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The NHL’s annual trade deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 3 pm ET. However, the league’s Olympic roster freeze begins on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 3 pm ET until Thursday, Feb. 22, at 11:59 pm ET.
Some general managers could use the start of the Olympic freeze as a deadline to avoid what could be a hectic rush between Feb. 23 and March 6 to buy or sell the best talent in the trade market. Others could wait until the deadline to get a better gauge of the market.
Trade activity increased in December, including a blockbuster deal in which the Vancouver Canucks shipped superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. There have been four minor moves already in January, but more significant deals could happen with the Olympic break less than a month away.
We recently noted 15 players who surfaced in the rumor mill in our January NHL Trade Block Big Board. Since then, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils and Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes have also become trade candidates. More players could join their ranks as the trade deadline draws near.
Most of these players will be enticing trade targets, especially for contenders hoping to bolster their rosters for the postseason. However, some of them should come with “buyer beware” labels. Here’s a look at five that could end up proving more costly than helpful.