Trade Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league at teams on the playoff bubble; next up are the Penguins.
The Penguins spent the summer collecting what appeared to be spare parts, and many expected them to be a top contender for the first overall pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. That has not been the case, however, as the Penguins have defied projections and their own uneven play to find themselves not only in the hunt for a playoff spot but also in a position to earn home-ice advantage in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. It’s been a fun, feel-good story thus far, but it has certainly changed the calculus for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas as he heads into the trade deadline. What once appeared to be a surefire sell-off now feels as though it could turn into a conservative shopping spree for the Penguins.
Record
29-15-12, 2nd in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$53.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: PIT 1st, PIT 2nd, WPG 2nd, PIT 3rd, SJ 3rd, NSH 6th
2027: PIT 1st, PIT 2nd, NYR 2nd, PIT 3rd, NJ 3rd, WPG 4th, PIT 5th, PIT 6th, PIT 7th
Trade Chips
The Penguins have no lack of trade chips heading into this deadline, which is something they haven’t been able to say all that often in recent years. Pittsburgh has built a healthy backlog of prospects and a robust stockpile of draft picks for the coming years. That said, GM Kyle Dubas has shown a willingness to pivot from the plan slightly if it makes sense to bring in young, controllable talent. In some cases, Dubas has brought in talent along with futures, but the deadline may be an opportunity for Pittsburgh to move some pieces out for a bigger piece.
So, who could Pittsburgh trade? Well, last summer’s trade chips are probably not on the table, given their playoff positioning. That list includes Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, and unless Pittsburgh is blown away, it feels like all three will remain with the Penguins. In fact, it feels like most of Pittsburgh’s current NHL roster is safe for this season, because it is a tight-knit group, and it would be hard to tell the veterans that they need to subtract talent.
But what about in the minors? One potential chip is 2022 first-round pick (21st overall) Owen Pickering. The hulking defenseman hasn’t progressed as Penguins management would have hoped, but he shows signs of being an NHL defenseman, possibly even in the team’s top four. Pickering has long been viewed as a defenseman with a very high ceiling. He is mobile, has good size, and is reasonably skilled with the puck on his stick. That said, Pickering remains a project, and there is work to do on the defensive side of his game. Pittsburgh has been patient with his development, but you have to wonder if the Penguins might see him as another potential Samuel Poulin, a former first-round pick who ran out of chances and watched his trade value fall to nothing. Pittsburgh has to make a call on Pickering soon, and they could leverage him as trade bait before that decision is made.
Another prospect who has fallen out of favour this season is Ville Koivunen. The forward was a key piece in the Jake Guentzel trade two years ago and showed enough last season to have people thinking he would be part of Pittsburgh’s top six this year. He had chances this season, but his play was uninspired, and he was quickly returned to the AHL, where he has been fantastic, posting 25 points in 20 games. Koivunen has a ton of skill and hockey IQ, but he isn’t overly big or strong, nor is he fleet of foot. He will rely on his smarts to score, but there is an adjustment to the NHL game Koivunen hasn’t made yet. Given that Koivunen is probably Pittsburgh’s highest-skilled prospect, it’s hard to imagine them dumping him in a deadline move, but anything is possible.
Finally, we return to the NHL roster and the possibility of moving a player off it. While it seems unlikely that Pittsburgh makes any major changes with the big club, there is always the possibility that a team blows them away with an offer for one of their veterans. Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson aren’t likely to be moved, but a player like Noel Acciari probably wouldn’t be off limits. Acciari has formed a formidable fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar and is a free agent this summer. Pittsburgh isn’t likely to re-sign the 34-year-old, but Acciari has played well enough to get paid this summer. If a team made a strong enough offer, one would have to believe Pittsburgh could be persuaded to move him if it improved their long-term future.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: It’s easy to look at the Penguins’ defensive core and think their bigger issue might be on the left side, but Pittsburgh is banged up on the right side. Kris Letang is out, as is Jack St. Ivany, and with those two hurt, the right side looks very thin. Ryan Shea has been filling in recently, but his performance has declined, and he looks uncomfortable in his current role. Right-handed defensemen are historically hard to acquire, and given that Dubas has been stockpiling assets, he probably isn’t interested in turning a bunch back to acquire a stopgap. An under-the-radar trade feels likely here rather than a big addition, but Dubas is nothing if not unpredictable, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him look for a longer-term solution if it fits the bigger plan.
