NHL Trade Block Big Board for May 2026: Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews Headline List
The first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs is nearly complete, with several of the 16 clubs that qualified for the postseason already eliminated.
Meanwhile, the NHL rumor mill has been busy mulling over the future of some notable players from teams that failed to qualify for the postseason. Several of them, such as Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues and Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were featured in our ranking of the Top Offseason Trade Targets.
Other players who've recently surfaced in media trade chatter include such notable stars as Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier, and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
It remains to be seen whether these players will be traded during the offseason. Nevertheless, we're including them in our 15-player NHL Trade Block Big Board for May.
Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers and Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers were on our previous listing. However, we've omitted them from this listing. Zibanejad reportedly intends to remain with the Rangers, while Ristolainen didn't appear in trade rumors in April.
Our ranking is based on skills, experience, contract status, and the likelihood of being traded suggested by recent media rumors. Follow along to see where Tkachuk, Hischier, Hellebuyck, Thomas, Knies, and more wind up on our list.
Honorable Mentions
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Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford felt the Blues management should have a talk with Binnington about his future. He's a year away from unrestricted free-agent status with a cap hit of $6 million. He has a 10-team no-trade list, but his struggles this season could make him difficult to move.
Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
Thomas Drance of The Athletic believes the rebuilding Canucks should be open to trading a veteran star such as Boeser. He's completing the first year of a seven-year contract and has a full no-movement clause.
Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings
On Apr. 3, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was asked if the Red Wings might move DeBrincat if they missed the playoffs. He didn't rule it out, but didn't see them moving the four-time 40-goal scorer because his production would be difficult to replace.
Šimon Nemec, New Jersey Devils
NHL.com's Mike G. Morreale believes the Devils must decide where Nemec fits into their plans. The 22-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights on July 1. Management holds the leverage here and isn't under any pressure to trade him.
15. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
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The Ottawa Senators struggled with consistency throughout this season. They finished with two more points (99) than last year, but needed until the final week of the season to clinch a playoff spot.
The Senators were swept in the opening round by the Carolina Hurricanes in a hard-fought series.
Speculation about Brady Tkachuk's future with the Senators arose almost immediately following their elimination. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun noted that the 26-year-old Senators captain was the subject of trade rumors this season, with some linking him to New York-area teams like the Rangers.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli told Sportsnet that he felt Tkachuk seemed a bit off in recent weeks based on his body language and frustration. Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin thinks the winger's relationship with Ottawa as a market might be fraying, suggesting it may be time for the Senators to consider trading him.
Tkachuk and Senators general manager Steve Staios rejected the trade rumors as nonsense. Meanwhile, Sportsnet's Wayne Scanlan noted Tkachuk is signed through 2027-28 with a full no-movement clause. Nevertheless, he believes the rumors will persist until contract extension talks begin.
14. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
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The Vancouver Canucks' disastrous 2025-26 campaign and their frequent player moves this season made Elias Pettersson the subject of trade rumors. As a result, we had the 27-year-old center at No. 9 on our April ranking of this summer's top Offseason Trade Targets.
Pettersson's production has declined since his 102-point career-high performance in 2022-23. That's made him the topic of trade conjecture, but his $11.6 million annual average value through 2031-32 and full no-movement clause make him almost impossible to move.
Nevertheless, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province suggested on Apr. 15 that sorting out the playmaking center's future should be the Canucks' first order of business this summer. He suggested the Detroit Red Wings as a possible trade partner if they decide to move him.
Ansar Khan of Michigan Live proposed that the Red Wings make a serious pitch for someone like Pettersson to address their need for an elite scoring forward. Whether that happens depends on Pettersson's willingness to accept a trade, something he has not indicated that he wants to do.
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13. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Uncertainty over Auston Matthews' future with the Toronto Maple Leafs earned the 28-year-old superstar center the No.10 spot on our Offseason Trade Block Targets list. That lingering doubt continues to hang over Matthews and the Maple Leafs as they search for a new general manager.
It was a difficult season for Matthews. The Maple Leafs' nine-season postseason streak ended. Nagging injuries adversely affected his performance, and a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas in March prematurely ended his season. It also saw him surface in trade rumors last month.
On Apr. 7, Vincent Z. Mercogliano wondered if Matthews might become a trade target for the retooling New York Rangers, but doubted they had the trade capital to acquire him. Three days later, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff suggested the Leafs captain could become the biggest name in this summer's trade market.
Matthews has two years left on his contract with a full no-movement clause. On Apr 16, he said he loved being captain of the Maple Leafs but was noncommittal about his future, citing the club's search for a new GM and whatever their plans would be. Some observers suggested it left the door open for his departure.
12. Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
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The New Jersey Devils named former Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta as their new general manager last month. Among the items on his "to-do" list is discussing a contract extension with team captain Nico Hischier.
One of the NHL's top two-way centers, the 27-year-old Hischier has one year left on his seven-year contract with a salary-cap hit of $7.3 million. He'll be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer unless Mehta can re-sign him to what will be a significant raise on a long-term extension.
