Date: 03 January 2026
By: IHM News
NHL Trade Tiers Big Board: Which Players Could Be Moved Before March 6, 2026?
The first trade tier rankings of the season are short on Sidney Crosby drama, but the board is still loaded with potential shakeups.
The first trade tier rankings of the 2025-26 season arrived with one surprising twist: far less Sidney Crosby noise than many expected. Around the league, there was a real belief that “Crosby trade talk” could become a season-long cottage industry, especially if the Pittsburgh Penguins drifted out of the playoff picture. Instead, Pittsburgh has played meaningful hockey early, carrying a .625 points percentage through 28 games and holding a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. If the Penguins remain in the race, the Crosby conversation likely stays quiet, if it ever had real traction in the first place.
Fear not, though. There are still plenty of intriguing names capable of reshaping contenders and rebuilding clubs alike as the March 6, 2026 trade deadline approaches. The landscape already shifted on Friday, Dec. 12, with Quinn Hughes, Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner reportedly landing new homes, a reminder that bold moves can arrive earlier than expected. With Minnesota having acquired Quinn Hughes on that same Friday, the trade market now feels wide open for both shockwaves and steady value adds.
Below is a way-too-early look at players who could move this season, grouped into tiers ranging from blockbuster surprises to high-leverage rentals, term players who could change the geometry of a lineup, and overlooked bargains that win playoff series in the margins.
Shocking Possibilities Tier
- Jordan Kyrou, RW, St. Louis Blues
- Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers
- Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
- Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Following Minnesota’s acquisition of Quinn Hughes, this tier covers the names that would send genuine shockwaves through the league.
Elias Pettersson would be a stunner only because moving J.T. Miller felt like a vote of confidence in keeping Pettersson long-term. But Vancouver’s reality remains complicated by contract mechanics: Pettersson carries an $11.6 million AAV through 2031-32 with a full no-movement clause. If that barrier is ever cleared, the message is simple: almost anyone can be moved if the return is overwhelming.
Jordan Kyrou’s inclusion here speaks to timing. The window for a clean Kyrou deal may be closing, particularly now that his no-trade clause has started. He stayed in St. Louis despite availability talk leading into last season’s draft. Kyrou has 16 points in 28 games, but is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He is signed at $8.125 million annually through 2030-31, meaning any move would require conviction and planning.
Artemi Panarin is the classic high-drama rental scenario: elite production, massive cap hit, and a contract cliff. Panarin is an unrestricted free agent after this season with an $11,642,857 AAV. He leads the Rangers in scoring after 31 games at 1.03 points per game, keeping New York on the playoff bubble in a crowded East. The question is whether Panarin and GM Chris Drury can find common ground on a new deal.
Morgan Rielly is the “complicated fit” debate in Toronto. He has a full no-movement clause and is signed through 2029-30 at $7.5 million AAV. Rielly has been excellent this season with 22 points in 28 games while skating 22 minutes per night. But some still view him as best deployed as a strong No. 2 on a high-end blue line rather than a single do-it-all anchor.
Elite Pending Free Agent Tier
- Rasmus Andersson, D, Calgary Flames
- Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks
- Jordan Eberle, RW, Seattle Kraken
- Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Canucks
- Mason Marchment, F, Seattle Kraken
- Nick Schmaltz, C, Utah Mammoth
- Jaden Schwartz, F, Seattle Kraken
- Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres
This tier is built around expiring contracts and the simple truth that contenders rent leverage, especially when the price includes retention and clean cap math.
Rasmus Andersson’s name has been on boards for two years running. He has pushed back on rumors. He is aiming for a major raise after carrying a $4.55 million cap hit on his current deal, with a six-team no-trade list that still leaves flexibility.
Mario Ferraro is the other defenseman here and one of the most interesting value-to-impact cases. He logs 20:56 per game and carries a modest $3.25 million cap hit. With San Jose turning a corner thanks to the rise of Macklin Celebrini, Ferraro becomes a decision point: keep him as part of the turn, or flip him for tangible future value.