Top Nine Forward Help: The Penguins look set up front and able to roll four consistent lines. However, they lack depth beyond their top 12 forwards and struggled when several forwards were sidelined by injury in December. Pittsburgh lost 9 of 10 games during that stretch as the loss of Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, and Justin Brazeau eroded the team’s depth. Given the Penguins’ history of injuries, adding an extra top-nine forward might be a wise move to prepare for such an unfortunate series of events. The Penguins don’t need to break the bank to acquire an additional body and could certainly shop the bargain bins to add a bit of depth just in case they run into injury troubles in the final weeks of the season.
Atlantic Notes: Nylander, Levi, Bergqvist
While Maple Leafs winger William Nylander was able to get back in Toronto’s lineup before the Olympics, he hasn’t been practicing fully with Sweden at the Olympics. That has led to speculation that the lingering groin issue he has been dealing with is still bothering him. As Michael Traikos of The Hockey News relays, the veteran winger indicated that while he’s managing the injury, he’s feeling good at the moment. Nylander has a goal and an assist in three games so far with the Swedes wrapping up preliminary round action earlier today. That has to be encouraging for Toronto as they’ll need him at his best if they’re going to have any shot at trying to close the gap in the Atlantic Division to get back into the playoff picture.
More from the Atlantic:
- Sabres goalie Devon Levi acknowledged to Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald that he no longer feels rushed anymore when it comes to his development. Buffalo put him straight into a late-season playoff chase in 2022 but since then, he has struggled at the NHL level. This season, the team had him take a step back as he has played exclusively with AHL Rochester and has done well, posting a 2.57 GAA with a .910 SV% in 32 appearances. Even with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen currently injured, Buffalo will need to have another netminder go down with an injury before Levi becomes a viable option to be recalled this season.
- Canadiens prospect Rasmus Bergqvist has been loaned from the SHL to Ostersunds of the second-tier Allsvenskan, per a team announcement from SHL Skelleftea. The 20-year-old has been a regular with Skelleftea this season while picking up four assists in 37 games, albeit with diminishing ice time. The hope is that the drop to the lower level will allow Bergqvist to play a bigger role while maintaining eligibility to be recalled later in the season or into the playoffs.
Canucks Prospect Parker Alcos To Play In NCAA Next Season
Last offseason, the first allowing CHL players to play in the NCAA, there were a flurry of commitments from players looking to play at the collegiate level. This season, the commitments have been more slow and steady. On Friday, a Canucks prospect decided to make the switch as defenseman Parker Alcos announced on his Instagram page that he will play at Quinnipiac University next season.
The 19-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Vancouver back in 2024, going 189th overall. This season, Alcos has split time between WHL Edmonton and Kelowna, combining for five goals and 18 assists in 47 games, already surpassing his production from the previous two seasons.
The Canucks will now have two prospects with the Bobcats in 2026-27 as 2025 seventh-rounder Matthew Lansing is in his freshman year with the club. Alcos is the second NHL-drafted player to commit to switching from junior hockey to playing at Quinnipiac as he’ll join San Jose goaltender Christian Kirsch in doing so for 2026-27.
The change in leagues could work to Vancouver’s benefit. Had Alcos not decided to make the switch, the Canucks would have only had until June 1st to sign him to an entry-level contract or lose his rights. Now, those signing rights will be extended, allowing Vancouver to get a longer look before making a decision on whether or not to ultimately sign him.
Trade Deadline Primer: Philadelphia Flyers
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league at teams on the playoff bubble, next up: the Flyers.
