The NHL Trade Deadline Looms: Who Stays, Who Goes, and Who's Ready to Walk?
The clock is ticking. With just two days left until the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline (Friday, 3 p.m. ET), the league is buzzing with speculation, anxiety, and the occasional glimmer of hope. But here's where it gets controversial: while some teams are strategically benching players to protect assets, the Toronto Maple Leafs are taking a different approach. Coach Craig Berube confirmed that no players will be held out of the lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN, TVAS), despite the team's recent struggles. Toronto (27-24-10) has dropped four straight games (0-3-1) and 10 of their last 13 (3-8-2), falling nine points behind the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference wild card race. When asked if roster management might come into play, Berube was clear: “Not tonight. But it could happen, obviously. It’s not going to happen tonight.” The Maple Leafs face the New York Rangers on Thursday before the deadline, leaving players like defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to focus on what they can control. “It's a tough time for everybody,” Ekman-Larsson admitted. “But you know what you sign up for. You just control what you can and go from there.”
And this is the part most people miss: While the Maple Leafs are keeping their lineup intact for now, the St. Louis Blues are in a far more precarious position. Brayden Schenn, the Blues' captain, described the lead-up to the deadline as “an uneasy time for everyone,” especially given the team’s recent slump. St. Louis (22-29-9) has lost seven of their last 10 games and sits 14 points behind the Seattle Kraken in the Western Conference wild card race. “We see names out there, but at the end of the day, you have a job to do,” Schenn said. “You practice hard, you play hard, you put your head down and be a pro.” Schenn, in the fifth year of an eight-year, $52 million contract, has seen his no-trade protection reduced to a 15-team clause. Other Blues players rumored to be on the move include forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, and defenseman Justin Faulk, though any deal involving Thomas or Kyrou would require them to waive their no-trade clauses. Coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged the emotional toll: “You understand the human element. Sometimes peoples’ minds might be somewhere else, so you talk to them in between whistles instead of slowing down practice.”
But here's where it gets even more intriguing: Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk has made it crystal clear he’s not interested in being part of a rebuilding team. In an interview with The Province, DeBrusk stated, “Obviously, that (rebuild) is not something I would be OK with or accepting. My game doesn’t fit that.” DeBrusk, who signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Canucks in 2024, has 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) this season but is eager to play for a contender. He’s even willing to waive his no-movement clause to make it happen. The 29-year-old has scored over 20 goals four times in his career, including three seasons with the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile, the Canucks (18-35-7), sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, traded defenseman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars for two draft picks on Wednesday. “A rebuild is hard for every player,” DeBrusk admitted. “But it’s a great opportunity for younger guys. This game humbles everybody, and it’s been a little more than humbling this year.”
Controversy Alert: Should teams prioritize protecting assets by benching players before the deadline, or is it better to let them play and risk injury? And what about players like DeBrusk—is it fair for them to demand a trade out of a rebuilding team, or should they honor their contracts? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. The trade deadline is more than just deals—it’s about the human stories behind them. Who do you think will make the biggest move? And who’s handling this chaotic time the best?
