Inside the Rink 2026 Trade Board

Inside the Rink 2026 Trade Board | Inside The Rink

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Inside the Rink 2026 trade list

It feels as though there are two trade deadlines this season. The first one is the February 4th roster freeze, and the second one is the official deadline on March 6th. The biggest name has been taken off the market in the former. However, this is still a season where a small ad can go a long way, and even with Panarin and Andersson off the market, GMs will be busy.

With that, who will be leading the charge in terms of trade value for this deadline? I want to give a huge shoutout to Joshua Michel for helping me get this one up. All his work will be linked below. I heavily recommend checking it out if you want a more in-depth look at all of the Blues players that are involved in the deals mentioned below.

If you’re interested in hearing more from me, I host Kicking Tires, and you can find the latest episode below.

Trade Board

Vincent Trocheck: It’s pretty hard to deny that Trocheck is going to be leading a lot of teams’ lists. He’s a solid 20 goal, 30 assist center who can play up and down the lineup. As the Rangers continue their fire sale, Trocheck remains the biggest question for the trade deadline.

Shane Wright: Very few players interest me as much as Shane Wright does. I do believe that on a team with some offensive support around him, Wright could be good. In his first full season last year, he had 44 points in 79 games, a very solid total for a Seattle team that struggled for offense. Wright could fit into the long-term future of a lot of teams looking for a young player they believe could be a cornerstone.

Robert Thomas: No doubt the best player on the board as a whole. With that, he will also be the most expensive to a tune that most teams may not be able to afford. Given the contract security, age, and production, Thomas will command a return similar to that of Quinn Hughes. To a team looking for a legitimate top-six center, Thomas could easily become that and propel the contention status of the team. If you want a more in-depth look at Robert Thomas’ trade partners, you can find it linked here.

Dougie Hamilton: I continue to follow the logic that Dougie Hamilton will not be very expensive if he’s moved. Be it injury status, New Jersey’s internal issues, or his huge cap hit, Hamilton is not a one-size-fits-all defenceman. It will take a team with cap space for the next two seasons as well as cheap assets that New Jersey could make the most of. While teams like Dallas would be able to get a lot out of Hamilton, he simply doesn’t fit their situation.

Justin Faulk: If Hamilton is too risky with too much baggage, Faulk is largely the opposite. Just one year old and also providing solid defence on the right side, Faulk could be a really solid piece of a team looking to make a run. The Blues are cap-strapped, so any potential retention on Faulk’s $6.5M deal would have to come externally.

Ryan O’Reilly: A veteran center with Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Selke, and Lady Byng
hardware. O’Reilly still brings a level of two‑way responsibility and playoff experience
that contenders respect. He’s not the same dynamic scorer he was in his prime, but his
defensive awareness makes him a must-have. Signed through 2026‑27 with a
$4.5 million cap hit, he doesn’t have formal trade protection, but his contract and role on
the Predators mean any move would likely hinge on both a strong offer and his
willingness to accept a new destination. He’s not a long-term sign but a team looking for
a seasoned pro who can play in all situations and mentor younger centers. O’Reilly still
fits the bill.

Blake Coleman: Coleman is a surprisingly well-rounded forward. He’s a consistent goal-scoring threat, and despite his over 12% shooting percentage seeming high on the season, his career shooting percentage hovers around 10%. Coleman has been apart of multiple cup teams in Tampa Bay, he plays a responsible defensive game and skates well. His UFA status and 5’11” frame may be the only turn-offs for NHL GMs.

Michael Bunting: A gritty winger, Bunting has shown he can play up and down the lineup well in his short career. In his rookie season, he played the role of honey badger well next to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and helped those two produce some of their best seasons. Even now, Bunting remains productive on lines without star power, having one of his better seasons, already hitting 12 goals and 30 points. Predator’s GM Barry Trotz openly thought very highly of Bunting, but with Trotz on his way out, Bunting may hit the market as Nashville trends towards a rebuild.

Connor Murphy: Don’t be surprised if a Connor Murphy has some added sticker shock to it. As Chicago looks to give their young defenceman some runway, Murphy has drifted lower in the lineup. For a Chicago team with a 46% Goals For percentage, Murphy’s 47% as an individual is pretty impressive. He’s a big body who can handle play in his own end and has been decently productive given his time on ice per game. If teams in that Dallas, Detroit, or L.A. tier who could be looking for a right-shot defenceman don’t want to spend on Faulk or Hamilton, Murphy could be a slightly cheaper option.

Brayden Schenn: It’s time for the Blues to go all in on a full retool, even if that means
trading your veteran captain. Schenn brings proven leadership and a physical,
hard-nosed style of play. Even in a down offensive year, he still contributes by using his
body and being a solid two-way player. He’s also under contract with a $6.5 million cap
hit and carries a 15-team no-trade clause, which gives him some control while still
leaving plenty of potential trade partners. At this stage of his career, he profiles more as
a middle-six difference-maker, but that veteran presence and hard-nosed style are
things playoff teams are always willing to pay for.

Bobby McMann: Toronto is going to have to bite the bullet at some point and retool. McMann seems to be the obvious candidate. He’s already scored 19 goals with only 2 coming on the power play. McMann seems like first-round pick bait for teams needing offense. McMann is always in the 20-25 goal range when healthy, despite never really getting huge minutes. He’s due a pretty hefty payday, and his defensive game is nothing to write home about, but if a team like Carolina, L.A., or the Kraken is on the hunt for scoring, McMann could be a sleeper pick to fetch a 1st round pick plus.

