play0:47Kiefer Sherwood nets power-play goalKiefer Sherwood scores on the power play for Vancouver Canucks
Quinn Hughes notches goal on the power play (0:47)Quinn Hughes notches goal on the power play (0:47)
Greg WyshynskiDec 11, 2025, 07:00 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on X
play0:28Quinn Hughes nets goal for CanucksQuinn Hughes lights the lamp for Canucks
play0:58Alex Tuch wins it in OT for Sabres vs. OilersAlex Tuch lights the lamp
play0:22Brayden Schenn tallies goal vs. CanadiensBrayden Schenn lights the lamp for Blues
play0:11Jordan Binnington robs Canadiens with saveJordan Binnington robs Canadiens with save
Many around the league were prepared for Crosby trade talk to become its own cottage industry in 2025-26, as the Pittsburgh Penguins star center sought a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs on another team. Alas, the Penguins might end up being Crosby’s playoff team, having amassed a .625 points percentage through 28 games and holding down a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. If they’re playing meaningful games this season, Crosby isn’t going anywhere — if he ever was in the first place.
Fear not! There are plenty of other fascinating names who could be traded this season, including one franchise defenseman in Vancouver who might be headed for a family reunion across the continent — or perhaps another destination.
The NHL trade deadline is March 6, 2026. Here’s a way-too-early look at some of the players who might be moved before that date, from the shocking possibilities to the pending free agents to the overlooked gems who could be the difference in winning the Stanley Cup.
This list was compiled through conversations with league executives and other sources, as well as media reports. ESPN insiders including Emily Kaplan added their input in its creation. Salary figures are from PuckPedia.
The Quinn Hughes rumor mill is spinning like a centrifuge, mostly because the Canucks are a major disappointment and have signaled that they’re looking to reshape their roster. But that’s just the match that lit the powder keg.
Speculation that Hughes will be traded before his contract ($7.85 million average annual value) is up in summer 2027 has increased since team president Jim Rutherford said the defenseman “wants to play with his brothers,” Jack and Luke of the New Jersey Devils.
Quinn Hughes didn’t help quiet matters when he referred to Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald as “Fitzy” in a recent interview. Granted, Fitzgerald is part of the management team for Team USA, on which Quinn Hughes will play in the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’s also what his brothers call their boss. But that colloquialism didn’t help the mood of Canucks fans preparing for the inevitable.
Hughes, 26, is one of the two best defensemen in the NHL along with Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. Since 2022, he’s first in assists (224 in 253 games) and second in points (266) behind Makar (284) among NHL defensemen. Vancouver can’t afford to botch this.
Quinn Hughes nets goal for CanucksQuinn Hughes lights the lamp for Canucks
1. He declares his everlasting love for the Canucks and fealty to the Aquilini family by signing a contract extension to see this thing through in Vancouver. This is the unlikeliest scenario.
2. Rutherford’s declaration proves prophetic as the Canucks trade Hughes to New Jersey for a package that includes 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec. Quinn Hughes signs an extension that keeps him with the Devils through the 2031-32 season, when Luke Hughes can become an unrestricted free agent.
3. Quinn Hughes plays out the next two seasons in Vancouver as a lame-duck captain before leaving as an unrestricted free agent in summer 2027, most likely to New Jersey. It’s hard to imagine Vancouver would take this option rather than trading him.
The word out of Vancouver is that GM Patrik Allvin is seeking young players up front who can help the team immediately, with an emphasis on the center spot. How many teams would offer that up for two playoff runs with Quinn Hughes, plus the possibility of convincing him to stay long term? Or failing that, have him for the rest of this season and before trading him to the Devils themselves?
In this scenario, the Detroit Red Wings are the team that has immediately leaped to many minds. They have 21-year-old Marco Kasper, selected eighth in the 2022 draft. He’s struggling to find his game in the NHL but has a world of potential and over 100 games of experience. They also have 21-year-old Nate Danielson, selected ninth in 2023 and playing his rookie season for Detroit. The Red Wings also have players like 22-year-old defenseman Simon Edvinsson they could offer to Vancouver.
Detroit also has the potential to keep Quinn Hughes beyond 2027. Captain Dylan Larkin is a friend. The Hughes family put roots down in Michigan around seven years ago. The idea that Quinn could sign with Detroit and Jack could join him as a free agent in 2030 has wormed its way into the collective hockey consciousness online.
Around the NHL, the consensus remains that Quinn Hughes will end up playing with Jack and Luke. It’s the “when and where?” that is the perplexing part.
