Two sentences on every deal made during 2026 NHL trade deadline

It’s time for some bite-sized takes, as we’ve rolled out here every season post-deadline.

So without further ado, here’s two sentences on every trade that happened on the March 6, 2026 trade deadline.

The Oilers acquisitions weren’t overly complicated in that they’ve struggled to defend, and a guy like Connor Murphy defends well, black and white. In that sense it’s a good acquisition and the cost is reasonable. I guess I just hoped the Oilers would find a way to aim higher.

This was the one that made us immediately realize how high costs were going to be at the deadline despite initially thinking it’d be a buyers’ market. Michael McCarron is a low-usage guy on the Wild, but he can win draws and be tough in that limited time, and considering the prices that were paid after him, a second-round pick doesn’t seem so terrible.

Cole Smith has played parts of six season in the NHL, is 30, and is a large man. He doesn’t really move the needle, but Vegas is just trying to plug holes.

All told, it’s a pretty unimpressive return for Tyler Myers, at least in part because he had trade protection and all but chose where he wanted to go. Myers is a good proven pro back there and improves Dallas’ chances in what should be a brutal first two rounds in the Central.

I like this return for the Flames, who get a whole whack of second-rounders in the very next draft, meaning in 2-3 years, when they want to be good, they should see some of this talent realized at the NHL level. As well, I love this move for Utah because it’s buying low on MacKenzie Weegar who can be a top-pair defenceman, and is cost-controlled (cheap!) for years to come.

As I said with Smith to the Knights above, good teams are often looking at depth spots and not going, “How can we excel here?” Instead, it’s more like, “We excel in so many places, let’s make sure we don’t fall behind there.” Depth matters.

Dickinson shouldn’t be judged against the return, which is skewed by the Mangiapane contract. And be critical of that if you like, but Dickinson should serve a clear depth role on the Oilers, who’ve struggled badly to defend this season.

Nic Dowd is a good defensive forward, that much I get, but Vegas is an elite defensive team (the best, by some metrics), so it’s surprising to see it spend its assets to shore that up.

For the Avalanche, Nicolas Roy does a lot of things for them, including is very cheap, is experienced, is big, he can play centre, and he’s won a Cup. He also makes smart little plays and is low maintenance. So, while he’s not a sexy acquisition, I get it. And for the Leafs, that kind of return is a no-brainer.

Jeff Petry is 37 now, but in a limited role he can still break the puck out and eat minutes. That’s whyYou’d rather put him in the lineup when there’s an injury than one of your fringe AHL/NHL guys.

Warren Foegele is two things: big and fast. However, there’s a reason he couldn’t get in the lineup for the Kings, so the hope is that with a fresh start he finds a spot where he can use his tools effectively and provide quality depth help to an already-solid forward group.

I love Michael Bunting down the lineup on a good team. If he’s a part of your top line, the way the Leafs tried to use him with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, you’re in trouble, but if he’s being a pest and chipping in while playing 14-15 minutes, you’re in a good spot.

If good teams are getting depth, you can appreciate Detroit seeking the same. I was hoping for a bigger get for them, but given their ties to David Perron, this one also comes with that emotional feel-good gloss.

Buffalo clearly looked at itself in the mirror and didn’t see a team with the sandpaper to hang in the playoffs. And while it probably doesn’t hate giving up those picks, it feels a touch expensive for Sam Carrick (particularly when Scott Laughton went for less).

I like this for the Blue Jackets, who have some trouble attracting talent, but get a guy who fits their underdog identity. Conor Garland competes like hell, is smart, and should help them stay in the playoff fight. Meanwhile, the Canucks are wisely just accruing picks.

It’s not like the cost paid is anything too great, and, again, I see the Sabres trying to get tougher, it’s just hard to view anything fairly in the wake of the collapsed Colton Parayko deal. Maybe Logan Stanely is one of those late-developing big guys that has big years ahead, maybe Luke Schenn helps them on the bottom pair in the playoffs, if nothing else they got less fun to play seven times in a row.

The Ducks are in a weird spot in that if they’re going to be Cup contenders, it’s going to be with a core of Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and Jackson LaCombe. I would’ve liked to see them use a first- and a third-round pick for someone who’s going to be prime-aged as those guys go through theirs, but John Carlson helps this year, and the Pacific is legitimately weak, so there’s a world where this pushes them over the line to win a round or two.

