2026 NHL Trade Deadline: 10 Players Most Likely to Be Traded Before March 6

The Olympic roster freeze lifted at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight, and NHL general managers just got the green light to start making calls. With the 2026 trade deadline set for Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m. ET, there are less than two weeks for contenders to load up and sellers to cash in. This is going to be a wild ride.

We’ve already seen blockbuster moves this season — Quinn Hughes to Minnesota, Artemi Panarin to the Kings, Rasmus Andersson to Vegas — and the freeze only created a backlog of deals waiting to happen. Here are the ten players I think are most likely to be traded before the deadline.

1. Vincent Trocheck, C — New York Rangers

This one feels like a matter of when, not if. The Rangers have been in full retool mode since moving Panarin and Carson Soucy, and Trocheck is the biggest piece left on the board. He’s 32, still producing as a legitimate top-six center, and he has term remaining on his deal — which makes him far more valuable than a rental.

The Minnesota Wild have been sniffing around. Detroit tried to sign him back in 2022 and could circle back. Any contender looking for center depth should be on the phone with Chris Drury right now. Trocheck is the kind of player who elevates a playoff roster. Expect a first-round pick and a solid prospect heading back to New York.

2. Nazem Kadri, C — Calgary Flames

The Flames have already shipped out Andersson and the teardown is well underway. Kadri has reportedly become more open to waiving his no-trade clause, and when a veteran of his calibre signals willingness to move, GMs pay attention fast.

Montreal has emerged as a potential landing spot, which makes sense — the Canadiens have been building something real and could use a proven playoff performer down the middle. Kadri’s been there before. He knows what it takes. This feels like a lock to happen before March 6.

3. Justin Faulk, D — St. Louis Blues

St. Louis is staring down another disappointing season near the bottom of the Western Conference, and they’ve already started selling — the Nick Bjugstad deal to New Jersey before the freeze was the first domino. Faulk should be the next.

The Bruins are reportedly leading the charge, with Don Sweeney pursuing Faulk after missing out on Andersson. A right-shot defenseman who can play 22 minutes a night and contribute on the power play? That’s exactly the profile every contender wants at the deadline. The asking price will be steep, but Faulk is worth it.

4. Evander Kane, LW — Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver’s season has been a disaster. After trading Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood, the Canucks are in full teardown mode, and Kane is an expiring asset on the final year of his four-year deal at $5.125 million.

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are both reportedly interested, and that tracks. Kane brings playoff experience, physicality, and a scoring touch that contenders covet at the deadline. He’s 34 and not getting another deal like this one, so his motivation to win is through the roof. That’s exactly who you want in a locker room come April.

5. Steven Stamkos, C — Nashville Predators

Nashville’s in a weird spot. They’ve clawed back into the playoff picture after a rough start, but the organization clearly wants to get younger. Stamkos is still Steven Stamkos — a proven goal scorer and leader — but the Predators might decide the future matters more than a first-round exit.

The question is whether Nashville commits to selling or tries to ride the wave. My gut says they move Stamkos if the right offer comes. A contender willing to pay a premium for a bonafide sniper with two Stanley Cup rings? That’s a deal both sides can live with.

6. Jonathan Marchessault, LW — Nashville Predators

While we’re in Nashville, let’s talk about Marchessault. Elliotte Friedman has speculated he could be a trade candidate despite his full no-movement clause. Marchessault is the type of player who might waive that clause for the right contender — a team with a real shot at the Cup in a city he wants to play in.

He’s a Conn Smythe winner who knows how to perform when it matters most. If Nashville decides to sell, Marchessault won’t be on the market long.

7. Robert Thomas, C — St. Louis Blues

Here’s where things get interesting. Thomas isn’t a rental — he’s signed through 2030-31 at $8.125 million AAV with a full no-trade clause. That makes a deal complicated, but the Blues reportedly have a high asking price for a reason. Thomas is 26 and a legitimate first-line center.

If St. Louis is truly committed to a rebuild, moving Thomas now while his value is at its peak would be a bold move. The return would be massive — think multiple first-round picks and top prospects. This is the kind of deal that reshapes a franchise. Whether the Blues pull the trigger in the next two weeks or wait until the offseason is the big question.

8. Boone Jenner, C — Columbus Blue Jackets

Jenner is approaching free agency and the Blue Jackets aren’t making the playoffs. That’s the classic sell-side equation. Strong rumors have linked him to the Edmonton Oilers, who have been knocking on the door at the Cup Final two years running and need to add grit and reliability up the middle.

Jenner is a captain, a leader, and exactly the type of player who thrives in a playoff environment. Columbus should get a solid return — a second-round pick and a prospect feels like the range. This one has “done deal” written all over it.

9. Connor Murphy, D — Chicago Blackhawks

For the fifth straight year under GM Kyle Davidson, the Blackhawks will be sellers. It’s not even a question anymore — it’s a tradition. Murphy plays a position in high demand at the deadline (right-shot defenseman), and Chicago needs to clear roster spots for their graduating prospects.

Murphy has talked openly about the possibility of being moved, which tells you the organization has been transparent. He’s a steady, reliable defenseman who won’t blow you away offensively but will eat minutes, block shots, and play the right way in the postseason. Contending teams love that profile.

10. Dougie Hamilton, D — New Jersey Devils

The Devils have been one of the more surprising sellers this season, and Hamilton has emerged as a legitimate trade candidate after his agent confirmed he’d be flexible to facilitate a deal. Friedman reported that Hamilton turned down a trade to San Jose last summer, but the picture has changed — GM Tom Fitzgerald has been working the phones.

Hamilton brings top-four puck-moving ability and power play quarterbacking to any team that acquires him. He’s not cheap, but for a contender looking to make a deep run, that kind of defensive talent is hard to find at the deadline.

The Buyers to Watch

So who’s picking up the phone on the other side? The Edmonton Oilers are desperate to finally finish the job after two straight Cup Final appearances. Detroit is a rising team looking to add veteran pieces. The Utah Mammoth hold a wild-card spot and could push their chips in. And you can never count out teams like Colorado or Dallas from making a splash.

The next two weeks are going to be chaotic, intense, and incredibly fun. The Olympic freeze created a pressure cooker of trades waiting to happen, and the lid just came off.

Buckle up.

Who do you think is the most likely player to be traded before March 6? And which team is going to make the biggest splash? Drop your predictions on social media — I want to hear your takes.