{"id":517633,"date":"2026-03-06T07:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T07:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/517633\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T07:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T07:01:12","slug":"nhl-players-potentially-moving-ahead-of-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/517633\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL players potentially moving ahead of deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

NHL general managers have until 3 p.m. ET on Friday to make a splash, tweak the edges of their roster, or secure deals with an eye toward the future.<\/p>\n

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The Canadian Press takes a look at some of the players who could be on the move before the bell sounds and GMs put down their pencils:<\/p>\n

NAZEM KADRI<\/p>\n

The hard-nosed Calgary Flames centre would be a welcome addition to any team looking to make a playoff push. A Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, the 35-year-old Kadri had 12 goals and 41 points through 60 games in 2025-26 heading into Thursday\u2019s action. His contract also includes three more seasons with an average annual value (AAV) of US$7 million. Calgary dealt defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

ROBERT THOMAS<\/p>\n

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The two-way centre is just 26 and has five years remaining on a deal that carries an AAV of $8.125 million, but his St. Louis Blues are clearly in a rebuild near the bottom of the NHL standings. Thomas, who won the Cup in 2019, has 13 goals and 37 points across 44 games this season.<\/p>\n

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Coming off a gold medal with the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, the 32-year-old centre with 12 goals and 39 points in 2025-26 could also be heading out the door with the New York Rangers looking to retool. Trocheck\u2019s contract has an AAV of $5.625 million for the next three seasons.<\/p>\n

BOBBY MCMANN<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent winger with power and speed has put up 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games for the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. A late-bloomer, McMann has played a total of 200 regular-season contests in the NHL, registering 91 points (54 goals, 37 assists) and 121 penalty minutes. Toronto traded centre Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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BLAKE COLEMAN<\/p>\n

Much like Kadri, the 34-year-old winger\u2019s age doesn\u2019t fit the Flames\u2019 rebuild timeline. Coleman, who has one season left on his deal at $4.9 million, has produced 13 goals and 22 points in 48 contests this season. He won the Cup in both 2020 and 2021 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/p>\n

RASMUS RISTOLAINEN<\/p>\n

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The big, right-shot defenceman has registered one goal and five assists as part of an injury-hit campaign with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Ristolainen, who has one season left on his current deal at $5.1 million, could help shore up a contender\u2019s blue-line corps.<\/p>\n

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JUSTIN FAULK<\/p>\n

Also a right-shot defender, the 33-year-old is another St. Louis trade chip potentially heading out the door. The dependable, offensively gifted Faulk has 11 goals and 32 points in 2025-26. His contract runs through next season at $6.5 million.<\/p>\n

SCOTT LAUGHTON<\/p>\n

The gritty centre seems likely to be heading for a Toronto exit with unrestricted free agency looming. The 31-year-old Laughton has eight goals and four assists in a campaign that included significant time away due to injury. The Maple Leafs paid a heavy price for Laughton at last year\u2019s trade deadline when they acquired him from the Flyers in a swap that included a first-round pick going the other way.<\/p>\n

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EVANDER KANE<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old pending UFA is a proven playoff performer, including back-to-back Cup final appearances with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025. Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit were traded to Vancouver last off-season, but he could have another new address by the weekend following a season that\u2019s seen the winger register 11 goals and 27 points in 59 games.<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026.<\/p>\n

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