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The March 6 NHL Trade Deadline is approaching, and the league has officially entered a state of high-stakes arms race as contenders look to transform from playoff hopefuls into legitimate Stanley Cup juggernauts.
While blockbuster moves have already set a blistering market — most notably Quinn Hughes joining the Minnesota Wild and Artemi Panarin landing with the Los Angeles Kings — the remaining big names on the board are officially on notice.
For GMs in win-now windows like the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning, the trade deadline represents the final chance to find that missing piece of the championship puzzle, whether it’s a veteran center with "playoff DNA" or a defensive anchor to solidify a top pair.
Here are the 10 players that could be wearing new colors by Friday afternoon.
MORE: When is the NHL trade deadline?
Robert Thomas, C, Blues
As the biggest fish in the 2026 pond, Thomas is the center every contender covets. Despite the Blues’ struggles, the 26-year-old remains a point-per-game force with elite vision. He is currently in the third year of an eight-year deal ($8.125M AAV), meaning he isn't a rental — he’s a cornerstone. Reports indicate that trade talks are intensifying, with the Buffalo Sabres are currently "heating up" as a dark horse. However, with a full no-trade clause, Thomas holds all the cards and can control his next destination.
MORE: Canadiens know trade cost for Robert Thomas
Vincent Trocheck, C, Rangers
With the Rangers in a full-out retool, Trocheck could very well have a new home by Friday. Fresh off winning a gold medal with Team USA in Milan, Trocheck has reached peak "trade bait" status. The 32-year-old has 38 points in 45 games and brings a rare blend of sandpaper and skill that is perfect for the postseason.
When asked about his availability, Trocheck said it's no secret he wants to win a Stanley Cup. Teams like the Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes lead the chase for the center, who remains one of the best in the league at faceoffs.
MORE: Penguins' projected Vincent Trocheck trade comes at a big cost
Nazem Kadri, C, Flames
Calgary has officially folded the tent for 2026, and Kadri is the veteran prize. At 35, he still leads the Flames in points (41) and shots, proving he has plenty of gas left in the tank. His contract runs through 2028-29, which complicates a deal, but his 2022 Cup experience with the Avalanche makes him the top target for teams looking for insurance following recent injuries to their center depth.
If Calgary eats a portion of his salary, expect a massive bidding war for the Stanley Cup champion.
MORE: A salary cap rule may make 2 Flames trades difficult
Elias Pettersson, C, Canucks
The atmosphere in Vancouver has turned toxic"as the Canucks sit at the bottom of the NHL standings. Pettersson has been candid about his own struggles, admitting he hasn't lived up to his $11.6M AAV contract, but a change of scenery could reignite the superstar who put up 89 points just two seasons ago.
The bottom line is Pettersson is a player that would benefit from a new home. The Canucks are in total firesale, with Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller already finding new homes in the last year. Don't be surprised if No. 40 is next.
MORE: Oilers want 2 positions before the NHL trade deadline
Jordan Binnington, G, Blues
Is there a shot Binnington has a new home after the deadline? Absolutely.
The goalie is known for his big game performances, whether winning the Stanley Cup as a rookie with St. Louis in 2019 or his heroics for Canada in the Four Nations Faceoff finals. But, his NHL production has not lived up to the bargain.
Binnington’s departure would be less about his current statistics and more about a clean break for a franchise in flux. There are plenty of contenders who need a goaltender that has proven he can perform in the biggest situations.
MORE: Blues get major news on Jordan Binnington trade
Blake Coleman, W, Flames
Coleman’s trade candidacy is built on his reputation as the league’s ultimate third-line upgrade. With two Stanley Cup rings and an elite penalty-killing pedigree, he is the type of player who wins games in May and June rather than November.
Coleman should be traded because the Flames have no use for a 34-year-old checking winger during a rebuild, and his reasonable cap hit makes him an easy plug-and-play asset for a contender looking to add grit and championship experience to their bottom-six.
MORE: Maple Leafs getting help from Flyers to trade veteran center
Conor Garland, W, Canucks
The Canucks have a few players on long-term contracts worth shopping, and Conor Garland might be the most likely to go because Vancouver is desperate to move his massive six-year, $36 million extension before the ink even dries.
While the $6M AAV deal was signed just last July to make him a "core pillar," the Canucks' collapse to the bottom of the standings has shifted the front office into a total rebuild. Garland remains a relentless secondary scorer and a puck-possession monster, but he turns 30 next week and simply doesn't fit the timeline of a team that just traded away its captain, Quinn Hughes.
By moving him before his full no-move clause kicks in on July 1, 2026, Vancouver can secure the first-round picks they need to fuel their restart while providing a contender with a versatile, playoff-ready winger who is under team control through 2032.
MORE: Islanders close to trade for $6 million Canucks forward
Steven Stamkos, C, Predators
Marc DesRosiers
Stamkos has been a revelation in Nashville lately, shaking off a slow start to look like his vintage self. Since November, he has been on a tear, racking up goals at a pace that has propelled him past the 30-goal mark and reminded the league that his one-timer remains a premier weapon. For a contender, he represents the ultimate deadline prize: a proven winner with elite power-play utility and a big-game pedigree that can’t be taught.
Despite the rumors, Stamkos has been adamant about his desire to stay, reportedly leaning on his full no-movement clause to maintain roots in Smashville. However, with the Predators' playoff hopes flickering, the organization faces a difficult crossroad. Even if his heart is in Nashville, the chance to land on a championship-ready roster — and the Predators' need to recoup assets for a rebuild — could force a hockey decision that overrides his personal preference before Friday's deadline.
It might be unlikely Stamkos is moved, but don't rule it out.
MORE: It'll be complicated to trade for Steven Stamkos
Brandon Carlo, D, Maple Leafs
After being a cornerstone of the Bruins' blue line for years, Carlo was the centerpiece of a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. He is being shopped now because his stint in Toronto has been marred by a snake-bitten season and a lingering foot injury that required surgery in December. With the Leafs currently sitting outside the playoff picture and desperate to recoup the assets they surrendered to get him — including a 2026 first-round pick — moving Carlo is their best chance to reset a defensive core that hasn't gelled as expected.
At 29, Carlo still has a year left on his contract at a manageable $4.1M cap hit, making him an ideal target for a team like the Edmonton Oilers or Dallas Stars looking for a heavy-minutes defender who doesn't need the puck to be effective.
MORE: Maple Leafs have an unexpected trade rumor player added to list
Justin Faulk, D, Blues
Faulk is the odd man out in the Blues' defensive rotation as the team pivots toward a younger, faster identity. Despite a solid individual season where he has already eclipsed double-digit goals and 30 points, his timeline no longer meshes with a St. Louis front office that is deep in sell mode. He is being shopped because the Blues want to capitalize on a market that is perpetually starved for top-four, right-shot defensemen who can eat 22 minutes a night and run a second power-play unit.
He is likely to go because his current $6.5M cap hit is manageable for a contender, especially with only one year remaining on his deal after this season. By moving him now, the Blues aim to fetch a return similar to the haul Calgary received for Rasmus Andersson earlier this year — likely a first-round pick and a high-end prospect.
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