Greg WyshynskiMar 6, 2026, 08:00 PM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Which players can be on the move ahead of the NHL trade deadline? (1:47)Greg Wyshynski spotlights three players that headline his trade board with the deadline approaching. (1:47)
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play0:48Nazem Kadri tallies goal vs. Maple LeafsNazem Kadri tallies goal vs. Maple Leafs
The NHL needs two things for an entertaining trade deadline: demanding contenders who have delusions of Stanley Cup grandeur, and enough teams willing to part with their current players to provide supply.
There are roughly eight teams that are probably out of the playoff hunt as Friday’s trade deadline approaches at 3 p.m. ET.
The New York Rangers already sent their letter to fans signaling a “retool” and traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. Teams around the league are waiting to see how dramatically the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks compensate for disappointing seasons. Two of those clubs got into the trade game already the week of the deadline, with MacKenzie Weegar and Tyler Myers being dealt.
Meanwhile, a change in recent fortunes for some teams might change their thinking. Take the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have surged up the standings under new coach Rick Bowness. A month ago, players like Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle would have been found in the trade tiers below. Now, it sounds like there’s a better chance they could be extended than moved — or at least kept around for a playoff push. The Blue Jackets added Conor Garland in a trade Thursday night.
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 as well. Salary figures are from PuckPedia.
With huge names such as Quinn Hughes, Panarin and others already off the board, let’s start with some other shocking possibilities before diving into pending free agents, players with term left on their deals and some glue guys.
Jump ahead: Shockers Elite pending free agents Elite forwards with term Elite D-men with term 25-and-under tier Goalies | Glue guys
Thomas’ contract has an $8.125 million average annual value, but his annual salary declines or plateaus every season after this one. There still might be time for the Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Seattle Kraken or another team to ante up big for a player in his prime.
Born out of those Sabres-Blues talks was Buffalo’s near trade for Parayko, which would have involved WHL defensive prospect Radim Mrtka. Parayko nixed the move to Buffalo with his no-trade clause. He’s signed through 2029-30 at a $6.5 million annual cap hit. Now that Armstrong has made it clear he’s not in the Blues’ long-term plans, where would the 11-year veteran and Stanley Cup winner accept a trade?
The Panthers had an 18% chance of making the playoffs coming out of the break, according to our latest NHL Bubble Watch. Stathletes now has that at 4.7%. Is it possible Bobrovsky becomes someone else’s playoff hero this season?
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes said it’s a situation worth watching, particularly because Bobrovsky is a pending unrestricted free agent who has yet to receive a contract extension. He has two Vezina Trophies and two Stanley Cup wins to his credit. He makes $10 million against the salary cap, but only $6 million actual dollars this season, with trade protection. He’s also 37 years old.
What do the Panthers want to do here? A short-term contract to backstop a veteran team that’s back to full strength next season would seem like one avenue. But they do have 26-year-old Daniil Tarasov — who, for what it’s worth, has outplayed Bobrovsky this season. As Weekes said, this is something to watch. One interesting option with the necessary cap space: The San Jose Sharks, contending in the West and with a young Russian goalie in Yaroslav Askarov that could use the tutelage.
Much like the Panthers, the Devils didn’t expect to be sellers at this point. While a number of players could be on the block, the one name getting attention is Nemec. The 22-year-old was drafted second overall in 2022 and is in the final year of his entry-level contract. He has scored 21 points in 48 games, and skated 19:41 per game on average.
So why move him now? First because he’s a restricted free agent after this season, and the Devils might not be up for that contract fight. Second, because he’s a young, right-shot defenseman in a market that’s put a premium on that position. It’s not like he’s an untouchable: Nemec was rumored to have been a part of the Devils’ pitch for Quinn Hughes in December.
Then there’s Tuch. The Sabres are in a playoff seed. Tuch has 24 goals and 28 assists in 60 games. He plays in every situation and is an absolute catalyst for the team. He’s saying things like, “We’re not just going to go for the playoffs, we’re going to go for the Cup.”
It’s hard to imagine Buffalo trading that kind of player while seeking their first postseason berth since 2011, but Tuch and the Sabres have been talking contract for a long, long time with no long-term extension to show for it: first with former GM Kevyn Adams, now with Jarmo Kekalainen. Even without that extension, one assumes the Sabres would be comfortable keeping Tuch through the deadline with the playoffs in reach. But Kekalainen has always been a pragmatist.
