2026 NHL Trade Deadline preview: Atlantic Division
We are just more than a week away from the NHL Trade Deadline, which means it’s time for teams to figure out what their plans are for the rest of the season and decide which players they want to bring in or sell off before 3:00 p.m. ET March 6.
The standings have been airtight at various points of the season, so figuring out which teams should commit to buying and selling has never been harder. In fact, we only have a few confirmed sellers on the market at this point in time.
But have no fear, Daily Faceoff is here to clear the air… somewhat. This week, we’ll provide Trade Deadline previews for every team, division by division, and break down what their plans could be. For the buyers, we’ll look at their positions of need, the budget and assets they have to work with to acquire players and assess the best targets for them based on those factors. For the sellers, we’ll look at which players they could potentially move on from.
One important thing to clarify here: do not take these previews as gospel. While their status is determined based on the outlook of each team this season and the conversations surrounding them, the positions of need and best targets are determined analytically, with some input from reports regarding their wants and needs. These previews are more about what they SHOULD do, not what they WILL do, although it is still based in reality.
Also, all targets are determined based on the cap space available to the buying teams as well as any they may gain from potential assets they can move out. It does not account for the potential of salary retention or the players not on the market who could be moved to make a deal go through.
Boston Bruins
Deadline Status: Long-term buyer.
Positions of Need: Top-six center, middle-six forwards, top-four defenseman, penalty killers.
Projected Budget: $5,069,161
Potential Assets: Five first-round picks in next three years, 10 in second to fourth rounds, shallow prospect pool.
Best Target(s): Emil Andrae (D), Bobby McMann (LW), Pavel Mintyukov (D) Shane Wright (C), Conor Garland (RW), Alex Laferriere (RW), Jared McCann (C), Braden Schneider (D).
The Bruins are in a tough spot going into the deadline. They’re still very much in a retool and aren’t in a position to sacrifice from their restocked draft capital or their limited prospect pool for short-term improvement. But they also owe it to this year’s team to add for the playoffs. If they do decide to add to this group, it should be a player who either is young with plenty of upside (Mintyukov, Wright), or is well-established but locked in long-term (Garland).
High-end targets like Jordan Kyrou, Elias Pettersson and Robert Thomas could also be smart options, but they do take up more salary cap space than what the Bruins have. They would need to clear space to get those moves done, so it’s more likely something like that will happen in the offseason.
Buffalo Sabres
Deadline Status: Buyer leaning towards long-term.
Positions of Need: Depth, power play specialist, penalty killer.
Projected Budget: $7,944,512 ($12,694,512 if they move Tuch).
Potential Assets: All picks in first four rounds except 2025 2nd, above-average prospect pool, Alex Tuch (RW).
Best Target(s): Emil Andrae (D), Brandon Carlo (D), Blake Coleman (C), Ilya Mikheyev (LW), Connor Murphy (D), Ryan O’Reilly (C), Steven Stamkos (C), Jared McMann (C).
The Sabres are poised to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and it feels like everything is finally clicking for this roster. On one hand, they will want to try to add to this team to build on their depth and improve their chances of making the postseason. But on the other hand, they don’t have any glaring weaknesses, and they may not want to disrupt the chemistry of the team when they’re finally firing on all cylinders. They could make a short-term buy for a middle-six veteran who doesn’t break the bank, shoot for a high-upside long-term options, or even just add along the edges while keeping Tuch as an own rental.
Detroit Red Wings
Deadline Status: Long-term buyer.
Positions of Need: Second-line center, bottom-six depth, top four defenseman.
Projected Budget: $12,552,650.
Potential Assets: All picks except 2027-second rounder, strong prospect pool, Trey Augustine/Sebastian Cossa (G).
Best Target(s): Emil Andrae (D), Robert Thomas (C), Alex Laferriere (RW), Matias Maccelli (LW), Jared McCann (LW), MacKenzie Weegar (D).
The Red Wings are in a spot where they have the cornerstone pieces set in place to be a playoff contender, but they’re still lacking some secondary pieces. Marco Kasper hasn’t become the second-line center Detroit hoped for, and while Andrew Copp has played fine in that role, a long-term upgrade is clearly needed. Additionally, the Wings still need at least one more top-four defenseman. Ben Chiarot is still playing above his head in that role, and sinking Axel Sandin-Pellikka along with him.
Detroit enters the deadline in a great position with lots of assets to move and enough cap space to add one big name or even two if they can make the money work. If they want a big upgrade, they should be serious contenders for the likes of Thomas, Hamilton or Pettersson.
Florida Panthers
Deadline Status: Short-term seller.
Potential Assets: Sergei Bobrovsky (G), A.J. Greer (LW), Luke Kunin (C), Tomas Nosek (C), Jeff Petry (D), Cole Schwindt (C).
While you can never count out the Panthers, an eight-point gap is a lofty one to overcome at this stage of the season, especially when we don’t know the injury statuses of some of their players coming out of the Olympics. It almost feels reminiscent of the Lightning’s 2016-17 season, where Tampa was ravaged with injuries and just didn’t have the juice to make the playoffs. That season, they sold off a few pending UFAs who didn’t have a long-term future, recouped assets, and tried again next season.
Bobrovsky may be a surprise on this list considering his legacy with the team, but he’s 37 and a pending UFA, so the Panthers should explore what he’s worth. Even with his struggles this season, Bobrovsky always flips the switch come playoff time and could be a valuable asset to a playoff team with short-term goaltending problems (Montreal? Vegas? Insurance behind Brandon Bussi for Carolina?), especially if the Panthers retain salary. Otherwise, most of their selling options consist of fringe lineup options who could maybe net the Panthers late-round draft picks.