For the second consecutive season, the Philadelphia Flyers are a team on the bubble with the odds not in their favor. Based on points percentage, the team has taken a step back from last year’s results before their infamous late-season collapse. Furthermore, second-year winger Matvei Michkov has taken a significant step back. This season, Philadelphia’s prize prospect has scored 13 goals and 29 points in 55 games, averaging 14:34 of ice time per game. Michkov had scored 16 goals and 36 points while managing a 16:01 ATOI at this point last season. If the Flyers have any chance of future success, they’ll want to prioritize getting Michkov back on track.
Record
25-20-11, 6th in the Metropolitan (10.7% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Short-term sellers/long-term buyers
Deadline Cap Space
$32.38MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, PHI 3rd, CBJ 6th, PHI 7th
2027: PHI 1st, TOR 1st, PHI 2nd, LA 3rd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, PHI 7th
Trade Chips
Given their spot in the standings, it’s assumed that the Flyers will sell off expiring assets such as Carl Grundstrom, Nicolas Deslauriers, Rodrigo Abols, and Noah Juulsen. Philadelphia shouldn’t expect to recoup major assets for the group, though they should have a market for playoff-bound teams looking for depth.
Still, although they are only a few years into their rebuild, the Flyers aren’t necessarily out of the fight in the Metropolitan Division. It would take a significant performance increase to reach the postseason this year, but given the team’s structure, competing next year shouldn’t be out of the question. If any younger players become available, especially those that are already at the NHL level, Philadelphia should be on the phone.
Depending on what they’re looking to add, Philadelphia has a couple of assets they could move. If rival General Managers believe that the post-Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs will continue their downward trend, Toronto’s upcoming 2027 first-round selection could be very enticing to rebuilding teams. The Flyers likely aren’t in a position to move too much of their prospect capital, though they do have a glut of wingers.
Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey should all be considered untouchables at this point, but would the Flyers be interested in moving recent second-round pick, Jack Murtagh? He’s had a disappointing start to his collegiate career, scoring four goals and seven points in 28 games. Still, he has retained the intangibles that made him a top-64 selection in the first place, and he may be on the outside looking in for top-six Philadelphia wingers for the years to come.
Team Needs
Goaltending Depth: The Flyers have gotten great starts from newcomer Daniel Vladař, who owns a 17-8-6 record in 33 games with a .905 SV% and 2.47 GAA. Still, their options behind him have been nearly unplayable, with typical backup Samuel Ersson carrying an 8-10-5 record with a .856 SV% and 3.51. Philadelphia has Russian prospect Yegor Zavragin waiting in the wings, but at only 20-years-old, he’s likely a few years away.
Young Defenseman: This is where Philadelphia could really make some noise at the trade deadline, if they choose to. Outside of Cameron York and Jamie Drysdale, the Flyers don’t have much in the way of up-and-coming top-four defenseman. Yes, Travis Sanheim has proven capable of leading the blueline, but he’ll be in his 30s next season. Given that reality, if the Buffalo Sabres make Owen Power available, the Flyers could offer a package including Toronto’s first-round pick, a middle-six forward like Bobby Brink, and potentially one of their depth defensemen to start. Even though he isn’t a recent first overall pick like Power, younger defensemen such as Pavel Mintyukov have a lot of upside, but their value may be lower at the deadline.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Should The Red Wings Trade Cam Talbot?
The Detroit Red Wings are in an interesting position leading up to the trade deadline. They sit third in the Atlantic Division but are only seven points away from the postseason cutoff entirely. Given their position, it’s unlikely that they’ll remove any pieces from their active roster, but would it make sense in the long run?
There’s no question: it’s John Gibson‘s net in Detroit. After a shaky start with the second franchise of his career, he’s been nearly unstoppable since December, posting an 18-5-1 record in 24 games with a .923 SV%. The team in front of him has been performing well, but it is difficult to argue that the Red Wings’ recent success is not primarily due to Gibson’s excellent play in goal.
That leaves veteran Cam Talbot in an awkward spot. Splitting the net at the beginning of the year, Talbot is now cemented as the team’s backup, playing in nine games since December, with one of those coming in relief. It comes one year after he received the majority of starts in Detroit, earning a 21-19-5 record in 47 games with a .900 SV% during the 2024-25 season.
