Nhl Trade Deadline: Who could move and why Eastern contenders should be buying
The nhl trade deadline is set for March 6 at 3 p. m. ET, and a string of recent roster moves and surprise results has pushed several names toward the front of trade boards as teams decide whether to buy, sell or retool.
Nhl Trade Deadline: names at the top of the list
The market has already shifted: the New York Rangers signaled a retool and sent Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, and league observers estimate there are roughly eight teams probably out of the playoff hunt as the March 6 deadline approaches. That supply-and-demand dynamic put several players in the spotlight — Sergei Bobrovsky, Jordan Kyrou, Elias Pettersson, Morgan Rielly, Robert Thomas and Alex Tuch all appear on a top-tier list of trade candidates.
Goalie questions and contract anchors
Veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky represents a concrete decision point for his club: he is 37, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with two Stanley Cup rings, and carries a $10 million cap hit while receiving $6 million in actual dollars this season; he is a pending unrestricted free agent and has trade protection. The team also has 26-year-old Daniil Tarasov, who has outplayed Bobrovsky this season, which factors into discussions ahead of March 6 at 3 p. m. ET.
Fantasy and contract details fantasy managers should note
For fantasy players weighing potential moves, a list of names worth monitoring includes Jason Robertson, Elias Pettersson and Vincent Trocheck. Elias Pettersson is under contract through 2031-32, Vincent Trocheck is signed through 2028-29, and Steven Stamkos is under contract until 2027-28. Alex Tuch is noted as a potential 2026 UFA while still on a playoff-contending club. Those contract timelines and free-agent statuses will shape trade chatter up to the March 6 deadline.
Why teams in the East may be buyers
Recent on-ice results give Eastern clubs concrete reasons to pursue upgrades before the deadline. The Buffalo Sabres have won three straight road games coming out of the Olympic break and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in Tampa; the New York Islanders have strung together winning streaks, including a 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers; Montreal topped the Washington Capitals; and the Pittsburgh Penguins posted a 5-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. With those results, teams such as Buffalo, the Islanders, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston — none of which made the playoffs last season — are in positions that could prompt active buying ahead of the deadline.
Other roster questions are live as well: St. Louis faces decisions about whether a 26-year-old No. 1 center like Robert Thomas could be available if he were to waive trade protection, and clubs around the league are watching how teams such as Calgary, St. Louis and Vancouver respond to disappointing seasons when the market opens up.
What happens next is straightforward: teams have until March 6 at 3 p. m. ET to finalize deals. Between now and then, goaltender status, impending free agents and recent win streaks in the Eastern Conference will shape who moves and who stays as clubs decide whether to buy for a playoff push or retool for the future.