Vancouver has reportedly signaled a willingness to trade pending UFAs. Evander Kane carries a $5.125 million cap hit and a 16-team no-trade list, but his production has been limited to five goals in 29 games.
Boone Jenner brings leadership, center utility, and playoff-style habits. He is 32 and has spent his entire NHL life with Columbus. His deal is attractive at $3.75 million AAV with an eight-team no-trade list.
Alex Tuch is the premium two-way winger rental: energetic forecheck, top-end finishing history, and the reputation of a player who tilts momentum. If the Sabres stall and a contract extension remains unresolved at $4.75 million, the market will not be quiet.
Seattle’s pending UFAs are also a storyline. Eberle, Schwartz and Marchment could all be available depending on the Kraken’s status and their own trade protection details. Utah’s Nick Schmaltz brings scoring and flexibility, but his situation could hinge on how the Mammoth navigate injuries and standings pressure.
Elite Players With Term Tier
- Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings
- Justin Faulk, D, St. Louis Blues
- Conor Garland, RW, Vancouver Canucks
- Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
- Jonathan Marchessault, C, Nashville Predators
- Tyler Myers, D, Vancouver Canucks
- Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
- Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues
- Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators
- Owen Tippett, RW, Philadelphia Flyers
- Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins
This is the tier that screams one league-wide truth: centers are currency. Every contender wants one more matchup option and one more faceoff win.
Steven Stamkos is the headline because his Nashville run has been underwhelming relative to the contract weight. He has eight goals in 29 games and only three assists. But he has a full no-movement clause and carries $8 million annually through 2027-28.
Jonathan Marchessault also has a full no-movement clause and a $5.5 million cap hit. He has only nine points in 24 games, but the memory of his peak playoff impact will keep him on boards.
Ryan O’Reilly may be the more plausible Nashville center to move. He carries a friendly $4.5 million cap hit with two years left, remains an ace on faceoffs (57.7%), and has 22 points in 29 games.
Phillip Danault wins 53.1% of faceoffs and has a track record of 50-point seasons. There have been whispers of a possible parting of ways. Danault has two years left at $5.5 million AAV with limited trade protection.
Nazem Kadri is coveted as a No. 2 or No. 3 center on a contender. He is 35, makes $7 million through 2028-29, and has a 13-team no-trade list. Calgary’s results will shape how realistic a move becomes.
In Vancouver, a deeper reconfiguration could touch Conor Garland and Tyler Myers. In Philadelphia, Owen Tippett’s name appears because of timing and protection rules.
The 25-and-Under Tier
- Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo Sabres
- Yegor Chinakhov, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Brad Lambert, C, Winnipeg Jets
- Pavel Mintyukov, D, Anaheim Ducks
- Brennan Othmann, LW, New York Rangers
- Nicholas Robertson, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
This tier is about discontent, stalled roles, and the tension between prospect timelines and immediate expectations.
Chinakhov requested a trade in the offseason but has not produced enough to drive a bidding market. Lambert has reportedly been frustrated with his progress. Mintyukov sits in a defense logjam. Othmann remains stuck in the AHL. Robertson’s rumor cycle restarts whenever his role shrinks. Byram’s talent keeps the door open despite an uneven start.
The Goalie Tier
- Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
- Laurent Brossoit, Chicago Blackhawks
- Nico Daws, New Jersey Devils
- Michael DiPietro, Boston Bruins
- Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Calvin Pickard, Edmonton Oilers
- Cam Talbot, Detroit Red Wings
Goalies always generate rumor gravity because one hot run can change a season, and one cold stretch can end it. Binnington’s numbers are rough (7-7-5, .875 save percentage, 3.29 GAA) and the advanced profile has been concerning (minus-7.7 goals saved above expected via MoneyPuck). Yet teams with shaky netminding will always look for a solution.
Brossoit is buried on Chicago’s depth chart after knee surgery. Daws and DiPietro are also buried. Columbus has explored options on Merzlikins for years. Talbot’s Detroit situation could shift if prospect Sebastian Cossa forces roster math.
