NHL trade deadline tracker, live updates, rumors and analysis on deals
NHL trade deadline tracker, live updates, rumors and analysis on deals
Mike Brehm and Jace Evans, USA TODAY Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:42 AM UTC
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NHL trade deadline tracker, live updates, rumors and analysis on deals
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, but teams also like to get deals done early.
Already this season, the Minnesota Wild have acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings have traded for high-scoring New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and the Utah Mammoth acquired defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames.
In the latest move, the Washington Capitals traded longtime star John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks early Friday morning. Plenty of moves went down on Thursday, March 5.
Plenty of players remain, and the Rangers, Canucks, Blues, Flames and Maple Leafs could be sellers.
Here are some of the more notable trades this season. Follow along for analysis on deals as the NHL trade deadline approaches:
1 / 0NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26Feb. 24: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick for defenseman Brett Kulak.March 6: Capitals trade John Carlson to Ducks
The trade: The Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals for a conditional first-round pick and 2027 third-round pick.
Analysis: This is one of the more surprising deals of the deadline so far. Carlson, 36, has been a career Capital, appearing in 1,143 games for the franchise that drafted him over 17 seasons. The Capitals, though, gave some indication they were throwing in the towel on Thursday when they traded another veteran, Nic Dowd, to the Vegas Golden Knights. Getting a first round pick in either 2026 (if the Ducks make the playoffs) or 2027 is a nice return for a player set to be a free agent this summer.
For the Ducks, they’re adding a defenseman who can still get it done on the offensive end. Carlson has been quite productive again this season, scoring 10 goals and dishing 36 assists for 46 points in 55 games. He carries a plus-11 rating. He also brings loads of playoff experience for a team that hasn’t played spring hockey in a while, having appeared in 137 postseason contests, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
March 6: Sabres acquire Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn
The trade: The Buffalo Sabres acquire defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn for defenseman Jacob Bryson, forward Izak Rosen, a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional 2026 fourth round pick.
Analysis: Blues 6-foot-6 defenseman Colton Parayko didn't waive his no-trade clause to come to Buffalo, so the Sabres land 6-foot-7 Stanley. The 6-foot-2 Schenn was the Jets leader in hits and is a two-time Stanley Cup winner joining a team that's trying to end a 14-year playoff drought. The pair will add depth to a blue line featuring Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram and Mattias Samuelsson. Stanley and Schenn are pending unrestricted free agents. So is Bryson. The key for the Jets is Rosen, a 2021 first-round pick who is a three-time 20-goal scorer in the American Hockey League.
March 6: Blue Jackets acquire Conor Garland
The trade: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Analysis: Garland (seven goals) has struggled this season along with the rest of the Canucks, but he totaled 39 goals the previous two seasons. His arrival takes on added meaning after Mason Marchment left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury. Garland is signed through 2032 with a cap hit of $6 million that starts next season.
March 5: Sam Carrick to Sabres?
Carrick, who the Rangers held out of Thursday night's game, may soon be on the way to Buffalo, according to multiple reports.
March 5: Red Wings acquire David Perron
The trade: The Detroit Red Wings acquire forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators for a conditional 2026 draft pick.
Analysis: Perron played for the Red Wings in 2022-23 and 2023-24, totaling 41 goals. The Senators announced in late January that Perron would have sports hernia surgery and miss five to seven weeks. The terms of the trade address that. If he plays one game in the regular season or playoffs, the Senators get the fourth-round pick that the Red Wings previously acquired from the Blue Jackets. If Detroit reaches the second round and Perron plays in 50% of the first-round games, the return becomes a third-rounder. Perron is in the final year of his contract and has 25 points in 49 games this season.
March 5: Ducks' Ryan Poehling signs extension
The Ducks center gets a four-year deal with a $3.75 million cap hit.
March 5: Jets sit out Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn
Both defensemen are pending unrestricted free agents.
March 5: Panthers' A.J. Greer sitting out
The Panthers forward isn't dressed. He's a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Panthers earlier traded pending UFA Jeff Petry. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who's in the last year of his contract, is backing up.
March 5: Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen is playing
The Flyers defenseman has been mentioned in trade rumors but is suiting up for Thursday's game.
March 5: Rangers hold Vincent Trocheck out of lineup
Trocheck, one of the top trade candidates, won't play on Thursday. Neither will forward Sam Carrick.
