It's playoffs or sell-off for the Nashville Predators. 

As the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline closes in on Friday, general manager Barry Trotz and the Predators have been one of the busiest teams in the NHL. 

The Hockey News Nashville Predators is here to track and detail every move the Predators make in this busy week. 

Predators Recall Reid Schaefer, Ryan Ufko, Fedor Svechkov From Milwaukee 

MKE ✈️ BNA = L'Heureux, Wood, Svechkov, Schaefer, & Ufko. Looks like Nashville is prepared for any other trades they could make.

— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) March 5, 2026

With Nashville down a defenseman, a center and a winger, three call-ups were made Wednesday night following the Nick Blakenburg trade. 

According to Nick Kieser of Lower Broad Hockey, LW Reid Schaefer, D Ryan Ukfo and C Fedor Svechkov have all been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals. 

Schaefer has played 27 games in Nashville this season as a rookie, recording four goals and two assists for six points and 13 penalty minutes. In Milwaukee, he has 28 points (15G, 13A) in 31 games and 55 penalty minutes. 

This is Ufko's first call-up of the season. He has 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists) in 50 games and 20 penalty minutes. Ufko was the Admirals' lone AHL All-Star and is second in the league in defenseman points. 

Svechkov has spent the majority of the season with the Predators, recording nine points (2 goals, 7 assists)  in 49 games. He was assigned to the Admirals ahead of the Olympic break. In 10 games in Milwaukee, Svechkov has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists). 

D Nick Blakenburg Traded To Colorado Avalanche For 2027 5th Round Pick 

🔁TRADE:

We've acquired a fifth-round draft pick in 2027 from Colorado in exchange for defenseman Nick Blankenburg.

Full details » https://t.co/1gNDnlJ0jxpic.twitter.com/VcdV5Jo2yH

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 5, 2026

The Predators now have 12 picks in the 2027 NHL Draft, four of which are in the third round. 

The 27-year-old was in the final season of a 2-year, $1.55 million contract, with him becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Blankenburg is also the third upcoming UFA that's been traded by the Predators. 

Blankenburg is in the midst of the best season of his career, scoring 21 points (6G, 15A) in 49 games and logging just 10 penalty minutes. This is the first season he has not split time between the NHL and AHL since 2022-23, and the first time he has recorded more than 20 points. 

MORE: Nashville Predators Trade Nick Blankenburg to Avalanche For 2027 5th Round Pick

LW Cole Smith Traded To Vegas Golden Knights For 2028 3rd Round Pick, D Christoffer Sedoff

🔁TRADE:

We've acquired defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a third-round draft pick in 2028 from Vegas in exchange for forward Cole Smith.

Full details » https://t.co/JE4tZQPK5Zpic.twitter.com/0xLNqSLHxF

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 4, 2026

The Predators now have nine picks in the 2028 NHL Draft: two in the second and third rounds, one in the first round, and rounds four through seven. 

Smith's trade was written on the walls as he played just three seconds in the Predators' 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, likely due to the trading rule. Smith was originally scratched alongside McCarron. 

This season, Smith had 10 points (6G, 4A) in 41 games and 31 penalty minutes, skating on Nashville's fourth line. He is in the final year of a 2-year, $2 millon contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. 

Sedoff, a 24-year-old, 6-foot, 2-inch defenseman, was signed by the Golden Knights to a  3-year, entry-level contract in 2023, worth $2.61 million, which will expire at the end of this season. 

Sedoff has yet to play an NHL game, spending three seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights. This season, in 38 games, Sedoff has no goals, four assists and 15 penalty minutes. 

MORE: Nashville Predators Trade Cole Smith To Golden Knights For Christopher Sedoff, Draft Pick

C Michael McCarron Traded To Minnesota Wild For 2028 2nd Round Pick 

🔁TRADE:

We've acquired a second-round draft pick in 2028 from Minnesota in exchange for forward Michael McCarron.

Full details » https://t.co/xnaV4CtXJHpic.twitter.com/qD2NDdJUJG

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 4, 2026

The Predators announced McCarron had been scratched prior to Tuesday’s road game against the Blue Jackets due to “roster management purposes.” 

Nashville now has eight picks in the 2028 NHL Draft: one first round, two second round and one each in rounds three through seven. 

