2026 NHL Trade Deadline: Metropolitan Division preview
The rumour mill is swirling in the NHL as we race toward the trade deadline on Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
Carolina leads the Metropolitan Division and a pair of teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year, Pittsburgh and the Islanders, are second and third.
However, with both Eastern Conference wild card spots currently held by Atlantic Division teams, the Metro is a healthy mix of buyers and sellers.
Let’s get into it.
Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of NHL game odds, NHL futures and NHL specials and props.
Carolina Hurricanes
Deadline status: Buyer
The Carolina Hurricanes have been the Metropolitan Division’s most consistent team in recent years, finishing first or second in the division for five straight seasons.
Carolina isn’t afraid to take big swings as they acquired then traded Mikko Rantanen last season, so I have them circled as a candidate for Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson to play 2C behind Sebastian Aho.
The Hurricanes would likely have to move Jesper Kotkaniemi to make the money work, but a move to a low profile Eastern Conference team could do wonders to unlock the Pettersson who had 102 points a few years ago.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Deadline status: Moderate buyer
The Columbus Blue Jackets are 10-3 since firing Dean Evason and hiring Rick Bowness and while they remain five points out of the playoffs, they shouldn’t punt on the season.
I don’t see Columbus taking a big swing, but they could add pieces that serve as more long-term additions for next season and beyond.
Calgary’s MacKenzie Weegar would be a great fit. Weegar playing on the top pairing would push Ivan Provorov down and hopefully provide Provorov some better matchups.
New Jersey Devils
Deadline status: Moderate seller
The New Jersey Devils are second-last in the Eastern Conference as they prepare to miss the playoffs for the second time in the last three years.
Still, this team has the basic framework to be a contender in the next year or two. You’ve got superstars in Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, so the Devils are poised to do well after some off-season tinkering.
New Jersey should look to move older players on expiring contracts. Think of players like Evgenii Dadonov and Luke Glendening.
New York Islanders
Deadline status: Moderate buyer
The New York Islanders have been incredibly surprising, led by Calder Trophy-favourite Matthew Schaefer.
New York should remain cautious, however, as I don’t think they are as good as their record indicates. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin has done a lot to cover up the Isles’ warts, so management shouldn’t push the chips all-in just yet.
Adding depth pieces with contract term is the best course of action. If the price was right, a gamble on Alexis Lafreniere would be an interesting risk.
New York Rangers
Deadline status: Seller
It’s been another disastrous season for the New York Rangers, who sit dead last in the Eastern Conference standings just two years after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.
New York’s first big trade piece has already moved been moved, with Artemi Panarin shipped to the Los Angeles Kings in early February. With Igor Shesterkin standing as one of the only untouchables on the roster, the Rangers likely aren’t done moving pieces.
Vincent Trocheck is projected to be one of the most sought-after centres on the market and it finally feels like time to move Alexis Lafreniere. While there have been rumours about defenceman Adam Fox, the team is reportedly waiting until the off-season to reevaluate his future.
Philadelphia Flyers
Deadline status: Seller
After a strong start to the year, the Philadelphia Flyers have come back down to Earth and sit well out of the playoff picture ahead of the trade deadline.
The Flyers are still firmly in the middle of their rebuild, so there’s no panic with their situation. Philly has no big-name pending UFAs, so they’ll likely focus on moving defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Although Ristolainen has another year left on his contract after this one, contending teams should be all over a top-four defenceman who eats a lot of minutes.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Deadline status: Moderate buyer
Ironically, the Pittsburgh Penguins came into the season pegged as the only team expected to be a clear-cut seller. However, the Pens have to be at least moderate buyers as they continue to win, even without injured captain Sidney Crosby.
Pittsburgh already made a significant early-season trade in net, swapping Tristan Jarry for Stuart Skinner. They also upgraded the skill on their blue line with the addition of Samuel Girard last week.
Don’t expect the Pens to go all-out, the long term plan still revolves around what to do when Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are gone. Depth players who can be flipped for further assets in the future should be Pittsburgh’s focus.
Washington Capitals
Deadline status: Moderate buyer
The Washington Capitals sit just two points out of the playoffs and with Alex Ovechkin possibly playing his last NHL season, the team won’t wave the white flag at the deadline.
Much like the Penguins, Washington won’t take a home run swing for the most sough-after players.
There’s no obvious area the Caps need to upgrade, but a strong penalty killer like Toronto’s Scott Laughton makes sense. Laughton should get a lot of attention, however, so there will be competition for his services.