Dylan Larkin and the NHL Players Who Will Dominate the Trade Rumor Mill During the 2026-27 Season
On the eve of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded first-line winger Kirill Marchenko to the Toronto Maple Leafs for power forward Matthew Knies in a six-player deal.
Multi-player NHL trades of that magnitude are rare in today's salary-cap world, especially just before the regular season begins. It generated considerable buzz among fans and pundits, as well as anticipation of more significant activity in this season's trade market.
Marchenko and Knies regularly featured in our NHL Trade Boards during the offseason. They weren't the only notable players to surface as trade candidates, some of whom will likely continue to feature in trade rumors this season.
Follow along as we look at five players we expect to dominate this season's NHL trade rumor mill from now until the March 1 trade deadline.
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
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For the last four months, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has topped our NHL Trade Boards.
The three-time Vezina Trophy winner went public with his trade request in August, hoping to force a trade. He's currently suspended without pay by the Jets for not reporting to training camp last month.
After the Jets missed the playoffs last season, Hellebuyck criticized the club's overall performance, including his own. He hopes to win a Stanley Cup while still in his prime and believes a trade is the best path forward for himself and his family.
The 33-year-old goalie is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million. He has a full no-movement clause, but Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported that he's willing to waive it for a variety of teams.
The Jets were reportedly close to trading Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres in June. However, the deal fell apart hours before the first round of the 2026 draft. He's also been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has left the door open for Hellebuyck to return. Meanwhile, he's searching for a trade that makes sense for both sides.
Given the current standoff, it could take weeks or months until a deal takes place, ensuring Hellebuyck remains a fixture in the rumor mill.
Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
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Will he or won't he? That's the question plaguing the Minnesota Wild and their fans: Will Quinn Hughes sign an extension? He's in the final year of a six-year contract with a cap hit of $7.9 million.
The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is UFA-eligible next July. The uncertainty about his future earned him the No. 15 spot on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board.
It hasn't been because of a lack of effort by Wild general manager Bill Guerin. He made a big gamble by giving up three promising young players and a first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks to acquire him last season, and he would love to get him signed for as long as possible.
Guerin had discussions with the Hughes camp throughout the offseason. However, he acknowledged that this was a big decision for the former Norris Trophy winner, and he didn't want to put too much pressure on him.
Plenty of time remains for both sides to get a deal done. Nevertheless, the longer Hughes goes unsigned, the more speculation there is about his future and the possibility of a trade by the March 1 deadline if he's still unsigned by then.
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
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Since going public with his trade request in June, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has regularly appeared in the rumor mill. For the past two months, he's sat at No. 2 on our NHL Trade Boards.
The 30-year-old is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause.
Larkin initially identified the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights as his preferred destinations. His list of acceptable destinations is reportedly broader, with Elliotte Friedman estimating roughly eight teams and naming the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning as other possibilities.
Cap constraints and the Red Wings' asking price have complicated efforts to find a suitable deal. Detroit's ongoing search for a new general manager has also hampered efforts to move the two-way center.
As the season progresses, those factors could make it difficult for the Red Wings to trade Larkin. He might have to broaden his list of acceptable destinations or hope a strong performance persuades one of those teams to make an offer the Red Wings find compelling.
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
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Jason Robertson's future with the Dallas Stars was a hot topic of speculation throughout last season and into the offseason.
Set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, the 27-year-old was reportedly close to being traded to the Seattle Kraken in late June, but the proposed deal fell through after he declined their contract offer.
Robertson sat at No. 3 on our July NHL Trade Targets Ranking. He and the Stars eventually agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract, leaving the high-scoringwinger eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
During training camp, Stars general manager Jim Nill told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he met with Robertson and his family this summer to mend their relationship. He stated that his priority is to open extension talks when they're eligible to do so on Jan. 1.
Things have been quiet since then, but Robertson could become a fixture in the rumor mill again if those discussions fail to yield a new contract before the March 1 trade deadline, especially if the Stars should struggle to maintain their place as a Stanley Cup contender.
Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins
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First- and second-line centers are as scarce as hen's teeth in this season's NHL trade market. Between now and the March 1 trade deadline, teams that are seeking such players will maintain a close watch on pending unrestricted free agents who won't be re-signing with their clubs.
Pavel Zacha will draw the most attention. The Boston Bruins center is UFA-eligible next July, and he's the best option in a field of aging stars and bottom-six centers. He had a career-best 30 goals and 65 points last season and sits at No. 10 on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board.
On Oct. 1, TSN's Chris Johnston reported that Bruins management and the 29-year-old's camp have had ongoing contract discussions. However, finding the right salary number has been challenging because of skyrocketing salaries tied to the steep rise in the salary cap.
The Bruins will likely retain Zacha if they're pushing for a playoff berth this season. However, if they're struggling to stay in contention, they could entertain trade offers before the March trade deadline.
Contract and salary info via PuckPedia and CapWages.com.
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