the rumor mill following the trade deadline, though he could pop up again in the offseason.
Follow along to see where Trocheck and Thomas end up on our latest ranking, as well as which new players have made our list. We've factored in skills, experience, and contracts into this compilation, with the likelihood of getting traded being the main determining factor.
10. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Entering this season, the notion of the Toronto Maple Leafs trading Auston Matthews would have been unthinkable.
However, the Leafs' poor performance and his teammates' lack of response to his season-ending injury from a knee-on-knee hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas raised questions about his future.
After the March 6 trade deadline, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman speculated that Matthews and Maple Leafs management would meet after this season to discuss the future. A week later, Friedman said those talks could take place within the next two or three months.
Chris Johnston of The Athletic wondered if this season was Matthews' last with the Leafs, but believes it could take until June for the two sides to have a clearer picture of the team's direction. Meanwhile, Johnston's colleague, Michael Russo, suggested the Minnesota Wild could pursue Matthews this summer.
Matthews has two years remaining on his contract with a full no-movement clause. The two sides could take a wait-and-see approach to next season. It's unlikely the 28-year-old center will request a trade or be asked to waive his clause, but the rumblings out of Toronto are enough to earn him a spot on our board.
9. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
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The Vancouver Canucks' sell-off of talent since trading Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in December sparked renewed trade speculation about Elias Pettersson.
The 27-year-old center has struggled offensively for the past two seasons, and he carries an expensive contract with a full no-movement clause.
Those factors ensured Pettersson would remain with the Canucks by the March trade deadline. However, their rebuilding status continues to generate conjecture that he could be moved in an offseason trade.
On March 22, Patrick Johnston of The Vancouver Province raised the possibility of trading Pettersson during the summer. He believes it would be best for both sides. The Canucks could get a decent return, while Pettersson might welcome the chance for a fresh start with a different team.
Never say never, as the saying goes, but the Canucks have some obstacles to clear to move Pettersson. He must agree to waive his no-movement clause and find a team willing to absorb the entirety of the remaining six years of his contract. Otherwise, they may have to consider retaining part of his salary to facilitate a deal.
8. Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
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The New York Rangers' rumor mill was focused this season on potential trade destinations for Artemi Panarin (shipped to the Los Angeles Kings in February) and center Vincent Trocheck. While most of the chatter remains fixed on the latter, some observers wonder about Mika Zibanejad's future with the rebuilding Rangers.
Zibanejad was the subject of trade chatter last season when Rangers general manager Chris Drury began shaking up the roster. On June 18, 2025, Remy Mestey of The Hockey News quoted Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Rangers GM never approached Zibanejad about waiving his no-movement clause.
Fast-forward to March 25, and Adam Proteau of The Hockey News wondered if Zibanejad could be moved this summer. The team is now well into a rebuild, and the 32-year-old center might be willing to consider a move to a team where he can pursue the Stanley Cup.
Zibanejad is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $8.5 million. His performance has improved this season, and he recently celebrated his 1,000th regular-season NHL game. He has full control over his situation, but the thought of enduring a long rebuild could have him rethinking his future.
7. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
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This season is among the worst in franchise history for the Vancouver Canucks. Sitting at the bottom of the overall standings, they've been sellers in the trade market this season, shipping out such notable players as defensemen Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers, and forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Conor Garland.
The Canucks are rebuilding their roster, sparking speculation over which of their notable remaining veterans could be traded during the offseason. Among them is winger Brock Boeser, even though he's in the first season of a seven-year contract, which also carries a full no-movement clause.
On March 11, Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre reported Boeser was ready to be a veteran pillar in the Canucks' rebuild. The winger said he wasn't asked by management to waive his clause, adding that he wanted to help the younger players on the Canucks roster.
However, Jim Parsons of The Hockey News subsequently observed that the 29-year-old Boeser was the subject of some speculation linking him to the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins before the trade deadline. He claimed there were reports that the winger might waive his no-movement clause for the right offer.
6. Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
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For the past two NHL trade deadlines, Rasmus Ristolainen was considered among the players most likely to be moved. Both times, however, the Philadelphia Flyers opted to retain the 31-year-old shutdown defenseman.
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere reportedly held firm on his asking price for Ristolainen. Nevertheless, rumors emerged following the trade deadline suggesting the possibility of an offseason trade, earning him the No. 5 spot on our previous Offseason Trade Block Big Board.
On March 10, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff expressed his belief that the Flyers did the right thing by not moving Ristolainen this season, as it would've meant rushing an inexperienced young blueliner into the lineup. He speculated the Flyers could gauge his value in this summer's trade market.