Given their competitive nature and firmly being in playoff contention for the first time in a decade, it usually wouldn’t make sense for Detroit to reduce its roster. However, Talbot is one of the easiest netminders to move, given his lack of trade protection and relatively low salary. Coupled with the fact that the trade market for netminders is relatively thin, General Manager Steve Yzerman could capitalize in a big way.
His hypothetical market would be limited, but there would be at least a few teams. The Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights are competitive teams in need of goaltending reinforcements. It’s hard to envision Talbot becoming the starter for any of those teams, but he would at least provide some much-needed breathing room if something went wrong with their regular starters.
Detroit wouldn’t need a goaltender in return, either. They would gain the flexibility to add almost anything; either deepen their resources in some way or acquire additional assets for future trades.
Knocking on the door last year, Sebastian Cossa has completely knocked it down this season. In 26 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins this season, Cossa, 23, owns a 20-4-2 record with a .928 SV% and 1.99 GAA, including four shutouts. His performance this season, in a vacuum, isn’t the only argument for promotion. He has a .913 SV% across 110 games at the AHL level, showing that he’s ready to some capacity.
If the Red Wings continue to use Gibson as they have, Cossa would be burdened with only seven or eight starts throughout Detroit’s last 24 games to finish the season. If Cossa is going to back up Gibson next season anyway, what more valuable experience could you give a young netminder than see a seasoned veteran like Gibson prepare for the postseason?
To be clear, this isn’t an argument that this should be the Red Wings’ only move at the deadline, or even a priority. Still, if there is a market for him, they’re in a unique position to acquire assets for someone they know won’t be on the team next season and remain competitive.
Trade Deadline Primer: New Jersey Devils
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league at teams on the playoff bubble, next up: the Devils.
This season hasn’t gone as anyone hoped in New Jersey. After rebounding from a disappointing 2023-24 campaign to make the postseason again last year for the second time in the Jack Hughes era, they looked to be well on their way to their first consecutive playoff appearances since 1997-2010 after starting the campaign 8-1-0. Since that torrid start, though, they’re 20-26-2 and entered the break on a three-game skid. Breaking through the crowded Eastern Conference field, even if they go on a tear, to make the playoffs at this point is unreasonable. That said, with a skilled base and multiple long-term commitments on the books, a full teardown won’t be in the cards.
Record
28-27-2, 7th in the Metropolitan (2.4% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Short-term sellers/long-term buyers
Deadline Cap Space
$7.66MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: NJD 1st, NJD 2nd, WPG 4th, NJD 5th, NJD 6th
2027: NJD 1st, NJD 2nd, NJD 4th, NJD 5th, NJD 7th
Trade Chips
The Devils already made a move this month, swinging a deal for veteran center Nick Bjugstad from the Blues on the last day before the Olympic roster freeze. Given Bjugstad’s under contract through next season, it was more of a cheap add to fill out their bottom-six forward depth for 2026-27, more than anything else.
General manager Tom Fitzgerald could make similar pickups before March 6. With the playoffs out of reach and New Jersey’s arsenal of mid-to-late-round draft picks over the next couple of years looking light, though, he’d be remiss not to examine the market for his few pending UFAs.
That list is short, at least among those in the NHL right now: forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Luke Glendening, and Zack MacEwen. New Jersey was hoping Dadonov could have been a shrewd veteran pickup on a one-year deal in free agency last summer, but hand and wrist issues have cost him most of the season. That’s interrupted his confidence, and he’s a -3 rating with no points in 17 games as a result. Contenders may nonetheless take note of his decent playoff showings for the Stars over the last few seasons, though, plus the fact that he put up 20 goals and 40 points in a third-line role just last year.
Glendening has already been largely rendered redundant by the Bjugstad pickup. The former has struggled as New Jersey’s fourth-line pivot after a successful professional tryout in training camp, limited to four assists in 52 games with a -11 rating. Even for a defense-first bottom-six piece like Glendening, that’s disappointing output on both ends. He’s not providing any penalty-killing value, averaging a career-low 9:54 of ice time per game, and has won 51.7% of his draws after hovering near 60% for much of the last few years. While Dadonov could have some intrigue, there likely won’t be any callers on Glendening.
