5 NHL Trades That Could Still Happen Before 2026 NHL Training Camp

Training camps for the NHL's 2026-27 season will open on Sept. 16 and 17. As general managers of the 32 clubs evaluate their rosters for the coming season, they could turn to the trade market to address any glaring weaknesses.

Apart from a flurry of activity from June 16 to July 2 , the trade market was quiet for most of the summer. It wasn't until Sept. 1, when the New Jersey Devils acquired winger Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators, that a trade involving an NHL player occurred.

That move could kick off another round of trades. Some teams could try to boost their rosters, while others could attempt to move players whose trade requests have yet to be honored.

Here's our take on five players who were fixtures in the offseason rumor mill and could be moved before training camps open.

It appeared Shane Wright's days with the Seattle Kraken were coming to a close this summer.

On July 5, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the 22-year-old center's agent claimed Kraken general manager Jason Botterill agreed to move his client to a team seeking a top young center.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2022 draft, Wright struggled to establish himself as a top-six center with the Kraken. On July 13, we published a list of five trade landing spots , including the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Vancouver Canucks.

Despite his difficulties, Wright still has plenty of potential. He had a solid rookie campaign in 2024-25 with 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games and could get back on track with a better club. He's in the final season of his entry-level contract , making him an affordable option for a cap-strapped club.

Of the clubs we mentioned earlier this summer, the Flyers and Canucks are potential destinations. They're young teams that could use depth at center and have the tradeable assets to pursue him. Perhaps the retooling Nashville Predators will also give him a look.

Carolina Hurricanes Trade Alexander Nikishin to the St. Louis Blues

Sitting at No. 4 on our August NHL Trade Targets Board , Alexander Nikishin seemed to be a prime offseason trade candidate.

The Carolina Hurricanes were reportedly considering whether to trade the 24-year-old restricted free-agent defenseman or re-sign him.

The St. Louis Blues were believed to be interested in Nikishin, who completed his entry-level contract last season and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club. On Sept. 1, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic predicted the Blues would acquire the young blueliner from the Hurricanes.

Rutherford believes Nikishin is the type of big-bodied, left-shot defenseman that Alexander Steen, the Blues' new general manager, wants to add to his defense corps. He also predicted St. Louis could get him at a reasonable asking price and then sign him to a bridge contract.

If the Hurricanes peddle Nikishin, they could seek a good young player as part of the return, of whom the Blues have several.

It could give them an edge in any trade talks for Nikishin, provided they can get him inked to an affordable short-term deal.

Kirill Marchenko to the Montreal Canadiens

Trade speculation has dogged Kirill Marchenko since late June, following reports that the 25-year-old was unwilling to sign a contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The winger held the No. 2 spot on our August Trade Targets list amid conjecture about potential landing spots .

The Montreal Canadiens were on our list of destinations following a report from Russia in July claiming the Blue Jackets were talking with other clubs about trading Marchenko. However, Columbus general manager Don Waddell swiftly refuted those rumors.

Waddell insists Marchenko will report to the Blue Jackets' training camp in mid-September. Nevertheless, James Murphy of The Sick Podcast cited a source claiming the Canadiens would be at the front of the line among potential suitors if the winger becomes available.

The Canadiens are seeking a top-six forward to play alongside budding superstar Ivan Demidov on their second line. Perhaps they could offer a trade package that includes defenseman Arber Xhekaj or winger Zachary Bolduc .

Several months have passed since Dylan Larkin's trade request was first reported. With the Detroit Red Wings searching for a new general manager, the 30-year-old center's situation remains in limbo.

Since June, Larkin has regularly appeared on our NHL Trade Target Big Boards . The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers were on his initial three-team trade list, with the Dallas Stars rumored to also be among them.

The Wild were reportedly Larkin's preferred destination , but like the other clubs, they cannot afford the Red Wings' high asking price and his $8.7 million average annual value . That's unlikely to change regardless of who becomes the Red Wings' new GM.

If Larkin expands his trade list, it should increase his chances of being moved if the Wings have their new GM in place before training camp opens. That could be his only recourse if he truly wants to join a contender before the regular season begins.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has sat atop our NHL Trade Targets Big Boards since July.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner was reportedly close to being shipped to the Buffalo Sabres in late June, but the deal fell through before the opening round of the 2026 draft.

Hellebuyck became the focus of trade rumors after expressing his unhappiness with his performance and that of the Jets during his end-of-season media availability. On Aug. 27, he publicly revealed he requested a trade in the spring, confirming what many observers had suspected for months.

Several teams could be strong landing spots for Hellebuyck, but the Sabres might still have the best chance of landing him. They possess considerable depth in young forwards and goaltenders to address the Jets' need for a top-six center or right wing and a potential future replacement for Hellebuyck.

Joe Yerdon believes the Jets would want a forward like Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, or Zack Benson. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could be a decent replacement for Hellebuyck on the Jets if they are not on his five-team no-trade list .

Salary cap and contract info via PuckPedia .