On Apr. 7, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now cited Hischier's noncommittal response to a question about whether he'll sign an extension under a new GM. While the Devils captain said he was focused on playing out the season, Nichols felt management must consider trade options if he's reluctant to sign.
Hischier was likely waiting to find out who would become the next Devils GM before making any decisions about his next contract. With Mehta now filling that role, the two sides could hammer out an extension this summer. Still, this bit of uncertainty over Hischier's future makes him a player to watch this summer.
11. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
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The Winnipeg Jets ended 2024-25 with their first-ever Presidents' Trophy with a franchise-best regular-season record of 56 wins and 116 points. This season, however, they struggled through a disappointing campaign that left them out of the playoff picture with 35 wins and 82 points.
Connor Hellebuyck took his share of the blame for the Jets' performance this season, calling it "unacceptable". The superstar goaltender also called out management, expressing concern about his club's direction. He said that things had to change for them to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Some observers felt the 32-year-old Hellebuyck was blowing off steam after a frustrating season. Others, such as Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press, felt that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner sounded like someone who might not be with the Jets for much longer.
Hellebuyck is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause. The Jets have no reason to trade him this summer unless he asks for it. That seems unlikely despite his harsh words about this season, but we can't fully dismiss that possibility.
10. Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis Blues
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The St. Louis Blues were among the busiest teams near the March trade deadline. They shipped out center Brayden Schenn and defenseman Justin Faulk, came close to moving blueliner Colton Parayko, and were rumored to be entertaining trade offers for center Robert Thomas.
As team president Doug Armstrong prepares to hand over the management duties to Alexander Steen, the Blues could continue to remake their roster as they transition toward younger talent. That could mean attempting to move players like Parayko, Thomas, goalie Jordan Binnington, or forward Pavel Buchnevich.
On Apr. 17, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic suggested the Blues look into moving Buchnevich. The 31-year-old winger's production has declined since his career-best 76-point performance in 2021-22. He's signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-trade clause.
A week later, Rutherford acknowledged the difficulty the Blues could face attempting to move Buchnevich. Still, his situation could be worth watching if he should feel inclined to waive his no-trade clause.
9. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently searching for a new general manager. There's also speculation about the fate of head coach Craig Berube and the futures of forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Long-time Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has also become the topic of trade rumors in Leafs Nation. He's signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $7.5 million, and also has a full no-movement clause. However, the decline in the 32-year-old blueliner's production has been cause for concern.
On Apr. 3, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos speculated the Maple Leafs' new management could explore options to move Rielly, but he didn't see them buying out the remainder of his contract. However, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun didn't rule it out.
Two weeks later, Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva reported that Rielly wanted to remain with the Maple Leafs. However, he also acknowledged that he can't control the trade rumors swirling about him. Rielly has full control over this situation, but we can't rule out the possibility that he could accept a move.
8. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
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We had Robert Thomas sitting at No. 2 on our Offseason Trade Block Targets list. The St. Louis Blues center was a fixture in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline, and it seemed inevitable that he would be moved during the offseason.
However, trading Thomas isn't as certain as it once seemed. For one thing, the 26-year-old playmaking center carries a full no-trade clause on his contract, which runs through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.13 million. That gives him full control over his situation.
On Apr. 7, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic didn't dismiss the possibility of a Thomas trade. However, he noted that Thomas sees the younger talent coming into the Blues lineup and wants to be part of it. Rutherford also noted that it wouldn't make sense to move him unless they get a comparable player in return.
Lou Korac of The Hockey News reported Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said some of the rumors about Thomas were a bit of a fabrication. Armstrong also said that he set a high asking price for the skilled center because he valued him more than anyone else.
7. Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
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This season was a calamity for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After finishing second in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25 with 108 points, they tumbled to 15th overall with 78 points. That led to the firing of general manager Brad Treliving and trade rumors involving power forward Matthew Knies.
Those rumors about the 23-year-old Knies surfaced before the March trade deadline. The speculation continued, earning him the No. 4 spot on our Offseason Trade Block Targets list. The 6'3", 232-pound winger is under contract through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $7.8 million.
On Apr. 15, The Athletic reported the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens were among the suitors for Knies. It's believed that several promising young players from both clubs were trade targets for the Leafs, including center Michael Hage of the Canadiens and Radim Mrtka of the Sabres.
Meanwhile, NHL insider Frank Seravalli told Frankly Hockey (53:15) that he believed the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks should make a bold move for a winger to play alongside superstar center Connor Bedard, and he noted Chicago previously showed interest in Knies ahead of the trade deadline.
6. Braden Schneider, New York Rangers
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Much of the speculation involving the New York Rangers has focused on veteran center Vincent Trocheck. However, he's not the only trade candidate for the retooling Blueshirts. On Apr. 7, Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic reported the Rangers entertained offers for Braden Schneider before the March trade deadline.