MacEwen has only suited up in three NHL contests this year because of injuries, but he’s accumulated 240 games of NHL experience and could fill a token enforcer role for a contender looking to beef up their 13th forward spot.
Long-term cap space is something of a concern for the Devils. Arseny Gritsyuk needs a new deal this summer, and captain Nico Hischier‘s deal is up in 2027, along with Dawson Mercer‘s. It would make sense for New Jersey to consider moving a player with term at a position of excess if the deal lowered their cap spend while getting at least some NHL-ready talent in return. They already made a similar swap by sending Ondřej Palát to the Islanders for Maxim Tsyplakov, although they had to attach a mid-round pick to do so.
There are multiple candidates on defense who jump out. Dougie Hamilton has seen his name pop up in rumors for the Devils to clear cap space as far back as last offseason, but his no-movement clause – which runs until the deal expires in 2027-28 – has allowed him to block at least one deal. For his $9MM cap hit and limited defensive utility, teams would want to see more production than the seven goals and 21 points he has in 52 games this season, too.
Johnathan Kovacevic earned a five-year, $20MM extension off his breakout 2024-25 campaign, but knee surgery has limited him to two assists and a -6 rating in 11 games. Getting a team to take on a four-year risk without seeing more of a post-surgery sample size might be difficult, though.
Team Needs
Goaltending Help: Jacob Markström simply hasn’t been a passable starting option this season. With a two-year, $12MM extension set to kick in next year, that’s a problem. He’s posted a .882 SV% in 30 games while allowing -10.9 goals above expected. Veteran Jake Allen remains a high-end 1B option but can’t handle more than 30 or so appearances a year. Third-stringer Nico Daws has been excellent in call-up action but is having a very difficult year in AHL Utica, where he owns a .881 SV% and 6-13-10 record in 28 games. 2024 second-rounder Mikhail Yegorov once looked like he could compete for NHL time as soon as next season, but he has taken a considerable step back with Boston University this year. That’s left the Devils in a tough spot organizationally, top to bottom. Moving Markström would be difficult, but attempting to swap Daws for someone who could serve in a three-goalie rotation with him and Allen might be worth exploring.
Depth Scoring: Everybody’s had a tough time finishing in Jersey this season outside of Hughes, who’s held up his end of the bargain with another point-per-game season. Injuries have limited him to just 36 appearances, though, and the Devils’ offense is in the basement as a result. At 2.51 goals per game, only the Flames are scoring at a lower rate. Sure, Jesper Bratt and Hischier and Timo Meier have all had offensive step-backs, but they’ve gotten minimal support from bottom-sixers like Paul Cotter (5 G, 10 P in 54 GP) and Stefan Noesen (3 G, 7 P in 38 GP). Adding a more consistent middle-six scoring option, either at center or on the wing, should help the push for a playoff spot next season as Bratt’s, Meier’s, and Hischier’s numbers rebound.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Islanders Sign Scott Reedy To AHL Tryout
The AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders have signed center Scott Reedy to a professional tryout, per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. He has yet to play this season.
Reedy’s return to hockey comes over 11 months after his last appearance of any kind and nearly four years after his last NHL game. A fourth-round pick by the Sharks in 2017, he developed nicely over four seasons at the University of Minnesota and capped off his collegiate career with an All-Star, point-per-game campaign in 2020-21.
He turned pro and split the following season evenly between San Jose’s NHL and AHL clubs. He did well enough in a bottom-six role, scoring seven goals and a pair of assists in 35 games while seeing 11:11 of ice time per night. The speedy 6’2″ pivot also recorded 18 goals and 27 points in just 38 AHL games, leading to optimism he could be a solid depth contributor at the NHL level.
