March 6 is approaching faster than you think, which, of course, means that the trade deadline is top of the agenda for most sides as we head into February. That said, with February 4’s soft deadline for the Olympic roster, now really isn’t the best time to rest on your trade laurels.
Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers evades the stick of Bobby Brink #10 of the Philadelphia Flyers Photo by Jack Smart
The big change for this season is the Olympic deadline. It’s the first time in 12 years that NHL players are taking part in the Winter Games, and as such, the two-week freeze gap until February 22 is relatively bizarre for fans and teams alike. It essentially means that, while some picks will have occurred before February 4, some teams may take two weeks to mull over some big decisions ahead of March 6.
Regardless, with very little time left on the transfer slate, experts and punters are getting braver about who they think will be locked into moving sides by the start of March. Let’s explore some of the names that are making waves in the forecasts right now.
Artemi Panarin
NHL decision-making moves fast, especially when there are deadlines afoot. Therefore, let us make a quick note that Artemi Panarin’s likelihood of being transferred is so strong that it may even have happened by the time we go to press! There’s a reason why fans use services such as LiveScore to keep track of what’s happening from game to game.
The New York Rangers star was already off the slate, meaning that he was always going to be moving on for 2026. However, it’s who will snap him up that is creating debate online. At the time of writing, the San Jose Sharks is a name that’s circling the waters, though other buffs suggest that the free agent might not move so far.
The key point to remember here is that Panarin has free movement, meaning that he can pick and choose wherever he wants to play next. Let’s wait and see!
Nazem Kadri
Nazem Kadri appearing in this list may come as something of a surprise, but in recent weeks, he has apparently become more open to the idea of leaving the struggling Calgary Flames behind ahead of the trade deadline. The Flames’ fortunes certainly haven’t improved after trading Rasmus Andersson, but Kadri is allegedly ‘open’ to a move elsewhere.
Some sources suggest that Kadri might consider moving to the Montreal Canadiens, though further rumors claim that the Flames may take the Olympic Freeze as a good point to wait things out and refresh before the start of March. Regardless, we believe that Kadri will be lock-in to move by March 6.
Boone Jenner
Boone Jenner is a name that’s pretty much a no-brainer for this year’s trading window, as he’s approaching the end of his contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This means that, like Panarin, he’s close to holding all the cards and becoming a free agent.
Given that the playoffs are eluding the Blue Jackets this time around, some commentators and fans are creating chatter that the team may be up to move the forward elsewhere before March 6. His eight-goal and 17-assist record at the Blue Jackets this season shows that he’s still a reliable force.
And yet, who Jenner might head to if traded remains completely up in the air. There are very strong rumors in the mill that a deal is on the horizon with the Edmonton Oilers as they are in need of a strong forward ahead of the Stanley Cup. With the Blue Jackets likely to want to trade off as their playoff hopes come to an end, we feel that this is a fairly safe conclusion to make.
Anything could happen
We’re looking at a very unorthodox trade year for the NHL, thanks to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. This means that some teams will be pushing through exchanges before the freeze, while others will be using the freeze to mull over their options carefully, perhaps taking advantage of teams who rushed through before February 4.
The three players and suggestions made here are, of course, not set in stone. However, they’re three of the trade scenarios that are most likely to happen amid a tenser window than usual. Keep checking in with us for NHL recaps, and we’ll update you as soon as we know more.
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