I like this for the Wild, who get a guaranteed middle-six winger for a guy I’m not sure is ever going to have a positive impact at the NHL level. Once a couple teams move a guy early a lot of good hockey guys have bet on the player showing something and then have given up on it. Therefore, at some point, not everyone’s a fool?

He’s been around for 19 NHL seasons, almost 1,300 games, has over 600 points and 1,000 penalty minutes. So, if you’re going to have a guy for depth in the playoffs, you could do a lot worse than Nick Foligno. Combine that with the cool factor of playing with his brother, and a chance to win, and it’s tough not to love this one.

It’s tough to out-playoff experience Corey Perry, and given Tampa Bay’s aspirations, it’s a good fit. The Kings basically went Perry for Laughton with the way it worked out.

Too many bodies in Minnesota, and Florida needs some NHLers if it’s going to sit guys out with injuries – does Brad Marchand take some time off? Sure.

Sometimes I hear “Carolina isn’t tough enough” when talking about the playoffs and I suppose this scratches that itch. Nicolas Deslauriers can play a bit too, though, and it’s nice to have the nuclear threat to prevent anyone from getting too silly against your skill guys.

This one took a while to parse, but if you consider that the Isles are paying to get off Jonathan Drouin’s money (remember how that cost Edmonton?), the return makes more sense. The Avs pick will be late and for the Islanders, they get even more playoff stout in a weird division. Plus, Brayden Schenn helps everyone slot into more favourable positions.

Kyle Dubas likes to buy low on players who’ve fallen out of favour with their original club (hello, Yegor Chinakhov), and the Wings needed to make room for more proven depth with Perron. Sometimes it takes giants a while to get the limbs all working together (hello, Zdeno Chara) so, at six-foot-eight, maybe that’s still in store for Elmer Soderblom?

I like this pick-up for Seattle, Bobby McMann is a great guy to have down the lineup as he won’t drive play but he can take a quiet moment and turn it loud with a burst of speed or a ripped shot. The Leafs were asset hunting and this is something like what they thought they’d get. Both teams are likely happy here.

Ryan Strome is a good pro and the Flames will need some competent bodies. I bet they get more than a seventh-rounder when they flip him at the next deadline.

St. Louis managed to keep all its best assets (Thomas, Kyrou, and Parayko) and got back multiple firsts, thirds and prospects, which is a win. And for the Red Wings, hey, they get better, Faulk fits a clear need they had, and should help their forwards get to play on offence more, given how well he sees the ice.

The Canucks gave up more for Lukas Reichel in-season, but sometimes you’ve got to cut your losses. I’d say it’s time for the player to have a chat with himself this summer and see if he can’t find another gear if he wants to stay in the league.

The Kings are currently on the fringe of the playoff picture, so it makes sense to add in small ways and hope to find your way in. Laughton can play just about anywhere in your forward group, is a heart-and-soul guy and that he went for a conditional third-round pick in a year that prices were sky-high was a huge win for the Kings.

If you’re not a big D-man you better have offensive upside, but if you also aren’t a power-play guy, you better be competitive as hell. Timothy Liljegren is talented enough and breaks the puck out well but he’s not really any of those things I mentioned, and so he’s on his third team for a reason.

The Flames are just drowning in draft picks over the first three rounds of the next three years (18, including six first-round picks), and that’s absolutely their best chance to win a Stanley Cup over the next decade. They can draft, and when it’s time to compete, they can flip a few for realized players, and within a couple years – when they have their new building – they’ll be right back in the mix.

I like Buffalo shoring up its depth. Every tiny percentage of overall improvement matters in a year with very few powerhouses in the East. It won’t move the needle much, but they got a guy with some Cup experience.

David Kampf is a good defensive fourth-line centre, and the Caps are kinda doing this “try to make the playoffs while also selling” thing, so that helps. The Canucks also get an asset for a guy they needed none to acquire.

My theory on young prospects moving teams is that the teams always know first. A lot of people put their name behind these guys, so to bail on them they’re making a real statement.