2026 NHL Trade Deadline: Top five under-the-radar additions to watch
Sometimes, the best moves a team can make are the ones that don’t receive the shiny headlines.
And this year, many of the NHL’s top rumored trade targets – Artemi Panarin and Quinn Hughes, for example – have already moved on. The market isn’t going to be red-hot, by any means. Robert Thomas, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jordan Binnington are among the top names reportedly available right now. Not bad, but nothing too spicy.
Quite often, many of the NHL’s big-name moves don’t pay off with a Stanley Cup. Just ask the Tampa Bay Lightning, who made a habit of getting more underrated players for the postseason. They snagged Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow for their 2020 Cup win and traded for David Savard in 2021. The only moves the Pittsburgh Penguins (2017) and Washington Capitals (2018) made in their respective Cup wins were to shore up their defensive depth.
So, which players not getting as much attention could become impact adds heading into the spring? Using Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin’s most recent trade board as a base, here’s a look at five under-the-radar trade targets ahead of the 2026 deadline on March 6:
Pavel Mintyukov, D (Anaheim Ducks)
Contract: $918,333, Pending RFA
It wasn’t that long ago that Mintyukov was one of the best defensive prospects in the game. He was highly productive in the OHL and ultimately went 10th overall to the Ducks in 2022. But the two-way defender hasn’t been able to come close to matching his rookie season output of 28 points. His ice time has fallen by a minute, too, with the Ducks’ blueline getting a bit more crowded with both Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger on the left side.
Mintyukov has expressed interest in moving on in order to get more playing time. He has been a healthy scratch on occasion but has still shown he can play 20 minutes a night when needed, and he has the offensive chops to provide some value. It just doesn’t feel like Anaheim is going to be a long-term fit anymore, so a team should absolutely take advantage of landing one of the youngest players on the market this year at 22. Mintyukov is still on his entry-level contract, which could boost his value for the Ducks. He’ll need a new deal this summer, but it’s unlikely to be anything too expensive or too lengthy right now. This is the opportunity Mintyukov needs to bet on himself, and his team could benefit big time as a result.
Ryan Lomberg, LW (Calgary Flames)
Contract: $2 million, Pending UFA
This is the type of player teams try to draft every year and end up trading for every March. Nobody will mistake Lomberg for a point-producer – he’s on track for about 12 this year. and has never had more than 20. But he’s a perfect fourth-line player who’ll lay everything on the line. Lomberg is fearless, hitting everyone in sight while doing whatever it takes to throw opponents off their game. On a legit contender, Lomberg likely isn’t going to be an everyday player. His lack of offense isn’t ideal. But the Florida Panthers used him in a few playoff games during the 2023-24 season, and he proved to be a menace.
There’s a legitimate argument to sign Lomberg to an extension – a multi-year one, at that – but if the Flames could get another future asset for him, a trade is absolutely worth exploring. Lomberg has become a fan favorite in Calgary, so a deal has to make sense for the Flames. He gets the crowd absolutely going every night, no matter what. There haven’t been many opportunities for that fanbase to get excited this year otherwise. But Lomberg’s speed and toughness should be attractive for many, many teams this spring, so the Flames absolutely need to maximize value if possible.
Erik Haula, LW (Nashville Predators)
Contract: $3.15 million, Pending UFA
Haula’s name has been in trade rumors all year, and his play at the Olympics certainly helped his stock. The 34-year-old had six points in six games on Finland’s fourth line, registering a point in all but two outings. He averaged around 11 minutes a night, but his hockey sense, two-way play, and relentless energy allowed him to continuously put himself into scoring situations alongside Joel Armia. And if you looked at his numbers prior to the Olympics – points in each of his final four games before jetting off to Italy – it’s clear he’s playing with momentum.
Many veterans often go to non-playoff teams and find their groove. The Predators aren’t out of the hunt completely yet, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t offload some assets to bring in future pieces. Haula probably isn’t going to get better with age, but the pending UFA is in the midst of a 40-point pace for the first time in three seasons. In fact, he could end up with one of the best outputs of his career. A trade to a contender might limit his offensive opportunities, but he’s flying high right now and the Predators would be smart to capitalize on that value.
Braden Schneider, D (New York Rangers)
Contract: $2.2 million, pending RFA
What do NHL teams like? Big defensemen. What do they also like? Big, right-handed defenders. The 6-foot-4 blueliner meets both requirements, and he comes in at a solid $2.2-million cap hit. A first-round pick in 2020, Schneider never really blossomed into the prospect many expected him to become in New York. This year, in particular, has been a down year for him in maybe his worst season to date.
But at 24, Schneider still has plenty of good years left, and a change of scenery could be huge for him. Known more as a defensive defender, Schneider built a reputation early of being a tough dude to blast by. He takes up a lot of space and has never been afraid to lay the body when needed. But the Rangers have been an absolute disaster this season, and it might be time for both teams to just bite the bullet and move on. Schneider should prove decent defensive depth for a playoff team, most likely as a third-pairing defender. He averages close to 22 minutes a night, but if he can play 18 minutes on a more defensively responsible team, we might get to see Schneider at his best.
Alex Nedeljkovic, G (San Jose Sharks)
Contract: $2.5 million, Pending UFA
The crease was always going to be Yaroslav Askarov’s – both short- and long-term. Nedeljkovic was there to give the team stability and a veteran presence, while also stealing a few wins here and there. Playing in San Jose means its goaltenders are used to being busy – a la Mackenzie Blackwood – so it’s an opportunity for goaltenders to prove themselves to the wider market. It’s been far from a perfect season for San Jose, but they’re firmly in the playoff conversation – and Nedeljkovic deserves some credit for it.
But with few goalies on the trade market, a team could look to Ned for some stability heading into the playoffs. His contract isn’t too bad, and the cost to snag him is likely a decent draft pick at best. The best bet is the team that picks him for playoff depth is happy with his play and signs him to a multi-year deal. Besides, teams like guys who can score and get rough in the playoffs – and guess what he’s done a bit of the past two years?
The 2026 Trade Deadline Special is going LIVE March 6th. Join the Daily Faceoff crew on Friday, March 6th, from 11 AM-3:30 PM ET for wall-to-wall coverage of every single move as it happens. Get instant reaction, expert analysis, and exclusive insights from special guests throughout the day. Tune in LIVE on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and don’t miss a second of deadline day chaos.
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