March 5: Maple Leafs hold out Oliver Ekman-Larsson, two others
For the second game in a row, Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton are being held out of the lineup.
March 5: Stars acquire Michael Bunting from Predators
The trade: The Dallas Stars acquire forward Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators for Seattle’s 2026 third round pick (previously acquired).
Analysis: Tyler Seguin is shut down for the season, so Bunting will help. He has five power-play goals and plays with an edge. This is the third year in a row that Bunting has been traded around the deadline.
March 5: Senators acquire Warren Foegele from Kings
The trade: The Ottawa Senators acquire forward Warren Foegele and a conditional third round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Los Angeles Kings for a second round pick and a conditional 2026 third round pick.
Analysis: Foegele had 20 or more goals the past two seasons but just seven this season, so the Senators are hoping he can regain his touch and help them overcome a six-point deficit in the playoff race. He has another year left on his contract. The Kings made a big splash before the Olympic break with the Artemi Panarin trade but lost Kevin Fiala to a broken leg at the Olympics and made a coaching change. They're five points out of a playoff spot.
Here are the conditions on the third-round picks, per the Senators: "Ottawa will get the worse of the Kings’ own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Dallas’ third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). Los Angeles will get the better of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). However, if both Ottawa and Washington do not qualify for the 2026 NHL playoffs, then Ottawa will instead transfer to Los Angeles the worse of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade)."
March 5: Stars acquire Michael Bunting, per report
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports Michael Bunting is heading from the Predators to the Stars.
March 5: Senators acquire Warren Foegele, per report
TSN's Darren Dreger reports that Foegele is headed from the Kings to the Senators, pending a trade call. No word on return.
March 5: Ryan O'Reilly day-to-day
The Predators forward, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, is day-to-day after catching a stick near the eye in his last game. He was on the ice for an optional skate on Thursday and was wearing a visor, according to the Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.
March 5: Sharks, Canucks pull off deal
The trade: The San Jose Sharks acquire defenseman Jett Woo from the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Jack Thompson. Both players have spent their professional careers in the American Hockey League.
March 5: Wild acquire Jeff Petry from Panthers
The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Analysis: Defensive depth for the Wild. Maybe a sign for the two-time defending champion Panthers that their run is over as they sit 10 points out of a playoff spot. Petry is a pending unrestricted free agent. The other UFAs on the team are forwards A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek and goalies Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov.
The draft pick becomes a fifth-rounder if Minnesota wins two playoff rounds and Petry plays in 50% or more of games during those rounds.
March 5: Devils place three players on waivers
The Devils placed forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Luke Glendening and Maxim Tsyplakov on waivers. Tsyplakov was acquired last month in the Ondrej Palat trade and has no points in nine games in New Jersey. They can be sent to the American Hockey League if they clear, saving some cap space before the deadline.
All told, eight players went on the waiver wire on Thursday:
March 5: Mathieu Joseph's contract to be terminated
The Blues placed forward Mathieu Joseph on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his contract. That would allow him to become a free agent, and if he signs with another team by 3 p.m. ET Friday, he would be eligible for the playoffs.
March 5: Wild's pursuit of Vincent Trocheck fading, per report
The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith report that the Rangers' price for Trocheck appears to be too high, and the Wild might look elsewhere for a center.
March 5: Blues' Colton Parayko turns down trade to Sabres
From NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet:
March 5: Avalanche acquire Nicolas Roy
The trade: The Colorado Avalanche acquire forward Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a conditional first-round draft pick in 2027 and a conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick.
Analysis: Roy gives the Avalanche playoff experience and depth down the middle. He won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023 and has won 52.9% of his faceoffs this season. Roy was in his first season in Toronto after being part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade. He has a year left on his contract. If Colorado’s 2027 first-round selection is in the top 10, Colorado will send its unprotected 2028 first-round pick to Toronto. The fifth-round pick will be the lowest of the three that the Avalanche currently hold.
March 5: Golden Knights acquire Nic Dowd
The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals for goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2029 second-rounder.
Analysis: Dowd has been with the Capitals since 2018-19 and is a solid bottom six forward who kills penalties. He has another year left on his contract. Vikman plays in the American Hockey League.
After acquiring Dowd, the Golden Knights placed Mark Stone on the injured list.