He is in the final year of a 2-year, $1.8 million contract. McCarron will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

The 31-year-old, 6-foot-6-inch center has played in 59 games this season, recording 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points. McCarron has also logged a team-high 73 penalty minutes.

MORE: Nashville Predators Trade Michael McCarron To Wild for 2028 2nd Round Pick 

With the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching, the Winnipeg Jets appear to be at a crossroads. While several teams around the league are expected to sell off assets, Winnipeg’s recent play may complicate any plans to move key pieces before the deadline.

Much of the trade speculation surrounding the Jets has centered on defenseman Logan Stanley, a pending unrestricted free agent who has been linked to potential deals in recent weeks. However, beyond Stanley, Winnipeg has not been heavily involved in major trade rumors.

According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, fans should not expect anything dramatic from the Jets before the deadline. Speaking Monday, Kypreos said he believes there are “no blockbuster moves coming out of Winnipeg,” adding that the organization is unlikely to move one of its top young assets like Cole Perfetti.

Instead, Winnipeg may be leaning toward keeping its core intact as the team continues to collect points. Since Jan. 6, the Jets have quietly posted a 9-5-6 record. That mark ties them with the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild for the 11th-best record in the NHL during that span. The club has also earned points in four consecutive games heading into a difficult matchup Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

How Winnipeg performs in that game and in the days leading up to the deadline could influence its strategy. If the Jets continue to hold their own against top competition, recent reports suggest the team may shift away from selling and instead, they could look to strengthen its lineup. 

David Pagnotta: There's interest from the Jets in Shane Wright, they're trying to solidify their second line - The Sheet (1/23)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) January 27, 2026

The club is believed to be interested in adding scoring help to the second forward line while improving its depth offense. That approach could push the Jets toward pursuing a notable addition rather than dealing away pieces.

Whether Winnipeg ultimately sells, stands pat, or attempts to add ahead of the deadline remains to be seen. One thing that is clear is the Jets are not ready to concede the season, and there is belief within the team that it is better than its overall numbers suggest.

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The Calgary Flames have acquired defenceman Olli Määttä, prospect centre Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft (belonging to the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Utah Mammoth) from Utah. In return, Calgary has traded defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Mammoth.

Welcome to the C of Red, Olli 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gwvNFsi1qq

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 5, 2026

Määttä, a veteran blueliner from Jyväskylä, Finland, brings more than a decade of NHL experience to the Flames’ defensive group. The 31-year-old left-shot defenceman is 6-foot-2 and  207 pounds, and has appeared in 22 games with Utah this season. He is known for his steady defensive play, positioning, and veteran leadership on the back end.

Also joining the organization is centre Jonathan Castagna, a developing prospect currently playing at Cornell University. Castagna is in his third NCAA season and has been a key offensive contributor for Cornell, leading the team in scoring with 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points through 29 games. 

The Flames also receive significant draft capital in the deal, adding three second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Nashville Predators have dealt a third player in the last 24 hours, sending defenseman Nick Blankenburg to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2027 5th-round draft pick. 

The Predators now have 12 picks in the 2027 NHL Draft, four of which are in the third round. 

The 27-year-old was in the final season of a 2-year, $1.55 million contract, with him becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Blankenburg is also the third upcoming UFA that's been traded by the Predators. 

Thank you for everything you've done for Smashville, Blanks 🤝

Wishing you all the best in Colorado! pic.twitter.com/fJkhmB5P1o

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 5, 2026

Blankenburg is in the midst of the best season of his career, scoring 21 points (6G, 15A) in 49 games and logging just 10 penalty minutes. This is the first season he has not split time between the NHL and AHL since 2022-23, and the first time he has recorded more than 20 points. 

Blankenburg was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets out of college at the end of the 2021-22 season and played the Columbus's final seven games of the year. He spent three seasons with the Blue Jackets before signing as a free agent with Nashville in the 2024 offseason. 

As a Predator, he played in 109 games, recording 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points. 

Nashville Predators trade deadline transactions 

March 3 

C Michael McCarron traded to Minnesota Wild for 2028 2nd round pick 

LW Cole Smith traded to Vegas Golden Knights for 2028 3rd round pick and D Christoffer Sedoff.