Ristolainen has one year left on his contract, so the Flyers could retain him for another season and perhaps move him at next year's deadline. However, this summer's shallow pool of unrestricted free-agent talent could result in a team making Briere an offer he won't refuse.
5. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
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The St. Louis Blues were among the busiest teams leading up to the March 6 trade deadline. They shipped out center Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders and defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings, and intended to send Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres before he rejected the move.
It's expected the Blues will continue to shake up their roster this summer by dealing away several veterans for young players. Jordan Binnington could be among those on the move this summer, especially since next season will be the last one of his contract.
Binnington surfaced in trade rumors before the March deadline. On March 20, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the Carolina Hurricanes briefly checked with the Blues about the 32-year-old goaltender, but those discussions didn't go far.
Despite Binnington's poor numbers this season, his Stanley Cup experience and solid play for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics could make him enticing for contenders seeking help between the pipes. The lack of skilled depth in this summer's trade and free-agent markets could also improve Binnington's trade value.
4. Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Trade rumors involving Matthew Knies sprang up shortly after the March 6 trade deadline.
On March 9, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos speculated the Montréal Canadiens were interested in the 23-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs power forward, landing him at No. 3 on our previous Offseason Trade Block Big Board.
On March 18, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that Knies was not the player the Canadiens had targeted before the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the young winger remained the subject of trade speculation.
Five days after the LeBrun report, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now noted that Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed the Devils were among the handful of suitors with "serious interest" in Knies. Nichols pointed out that Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald intends to draw on his blue-line depth to acquire a top-six forward.
The 6'3", 232-pound Knies has been hampered by a nagging injury this season, but he still tallied 20 goals and 59 points in 71 games. His size, youth, physical style, and his affordable $7.8 million average annual value through 2030-31 will make him an enticing target if the Maple Leafs make him available this summer.
3. Šimon Nemec, New Jersey Devils
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Rumors were swirling about the availability of Šimon Nemec before the March 6 trade deadline. While the promising 22-year-old defenseman remains with the New Jersey Devils, the speculation was enough to land him at No. 3 on our previous Offseason Trade Block Big Board.
The Devils were reportedly seeking a young top-six forward for Nemec. He's completing his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent on July 1. It's rumored that the young blueliner's camp could seek a deal comparable to the seven-year, $63 million deal that teammate Luke Hughes signed last fall.
On March 19, Sportsnet's Luke Fox reported that Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald indicated after the deadline that he might draw on his blue-line depth to pursue a top-six winger. Fox noted that the Devils were rumored to have rejected an offer of winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks before the deadline.
New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols on March 23 noted that Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed the Devils were among the teams linked to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. Nichols suggested offering Nemec in a package deal for Knies.
2. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
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Sitting at No. 2 on our previous Offseason Trade Block Big Board, Robert Thomas remains among the notable players worth monitoring in the rumor mill during the offseason. The St. Louis Blues have been in sell mode since last fall, and that's expected to carry over into the summer.
Thomas is signed through 2030-31, earning an average annual value of $8.13 million with a full no-trade clause. Following the trade deadline, we noted that Thomas said he was never asked by management to waive his clause, that he never requested a trade, and that he remains committed to the Blues.
However, on March 11, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic speculated that the Blues will likely continue to gauge Thomas' value in this summer's trade market. Five days later, his colleague Michael Russo suggested that Thomas could be among the players targeted by the Minnesota Wild in their quest to add a top-line center.
On March 20, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported the Detroit Red Wings were among the suitors for the playmaking Thomas, but they balked at the high asking price. Nevertheless, they could be among the clubs to maintain an interest in him to see if he'd be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
1. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
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Since Feb. 6, Vincent Trocheck has been at the top of each of our NHL Trade Block Big Boards. The 32-year-old New York Rangers center maintains that perch as the player we consider most likely to be moved.
As noted in our previous trade board, the Rangers received plenty of interest in Trocheck, but general manager Chris Drury refused to lower his asking price. On March 11, Vincent Z. Mercogoliano of The Athletic stated that finding a suitable trade package for Trocheck remains a priority for Drury.
Eight days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested the lack of depth in this summer's unrestricted free-agent market could work to the Rangers' advantage. Teams seeking a skilled second-line center could be more willing to meet Drury's asking price.
Trocheck is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $5.63 million. His current 12-team no-trade list becomes a 10-team no-trade on July 1. He prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference, but his amended no-trade list could give Drury a little more wiggle room for trade talks.
Stats via NHL.com. Contract and salary-cap info via PuckPedia.
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