The NHL world is about to wake up. With the Olympic roster freeze lifting at midnight on Feb. 22, we are heading into a 12-day sprint to the March 6 trade deadline. Between big names changing teams and clubs realizing their playoff hopes are not as real as they thought, the next two weeks are going to be chaotic.
The New York Rangers are officially the biggest story of this deadline. They have already moved Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings and Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders. Now the focus shifts to Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière.
Lafreniere included in trade talks between the Rangers and Canucks?
Trocheck is being heavily linked to the Minnesota Wild, who are desperate for a centre after moving Marco Rossi in the Quinn Hughes blockbuster. Lafrenière feels like the classic change-of-scenery candidate. At 24, he has not hit the ceiling the Rangers expected, and Chris Drury seems ready to cash in while there is still clear top-six upside to sell.
Nashville Predators’ GM Search Continues
Barry Trotz is stepping down as GM, and the Nashville Predators are in a strange spot. They are just three points out of a playoff position, but the message internally seems to be getting younger.
That could put players like Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly into the conversation. Stamkos has caught fire recently and holds a no-move clause until 2028, but at 35, you have to wonder if he would consider waiving it for one more legitimate run at a Stanley Cup. And, he may not. But if his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, came calling. It makes you wonder if he’d be willing to return to where he found so much success in his career.
The Vancouver Canucks’ Fire Sale
The Vancouver Canucks already pulled off the trade of the year by sending Hughes to Minnesota. Now they appear ready to move more pieces.
Jake DeBrusk Canucks trade
Elias Pettersson’s $11.6 million cap hit makes him extremely difficult to trade, but the rumours continue to swirl. More realistic names to watch are Jake DeBrusk and Conor Garland. Vancouver is leaning fully into a rebuild, and management has made it clear that almost everyone is available for the right return in draft capital.
Winnipeg and Columbus at a Crossroads
The Winnipeg Jets have fallen off after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season. Logan Stanley is a name to watch. He is having a career year and could be a very good depth defensemen add for a contender at the deadline.
In Columbus, Don Waddell is taking a measured approach. The Blue Jackets are four points out of a playoff spot under Rick Bowness, but Waddell has already said he will not be adding rentals. If Columbus makes a move, it will be for a player whose term fits into their lineup, not a short-term fix.
Next: Insider Says Maple Leafs Potentially Changing Stance on Bobby McMann Trade
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