Now that the Olympic trade freeze has lifted, NHL teams can swing deals as they so please. We could see a few moves soon, too.
While the Olympics took center stage in February, there was plenty going on behind the scenes. Executives and scouts have been evaluating their rosters, revisiting trade boards, and recalibrating priorities for the stretch run. They had every reason to be proactive – the 10 days immediately following the Olympic break will, in many cases, dictate the trajectory of a team’s season.
February 24 marks the end of the league’s three-week pause, and the calendar turns quickly to March 6 – the NHL trade deadline. That narrow window creates urgency. Contenders must decide whether to push their chips in, bubble teams must choose a direction, and sellers look to maximize value in a competitive market. With the deadline fast approaching, here are eight trades I’d like to see, and why they make sense.
Rangers Trade C Vincent Trocheck to the Wild for C Nico Sturm, C Charlie Stramel, and a 2027 First-Round Pick
Bill Guerin selected Trocheck to skate on Team USA’s 4 Nations squad and this year’s Olympic team, so the connection is obvious. Here, Guerin drops the veteran center into an already dangerous top six, potentially slotting him in between Kirill Kaprizov and fellow Olympic gold-medalist Matt Boldy. Trocheck’s two-way reliability and playoff experience would give Minnesota a matchup-proof line that can generate offense without sacrificing defensive detail.
The cost is steep: a first-round pick and Stramel, who’s having an outstanding season at Michigan State. For the Rangers, that’s the point. They need an infusion of high-end talent in the pipeline, and the combination of Stramel and a late first-rounder strengthens their long-term outlook. Sturm heads to New York primarily to balance the cap, but the real value is futures as the Rangers pivot toward retooling.
Flames Trade RW Blake Coleman (with 50 Percent Salary Retention) to the Lightning for LD Jan Golicic and a 2026 Second-Round Pick
Coleman rejoins the Lightning after five seasons away. He was a key cog on the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup teams, and adds to an already deep forward group. He could potentially skate on the third line alongside Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
In return, the Flames get a depth defender in Golicic, who stands 6-foot-5 and has a solid track record in the QMJHL. The second-round pick is the headliner, though, and gives Calgary another early-round selection to bolster their pipeline.
Maple Leafs Trade RD Brandon Carlo to the Red Wings for LD Erik Gustafsson, LW Eddie Genborg, and a 2026 Fifth-Round Pick
Detroit had interest in acquiring Carlo at last year’s trade deadline before he ultimately landed in Toronto. Now, the Red Wings get him for a comparatively lower price to round out their top four.
Chatting with THW’s Maple Leafs coverage team, their requested trade package consisted of Gustafsson to run a power play, a solid and hard-nosed prospect in Genborg, plus a fifth rounder. Done deal.
Predators Trade LW Michael Bunting (50 Percent Salary Retention) to the Oilers for RW Maxim Berezkin
In this trade, Edmonton acquires Bunting to fill the role that Evander Kane held last year. He’d fit in well alongside Leon Draisaitl or on an offense-focused third line.
Now 24, Berezkin is an intriguing prospect given his 6-foot-4 frame, offensive skills set, and physicality. He is expected to come to North America after his KHL season concludes – Nashville could give him a greater opportunity earlier on compared to what he could expect with the Oilers.
Jets Trade C/RW Brad Lambert to the Ducks for LD Pavel Mintyukov
Another change-of-scenery deal for the Ducks. In moving Mintyukov, Anaheim lands Lambert to further load up an already dangerous forward group. Lambert’s high-end speed and creativity would complement Beckett Sennecke, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, and Leo Carlsson — bigger, physically imposing forwards with elite offensive instincts. The blend of size and skill could give Anaheim a more dynamic attack.
From Winnipeg’s side, Mintyukov shores up the blue line with Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley likely to be moved at the deadline. He’d slot behind Josh Morrissey and get a clean runway to re-establish himself as a top-four option. If his puck-moving translates consistently within the Jets’ system, this could be a low-cost way to stabilize their transition game for years to come.
Canucks Trade LW Evander Kane (with 50 Percent Salary Retention) to the Stars for LD Tristan Bertucci and a 2026 Fifth-Round Pick
With Tyler Seguin out with a torn ACL, the Stars could use more depth up front as they contend for the Stanley Cup. Enter Kane, who reached the finals the previous two seasons with the Oilers and plays a sandpaper role that can be deployed throughout the top nine. Vancouver retains 50 percent of Kane’s cap hit to provide the Stars with cap flexibility.
Related: NHL Trade Bait List for 2026 Trade Deadline
In return, the Canucks get Bertucci, who has put together a solid rookie year in the AHL. The 6-foot-2 left shot blueliner provides stability in the defensive zone and could be another building block for the retooling Canucks. His shutdown game and smart decision-making are quality attributes that will be of value to the organization when Vancouver emerges from their rebuild and begins to challenge for a playoff spot.
Maple Leafs Trade LW/RW Bobby McMann to the Avalanche for LD Sean Behrens and a 2027 Second-Round Pick
Colorado’s top six is locked in – Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin. Beyond that, the Avalanche could use some depth, which McMann certainly provides. His high-end speed and scoring touch could blend well with MacKinnon, too, if someone from the top two lines misses time.
Given the fact that McMann is a rental, a return of Behrens and a second rounder should work for the Maple Leafs. The two assets give them more ammunition to retool quickly and return to power atop the Atlantic Division. This could be done through subsequent trades or having Behrens and the pick compete within the organization.
Blues Trade LW Jordan Kyrou to the Kraken for C Shane Wright, C/LW Carson Rehkopf, and a Top-12 Protected 2027 First-Round Pick
The blockbuster. Here, the Kraken continue their aggressive pursuit of a top-line wing and land Kyrou. The 27-year-old instantly becomes Seattle’s top offensive threat and an all-situations option to pair with Matt Beniers.
In exchange, the Kraken send Wright, Rehkopf, and a future first-round pick to the Blues. Wright’s addition makes the possibility of dealing Robert Thomas a little more palatable, as he can pair with Dalibor Dvorsky to give St. Louis two young centers to drive the top six. First-year pro Rehkopf put together a few outstanding seasons in the OHL and could develop into an offensive-minded complementary piece in the forward lineup.