5 NHL Teams That Need a Game-Changing Trade After Missing Out During the 2026 Offseason
The summer of 2026 in the NHL has been one of the more chaotic ones in recent memory. A lot of the pre-draft buzz about potential trades and blockbuster moves produced some results, and there still might be a few more big moves lurking before the 2026-27 season begins.
There are certainly still some teams that could use a big-time move.
Let's take a look at five of them and what that move could be.
Buffalo Sabres
1 of 5
The Sabres haven't necessarily made bad moves this offseason, and if anything, they may have improved their long-term outlook by not overpaying Alex Tuch for too many years and by trading for the No. 4 overall pick and defenseman Olen Zellweger.
That works from a team-building perspective, and it could pay off a lot in the future, if for no other reason than the salary cap flexibility they gave themselves.
They also locked in forward Zach Benson to what could be a steal of a long-term contract.
But none of this makes the Sabres better this season. And that is the one negative to what they have done this offseason. With Tuch and Byram going out the door, and no major additions coming in to replace them, Buffalo has lost a lot of production from its 2025-26 roster.
Given the Sabres significantly raised the bar in the eyes of their fans by not only snapping a 14-year playoff drought but also winning the Atlantic Division, there are going to be major expectations this season. It is the first time in a decade-and-a-half you can say that about the Sabres.
That should put some pressure on general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen to make a big move.
He is certainly not afraid to be bold, and he still has some salary cap space and attractive trade assets to take a big swing.
The most obvious swing would be going after Winnipeg Jets starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck. His future with Winnipeg remains uncertain, and his name is still out there on the trade rumor mill.
Goaltending might be the one big question mark the Sabres have, and if they could find a way to swing that deal, it might help make up for the value that left this summer. It might even make them better. Not just in the long term, but also most certainly in the short term.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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It has been a stressful offseason for the Blue Jackets and their fans.
Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski is still here with two years remaining on his contract, but nobody knows if he is going to be there beyond that. His future remains murky, and they already tried to move him this summer before everybody sat down and talked it out.
Meanwhile, Kirill Marchenko has one year remaining on his deal and reportedly has no interest in signing with the team long-term. At least not at this moment.
Having an unsettled future with two of your best players, while still having some big restricted free agent situations to handle, is bad enough. Having all of that happen on the heels of another non-playoff season where your team completely melted down in the stretch run is something else entirely.
The Blue Jackets turned what looked to be a sure playoff spot in early March into one of the most disappointing finishes in franchise history, resulting in then-interim head coach Rick Bowness melting down, calling out the roster's culture, and promising things would change.
When it comes to the roster, getting Valeri Nichushkin is a nice addition and is probably an upgrade over Boone Jenner offensively. But that is not enough to fix everything that ails this team and everything that resulted in last year's meltdown.
They still need more offense, and they still need more help if they are to start winning consistently. Winning consistently is also the best way to convince your best players to want to stay.
Dallas Stars
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The Dallas Stars still have to figure out their Jason Robertson situation, and that could eventually lead to a blockbuster move. It just may not be the one they want.
Robertson remains unsigned as a restricted free agent with an arbitration date looming. If they can not get a deal done with him before then, a trade remains on the table. Otherwise, Dallas is looking at the potential for a one-year arbitration ruling that takes their best, most dynamic forward right to unrestricted free agency.
It creates a Stanley Cup or bust season, while also having the possibility of their best player leave for nothing.
If they move Robertson, that's a blockbuster in itself and would require a significant return.
If they don't move him, they probably still need a big move after adding nothing major to the roster in the offseason and still having some holes, specifically on the right side of the defense.
The Stars went to three consecutive Western Conference Finals prior to last year's first-round loss. That's a big step backwards for a team that was trying to win it all. Now they've had a quiet offseason on top of that, which also saw them lose young player Mavrik Bourque in a trade.
They tried to get Zach Werenski from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it didn't happen when Werenski vetoed the trade. It would have been a major blockbuster that filled a hole and created additional salary cap space by moving Thomas Harley in the deal. But it was not meant to be.
Something else needs to happen here before they take another step backwards.
Detroit Red Wings
4 of 5
Whether Steve Yzerman stepped away from the Detroit Red Wings general manager role on his own, or if he was forced out of it does not really matter. It is irrelevant to the reality that something needed to change here.
The team is on a 10-year playoff drought, seven under Yzerman's watch, with some absolutely appalling late-season meltdowns to blame for it. Even worse, his longest-tenured player and team captain, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade this offseason.
Does that request still stand with a new GM?
Possibly.
Whether it does or does not, and whether the Red Wings trade him or play hardball with him, this is still a team desperately needing something to give it a spark.
Especially given the fact they still have $19.5 million in unused salary cap space and only restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson left to re-sign.
Potentially moving Larkin out would likely open up more salary cap space.
How do you possibly sell your fans on going into the season with that much unused salary cap space, coming off that end of the regular season, and combined with potentially trading your captain that no longer wants to play for you?
The new general manager, whoever it might be, is going to be walking into chaos and facing a fan base with an understandably short temper.
The Dallas Stars are one of the teams reportedly on Larkin's list of approved trade spots. The Stars have a contract situation with Jason Robertson that doesn't seem to be ending. Is there something there that could make everybody happy? Would Robertson sign with the Red Wings long-term? Even if it is not something that bold, the Red Wings need something because this playoff drought is not going to end with the same roster that has failed to end it the past few seasons.
Minnesota Wild
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They have superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes signed for one more season, and until he signs a new extension with the Minnesota Wild, everybody has to be prepared for the possibility that he leaves after the season. He's most likely to join his brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, with the New Jersey Devils.
That means the clock is ticking loudly.
Their window is wide open, but it will only be this wide open with Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov for one more year, potentially.
That means general manager Bill Guerin has to work some magic this season. Getting Blake Coleman was a great addition for the forward depth on the wings, but they are still badly lacking another top-line center. Joel Eriksson Ek is really good and an outstanding two-way player, but there is still some question as to whether or not he is the No. 1 center on a Stanley Cup-winning team. Especially with the lack of impact depth behind him.
They already missed the chance to get Vincent Trocheck.
Dylan Larkin is reportedly interested in the Wild.
That might be their best hope.
If not him, would they take a chance on Shane Wright breaking out with a fresh start?
Or would they be able (or willing) to roll the dice on Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks?
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