10 big-name NHL trade candidates still out there after 2026 Draft
Everything is resolved, and everything isn’t. The 2026 NHL Draft is now history. As the picks unfolded Friday and Saturday, we saw the Toronto Maple Leafs set up their next era with No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna; the San Jose Sharks load up with a first-round trifecta of Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin; and the Pittsburgh Penguins secure identical twins Liam and Markus Ruck. We also saw several-long rumored names change hands via trade, from Mason McTavish to Sebastian Cossa to Brandon Carlo, with some surprises such as JJ Peterka sprinkled in.
Plenty of names remain in play for trades in the coming days; the most recent pre-draft DFO Trade Board can be found here.
But who are the names for whom we are truly holding our breath? Here’s a quick rundown of the players who could still shift the NHL’s power balance if moved this offseason.
Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 29
Cap hit: $8,700,000 through 2030-31
(No-trade clause)
With the UFA market looking so barren, Larkin’s trade request earlier this month was an absolute boon. Half the teams in the league could use a speedy center who gets 30 goals every year and plays a ton of minutes. Larkin’s request reportedly began with just three teams in (yawn) the Panthers, Wild and Golden Knights, but that won’t stop other suitors from knocking. It does feel like the Wild are an overwhelmingly good fit for Larkin, though.
Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 28
Cap hit: $9,583,334 through 2027-28
(No-movement clause)
The USA paranoia is real, and it doesn’t appear the Blue Jackets and their fans are completely immune when it comes to the reigning Norris Trophy winner and Olympic gold medallist. Werenski is two years away from free agency, just like Brady Tkachuk was, and Werenski hasn’t played in a postseason since 2020. Werenski and the Blue Jackets were supposed to meet after the 2026 Draft to discuss his future, but things have accelerated to the point GM Don Waddell is already fielding trade calls, reports The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. A Werenski trade could be the story of the offseason.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 33
Cap hit: $8,500,000 through 2030-31
(No-movement clause)
Brady Tkachuk doubled down on being committed to the Senators in his end-of-season media availability… and still left town. Hellebuyck was much more cryptic and exasperated in his comments after the Jets’ season wrapped. No two situations are the same, but Hellebuyck is part of the USA Olympic clique, having backstopped them to gold in Milan, and we have to pay attention to comments like, “It’s not so easy to say, ‘Hey, we are going to be great next year.’ ” If the Panthers decide the Bobrovsky era is over, will they come calling? What about Vegas after Carter Hart flopped in the Stanley Cup Final? The Sabres would be interesting, too. Hellebuyck is the best player in Thrashers/Jets franchise history, but if he can bring in a return that corrects Winnipeg’s overall course, does GM Kevin Cheveldayoff have to entertain the idea? The Jets are now open to it but haven’t seen an offer they like enough. Will that change?
Kirill Marchenko, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 25
Cap hit: $3,850,000 through 2026-27
His name is out there, but look at that contract, combined with being 25 years old and playing just south of point-per-game hockey the past couple seasons. The offer would have to be pretty damn franchise-altering. Still, according to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, Marchenko is unlikely to re-sign with the Blue Jackets, meaning they may have to cash out. At least his value is at its peak right now.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
Age: 32
Cap hit: $5,625,000 through 2028-29
(12-team no-trade list; becomes 10-team no-trade list July 1)
The Blueshirts aren’t obligated to move Trocheck the way they were the expiring Artemi Panarin a few months ago, but it wouldn’t be the worst idea to explore a trade now while Trocheck’s value remains high. With his mix of scoring ability, agitation tactics, physicality and faceoff acumen, he’d be a dream No. 2 center for almost any contender, even if his defensive game has slipped. The Wild have lukewarm interest, reports DFO’s Anthony Di Marco, but Trocheck is likely more of a plan B if they can’t land Larkin.
Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 24
Restricted free agent
The big, talented rookie had excellent on-ice results regardless of whom he played with this season, but he still wasn’t entrusted with huge minutes during the stacked Canes’ run to the Stanley Cup. General manager Eric Tulsky had every opportunity to refute trade rumors during his draft media availability and did not. Given Nikishin’s well-rounded skill set and monstrous upside, the return would have to be significant.
Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 31
Cap hit: $9,250,000 through 2029-30
(No-movement clause)
Not only is a Nurse trade looking likely now – teams were still knocking as of Saturday, reported David Pagnotta – but the Oilers are confident they won’t have to retain much if any money on the deal now, and it sounds like Nurse is finally ready for a change of scenery after more than a decade in a hockey hotbed.
Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars
Age: 26
Restricted free agent
Only eight players have more points over the past five seasons. The Stars would be foolish to push him out. But Robertson’s contract negotiations with them have been frosty in the past, they are low on cap space, and they badly need help on defense. Could Nill search for a major hockey trade to better balance his roster? It sounds like that’s more of a contingency idea, as Nill indicated post-draft he prefers to re-sign their star scorer. Still, the wolves are at the door, with the Kraken and Blues making their pitches, but Robertson wasn’t interested. Given the Kraken were willing to pay him $15 million annually and he still said no, it’s clear he isn’t chasing a bag. So if it isn’t Dallas, what is his preferred destination?
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 27
Cap hit: $11,600,000 through 2031-32
(No-movement clause)
Pettersson doesn’t get enough credit for his all-around play, but, yes, he’s nowhere close to an $11.6-million player right now. That’s a monstrous cap hit to navigate. Still. Pettersson is still young enough to reassert himself as a star if he finds the right situation.
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 31
Cap hit: $5,100,000 through 2026-27
Ristolainen got healthy and proved an important part of Philly’s blueline in its push from outside the playoffs to the second round. He averaged an even 25 minutes of ice time across 10 postseason games. But he’s exiting his prime and on the final season of his deal; would he be a worthy casualty if he helped the Flyers land another scoring-line center in a trade? Even after extending Jordan Spence, the Ottawa Senators remain a potential fit, Di Marco reports, as while search for a righty to pair with Thomas Chabot.
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