In part three of the 2026 NHL trade deadline predictor, we’ll look at a few more big names that could be on the way. We predicted it in part two of the series Brayden Schenn would land with the Colorado Avalanche, Lucas Schenn would return to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third stint, and Andreas Mangiapane would end up with the Anaheim Ducks.
Nowadays the focus shifts to single head shots. Vincent Trocheck And Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, and where they could potentially land. As well Robert Thomas from the St. Louis Blues in deals that would shake up both organizations.
Stands first Panarin to Washington’s capitalsand this one makes a lot of sense when you look at where Alex Ovechkin is in his career. After their reshuffling, the Capitals have proven that they are still a true playoff team, and adding a top scorer like Panarin would be a huge boost to their top six.
An interleague trade between the Rangers and the Capitals would not come easily. That said, Washington has young players and assets that can help make the deal work. If they also want to offer Panarin an extension, which he is reportedly looking for, that only increases the chances of this coming together.
Next up is Trocheck returning to the Carolina Hurricanes for the second time in his career. He was originally traded to Carolina on February 24, 2020 and played parts of two seasons there. His playing style fits right in with how Rod Brind’Amour wants his teams to play, and he would add another high-end piece to an already stacked top six.
Unlike many deadline acquisitions, there would be no adjustment period here. The familiarity with the organization and the system ensures that this fits easily on paper and that Trocheck can start immediately.
Finally, we have Thomas heading to the Minnesota Wild in what would be one of the biggest trades of the deadline. In this scenario, the Blues would move Thomas in a deal for goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. It wouldn’t be a one-for-one deal, but rather a true blockbuster that could headline Deadline Day.
This is a step that makes sense for both parties. In my recent article, NHL Trade Watch: Panarin Hurdles, Wallstedt Chatter, McMann to OilersI explained how something like this could come about. With Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington already in the mix, St. Louis has options. If they were to move Binnington at the deadline, they could realistically build a package around someone like Thomas or Jordan Kyrou and bring in Wallstedt as their goalkeeper of the future.
If the Blues were to pull this off, it would put them between the pipes for the foreseeable future, while they could shift their focus to restructuring the forward group and the blue line.
Next: Maple Leafs’ expected asking price for Oliver Ekman-Larsson appears high
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