Reedy never got another chance, though. He was limited to five goals and 15 points in 38 AHL games the following season before being traded to the Stars. He was highly productive when healthy over the next season and a half, but was decimated by injuries. From his acquisition in March 2023 to the end of his contract following 2023-24, he only managed 30 appearances for AHL Texas while recording 11 goals and 17 points.
The Minnesota native went unqualified by the Stars that summer and ended up going unsigned until December, when he landed an AHL tryout from the Predators’ minor-league affiliate in Milwaukee. He finished out the year with four goals and nine points in 25 games before becoming a free agent again.
He’ll take the same pathway to playing time this time around, albeit with only about two months left in the campaign. He joins a much-improved Bridgeport roster that’s hovering around .500 this season after finishing with a disastrous 15-50-7 record in 2024-25.
Poll: Which Team Should Make The Biggest Push For Shane Wright?
A weak Western Conference has the hot-and-cold Kraken still squarely in contention for a playoff spot. Seattle had won six of eight entering the break, moving them into third in the Pacific Division and tied with the Ducks for the second wild-card slot (although the Kraken have three more regulation wins).
Despite teetering on the edge of a berth all season, general manager Jason Botterill’s overall deadline strategy appears to be as aggressive as possible. 2022 fourth overall pick Shane Wright is one name that could very well be on the move after reports last month indicated they were open to dangling him as the big fish to land a major upgrade for their top-six forward group.
While it would normally be surprising to see a team so uncertain of its short-term outlook being willing to dangle such a high-value young asset, Seattle has assembled a deep prospect pool over the last few years that can easily handle the loss of Wright. Even just considering centers, they’ve supplemented him with two more top-10 picks in Berkly Catton in 2024 and Jake O’Brien last year.
The desire to give Wright a fresh start elsewhere appears to come from both player and team. That makes sense considering Wright has had his ice time reduced from last season under first-year head coach Lane Lambert, despite coming off a strong 19-goal, 44-point effort in 79 games in his first extended look in NHL minutes in 2024-25.
As a result, this year his production has dipped to 11 goals and 22 points in 56 games. That’s a points-per-game decrease from 0.56 to 0.39, accompanied by a 10-second drop in ice time per game.
The Ontario native has also struggled in the two most important secondary areas for a center – faceoffs and possession control. He’s winning just 37.9% of his draws this year after hitting 44.4% last season while controlling 46.3% of shot attempts at even strength. The latter number is particularly disappointing considering he’s been given sheltered usage, starting over two-thirds of his shifts in the offensive zone.
Nonetheless, there are a few teams looking to move out a top-six piece that wouldn’t benefit from a 22-year-old center with the pedigree of being a top-five pick. Which sellers should be the most aggressive in trying to ensure they strike a deal with Kraken and recoup Wright?
Calgary Flames
Even among sellers, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team with two tangible top-six forwards – with term – to use as trade chips. If Seattle wants to make a push for either Blake Coleman or Nazem Kadri, the Flames are asking for Wright as the starting piece of the return, especially for the latter.
They’ve done well to build out their prospect pool on defense (particularly the right side) and on the wings, but they’re missing a clear-cut top-six piece down the middle long-term, especially with Samuel Honzek appearing to shift to the wing full-time and Cole Reschny‘s slighter frame likely making him a better fit at left wing than center at the NHL level. They’re not currently icing a center under the age of 25 in the NHL, either, at least not with John Beecher injured.
Adding Wright gives them more hope down the middle long-term with greater offensive upside than a name like Honzek has been able to show in the pros thus far.
New York Rangers
Seattle made a big contract offer to Artemi Panarin but struck out with the winger deciding it was L.A. or bust. With the two clubs already having engaged in trade talks on the star winger, the Kraken might opt to put themselves in the conversation for Rangers middleman Vincent Trocheck as well.
For a team still in the earlier stages of a retool like the Rangers, they wouldn’t be too concerned with position when getting as high-value an asset as Wright back in a deal. Nonetheless, recouping a young, higher-ceiling center by March 6 would be a dream scenario for Blueshirts GM Chris Drury.