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March 4: Oilers acquire Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach
The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick.
Analysis: Edmonton continues to go all in after falling just short in the Stanley Cup Final two consecutive years, sending out another future first-round pick. Dickinson and Dach are hardly needle-movers (the veteran Dickinson has 13 points in 47 games and Dach, 23, has 9 points in 53 games) but they add to the Oilers' depth. Plus, Dickinson comes at a bit of a discount, the Blackhawks retaining half of his $4.25 million salary.
It also creates some future cap room, with Mangiapane's 2026-27 cap hit of $3.6 million off the books and Dickinson set to be a free agent this summer (Dach is an RFA). While that seems like a decent bit of business, it solves a problem the Oilers created themselves by giving Mangiapane, who has just 14 points in 52 games, a two-year deal. And it comes at the cost of a first-round pick and removes all protections from their 2026 first-round pick, which they had previously traded to the San Jose Sharks.
March 4: Avalanche acquire Nick Blankenburg
The trade: The Colorado Avalanche acquire defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Analysis: You can never have enough defensive depth, and Blankenburg provides a left shot on a Colorado team heavy on right shots. Blankenburg, who ranked second among Nashville defensemen with 21 points, is the third Predators player to be dealt in two days. Nashville now has 12 picks in the 2027 draft and added two in 2028 from the Michael McCarron and Cole Smith trades. The Avalanche earlier changed up their blue line by trading Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak.
March 4: Mammoth acquire MacKenzie Weegar
The trade: The Utah Mammoth acquire defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Olli Maatta, Cornell center Jonathan Castagna and three second-round picks.
Analysis: The Mammoth have upgraded their defense since moving to Utah in 2024. Weegar is the latest in a list that includes Mikhail Sergachev. Weegar is a right-shot defenseman who scored 20 goals two seasons ago, though he has only three this season. That (and his minus-35 rating) should improve on a Utah team that sits in a wild-card position. He is signed through 2031 while Maatta is a pending unrestricted free agent.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Castagna is in his third year at Cornell and has 32 points in 29 games.
March 4: Colton Parayko, MacKenzie Weegar deals in works?
TSN's Darren Dreger reports that the Blues and Sabres are working on a deal to send defenseman Colton Parayko to Buffalo. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that defenseman MacKenzie Weegar could be traded to the Utah Mammoth. Both would have to approve the moves.
March 4: Maple Leafs sit out Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 2 others
Analysis: Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton won't play for roster management reasons, the team said. All three players have been mentioned in trade rumors. Laughton and McMann are pending unrestricted free agents and Ekman-Larsson is signed through 2028.
March 4: Sharks re-sign Kiefer Sherwood
The details: He gets a five-year, $28.75 million contract extension, a cap hit of $5.75 million.
Analysis: The Sharks dealt two draft picks and a minor leaguer to land Sherwood, who has 18 goals and is second in the league in hits. The extension means they won't have to flip him. He said he's "just fired up" about the extension.
March 4: Stars acquire Tyler Myers
The trade: The Dallas Stars acquire defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-rounder.
Analysis: The Stars have won 10 in a row and Houston native Myers gives them veteran depth on their blue line. The right shot defenseman has another year left on his contract, and the Canucks are retaining 50% of his salary. The Stars have the 6-foot-8 Myers and 6-foot-7 Liam Bischel on their defense corps.
March 3: Golden Knights acquire Cole Smith
The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a third-round pick in the 2028 draft.
Analysis: That's two trades in one day for the Predators. Just like Michael McCarron, who was dealt to the Wild, Smith kills penalties. He was tied for second in hits in Nashville (behind McCarron) with 119. Sedoff has spent the last three seasons in the American Hockey League.
March 3: Wild acquire Michael McCarron
The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire forward Michael McCarron from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2028 draft.
Analysis: Minnesota adds to its depth as it eyes a deep playoff run, importing the hulking McCarron, who stands 6-foot-6. He has 12 points, 73 penalty minutes and 165 hits in 59 games this season for Nashville, kills penalties and has a 52.8 faceoff winning percentage.
March 2: Oilers acquire Connor Murphy
The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 second-round pick.
Analysis: The Blackhawks retain 50 percent of the $4.4 million cap hit for the pending unrestricted free agent. The Oilers have been leaking goals, and the 6-foot-4 Murphy is a solid defensive defenseman. He played on the No. 1 unit of the league's best penalty kill, led the Blackhawks in blocked shots and was third in hits.