Kane is going to be traded, and the Canucks are going to gobble up a chunk of his $5.125 million AAV to make it happen. He has a 16-team no-trade list, but the only requirement for Kane to agree to a move to his sixth NHL franchise is that it’s a playoff team. The Dallas Stars have been a frequently mentioned fit, but don’t discount a move back East for Kane, either.
Jordan Eberle tallies goal vs. DevilsJordan Eberle tallies goal vs. Devils
What is Laine’s value right now? He was limited to five games this season due to injury after a nice comeback season in 2024-25 with Montreal (20 goals in 52 games). The Canadiens would obviously have to pick up part of his $8.7 million AAV to facilitate a trade. Laine is nearing a return from the IR. Is there someone who believes in a potential return to form enough to overlook his inability to remain in the lineup?
Of all the names here, Trocheck would be the most surprising one not to change teams by the deadline. The Rangers are once again in a “retool” and Trocheck has the kind of trade value to bolster it. He’s as versatile a player as you’ll find: someone who can average 0.76 points per game over the past two seasons, but also be a key defensive player, a role he served well in helping the United States win Olympic men’s hockey gold.
Speaking of which: More than a few observers around the NHL believe Trocheck will end up with the Wild, a team with a need in the middle and a general manager in Bill Guerin who built the aforementioned Team USA. The Wild have made an offer to the Rangers for Trocheck, who has a 12-team no-trade list and has stated on the record that he’d prefer to stay closer to the East Coast. Are the Twin Cities close enough?
The biggest name here is Stamkos, the 36-year-old star who started the season horrifically (one goal in 14 games) and then caught fire right as the Predators started moving up the standings. He had 16 points in 13 games leading up to the Olympic break and now has 28 goals on the season, proving his worth both to Nashville and the rest of the league.
The Predators have two other big names in the middle. Marchessault has a full no-movement clause and makes $5.5 million against the cap annually through 2028-29. He has 18 points in 42 games and has skated to a minus-20. His defensive game has deteriorated in Nashville, but the 2023 Conn Smythe winner can add some offensive pop to a contender.
O’Reilly, Nashville’s other Conn Smythe winner, has a friendly cap hit ($4.5 million AAV) on a contract with two years left on it. While the 2019 Cup winner doesn’t have trade protection, GM Barry Trotz will work with O’Reilly on finding a preferred destination. O’Reilly has been awesome this season: 22 goals and 37 assists in 57 games, winning 55.4% of his faceoffs, on par with his career mark. He’s 35 years old but could be a “final puzzle piece” guy for the right contender.
Kadri is another “last piece” guy as a second-line two-way center with snarl, which is what he provided the Colorado Avalanche in winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. The 35-year-old makes $7 million against the cap annually through 2028-29. He has a 13-team no-trade list but didn’t exactly shoot down reports that he would be open to working with the Flames to facilitate a swap. Calgary loves what Kadri brings to the team, but the time might have come to maximize his return.
Nazem Kadri tallies goal vs. Maple LeafsNazem Kadri tallies goal vs. Maple Leafs
Schenn has a 15-team no-trade clause, making $6.5 million against the cap annually through 2027-28. He has been in St. Louis for nine seasons and has 28 points in 61 games this season, skating to a ghastly minus-23. That said, the 34-year-old Stanley Cup winner is a coveted player around the league for his leadership, toughness and offensive upside. Assuming the Blues are in seller mode, he’ll have plenty of attention and the Blues could get a hefty return for him.
Is Tippett’s name being out there just noise or something more palpable? His trade protection kicks in during the 2026-27 season. He makes $6.2 million against the cap annually through 2031-32. He has had three straight 20-plus-goal seasons and has 19 goals in 61 games this season. Everything we’ve heard is that the Flyers might move him in the right “hockey trade” to help the club.
Whenever a veteran’s ice time dramatically falls, one assumes a trade can’t be too far off. Strome, the 32-year-old who has another year left at $5 million AAV, averaged 16:41 last season and is down to 12:05 this season, with eight points in 32 games.