But if Florida does want to do some buying at the deadline, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to look for a future solution in net after Bobrovsky. That said, there aren’t a ton of options currently on the market outside of potential reunions with Samuel Montembeault or Anthony Stolarz, or dealing someone from their roster (likely a center) to the Minnesota Wild for Jesper Wallstedt.
Montreal Canadiens
Deadline Status: Long-term buyers.
Positions of Need: Top-six forwards, power play specialists, penalty killers, short-term goaltending help.
Projected Budget: $1,490,309 ($13,340,309 if they move Laine and Montembeault).
Potential Assets: Every pick except 2026 fifth-rounder, good prospect pool, Patrik Laine (RW), Sam Montembeault (G)
Best Target(s): Jordan Binnington (G), Elias Pettersson (C), Robert Thomas (C), Sergei Bobrovsky (G), Conor Garland (RW), Jordan Kyrou (RW), Alex Laferriere (RW), Jared McCann (C).
The Canadiens have a talented young core who are poised to contend for years to come. What we’ve seen over the last two seasons is only the beginning, as they still have a few talented players left in the system. Since Montreal’s contention window has just opened, it’d be foolish to spend some of their draft and prospect capital for short-term rentals. Instead, they should focus on long-term options to build their core around, especially in their top-six forward group, as they lack a second-line center or an additional top-six winger. They could also look to bring in short-term goaltending stability while Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler learn the ropes.
Right now, Montreal only has $1.5 million in salary-cap space, which doesn’t leave them much room to work with. However, they are looking to move on from Laine and Montembeault, which could free up almost $12 million if they’re able to find suitors for their contracts. If that’s the case, they have the budget to go after any player they want, especially when there are some promising options to fill in that second-line center role like Kadri, Thomas or Pettersson, along with a top-six winger like Garland or Kyrou (who they inquired about in the summer). The same goes for veteran goalie options, as the Habs could look to grab Binnington or Bobrovsky as short-term options so they can compete this year while developing the future of their crease. However, if the Canadiens can’t move on from either Laine or Montembeault, they’ll be shopping for bargain-bin options like Bobby McMann, Shane Wright and Jonathan Quick.
Ottawa Senators
Deadline Status: Long-term buyers.
Positions of Need: Depth, power play specialists.
Projected Budget: $11,570,249.
Potential Assets: No first-, fourth-round pick in 2026, one second-, three third-round picks in 2026, all picks in 2027/2028, shallow prospect pool.
Best Target(s): Emil Andrae (D), Bobby McMann (LW), Pavel Mintyukov (D), Shane Wright (C).
After some ugly stretches this season, the Senators have clawed their way back into the playoff hunt, but not enough to be a surefire bet. Considering they made the playoffs last season, they should be more focused on winning now-ish than selling. That means if they’re looking to buy, it should be for the future, especially considering they don’t have a ton of cap space to make a big splash.
Ottawa already laid out the blueprint for how to approach this year’s deadline last season. 2025 saw them target young assets needing changes of scenery like Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund to add as secondary options. There are a few options on the market to add some depth to the Senators’ lineup, whether it’s up front (McMann, Wright) or on the back end (Andrae, Mintyukov). But if the Sens do decide to sell, expect to see Claude Giroux and Nick Jensen shopped.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Deadline Status: Buyer.
Positions of Need: Top-six forward, forward depth.
Projected Budget: -$787,774.
Potential Assets: No first-round picks in 2026/2027, no fourth in 2026, all remaining available, weak prospect pool.
Best Target(s): Bobby McMann (LW).
This year’s Lightning squad is the best they’ve looked since their three consecutive Cup Final appearances in the early 2020s. With the Panthers weakened, the path to another chance at a Stanley Cup is as open as it has been in several years. Tampa should be going all-in. Their defense is deep, especially with the breakout seasons J.J. Moser and Darren Raddysh are having. The Lightning’s focus should be on their forward depth, particularly a top-six forward who could push Nick Paul into the bottom six.
The problem is they lack the cap space to do anything crazy, unless they’re moving salary out like Oliver Bjorkstrand, and there’s no LTIR playoff loophole this time. Otherwise, their only option to buy is McMann for a top-six forward with a cheap salary. Julien BriseBois has never shied away from making big moves. It’ll be interesting to see what he pulls off this deadline with his current restraints.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Deadline Status: Short-term seller.
Potential Assets: Simon Benoit (D), Brandon Carlo (D), Scott Laughton (C), Bobby McMann (LW), Max Domi (C), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D), Calle Jarnkrok (RW), Matias Maccelli (LW), Nick Robertson (RW), Anthony Stolarz (G), Morgan Rielly (D), Troy Stecher (D).
A late winning streak during a Northwest road trip before the Olympic break has improved the Leafs’ playoff chances. But let’s call it as it is: this team is not like previous versions. Even in the less-than-50/50 chance they make the playoffs, they aren’t a threat to make noise. The better course of action would be to sell off any assets whom the Leafs don’t see as long-term fits and try to recoup some picks and prospects where they can.
McMann alone could fetch quite the return given his cheap cap hit in a playoff salary-cap world, and Toronto should field calls on several of their depth forwards and defensemen. Of course, the biggest challenge will be walking the line between selling enough players to acquire adequate assets and leaving enough players to field a good enough team to compete again next season. And then there’s the dilemma with their first-round pick this season, which they will only be able to use if it is a top-five pick. Do they tank to guarantee getting that pick, or do they try to make the playoffs to not worry about it at all?
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