Elias Pettersson: I believe the market for him is severely underestimated. For better or for worse, I think the success of Pierre-Luc Dubois in Washington last season will give teams who believe in their roster and coaching staff, belief in Pettersson. The cap hit is a worry, no doubt; however, depending on how much a team is willing to take on without retention, the cost gets actively lower. Regardless if Vancouver believes Pettersson can bounce back or not, without Hughes or Miller, the team does not need a mid-twenties player who may continue to tank his value.

Nazem Kadri: a difference maker, no doubt, but not one that I think Calgary is keen to move. Calgary doesn’t seem to have a problem holding on to Kadri if they don’t get the trade they want. He would undoubtedly help a contender who needs center depth, but there aren’t many who would be willing to part ways with what it would take to get him. The Canadiens might poke around, but I don’t know that they’re ready to part ways with another first-round pick, especially not one that isn’t a part of the long-term future.

Luke Schenn: Schenn knows what it takes to win as few others do. Partially because he’s played more games than most others have. At age 36, his output is limited to just under 14 minutes a night this season. I don’t know that many teams would be keen on acquiring him, given that. But if a team has the niche need of a bottom pair, big body, I think Schenn could be a fit for cheap.

Simon Benoit: There aren’t many left shot defenceman on the market that fit the profile of Benoit. With another season at less than $1.5M, Benoit is both physical and responsible enough to fill out a bottom pair role while still being on the right side of 30. He’s a safe bet for teams that are looking for physicality on the back end.

Brad Lambert: A 22-year-old forward prospect available at a low cost. Lambert hasn’t
made a huge impact with the Jets, but he also hasn’t had much of a chance to show
what he can do. A team willing to give him more NHL opportunities could develop him
into a reliable role player, adding depth and upside without a big investment. He’s
currently in the AHL, where he’s put up solid numbers, so even if a new team starts him
there, it could be a low-risk, high-reward project. The Jets clearly don’t want to use him,
which would allow a team to snag him for a solid price.

Evander Kane: There are certainly questions about Kane off the ice, and now there are some questions on the ice. His play this season has been really poor, and Vancouver has been pretty clear for months that they are looking to move Kane. He’s a pretty decent playoff performer as well, with the ability to throw the body around. I don’t think it would cost much more than some B-/C+ tier assets if a team is looking for that archetype. Who knows, maybe he goes to Florida and becomes a 70 point player somehow.

Ryan Hartman: If you need someone to fill a third line, Hartman can do that. He’s not
going to provide a huge offensive boost, but he brings top-line experience and the
physicality to add depth to a team. While he’s best suited for a depth role, he’s shown
he can step into bigger situations when needed. With the Wild looking to open a spot for
an upgraded center, Hartman’s $4 million cap hit through 2026‑27 and 15-team no-trade
clause makes him a realistic option for a contender seeking experience and depth, either
at center or wing

Vladislav Gavrikov: Despite just inking a new deal, I wonder severely about Gavrikov. It’s long been known that Russians tend to stick together, and with Artemi Panarin gone, I wonder if Gavrikov looks to move. New York is clearly ready to retool, and I don’t see them needing the services of a strong defender on the left side who holds a hefty cap hit. His NMC may make a deal hard, but I’d imagine Gavrikov would be willing to hear out deals now.

Logan Stanley: Who doesn’t love a physical left-side defenceman who has huge reach? He’s having a career year in terms of offence and is playing himself into a pretty solid raise. Winnipeg, given their current trajectory, likely doesn’t see him as the kind of player to keep. I could see him filling out a majority of teams’ bottom fours; it just depends on how serious Stanley was about wanting a massive extension.

Jordan Kyrou: By far one of the best players out there, but unfortunately, he’s been on the market for a while, and nothing has materialized. I believe that Kyrou is a similar player in terms of demand to teammate Robert Thomas, but I’d imagine teams will be far more willing to spend on Thomas before Kyrou, given the talks about his poor effort.

Max Domi: Toronto loves Scott Laughton, and so do Leafs fans. I think if they are to move one of their periphery players, I think Domi would be called on more than people think. He’s undersized but has no problem getting gritty and has a really solid playoff track record. Domi has been effective beside Auston Matthews as a playmaker, which may be a good enough reason for Toronto to hold onto him. But there are certainly teams that would love the effort, culture, and grit that Domi improves instantly.

Cam Talbot: Detroit’s goaltending seems to be pretty set as it stands. John Gibson has not only stolen the crease in Detroit, but also fought his way into Vézina talks. Given Talbot’s age and the fantastic numbers of Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine in the pipeline, Detroit likely wants to use the backup spot to begin integrating Cossa. Talbot has shown he’s a capable 1B in net and can play well when rested. With 4 steals this season, Talbot has shown that he still has the ability to take over games, even behind a mediocre Red Wings blue line. With a thin goalie market and an expensive Binnington being the only other name, Talbot could see calls coming his way, as he is a pending UFA anyway.

Connor Garland: The contract situation isn’t ideal. Garland has a six-year, $6M extension in place at the end of this season. Garland plays bigger than he is, which is a plus, not to mention he does produce at a solid clip. He’s no doubt intriguing, but any team that wants to acquire his services needs to be pretty sure they see a long-term future for him with their team.

Warren Foegele: After having his best season, Foegele has had a rough spell this season. Foegele is a big body who has shown he can produce. With the Kings signing Panarin to an extension, they may want to keep their options open in terms of cap space this offseason. Foegele could benefit from a change of scenery yet again.

Inside the Rink 2026 Trade Board

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