The Rangers’ arsenal of U23 potential top-six contributors at forward – Gabriel Perreault, Liam Greentree, and Malcolm Spence – are all wingers. Their best center prospect, 22-year-old Noah Laba, has operated as their third-line center for most of the year and, while he’s clearly made the jump to full-time NHLer status, has never been touted as anything more than a long-term 3C option.
With such a pressing positional need down the middle, especially if they’re intent on flipping Trocheck with several years left on his deal, Wright is a perfect addition.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues aren’t actively shopping Robert Thomas, but they are listening to offers. It will still take a gargantuan price tag – reported to be four first-round picks or equivalent assets – to land a deal, but the Kraken are well-positioned to do so with Wright ready to fill one of those four slots and four first-round picks available in the next two drafts.
Unlike for Calgary and New York, though, adding Wright down the middle would more signal a completion of the long-term puzzle down the middle than a much-needed jumpstart. Dalibor Dvorsky, still just 20 years old, has arrived this season as he looks to be a high-end second-line piece for St. Louis throughout his prime. Another recent first-rounder, Otto Stenberg, hasn’t looked out of place in NHL action this year, either.
Wright’s sluggish development so far wouldn’t solve the need for finding a bona fide first-line piece to serve as a direct replacement for Thomas, but he would give the Blues ample top-nine depth for their next playoff contention window.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks are headed straight toward the best odds at the first overall pick in this year’s draft, in large part due to a lack of production from the middle of the ice. Their middle-six pivots for much of the year, David Kämpf and Aatu Räty, have combined for all of five goals.
They already picked up Marco Rossi from the Wild in the Quinn Hughes deal, but he’s battled through a broken foot this season and only had a goal and an assist in eight appearances for Vancouver before the break. There’s also the matter of star first-liner Elias Pettersson, who’s still struggled to get anywhere close to the heights of his 102-point breakout three years ago. He’s scoring at a 57-point pace this season, the worst of his career.
If Seattle wants to buy low on the high-priced pivot, Wright won’t have more opportunity at premier minutes anywhere else than in Vancouver.
If the Kraken do leverage Wright into a top-six upgrade, which team would stand to reap the most rewards? Have your say in the poll below:
Which Team Would Benefit Most From Landing Shane Wright?
Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league at teams on the playoff bubble, next up: the Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sit just six points out of a Wild Card spot with the Olympic break in full swing. Yet, the Maple Leafs season has felt far more disastrous, plagued by low-scoring stars and new faces unable to bring a spark. Toronto has tread water for much of the year and now face the difficult decision of whether to try and move up, or down, in the standings. Their stars are in their primes and playoffs are still in sight – but Toronto is also low on both assets and cap space. How they handle the 2026 Deadline could be the first push into new waters for the Maple Leafs organization.
Record
27-21-9 (6th in Atlantic Division)
Deadline Status
Sellers
Deadline Cap Space
$5.08MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts per Puckpedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: TOR 3rd, TOR 5th, SJS 6th
2027: TOR 2nd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, PHI 6th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th
Trade Chips
The Maple Leafs moved much of their remaining trade assets to bring in Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo at the 2025 Trade Deadline. One year later, Laughton could now sit at the top of Toronto’s market options – though certainly at a much cheaper price. He hasn’t found his footing in Toronto’s middle-six, with just 11 points in 39 games this season and 15 points in 59 games as a Maple Leaf. Laughton is also averaging just 13:43 in ice time on the year, his lowest mark since 2017-18. He still provides a veteran presence down the depth chart, and special-teams upside, that could be enough to sway a team looking to add to their bottom-six. After acquiring him for a prospect and a first-round pick, the Maple Leafs could hope to recoup a draft pick near the top of Day Two in another Laughton trade.
