As the hockey world moves its attention away from the beloved Four Nations Face-Off, NHL general managers remain focused on the biggest task at hand—the impending trade deadline. While fans speculate their team’s next big move, The league’s 32 GMs remain locked in a high-stakes balancing act, strategizing their next moves before the March 7th deadline at 3 p.m ET. The final opportunity to reshape their roster for a deep playoff run. For front offices across the league, the trade deadline isn’t just another day on the calendar—it’s a pressure cooker, a moment of truth where calculated risks and bold decisions can define a franchise’s future. Every team possesses assets, but the real question remains: Which players will be on the move? What are the market’s biggest needs? And which teams are willing to pay the price? With just days to go before the frenzy reaches its peak, let’s take a closer look at some of the big names with the potential to change jerseys before the clock runs out on March 7th.
Chris Kreider, New York Rangers, LW
Starting with a gritty veteran, the 33-year-old is having quite the down year despite his goal total and his selection onto the skilled United States Four Nations Face Off roster. With three years left on a contract with an AAV of $6.5 million, a move for Kreider would be quite the commitment for any NHL general manager. But a move for the American winger is certainly a possibility, as the Rangers have struggled mightily this season and have already moved on from other big-time names on their roster in the prior months (Kaapo Kakko, Jacob Trouba and Filip Chytil) The emphasis in New York is clear, they want to win this season and in the future. Their blockbuster trade for J.T. Miller, despite his dramatic departure from the Vancouver Canucks, showed that they will be as cutthroat as needed to win. Moving a beloved veteran, who is arguably the heart of the Rangers, is what this team may need to elevate back into playoff contention.
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, C
Nelson is a coveted asset to any GM looking to add a physical and skilled scoring threat. Along with Kreider, the 33-year-old Nelson was also selected to the skilled United States Four Nations Face Off roster, pairing that honour with another impressive season. With one year remaining on his contract, the Islanders are facing quite a dilemma on what to do with Nelson, keep him and let Nelson decide on his own where he wants to sign before Free Agency opens on July 1st or don’t take the risk of letting Nelson hit the market and recoup assets back for him before the deadline. Another interesting aspect of this decision is that legendary cutthroat GM Lou Lameriello is at the helm, who has had quite the history of keeping his cards close to his chest. This means no one in the hockey media truly knows what the Islanders plan to do with Nelson. Whatever happens between today and the 7th, will not change the fact that Nelson has had quite an illustrious career with the Islanders and will be remembered as a great for the organization.
Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes, LW
Rantanen is by far one of the most intriguing players to watch on trade deadline day. The 28-year-old superstar was traded to Carolina this past January and has somehow yet again started to be floated out as a potential trade target for contenders looking to land the biggest fish of them all. For Rantanen, a potential trade would leave him in the same position he was in with Colorado and now in Carolina—looking to maximize his earnings before or during free agency this summer. And Rantanen has the right to do so as he has been one of the NHL’s best-scoring wingers over the past couple of seasons proving that he has earned a big-time payday. To the Hurricanes, GM Eric Tulsky will have to weigh out the risks surrounding Rantanen being in the last year of his contract. Despite the Hurricanes being a contending team, Tulsky may be enticed to move on from the star and get back assets that help the team win now but also in the future. Rantanen serves as a reminder that truly anyone can be traded no matter how skilled the player is just ask Dallas Mavericks fans. Although a move for the star Finnish winger is unlikely, it’s by no means outside the realm of possibility at the trade deadline.
Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils, D
The young Gun Nemec is as enticing of an asset as it gets for rebuilding teams. The No. 2 pick out of the 2022 draft, has struggled to fit into the Devils lineup this season and when he has been deployed as a bottom-pairing defenseman. For any skilled young player that is a tough reality that they need to live with during their first couple seasons but for Nemec, it is especially tough because he has proven he can play well and play big-time minutes at the NHL level, as he did just that the previous season with the Devils earning himself on many Calder Voters ballots. For New Jersey, GM Tom Fitzgerald has to face the harsh reality that there aren’t many minutes out there in their defense rotations for Nemec to develop. Fitzgerald will have to decide if he wants to keep his young star happy by providing him the minutes he wants or by moving him to help elevate this Devils team into one of the most stacked rosters in hockey.
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins, RW
Rakell has had a really impressive year, and with four years remaining on his contract, it’s no surprise that GMs around the league are reaching out to Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to negotiate a deal for the winger. The 31-year-old has always had a natural scoring touch but his time in Pittsburgh playing with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin has seemed to be exactly what he needed to extend the peak of his career. Rakell has been underrated throughout his career but this season, his performance has made it clear that Rakell can be a difference-maker. For Dubas, it’s time to put the team’s playoff hopes on standby and move on to next season. The team is currently sitting last in the Metropolitan division and it seems this team’s playoff chances are as low as ever. A move for Rakell could be one of those moves that go under the radar at the time but when looking back at the deadline could be a move that completely changed a team’s playoff trajectory.