Schneider, 24, is a right-shot defenseman who is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. The 6'3", 206-pounder is considered a physical shutdown blueliner. He'll be seeking a significant raise over his current annual salary of $2.2 million.
On Apr. 11, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported the Rangers could use Schneider as trade bait to help them address one of their roster needs. That includes landing a left-shot defenseman, a skilled forward, a fourth-line center, or a backup goaltender.
Schneider told reporters that he'd love to remain with the Rangers. However, his youth, position, and style of play could make him an enticing trade target for clubs seeking skilled depth on the right side of their blue line.
5. Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames were among the busiest teams in this season's trade market. Among the players shipped out were defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, blueliner MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth, and center Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche.
Blake Coleman was also expected to be peddled by the rebuilding Flames before the March trade deadline. The 34-year-old two-way forward was ranked at No. 9 on our NHL Trade Block Big Board before deadline day, but the Flames opted to retain him.
Despite his age, Coleman showed no sign of slowing down this season. He has a year remaining on his contract with an affordable salary-cap hit of $4.9 million. On Apr. 18, Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun reported that a contract extension was possible, but he also didn't rule out the possibility of a trade.
Coleman's experience, style of play, and team-friendly cap hit could draw plenty of attention from playoff contenders hoping to bolster their rosters for next season. The Flames aren't in a rush to move him, but they'll be open to offers this summer.
4. Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues
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The subject of frequent trade speculation since last summer, St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou earned a spot among our honorable mentions in our Way-Too-Early NHL Offseason Trade Block Big Board.
Those trade rumors could continue to dog Kyrou during this offseason. On Apr. 9, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic speculated that the 27-year-old winger could be moved if he no longer fit into the Blues' plans. He also pointed out that Kyrou's production had declined this season.
A week later, Rutherford suggested the Blues find a trade partner for Kyrou, suggesting a change of scenery might benefit both sides. However, the winger told reporters that he wanted to stay in St. Louis. He carries a full no-trade clause in his contract, earning $8.13 million annually through 2030-31.
Kyrou recently underwent a minor knee procedure, which might account for the drop in his offense this season. Nevertheless, his situation could be worth monitoring this summer as the Blues continue to remake their roster.
3. Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks
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A dreadful season for the Vancouver Canucks led to several trades involving core players such as Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, and Connor Garland. It also resulted in Patrik Allvin losing his job as general manager as the club goes into a full rebuild.
The future of core forwards Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser has been fodder for the trade rumor mill. However, the Canucks' rebuilding plans could affect winger Jake DeBrusk's time in Vancouver. The 29-year-old winger is under contract through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $5.5 million.
DeBrusk also carries a full no-movement clause. Nevertheless, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province suggested on Apr. 5 that the streaky winger might benefit from a change of scenery after struggling through lengthy scoring droughts this season.
Two weeks later, Kuzma reported DeBrusk could find rebuilding difficult to handle at this stage of his career when he wants to be chasing the Stanley Cup. His affordable cap hit might make him enticing for contenders searching for scoring depth this summer.
2. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
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Since last summer, Dougie Hamilton has frequently appeared in the rumor mill. Following the trade deadline, the 32-year-old New Jersey Devils defenseman sat at No. 6 on our Way-Too-Early 2026 NHL Offseason Trade Block Big Board.
On Apr. 6, NHL.com's Mike G. Morreale suggested the Devils must decide what to do with Hamilton and young blueliner Šimon Nemec, who will seek a big raise after completing his entry-level contract. That could prompt new general manager Sunny Mehta to trade Hamilton to clear cap space for Nemec's new deal.
Hamilton has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9 million and a 10-team trade list. He will receive a signing bonus of $7.4 million on July 1. Interested clubs could prefer to wait until after that date to pursue a trade.
On Apr. 16, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reported Hamilton politely declined to speak to the press during the Devils' end-of-season media availability. He believes the blueliner's silence says volumes about his future in New Jersey.
1. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
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For the fourth straight month, Vincent Trocheck remains at the top of our NHL Trade Block Big Board. The 32-year-old New York Rangers center continued to appear in media trade chatter in April, and the club's ongoing retooling plans make him the player we consider most likely to be dealt this summer.
Trocheck has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.625 million. His 12-team no-trade list becomes a 10-team list on July 1. On Apr. 7, Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported Rangers general manager Chris Drury sought young, NHL-ready players in any trade involving the veteran forward.
Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported on Apr. 11 that the Rangers need a backup goalie, a top-four defenseman, a top-six winger, and a fourth-line center. She believes a return for Trocheck could address at least one of those needs.
As noted in our previous trade board, Trocheck prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference. However, his amended no-trade list could provide Drury with a bit of extra leeway as to where he can peddle the veteran center. His two-way skills will make him attractive to contenders seeking depth at center.
Stats and standings via NHL.com. Salary cap and contract info via PuckPedia.
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