We're more than one month into the 2026-27 NHL season, and while we still don't have the clearest picture of the playoff bubble, we're sure getting a sense of the bottom of the barrel of the league.
We're also getting a sense of which teams need to start thinking about assets they can and should trade at the deadline to start rebuilds that clearly need to begin at this point.
Here are six NHL teams that need to trade their veterans and blow it all up.
Chicago Blackhawks
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The Blackhawks are having an absolutely dreadful season to say the least. They own a 5-13-1 record, they sit nine points behind the next best team in the Central, and they have a league-worst -36 goal differential.
Even if they weren't expected to make the playoffs this season, they've got a whole lot of work to do if they're to take the next step in their rebuild. Their main priorities need to be finally finding Connor Bedard that elusive, long-term winger and strengthening the overall defense. Trading a player like Teuvo Teravainen at the deadline could at least open up some roster space and cap space as the Blackhawks search for that winger.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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Columbus has fallen behind even Philadelphia in the basement of the Metropolitan Division standings, and it's just getting worse amidst this three-game losing streak. They're 7-10-0 with a -12 goal differential, and you're starting to wonder if GM Don Waddell has started making calls.
While Zach Werenski vetoed a trade that would've sent him to the respectable and competitive Dallas Stars, you wonder if his tune has changed now that it's another sorry season in Columbus.
Now that Columbus has already bitten the Kirill Marchenko bullet, you wonder if you'll see more trades now that the team has taken a nosedive. Dmitri Voronkov could sure use a change of scenery for one.
Detroit Red Wings
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The Red Wings have been a mess since Dylan Larkin's trade request and benching. Now that they're 7-10-3 and riding a five-game losing streak, you'd think there would be an increased urgency to trade him.
Keeping him on the roster while he just sits there might feel good for petty reasons, and yeah, it's unfortunate how this all played out. But the Red Wings are only hurting themselves until they bite the bullet, trade him, and start looking towards the future.
Looking beyond the Larkin saga, John Gibson, Justin Faulk, and Andrew Copp are all pending unrestricted free agents. Even though none of those players alone are going to yield gigantic returns, the Red Wings could stock up on assets that would better serve them in the future if they trade these players as rentals to contenders.
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Los Angeles Kings
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The bad news? LA's strategy of signing the oldest players possible isn't exactly working out. The good news? The oldest roster in the league has too many veterans to count that they could trade for some younger vibes.
Could they ship Erik Haula off to his 200th team? Could Scott Laughton be of service to a playoff team needing some extra edge and leadership? Any takers on Corey Perry?
The list goes on. It'll be fascinating to see if the Kings are willing to admit they made a mistake and act accordingly, or if they double down and don't make changes to the roster.
Philadelphia Flyers
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We anticipated that the Flyers would take a step back this season following their flukey two-round playoff run, but woof. They're 5-10-6, own the worst goal differential n the East at -22, and now questions surrounding Matvei Michov's future are arising.
The Flyers aren't just taking a step back from last season's happy-go-lucky run, it's looking like they're going to miss the playoffs entirely. They've long had a few fundamental pieces they've needed to address to consistently compete, most notably that gaping hole at first-line center.
Philly has a slew of underperforming veterans right now, so selling low might not be the best option. But if Travis Konecny, Cam York, Sean Couturier, or Owen Tippett start turning it on, any one of those players could yield a return that could help the team in the long run.
Vancouver Canucks
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When's the last time the Canucks haven't been trading veterans in a rebuild? It feels like they've been in a rebuild forever, and yet, there are miles to go before they rest.
They've got just three wins this season at 3-16-1 and a -34 goal differential. Honestly, almost every player on this roster should be considered on the table as the Canucks try to round the corner on this rebuild and get to the positive part. Elias Pettersson is putting together a decent season -- is it time to finally part ways? Jake Debrusk is always an enticing playoff scoring depth option. Even Paul Cotter had a hot start that the Canucks could capitalize on on the trade market.
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