Toronto has two more options on the wings in Bobby McMann and Matias Maccelli. McMann has dug in a role in the Leafs’ middle-six with his breakaway speed and aggressive forechecking. He leads all Maple Leafs forwards in hits (126) and ranks sixth on the team in total scoring (32 points). It has, in some ways, been a career-year for the 29 year old, who seems to be finding his groove as the tenacious worker behind Toronto’s stars. That value and momentum could be both be shrewd adds on the open market, maybe even enough to swing Toronto back a roster player in the right package. Other teams will find a more skill-first – and surely, a cheaper – option in Maccelli. The speedster has been quiet in his first year with the Maple Leafs after a tremulous end to his time with the Utah Mammoth. He has 24 points and a minus-12 in 46 games this season. Maccelli projects as a bottom-six winger – even despite once reaching 40 assists in a single season. He is an upside buy who, like Laughton, could land enough of a return to help Toronto stock their cabinets.
Many of the remaining Maple Leafs veterans could find their way into trade discussions. Nicolas Roy has proven to be a standup, bottom-six center capable of playing both sides of the puck. He has 20 points and a plus-two in 54 games this season, making him one of only three Maple Leafs forwards with at least 20 points and a positive plus-minus. Roy has also won 53.6 percent of the 577 faceoffs he has taken this season. Toronto could also offer fourth-liners Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok to teams in need of more forwards.
Trade Needs
More Stake in the Future: With so little to offer, the primary focus of Toronto’s Deadline should be restocking their cabinets. The Leafs only have three picks in this year’s draft, which would tie their 2021 and 2023 classes for fewest in Maple Leafs history with no additions. Toronto made good work of those groups – landing Matthew Knies in the 2021 second-round and Easton Cowan in the 2023 first-round. But with so few prospects vying for NHL ice time, Toronto could benefit from giving their scouts a few more chances to find gems. The Maple Leafs could add two or three more picks before the fifth round by moving out some of their veterans on the fringe. Those deals would help Toronto hedge their bets for the rest of the 2020s, while also only expanding their space to land a big fish.
A Difference Maker: Even with Knies growing into the spot left by Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs still seem to be missing a true difference-maker in the lineup. Toronto’s focus should only shift to buying if they’re able to land a player who can step into the top-nine right away. Landing a big fish like Nazem Kadri or Robert Thomas would require capital that the Maple Leafs simply don’t have; while focusing on veteran leaders like Boone Jenner or Brayden Schenn would risk repeating the Laughton trade. Toronto will have to find a way to bridge the gap and land the needle-pushers in the market’s second-layer. Smart negotiating could be enough to pull former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault away from the struggling Nashville Predators for only a few picks. The same could be said about center Ryan O’Reilly who has no trade protection on his current deal – though chances of that are slim after his previous, and very brief, stint in Toronto. Instead, the Maple Leafs could look to pay a bit more for Vancouver Canucks wingers Conor Garland or Jake DeBrusk. Both bring strong impacts while Vancouver is certainly focused on the future after dealing away Quinn Hughes. Forwards Miroslav Holinka and Nicholas Moldenhauer could be interesting options to include in negotiations with some of the league’s rebuilders.
Ducks Prospect Lasse Boelius Out For Season
Ducks defense prospect Lasse Boelius will not play again this season due to an undisclosed injury, his Finnish team, Ässät, announced.
Drafted in the second round just last year, the Ducks were hoping the left-shot puck-mover could have a breakout season in his post-draft year. To some extent, that’s been the case. His production in Finland’s top flight doesn’t jump off the page – just eight points and a +2 rating in 40 games – but the fact that the 18-year-old has been able to carve out a semi-regular role in a top pro league in Europe is nonetheless a good sign.
Boelius was selected 60th overall with the Jets’ pick – Winnipeg dealt it to the Devils in the Tyler Toffoli deal and then flipped it to Anaheim for Brian Dumoulin at last year’s trade deadline. That was near the high end of where the 6’1″, 190-lb lefty was expected to go, and he doesn’t crack Anaheim’s top 10 or 15 prospects in any major ranking. He was nonetheless quite impressive for the Finns at this year’s World Juniors, leading the team’s blue line in scoring with two goals and five assists in seven games. His -5 rating was a team-low, though.
Boelius remains under contract with Ässät through next season. The Ducks have until June 1, 2029, to sign him before losing his rights. Another step forward, though, and he’ll likely be signing his entry-level contract a little over a year from now and consider making the jump to the AHL.