Overview
- The deadline arrives at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, with activity picking up in the final week.
- Edmonton acquired right-shot defender Connor Murphy from Chicago for a 2028 second-round pick with 50% salary retained, as GM Stan Bowman stressed team-wide defensive improvement and opened cap room via waivers and LTIR moves.
- Pittsburgh, already one of the season’s most active clubs, is widely expected to keep dealing, with depth on draft picks and a focus area on right-side defense highlighted in recent reporting.
- Several clubs are positioned as sellers, including the Rangers, Canucks, Blues and Flames, and reports link Vincent Trocheck to multiple suitors with the Wild viewed by insiders as the favorite to land him.
- On-ice trends are shaping plans: Toronto’s fourth straight loss left it seven points out of a wild-card spot, while Columbus’ 5-4 OT win at Madison Square Garden pushed it closer to the cut line and sharpened its deadline calculus.