The NHL trade market appears to be in a state of gridlock. That’s not a subjective assessment. It’s the prevailing thought among league executives.
A new report from James Murphy at RG Media, published on September 3, discussed the chatter among league executives as training camps loom. Anonymous league sources spoke to Murphy within the context of the NHL GM and coaches’ meetings in Detroit this week.
One unnamed source shed light on why the NHL trade market appears to be in suspended animation. The source stated:
“I’m not so sure, but I can tell you that talks are already picking up again. Obviously, with everyone in one place, talks pick up, but what comes of it, we’ll see. I just think there are more buyers than sellers still.”
The source specifically referenced the search several teams have underway for a second-line center. The source, however, was adamant about the fact that few sellers are willing to get the ball rolling.
Another anonymous source added:
“You keep telling me this team and that team are looking for a 2C, and like I keep asking you, tell me which ones are really available. I agree there’s been teams looking, but up until this point, I’m not sure how many have really been selling or willing to listen.”
When digging deeper, there are few teams poised to be sellers at this point. Clubs like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues view themselves as playoff contenders at this point. So, it may be too soon for these clubs to unwind serviceable players.
Meanwhile, rebuilding clubs like the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Buffalo Sabres might not be ready to unload yet.
NHL trade market could pick up closer to December
Meanwhile, the NHL trade market could eventually pick up as the calendar turns to December. According to Murphy’s report, another well-placed source told RG’s Marco D’Amico that things could pick up as the year runs out.
The source stated:
“I haven’t heard anything is imminent with a top-six center with training camps set to start in a few weeks, but I have heard that they’re monitoring a few situations in case teams have a change of heart between now and the December Roster Freeze.”
Now, the comment does not preclude that minor deals could take place. These could be depth moves based on injuries and specific roster needs. But the major ones might take a while to work out.
The Thanksgiving mark could be the catalyst for major moves. It’s also worth pointing out that the December roster freeze could just be one milestone teams will look forward to. The biggest milestone, however, could be the Olympic break.
Teams could be motivated to get deals done before players head off to the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina. The prevailing wisdom over the summer has been the concern that teams have about their players heading over the Europe.
As such, teams will want to have certainty moving forward. No one wants a player on the trade market getting hurt at the Olympics. That’s why the trade market could suddenly pick up after the Holidays and the Olympics.
If that’s the case, it could be a busy month of January for the NHL trade market.