March 4 

D Nick Blakenburg traded to Colorado Avalanche for 2027 5th round pick 

We’re less than 48 hours away from the NHL Trade Deadline this upcoming Friday, and the Avs have made another trade a week after acquiring defenseman Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins. This time around, Colorado acquired right shot defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 5th-round draft pick.

The 27-year-old Blankenburg will very likely be Colorado’s 7th defenseman for this season, and serve as “break glass in case of emergency” depth, in case the Avs need an NHL-caliber defenseman to slot in for any number of reasons. In 49 games for Nashville this season, Blankenburg has recorded six goals and 15 assists for a total of 21 points this season, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer on an expiring $775K contract.

Blankenburg is a good set-and-forget third-pairing defenseman and should be more than fine stepping into the lineup whenever he might be called upon. It is interesting that after a week of hearing how much the Avalanche value big strong and size on the back end that they’d target not only another right hander as well as someone listed at 5-foot-9 and 177 lbs. But the price must have been right and Blankenburg is an affordable depth addition.

As previously mentioned, we’re less than 48 hours before the deadline as of tonight and action has started to pick up around the league. Colorado has yet to address their forward group, which might be next on the docket after seemingly setting their defensive core for the rest of the season.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Paul Cotter scored the winner in the shootout, Connor Brown forced overtime with a tying goal with 2:21 left in the third period and the New Jersey Devils beat Toronto 4-3 on Wednesday night, sending the Maple Leafs to their fifth straight loss.

Timo Meier and Arseny Gritsyuk also scored in regulation for the Devils, who have won three in a row and improved to 25-8-1 when scoring at least three goals. Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves.

William Nylander, Matias Maccelli and Matthew Knies had goals for the Maple Leafs, who haven’t won since beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Feb. 3 — their last game before the Olympic break. Anthony Stolarz made 44 saves.

Cotter put a backhander past Stolarz to start the shootout for the Devils. After Nylander’s wrister was stopped, Jesper Bratt also scored on a backhander to put New Jersey up 2-0 in the shootout. Auston Matthews’ wrist shot was then stopped by Markstrom, giving the Devils the victory.

With the game tied at 2 in the third period, Knies batted in the rebound of John Tavares’ shot past Markstrom to put Toronto ahead with 6:10 left.

Brown took a pass from Gritsyuk on a rush toward the net and roofed a quick shot in tight past Stolarz to tie it at 3 with 2:21 remaining.

The Devils outshot the Maple Leafs 47 to 27 in regulation.

New Jersey was without defenseman Brett Pesce, who suffered a lower-body injury against Florida on Tuesday night.

Up next

Maple Leafs: Play at New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Devils: Host the Rangers on Saturday.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

It was a tough pill for the Detroit Red Wings to swallow Wednesday evening in their first home game at Little Caesars Arena since Jan. 31, and another hard lesson in what can happen when they take their foot off the gas.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Red Wings by a 4-3 final score in overtime, as Tomas Hertl scored a power-play goal in the extra session after defenseman Simon Edvinsson was whistled for slashing. 

Final in OT. pic.twitter.com/kosfFkNQGa

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 5, 2026

The Red Wings failed to protect their 3-1 lead that they'd built through the first 40 minutes of play. Also, they weren't able to convert on four separate power-play chances, including a prime opportunity with just over two minutes left in regulation. 

With the overtime setback, the Red Wings fell to 35-20-7; they gained a valuable point in the standings but remain in third place in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the surging Buffalo Sabres and three points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

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The Golden Knights struck on their first of the contest, as first-year Vegas forward Mitch Marner sent a pass out in front of the net to a waiting Reilly Smith. 

However, the Red Wings then took control of the frame, scoring three times thanks to rookie Emmitt Finnie, Simon Edvinsson, and Alex DeBrincat. For Finnie, it was his second goal in as many games following a 23-game goalless drought. 

Following a scoreless second period, Vegas immediately began pressing in the game's final frame and eventually battled their way back into the game thanks to a pair of goals from Ivan Barbashev and Marner. 

During Detroit’s late power-play chance in the third period, Dylan Larkin was cross-checked from behind in front of the net by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb and fell to the ice in distress. He slowly skated off the ice but was eventually able to return during overtime. No penalty was called on the play.

Dylan Larkin takes a heavy cross check in the back from McNabb in front, leaves the game injured. No call on the play. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/upxzWj3ERh

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) March 5, 2026

Neither goaltender had a standout performance, as Adin Hill looked very shaky during the first period and finished the contest with 23 saves. Talbot, making the start in place of the injured John Gibson, made 21 saves. 

It was Detroit's final game before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, which falls on Friday, March 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Later that evening, the Red Wings will face the struggling Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena. 

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On Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks made another trade with the Edmonton Oilers. After trading Connor Murphy to Edmonton for a 2028 second-round pick on Monday, Kyle Davidson reconnected with his old boss, Stan Bowman, on a deal that sent Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach away for a 2027 first-round pick and Andrew Mangiapane. 

This is an interesting deal to break down for both sides. For the Oilers, they free themselves of Mangiapane's bad contract while adding two players who can help them down the stretch. 

In the case of Dach, he could be a boost for their AHL team or be a fourth-line/extra forward heading into the postseason. He's a big physical presence who can make it hard to find space when he's on the ice.

In the offensive zone, he can create good ice in front of the net, which would benefit a scoring line if he were placed there as the third guy. If he improves his skating as he develops, he may be able to carve out a full-time role in Edmonton, but he has some work to do. 

Jason Dickinson is the prize for the Oilers, who already have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as a two-headed monster down the middle. If he fits in nicely as a third-line center, it is the best trio down the middle in the NHL. 

McDavid and Draisaitl are good enough defensively for the amount of offense they create, but adding a shutdown center like Dickinson makes them a much more well-rounded group. If he plays the role as well as he did in Chicago, they have a high-end line for every type of situation. 

As for the Blackhawks, they may or may not play Andrew Mangiapane regularly. They are not in a position where they absolutely have to buy him out, but they can afford to send him to the Rockford IceHogs or scratch him in favor of younger players. 

If he does play, he will be hoping to revive his career the way that some other depth forwards have with Chicago in the recent past. 

The first round pick in 2027, like Dickinson is for the Oilers, is the main prize for the Blackhawks. This draft pick is top-12 protected, just in case the Oilers have a shockingly bad year in 2026-27. 

If the Florida Panthers stick with their bottom 10 record and land there in the draft, the first-round pick that Chicago received from the Seth Jones trade will move to 2027, meaning the Blackhawks could have three firsts in that draft. 

Trade Grade: A

The Blackhawks have been stockpiling first and second-round picks a lot since Kyle Davidson took over. He's already made 11 selections in the first round, and most of them are looking like they could pan out. 

Adding another one in exchange for a bottom-six defensive center may be his best work in terms of acquiring first-round picks. He threw in Colton Dach and took on Andrew Mangiapane to do it, but you have to give if you're going to take in the NHL. 

Davidson's work on this deal earns him an A-grade, because he took an expiring (and aging) asset and turned it into a high-end lottery ticket, which is the best way to describe a first-round pick outside of the top-ten. 

You will see better players traded for less in the coming days leading up to the deadline, which would be further proof that Davidson made a solid deal with this one. 

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Wednesday, March 4, was a day for defensemen to change teams.

Tyler Myers got the ball rolling by accepting a trade from the Vancouver Canucks to the Dallas Stars. The 6-foot-8 Houston native will be playing in his home state on the same team as 6-foot-7 defenseman Liam Bischel.

Nick Blankenburg also moved from the Nashville Predators to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

But the biggest move of the day was the Utah Mammoth acquiring defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames.

“Acquiring MacKenzie solidifies our back end as we continue to push towards the playoffs, and he will be a great addition to our team on and off the ice,” Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said.

Here are the details and grades on the MacKenzie Weegar trade:

Tomas Hertl scored his 24th goal of the season at the 2:11 mark of overtime Wednesday night to lift the Golden Knights to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

After taking an early 1-0 lead, on Reilly Smith's goal just 1:50 into the game, the Red Wings scored three unanswered goals to end the opening period to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

After a scoreless second period, the Knights began their comeback with goals by Ivan Barbashev midway through the third period and Mitch Marner with 3:24 left in the regulation.

Goaltender Adin Hill stopped 23 shots to earn the win.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) skates with the puck in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

This is a developing story. Please check back for the full story.

As the last-place Rangers continue to consider selling off additional pieces ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, there will be a slew of young players left behind looking to establish full-time roles for the future.

One rookie who seemingly has already done that during this lost season for the team has been third-line center Noah Laba, who has been a mainstay in the lineup since making the roster out of his first NHL training camp.

“Obviously, it was huge to make it out of camp, super proud of that, and I’m just trying to continue to progress and not be satisfied and continue to become a better player,” the 22-year-old Laba said after practice Wednesday in Tarrytown. “I just need to continue to work on all aspects of the game as well as try to chip in more offensively, as much as I can, and just overall help the team.”

The 6-foot-3 Laba, a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 before spending three seasons playing at Colorado College, has totaled six goals and 10 assists in 57 games for the Blueshirts after making 11 appearances for AHL Hartford last spring.

But the Michigan native also has been a regular contributor on the penalty-killing unit, while averaging 13:21 of ice time per game.

“I just think Lobs is very similar to [rookie winger] Gabe [Perreault] in just the fact that with every NHL game that he gets under his belt, he’s practicing with NHL players at an NHL pace, and I think that experience, in and of itself, is invaluable to helping a player grow and develop,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “Lobs is going through that process very much like Gabe is.

“As coaches, we try to cast them in a role that we think sets them up for success, where you can play to your strengths. We’re trying to help him grow and get better in different aspects of his game.”

Sullivan credited assistant coach and former NHL forward Joe Sacco with working one-on-one “a fair amount” with Laba this season on the nuances of his role.

“We think he’s growing in every aspect,” Sullivan said. “He’s doing a better job hanging onto pucks in the offensive zone. We think he’s doing a better job on the penalty kill. He’s winning faceoffs. He’s got a better understanding of how we’re trying to defend.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

“And he’s big and strong. I think the one element that jumps out at me, that he’s really brought to our team is, just his overall speed. Lobs can really skate and in today’s game, speed is a competitive advantage. The game’s not getting slower, it’s getting faster.”

Artemi Panarin already was moved before the Olympic break, with Vincent Trocheck also potentially among those to be dealt before Friday’s deadline.

Laba believes the young players on the roster — such as Perreault, who scored twice in Monday’s game against Columbus, and others — can be part of the turnaround.

“For sure, I think the older guys have done a great job of mentoring us and continuing to pump belief into us,” Laba said. “So they’ve been huge, and we’re seeing a ton of growth in the younger guys.

“I think we just try to focus on our game and what we can put on the ice. All that other external stuff is in reality not in our control, so I think we’ve done a good job of staying internal and trying to focus on our game.”

The Colorado Avalanche aren’t done reshaping their blue line — and their latest move is all about having that extra defenseman. 

On Wednesday, the Avalanche acquired Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, adding a steady right-shot option to bolster their defensive depth ahead of the stretch run.

Blankenburg, 27, may not bring size at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, but he plays bigger than his frame suggests. The puck-moving blueliner has continued to round out his game over two seasons in Nashville. This year, he’s produced six goals and 21 points in 49 games while averaging 17:58 per night. Last season, he recorded four goals and 16 points in 60 games, logging a career-high 19:33 in average ice time.

Nick Blankenburg's first goal of the season couldn't have come at a better time! @PredsNHL | #Smashville | #NHLNShowcasepic.twitter.com/TwlrO5UMDk

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) December 21, 2024

Blankenburg projects as a reliable No. 7 defenseman — the kind of depth piece contenders need when injuries inevitably test the roster. He becomes the Avalanche’s third in-season addition to the blue line, underscoring general manager Chris MacFarland’s clear focus on reinforcing the back end.

In January, Colorado dealt defenseman Ilya Solovyov to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just over a month later, the two teams connected again in a larger swap that brought Brett Kulak to Denver in exchange for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick. Kulak stepped into Girard’s former third-pair role, but Colorado still lacked a dependable extra option. Blankenburg now fills that void.

Originally undrafted, Blankenburg signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022 after a standout four-year career at the Michigan Wolverines, where he served as captain in his senior season. The Washington, Michigan native carved out an NHL role through mobility, compete level, and smart puck decisions — traits that fit well within Colorado’s system.

Blankenburg is on an expiring contract and carries a league-minimum $775,000 cap hit, making the acquisition both low-risk and cap-friendly.

For a team with championship aspirations, this isn’t a flashy swing — it’s a calculated one. And in April and May, depth often matters just as much as star power.

The Edmonton Oilers have traded Andrew Mangiapane to the Chicago Blackhawks. It is the second deal the Oilers have done with this team ahead of the NHL trade deadline, first adding defenseman Connor Murphy on Monday. 

As per Frank Seravalli and other sources, the deal is Mangiapane and a first-round pick in 2027 to the Blackhawks for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. 

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The condition on the pick is that it be Top 12-protected, and the Blackhawks will be retaining 50 percent of Dickinson's salary in this trade. 

Some fans won't be thrilled with the fact it took a first-round pick to move Mangiapane in the trade. It was a steep price to pay, but the contract had to be moved for the Oilers to make any additional roster changes. 

Originally drafted 29th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2013, Dickinson later had a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2022. In Chicago, he developed into a dependable, defense-first forward known for faceoffs, penalty killing, and physical play. He posted a career-high 22 goals in 2023-24 and signed a two-year extension worth $4.25 million AAV. Production has since dipped due to injury. 

Dach is a 23-year-old Canadian centre, drafted 62nd overall in 2021. The 6-foot-4, left-shot forward developed in the WHL and AHL before turning pro in 2023. Known for his size, physicality, and two-way play, Dach will play a bottom-six role. In 78 NHL games, he has five goals and 16 points, with modest production during Chicago’s rebuild. He’s averaged around 11–12 minutes per game this season while contributing hits and defensive play. Dach, the younger brother of Kirby Dach, remains a developing piece who may not be a regular for the Oilers. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks are an active seller ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. It started on Monday, when they sent defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick. 

Kyle Davidson made a deal with his old boss, Stan Bowman, to get an asset for Murphy, who is currently operating on an expiring contract. 

On Wednesday, the two sides came together for another trade. The Blackhawks traded Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Oilers in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a protected 2027 first-round pick. 

The Blackhawks are, like they did with Murphy, going to retain 50 percent of Dickinson's cap hit. That is their third and final retention spot allowed. 

In Dickinson, the Oilers are getting a third-line center whom they can trust in all three zones. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins likely playing wing full-time, having Dickinson behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl down the middle makes them one of the deepest teams at center in the NHL. 

Andrew Mangiapane is a cap dump for the Oilers. Getting him off their books is the main purpose of his inclusion in the trade. 

Mangiapane, who turns 30 in late April, has the rest of this season with a cap hit of $2.45 million and next year at $2.375 million. In 52 games played this season, he has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.

If he plays games with the Blackhawks, he is hoping to revive his career in the way that a couple of other depth forwards have in recent years. Mangiapane may never be the 35-goal scorer that he was in 2021-22, but there is room for him to get back to being a 15-20 goal man.

There is also a chance that the Blackhawks buy him out at some point, which is easier for them to do as they finish their rebuild than it is for the Oilers, who are right in the middle of their contention window. 

Colton Dach moving in this deal was unexpected, but it's a sweetener along with Dickinson to get a first-round pick out of the Oilers, along with taking Mangiapane on. 

Dach, an Edmonton native, has been in and out of Chicago's lineup, but he may be a great depth option for the Oilers going forward. With all of the young prospects coming up for Chicago, this is an opportunity for him to go to his hometown instead of dealing with a crowded forward group in Chicago. 

The first round pick in this deal is top-12 protected. Although the 2025-26 Florida Panthers have taught the hockey world never to assume things, it is unlikely that the Oilers will be a bottom-12 team in 2026-27. 

If the Panthers do finish in the bottom 10 and push their first-round pick going to Chicago by a year, the Hawks will have three first-round picks to work with in 2027. 

That is another leader and defensive-minded player subtracted from the Blackhawks' starting lineup, but another elite-level draft pick is banked for a pending unrestricted free agent. 

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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck could be the team's next player who moves in a retool.

He already has let his son know about the possibility.

"If I get traded, I'm fine," he told reporters earlier this week. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm more worried about my family."

Though the Rangers' struggles has led them to trade Artemi Panarin, Trocheck showed his value while winning a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He helped Team USA go 18-for-18 on the penalty kill, including a 5-on-3 Canada power play in the final.

Trocheck, whose contact runs through 2029, said he has a 12-team no-trade list and he told reporters that the list includes Western teams.

“Family’s important to me, and my family’s on the East Coast,” he said.

Here's a look at other players who are generating trade buzz before the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Friday, March 6 (contract details from puckpedia.com):