Stock Up, Stock Down on 8 NHL Trade Candidates for 2026 Deadline

The NHL's annual trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 6, 2026. While it is still months away, it's never too early to examine the stock of potential trade candidates.

Teams that are outside the playoff picture by early March tend to be sellers at the deadline. They usually peddle players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1 who no longer fit into their plans. However, it's not uncommon for them to move players who have another year or two left on their contracts.

Several of our candidates, such as Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, have been in the rumor mill since the offseason. Others, such as Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, have surfaced in trade rumors since the start of the season.

With October drawing to a close, here's a look at the stock of 8 trade candidates to determine whose is up and whose is down early in the season.

After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, the Calgary Flames expected to build on that promising performance. However, by Oct. 26, they were at the bottom of the standings with one win in their first nine games.

The Flames' poor start puts more attention on Rasmus Andersson. The 29-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.55 million and is slated for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

Andersson topped our October NHL Trade Block Big Board. Approaching November, there is no indication that he and the Flames are any closer to a contract extension. On Oct. 24, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic indicated that Andersson would be their biggest trade chip if they become sellers.

Since a career-best 50 points in 2021-22, Andersson's production has steadily declined, but his skills as a physical, big-minute, right-shot defenseman make him a solid addition to any defense corps. He has two goals this season, but the Flames' poor play hasn't yet adversely affected his trade value.

Part of the San Jose Sharks' rebuilding process under general manager Mike Grier has been shipping out veterans on expiring contracts for draft picks, prospects, and young players. He'll likely continue that practice if the Sharks remain out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline.

Mario Ferraro could be the latest Sharks veteran to be on the move before the trade deadline. The 27-year-old defenseman is in the final season of his four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.3 million.

A solid defensive blueliner, Ferraro surfaced in the rumor mill before last season's trade deadline. On March 6, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Sharks were listening to trade offers, though they were happy to hang onto him. However, they could be willing to move him this time if he intends to become a free agent.

Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period believes the Sharks are willing to entertain offers for Ferraro and Timothy Liljegren. The former's all-around defensive game will draw plenty of attention if he becomes available in the New Year.

This season could be the last with the New York Islanders for Anders Lee. The 35-year-old winger has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Isles, but is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. He's in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million.

Lee has been the Islanders' captain since 2018-19. He's among their franchise leaders in games played (849) and goals (291). On Sept. 6, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported Lee and new Isles general manager Mathieu Darche have agreed to take a wait-and-see approach regarding a contract extension.

After a scoreless four games to open the season, Lee stepped up with eight points in his next four contests, sitting second among Islanders' scorers. Darche should be pleased with that improvement from his captain.

It's uncertain if Lee will agree to a short-term contract extension or test his luck in next summer's free-agent market. He's reached or exceeded 20 goals eight times in his career, including 28 last season. If the Islanders become sellers again, Lee will draw plenty of interest as a rental player.

The New York Rangers began this season hoping to rebound after missing the playoffs in 2024-25. Since last December, general manager Chris Drury has been busy in the trade market, shaking up his roster to reclaim their spot among the Stanley Cup contenders.

So far, the results have been disappointing, with just three wins in nine games entering Sunday's tilt with the Calgary Flames. Meanwhile, questions linger over the future of Artemi Panarin. The 33-year-old playmaking center carries an $11.642 million cap hit and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July.

Drury could peddle Panarin if the Rangers remain outside the playoff picture by March, provided the winger is willing to waive his no-movement clause. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman (h/t Jim Parsons of The Hockey News), Panarin rejected a short-term extension for less money.

Panarin has been the Rangers' scoring leader in every season since 2019-20. However, he had seven points in his first nine games, with four of those coming in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 18. He could turn that around in the coming weeks, but it's a slow start for the high-scoring winger.

Like teammate Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell has regularly surfaced in trade rumors since the offseason. He's also signed through 2027-28, albeit with a slightly lower cap hit of $5 million and an eight-team no-trade list.

Rakell was off to a good start to this season. Coming off a career-high 35 goals and 70 points last season, the 32-year-old winger was scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace, sitting tied for fourth with Anthony Mantha among Penguins scorers with eight points.

That would have put Rakell in the "Stock Up" category. However, he underwent surgery on his left hand on Sunday after being injured during Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He'll be sidelined for six to eight weeks, downgrading his trade value for the time being.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski included Rakell with Rust and defenseman Erik Karlsson among the Penguins' trade candidates for this season. If he regains his form after returning to action, he could draw interest from clubs seeking scoring depth, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.

This is Bryan Rust's 12th NHL season, all of them spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old two-way winger is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.13 million. He also lacks no-trade protection over the remainder of his contract.

Despite a career-best 65-point performance last season, Rust has been a fixture in the rumor mill since June. With the Penguins rebuilding, Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski considers him a valuable trade chip who could fetch a first-round pick, a prospect, and perhaps a young NHL-ready player.

Kingerski believes the high asking price the Penguins have set for Rust has kept him in Pittsburgh thus far. With the club off to a surprisingly strong start, they're in no rush to move him. However, that will change if their fortunes change and they slide down the standings.

Rust missed the first two games of this season with a lower-body injury. That could explain his slow start, with four points in seven games. He'll likely improve as the season goes on and he returns to full-game shape, but for now, we'll list his stock as slightly down from his value before the injury.

An inconsistent start to this season by the Buffalo Sabres raises questions about whether they'll end their NHL-record 14-season playoff drought. Pundits such as Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco are musing over which Sabres might fetch the best returns if the club becomes a seller by the March 6 trade deadline.

Alex Tuch has surfaced in early-season media trade conjecture. The 29-year-old winger is in the final season of his seven-year contract with an average annual value of $4.8 million. His eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status next July makes him an obvious trade candidate if the Sabres become sellers.

Tuch tallied 36 goals in two of the last three seasons. As of Oct. 26, he's among the Sabres' leading scorers with seven points in nine games. He has indicated his willingness to stay in Buffalo, but recently paused his contract extension talks.

Teams seeking additional scoring will be watching Tuch's contract situation. On Oct. 21, RG.Org's James Murphy reported the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers were among several clubs to have contacted the Sabres about the power forward, but they're not expected to be sellers until later in the season.

Pavel Zacha is among several players on our list who still have term remaining on their contracts. The versatile 28-year-old forward can play center or wing and is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $4.8 million.

The Bruins began this season intent on rebounding from a poor 2024-25 season. After winning their first three games, they lost six in a row before defeating the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday. Nevertheless, Zacha has nine points in 10 games, sitting second among their leading scorers.

Zacha surfaced in trade rumors during the offseason. Teams believed to be in the market for a center, such as the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens, were mentioned as potential suitors. On Oct. 25, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Vancouver Canucks contacted the Bruins about Zacha.

The Bruins aren't in a rush to move anyone this early in the season. However, that could change by the March trade deadline if they're out of playoff contention and considering a rebuild. Zacha's versatility and affordable contract should make him a popular trade target.

Stats and standings (as of Oct. 26, 2025) via NHL.com, salary info via PuckPedia, and additional info via Hockey-Reference.com.