Pavel Zacha (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
With American Thanksgiving approaching, the NHL’s trade chatter is beginning to simmer — especially when it comes to centers. It’s the unofficial checkpoint of the season when teams start to define themselves: contenders, pretenders, or rebuilders-in-waiting. As front offices evaluate where they stand in the standings and how their cap situations align with long-term goals, several intriguing names are emerging — some as potential trade chips, others as wild cards whose availability could reshape the market.
While there’s no shortage of speculation, the league’s executives are watching a few situations particularly closely. Whether it’s a veteran like Nazem Kadri on a struggling team, a solid contributor like Alex Wennberg on a rebuilding one, or a versatile forward like Pavel Zacha on a club teetering between contention and reset, the weeks ahead could define the center market’s tone heading into the new year.
Here’s a look at where things stand — and who might be on the move if the dominoes start to fall.
Calgary Flames Undecided on Kadri
Few players better capture Calgary’s current state of uncertainty than Kadri, whose leadership and frustration seem to rise in equal measure as the losses pile up. Once seen as a key piece of the Flames’ competitive core, Kadri now finds himself at the center of quiet speculation about whether the organization might finally pivot toward a rebuild.
Inside league circles, his situation has become a focal point — a potential early indicator of how aggressive Calgary might be if the standings don’t improve soon.
“I haven’t heard anything is imminent on Kadri,” said an NHL source. “Calgary hasn’t indicated that he’s available yet; they still think they could turn this thing around.”
“But, if they’re still in the basement of the NHL standings come December, I don’t know how you don’t look at this draft class and think ‘I can draft a star and be back at it next season,’” added the source.
The upcoming draft is expected to feature multiple franchise-caliber prospects, and Calgary could benefit from a reset. Teams across the league are already keeping tabs, aware that a Kadri trade would signal a full pivot.
For now, it’s a situation simmering just below the surface — one that could erupt if the Flames can’t string wins together soon.
San Jose Selling
After acquiring Carey Price’s and Ryan Ellis’ contracts over the offseason, the San Jose Sharks signaled to the entire NHL that they planned on selling off a majority of their roster this season.
By acquiring $17M in salary, the Sharks gave themselves the fiscal leverage to overhaul their roster in a big way without the risking of dipping under the NHL’s salary floor of $70.6M.
One player that has quickly emerged as the Sharks’ top trade chip is Alex Wennberg. The Swedish centre has quietly emerged as one of the more realistic center targets on the market and San Jose will be listening..
“Alex Wennberg is going to be many team’s plan B or C leading up to trade deadline or maybe even earlier,” said a Western Conference source. “He’s holding down the Sharks’ second line quite well, and a team looking for middle-six depth down the middle, and boy, there’s going to be many, will covet his skillset.”
“My only question about Wennberg is: ‘Do the Sharks try to move him out earlier to give Michael Misa top-six minutes sooner?’”, added the source.
Crossroads in Boston
In Boston, trade chatter has started to quietly bubble beneath the surface as the Bruins navigate an uneven start to their season. A perennial contender in the past, Boston now finds itself straddling the line between pushing for a playoff spot and reassessing long-term priorities. In that uncertain middle ground, Zacha’s name has emerged as a player other teams are watching closely.
“Pavel Zacha is an interesting piece, but Boston hasn’t decided to call it a season yet, but they’re one of those teams that are teetering on the edge,” said an NHL source. “He could be available, but Boston is also weighing the idea of keeping him. Classic case of keeping your fellow general managers guessing.”
Zacha’s versatility — able to play both center and wing — gives the Bruins options that few other teams can match. His ability to slide up and down the lineup has made him a reliable piece in a system built on adaptability. The question now is when Boston will make a definitive decision on whether he will be a part of their future or used as a trade chip to spark a longer-term reset.
Trusting the Process on the Island
On Long Island, the atmosphere is far less uncertain, but that hasn’t stopped Bo Horvat’s name from surfacing in league conversations. The Islanders remain a team built on structure and stability, yet the pressure to stay competitive in a tightening Metropolitan Division has raised familiar questions. Even with their leadership core intact, rival general managers can’t help but wonder whether Horvat could become available if the standings take a turn.
“Bo Horvat, from what I’ve heard, is happy on Long Island and has found some really good chemistry with Emil Heineman,” said the same NHL source. “If the Islanders were to move him, you might as well blow it up and build around Barzal and Schaefer to shoot for Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff.”
Horvat has become a steadying presence in the Islanders’ top six, providing leadership and balance to their lineup. His production has matched expectations, and his chemistry with Heineman has added a new dimension to New York’s attack. Unless the team suffers a dramatic collapse, there’s little chance management will entertain moving him.
“It would take a whopper of an offer that (Mathieu) Darche cannot refuse, and the Islanders would have to be in a pretty bad spot,” added the source.
That kind of offer doesn’t come around often, especially for a player with Horvat’s contract and pedigree. Still, rival executives are known to check in, waiting for any signs of frustration from Long Island’s front office. As it stands, Horvat remains a foundational piece rather than trade bait.
Blues Ballad
Perhaps the most fascinating situation belongs to the St. Louis Blues, a team caught somewhere between retooling and rebuilding. Their roster composition tells a story of transition — young offensive talent mixing with an aging, veteran-heavy defense. It’s a tricky balance that has left many around the league wondering when the organization will finally pick a direction.
“St. Louis has to be the most intriguing team to me going into the stretch,” said a Western Conference source. “They’ve done a good job of re-tooling on the fly, but are kind of caught in the middle with a young offense and an aging defense.”
The Blues’ front office has tried to thread the needle by remaining competitive while reworking their core. That balancing act has kept them relevant but vulnerable to slipping down the standings. If their form doesn’t stabilize soon, they could pivot toward selling — and do so aggressively.
“Brayden Schenn could be made available should they continue this way and many teams will be interested, but I wonder about Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and Robert Thomas,” speculated the source. “Are they going to want to undergo a retool or potential rebuild? That’s going to create some noise, maybe not immediately, but closer to the trade deadline, if the Blues remain a bottom-feeding team in the standings.”
A decision of that magnitude would reshape the trade market overnight. Schenn’s leadership and playoff experience make him a highly coveted piece for contenders, while speculation around Kyrou or Thomas would ignite league-wide frenzy. For now, St. Louis remains the team everyone is watching — the one that could turn a quiet market into controlled chaos with a single move.