Rielly is one of several Maple Leafs with trade protection, in his case a full no-movement clause. He is signed through 2029-30 at a $7.5 million AAV. Rielly has been terrific this season for Toronto, with 22 points in 28 games, skating 22 minutes per game. But the perception remains that he’s a better fit as a strong No. 2 on a good team. Since he’s 31 years old, could the Leafs decide to reshape their blue line by persuading the 13-year veteran and former member of the “Core Four” to move on?
Ferraro is the only other defenseman in this tier. There was talk last season that he’d be open to a change in scenery, but that was before the Sharks started turning the corner a bit thanks to Macklin Celebrini. He plays 20:56 per game and makes just $3.25 million against the cap. If he’s not in the plans, he could bring something palpable back for GM Mike Grier.
The Canucks alerted the rest of the NHL recently that they’re willing to trade any of their pending free agents. Kane ($5.125 million, 16-team no-trade list) has only five goals in 29 games.
Jenner is an interesting name on the trade board. He’s 32 years old and has played 13 seasons with the Blue Jackets, the team he captains. While he has had some trouble staying in the lineup for the Jackets, he’s a leader, a “glue guy” and someone who can pop for 25 goals in a season. And it’s a sweetheart of a cap hit: Jenner has a $3.75 million AAV and an eight-team no-trade list.
Speaking of intangibles, that’s been Tuch’s calling card for years as an energetic forechecker winger who can also score 36 goals, as he did last season. Tuch has been with the Sabres, his favorite team growing up, for five seasons. If they aren’t in contention and can’t agree on an extension of his deal ($4.75 million), more than a few contenders will pony up to acquire him.
Alex Tuch wins it in OT for Sabres vs. OilersAlex Tuch lights the lamp
Contender status — and some trade protection — could determine the availability of Seattle’s slew of UFAs like Eberle ($4.75 million, no-trade clause), Schwartz ($5.5 million, limited no-trade clause) and Marchment ($4.5 million, limited no-trade clause).
Ditto Schmaltz with the Mammoth, who are going to be without leading goal scorer Logan Cooley for a while. He has been one of their leading scorers, with 36 points in 31 games. He makes $5.85 million against the cap. But Dave Pagnotta of Daily Faceoff noted that Schmaltz and the Mammoth discussed in the summer possible trade destinations where he’d be willing to sign an extension.
Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings Justin Faulk, D, St. Louis Blues Conor Garland, RW, Vancouver Canucks Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames Jonathan Marchessault, C, Nashville Predators Tyler Myers, D, Vancouver Canucks Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators Owen Tippett, RW, Philadelphia Flyers Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins
It seems like everyone in the NHL is looking for help at center. Well, do we have a tier for them …
Marchessault signed with Nashville in the same summer spree that landed Stamkos. He also has a full no-movement clause and makes $5.5 million against the cap. He has only nine points in 24 games for the Predators, but it’s hard to forget what the 34-year-old did during his Golden Knights days, including a Conn Smythe Trophy win as playoff MVP during their Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
But the Conn Smythe winner most likely to leave Nashville is O’Reilly. He has a friendly cap hit ($4.5 million annually) on a contract with two years left on it. Though he doesn’t have trade projection, Trotz will work with him on some preferred destinations. He has 22 points in 29 games and remains an ace on faceoffs (57.7%).
The availability of the other three centers here is dictated by their team’s on-ice results. Zacha, who has a $4.7 million AAV and two years left on his deal, was prominently mentioned as another trade possibility for GM Don Sweeney during the offseason, but is that still the case with the Bruins thriving under new coach Marco Sturm? Zacha has 22 points in 30 games.
Schenn has a 15-team no-trade clause, making $6.5 million against the cap until 2027-28. He has been in St. Louis for nine seasons. Defenseman Faulk has been there for seven seasons. He has two years left at $6.5 million AAV (with some trade protection), but his front-loaded contract means he’s making only $4.5 million in actual dollars this season and next.
Brayden Schenn tallies goal vs. CanadiensBrayden Schenn lights the lamp for Blues
Depending on how deep the roster reconfigure goes in Vancouver, Garland and Myers could be part of it. Garland hasn’t even started his six-year, $36 million extension he signed in July. He has 15 points in 24 games for Vancouver. Myers is signed through next season with a minuscule $3 million annual cap hit but has a no-movement clause that he’s reportedly not keen on waiving. One wonders if that would include a potential trade to the Flyers and a reunion with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet.