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With the NHL fully back in action, the next milestone ahead of us is the NHL Trade Deadline, set for tomorrow, March 6, at 3 p.m. ET.
There have been several big names moved already, but there are still plenty of big fish available to land for Stanley Cup odds favorites — and I'll help you stay on top of everything you need for effective NHL Trade Deadline betting.
Read on for my 2026 NHL Trade Deadline tracker, with real-time trade analysis, a look at the top deadline targets remaining, and how NHL betting odds are affected by each deal.
Trade deadline at a glance
Notable completed trades in 2026
*Conditional draft pick
Stanley Cup odds favorites
| Team |  |
|---|
 Avalanche | +295 |
 Lightning | +370 |
 Hurricanes | +575 |
 Golden Knights | +850 |
 Oilers | +1100 |
Latest 2026 NHL Trade Deadline tracker
Trade: acquire F Nick Roy from 
for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick
The betting shift: The Avalanche are not going to get shorter on their already paper-thing +280 odds to win the Cup. It does make them a deeper team down the middle without subtracting from their current lineup, and if you want to bet on the Avs in any market, I'd wait until Friday night, as it's going to be tough for their odds to get much shorter than they already are.
Trade analysis: The Leafs pull off a big win, and the Avs get some center depth that was desperately needed, and something they might have been willing to overspend on. I think it's too much. Roy was pretty unnoticeable with decent minutes (14+ per game) and had 20 points in 59 games. He will not be missed in Toronto, but maybe Colorado has a better plan for him than Craig Berube did. The Avs have gotten deeper at center and on the blueline, but might still be in the market for a top-six winger with over $6 million in current cap space.
Trade: acquire F Jason Dickinson (50% retained) and F Colton Dach from 
for F Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick
The betting shift: The Oilers were sitting at +500 to win the division, down from +700 after the Connor Murphy trade, while their +1,100 outright odds remain unchanged. I'm still a buyer of the Oilers as the Golden Knights are going to blow the division.
Trade analysis: Edmonton picked up a shutdown center in Jason Dickinson while getting 50% of his salary retained. It's not a goalie, but the additions of Murphy and Dickinson make this a better defensive team. Colton Dach might struggle to be an everyday player, but there is some upside hidden in there. The Pacific division is still up for grabs.
The Oilers are not left with much cap space and will have to get creative if they want to bring in more bodies.
The Hawks are stockpiling picks, which I'm sure is pissing off Connor Bedard.
Trade: acquire D Nick Blankenburg from 
for a 2027 fifth-round pick
The betting shift: The Colorado Avalanche can't get any shorter on their Cup outright odds at +280. It's a silly number considering how hard it is to win 16 games in the NHL playoffs while avoiding bad variance and injuries. They are +150 to win the West and -4,000 to win their division. I'd love for them to make one more move, have the market shift, and bet against them. I already love the current Stars and Oilers prices.
Trade analysis: How do the Calgary Flames end up selling to acquire MacKenzie Weegar, while the Colorado Avalanche land an offensive defenseman like Nick Blankenburg for just a fifth-round pick?
Blankenburg is having a career year with 21 points in 49 games and can contribute on the power play. Though undersized at 5-foot-9, he can comfortably handle third-pair minutes while providing offensive upside.
Colorado now boasts impressive blue-line depth for a potential playoff run, with Brett Kulak, Sam Malinski, and Blankenburg available to fill the bottom pair.
Trade: 
acquire D MacKenzie Weegar from 
for D Olli Maatta, C Jonathan Castagna, and three 2026 second-round picks
The betting shift: Utah entered Wednesday sitting 7th in the West, one point up on the Kraken, four points clear of the ninth-place Sharks, and miles back of the Wild for the third spot in the Central. They are -650 to make the playoffs compared to +120 for Seattle, which is tough to swallow considering Seattle is a point behind with a game in hand.
This trade could move that playoff market far enough where fading them might be the better option. Moneypuck has them at 85% probable to make the playoffs (-554). Outside of that market, I want nothing to do with them to win the West or the Cup.
Trade analysis: The Mammoth have added a right-shot defenseman who brings strong offensive value but can be inconsistent in his own zone. His arrival likely pushes John Marino out of a top-four role — a move that probably strengthens the overall structure. With Ian Cole and Marino outside the top four, Utah suddenly has impressive blue-line depth for a potential playoff push.
It’s remarkable what this team has accomplished this year, but winning four playoff games still feels unlikely — unless the Vegas Golden Knights continue to struggle while holding the top spot in the Pacific.
Their playoff price was already inflated, and this move may push it even higher, making a fade down the stretch the sharper angle.
MacKenzie Weegar is owed $6.25 million annually through the 2030–31 season. Jonathan Castagna has more than a point per game at Cornell this year in his third year there after being a third-round selection in 2023. It's a massive haul for Calgary for a D-man in a down season.
Trade: 
acquire D Tyler Myers from 
for a 2027 second-round pick, a 2029 fourth-round pick, and 50% salary retention
The betting shift: The Dallas Stars started the day at +1,800 to win the Cup, +850 to win the West, and +2500 to win the division. Although a bottom-pairing D-man might not move these lines, I do believe the market is too low on the Stars, who are in the same tier as the Avs for me. It's a good time to jump on Dallas futures, IMO.
Trade analysis: The Stars are the No.1 team in hockey in xGF% over the last 25 games, with the Avalanche ranking 10th. This is one of the best teams in hockey that has been incredible on the backend and just got better and didn't give up anything on the roster.
They are winning without Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz, with the former expected back sometime in March. It's not a blockbuster, but it's a positive trade for arguably one of the best teams in hockey that has plenty of playoff experience. I'm buying the Oilers, and I'm buying the Stars in the West.
Trade: 
acquire C Michael McCarron from for a 2028 second-round pick
The betting shift: The Minnesota Wild's outright price moved from +1,800 to +1,700 overnight, but that had everything to do with their win over the Lightning, more so than adding a fourth-line center.
Trade analysis: The Wild are not a serious team until they shore up their center position, as Ryan Hartman is not a No.1 center. Adding some depth is a great first step, but the second-round price seems a little steep and could mean teams have to overspend on the top-line centers available.
The Wild are still a major trade away from being considered in the same breath as the Avs and Stars.
Trade: acquire D Connor Murphy from for a 2028 second-round pick and 50% salary retention
The betting shift: The Edmonton Oilers' outright price moved from +1200 to +1100 following the trade, but their divisional outright stayed put at +700
Trade analysis: Everyone knew the Oilers needed goaltending, but bolstering the blue line at a reasonable cost with a right-shot, stay-at-home defenseman to pair with Darnell Nurse is a strong move. It addresses a key structural need and should pay dividends once they solidify the crease.
With one or two more additions, this roster is capable of getting back to the Finals. If Edmonton continues to improve, I’ll be looking to add more Connor McDavid MVP exposure and take a position on them to win the Pacific at +700.
Top NHL Trade Deadline targets remaining + betting outlook
- Robert Thomas (STL): Young, legitimate top-two center signed long term with a no-trade clause. If moved, he would significantly impact line combinations and market prices.
- Vincent Trochek (NYR): Adds strong depth down the middle. Excellent in the faceoff circle and reliable on the penalty kill. Projects as a high-end No. 2 center who would improve both playoff outlook and outright odds.
- Nazem Kadri (CGY): If slotted as a No. 2 center, his impact would be similar to Trocheck’s. If acquired as a No. 3 center, that team is extremely well-positioned down the middle.
- Jordan Binnington (STL): A move to Montreal could shift numbers, but he doesn’t move the needle much for me. His club numbers this season have been underwhelming, and I wouldn’t price him purely off his Team Canada performance. That said, Montreal’s outright odds would shorten if he lands there.
- Steven Stamkos (NAS): Trending upward in 2026, but it’s hard to see him landing in a situation where he runs a PP1 unit for a true contender. Even if he goes to Detroit, I wouldn’t view their scoring group as strong enough to change their ceiling.
Popular NHL futures markets
How to bet the NHL Trade Deadline
- Fading the "New Arrival" Bump
Don't be surprised if a brand-name player doesn't stuff the statsheet on his first day with a new club. There is an adjustment period, and waiting a couple of games might bring the best value before backing them.
- Player Prop Hunting
Players moving to better teams might not have the same role they had previously. If a player goes from a top-line role and PP1 to line two and PP2, his prop projections should drop. Usage is everything.
- The "Addition by Subtraction" Angle
Winning for bad teams is not rewarded at this time of the year. If a team is in the market to move a key player, beating the books to some point totals and/or other future markets can be profitable. Everyone wants to bet the Over on teams making additions, but don't forget about the subtractions.
- Open opportunities: There will always be more eyes (and bets) on the big-name player moving to another team in the prop market, but, like above, don't forget what the subtraction will do to the lesser team, which will likely have to fill key roles with new names. Find those names.
Not intended for use in MA.
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