Help Up Front Tier
- Michael Bunting, F, Nashville Predators
- Blake Coleman, C, Calgary Flames
- Jason Dickinson, C, Chicago Blackhawks
- Erik Haula, C, Nashville Predators
- Yegor Sharangovich, F, Calgary Flames
- Eeli Tolvanen, F, Seattle Kraken
- Alexander Wennberg, C, San Jose Sharks
This tier is about fit and playoff utility. Availability depends on standings and whether teams treat certain pieces as re-sign targets or trade assets. Coleman stands out as a Stanley Cup winner who can play multiple roles on a contender.
Help On The Blue Line Tier
- Brandon Carlo, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Ian Cole, D, Utah Mammoth
- John Klingberg, D, San Jose Sharks
- Timothy Liljegren, D, San Jose Sharks
- Connor Murphy, D, Chicago Blackhawks
- Jamie Oleksiak, D, Seattle Kraken
- Brady Skjei, D, Nashville Predators
Most of this tier is driven by pending UFA status and organizational depth. Murphy is intriguing given Chicago’s defense pipeline. Carlo fits the quietly valuable defender profile. Skjei is a harder puzzle due to contract weight and full no-movement protection.
Bargain Beauty Contracts Tier
- Teddy Blueger, C, Vancouver Canucks
- Erik Gustafsson, D, Detroit Red Wings
- Ryan Lomberg, LW, Calgary Flames
- Lukas Reichel, LW, Vancouver Canucks
- Kiefer Sherwood, F, Vancouver Canucks
- Kevin Stenlund, C, Utah Mammoth
- Oskar Sundqvist, C, St. Louis Blues
Everyone in this tier costs $2 million or less, which matters because these are the names that let contenders add depth without shredding cap structure. Sherwood stands out as a physical, honest competitor on an expiring deal with a $1.5 million AAV and a lower real salary ($1.3 million).
At this point, many of these remain rumors and frameworks. The board is set, though, and it will only get louder as March approaches.
Coach Mark’s View
Trade deadline seasons are rarely about stars changing sweaters. Most championships are decided by the second and third layers of a roster, not the headline names. What this trade tier board really shows is how much value the NHL still places on centers who can win faceoffs, defensemen who can kill momentum, and veterans who understand playoff hockey.
Teams that chase only the biggest names often overpay and disrupt chemistry. Smart contenders look for balance. A reliable No. 2 or No. 3 center, a right-shot defenseman who can absorb hard minutes, or a winger who can forecheck consistently under pressure often ends up being more valuable than a high-profile scorer.
Another key factor is contract structure. No-movement clauses, retained salary, and term length matter just as much as talent. The teams that prepare early and identify realistic targets usually control the market, while late buyers are forced into reactive decisions.
From a coaching perspective, deadline acquisitions only work if roles are clearly defined. Players brought in to be heroes usually fail. Players brought in to support systems, stabilize lines, and execute simple tasks often become the quiet difference between an early exit and a deep playoff run.
Q&A
What is an NHL trade tiers big board?
It is a structured way to group trade candidates by impact and likelihood, separating shocking stars from rentals, term players, goalies, and bargain contracts.
Why is Sidney Crosby trade talk quieter right now?
Pittsburgh is in a wild-card spot early and playing meaningful games. If they stay competitive, there is less incentive to move a franchise centerpiece.
Which tier usually drives the biggest deadline bidding wars?
The elite pending free agent tier often creates bidding wars because contenders can add high-end rentals without committing long-term term.
Why are centers so expensive at the deadline?
Centers influence matchups, faceoffs, defensive structure, and puck possession. Contenders pay heavily for reliable middle-ice control in the playoffs.
How does trade protection change the market?
Full no-movement and no-trade clauses narrow destinations and reduce leverage. A deal becomes possible only when the player and team align on a path.
Why do bargain contracts matter in playoff runs?
Cap-friendly depth players allow contenders to add energy, defense, and special teams value without breaking roster structure, especially when injuries hit.
IHM Team