Feb. 24: Penguins, Avalanche swap defensemen
The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche for defenseman Brett Kulak.
Analysis: The Avalanche pick up salary cap space and add a defenseman who has been to the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons. The Penguins had acquired pending unrestricted free agent Kulak in the Stuart Skinner trade, Girard is also a pending UFA, and Pittsburgh gets a draft pick in the deal by flipping Kulak.
Feb. 4: Kings acquire Artemi Panarin
The trade: The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers for forward Liam Greentree and conditional third-round (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.
Analysis: The Kings are hurting for offense and Panarin can provide plenty. He also signed a two-year extension with an $11 million cap hit, ensuring he'll be around after Anze Kopitar retires at season's end. It didn't help the team, though, that Kevin Fiala broke his leg at the Olympics before Panarin suited up. Panarin had a full no-movement clause, so the Rangers were limited in their return, but Greentree was the Kings' top prospect and the third-round pick could become a second-rounder.
Feb. 4: Devils acquire Nick Bjugstad
The trade: The New Jersey Devils acquire forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick.
Analysis: This is the third time Bjugstad has been moved near the trade deadline because the 6-6 forward is a good fit in the bottom six. He has another year left on his contract.
Jan. 27: Islanders acquire Ondrej Palat
The trade: The New York Islanders acquire left wing Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Analysis: That's two trades in two days with a division rival. Palat is a two-time Stanley Cup winner (with the Lightning) and kills penalties. Tsyplakov didn't get a lot of ice time with the Islanders but has potential.
Jan. 26: Islanders acquire Carson Soucy
The trade: The New York Islanders acquire defenseman Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Analysis: Soucy was the first player moved after the Rangers informed fans that the team would retool. It's a rare deal completed between the Islanders and Rangers.
Jan. 20: Sharks acquire Kiefer Sherwood
The trade: The San Jose Sharks acquire forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round picks in 2026 and 2027, plus defenseman Cole Clayton.
Analysis: Sherwood had been mentioned as a trade candidate since the Canucks started slowly. The pending free agent is among the leader in hits and had 17 goals at the time of the deal. The Sharks are playing better than expected and this deal shows they are trying to push for a playoff spot.
Jan. 19: Golden Knights acquire Rasmus Andersson
The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2028.
Analysis: The Golden Knights had been without Alex Pietrangelo all season and Andersson gives Vegas another puck-moving defenseman. The Flames get a good return for a pending unrestricted free agent. Andersson is the second defenseman Vegas had acquired from Calgary recently after the 2024 trade for Noah Hanifin. Hanifin eventually signed an extension and the Golden Knights will seek the same from Andersson.
Dec. 29: Penguins acquire Yegor Chinakhov
The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-rounder.
Analysis: Chinakhov had requested a trade last season. He's a pending restricted free agent so the Penguins have control over his future. Heinen is a pending UFA.
Dec. 19: Canadiens acquire Phillip Danault
The trade: The Montreal Canadiens acquire center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick.
Analysis: Danault is coming back to Montreal. He was a key shutdown player during the Canadiens' 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Dec. 19: Blue Jackets acquire Mason Marchment
The trade: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Analysis: Marchment had been off to a slow start after an offseason trade in which Seattle gave up a third- and a fourth-round pick. But he scored 22 goals in each of his last two seasons in Dallas.
Dec. 12: Wild acquire Quinn Hughes
The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick.
Analysis: This is a sign that the Wild are going for it and it gives them a dynamic former Norris Trophy winner to match Cale Makar if they face the Avalanche in the playoffs. The Wild gave up a lot - Buium was great at Denver and for the USA at the world junior championships - and Hughes acknowledged that and appreciated it. That could help sway Hughes when he's eligible to sign a contract extension in July.
Dec. 12: Oilers, Penguins swap goalies
The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick.
Analysis: The Oilers pull the plug on Skinner, who was either spectacular or bad during back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final. But they land another inconsistent goalie in Jarry, who has had injury troubles. Skinner and Kulak are pending free agents, so the Penguins could flip them at the deadline. If Skinner works out, it would allow the Penguins to continue developing goalie Sergei Murashov in the American Hockey League.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade deadline live tracker top deals, team, player analysis
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