Predicting the Most Active Teams at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL's annual trade deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on March 3. While we're still three months away from that date, it's a good opportunity to get an early start on predicting which teams could be the most active leading up to deadline day.

Some teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks, are in the midst of rebuilding their rosters and already sinking in the standings. They're the most likely to become sellers, attempting to peddle players who no longer fit into their future plans for draft picks and promising youngsters.

Others, such as the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche or Boston Bruins, are likely to become buyers as they look to give themselves a better opportunity at winning the Cup.

Of course, a lot could happen over the next three months that could affect how active those teams become in the trade market. Nevertheless, we anticipate that the following eight clubs—four buyers and four sellers—will be busy as deadline day draws near.

Do you agree or disagree with our predictions? Is there a club on this list that doesn't belong or one that you feel we've missed? Let us know in the comments section.

Despite starting the season with stars Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy recovering from offseason surgeries, the Boston Bruins stormed from the gate. With Marchand and McAvoy back in the lineup, the Bruins, who were sitting second in the overall NHL standings heading into play Friday, look like early favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

General manager Don Sweeney has shown a willingness to wheel and deal near the trade deadline. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm was acquired before last season's deadline, while winger Taylor Hall was brought in at the 2021 deadline.

Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are the only Bruins remaining from the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team. This season could be the last opportunity for those aging stars to win a championship. Boston is pressed for salary-cap space, but given Sweeney's history of deadline deals, it'll likely be active leading up to March 3.

The Bruins could consider balancing their blue line with another right-shot defenseman. They might also seek a middle-six forward for their second or third line. That could involve trading a salaried player in a dollar-in, dollar-out deal. If a Bruin ends up on long-term injured reserve, Sweeney could use that salary-cap relief to his advantage in the trade market.

The Anaheim Ducks are in the midst of a roster rebuild under general manager Pat Verbeek. He shipped out pending free-agent defensemen like Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm at last season's deadline. Verbeek also traded pending UFA winger Rickard Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stuck at the bottom of the NHL standings, the Ducks are unlikely to surge into playoff contention before the March 3 deadline. That could send Verbeek into the trade market to peddle more pending UFAs for draft picks, prospects and young players.

Verbeek once again has some pending free-agent blueliners to dangle as trade bait for postseason contenders that are seeking experienced defensive depth. John Klingberg, Kevin Shattenkirk and Dmitry Kulikov could draw various degrees of interest.

Forwards Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg could also become valuable trade chips. Both have a year remaining on their respective deals, with annual average values between $5.3 million and $5.8 million. The 32-year-olds also have modified no-trade clauses but might not object to getting dealt to a contender before deadline day.

The Colorado Avalanche became Stanley Cup champions last season in part because of their acquisitions leading up to the trade deadline. Defenseman Josh Manson and forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Cogliano played key roles in the championship run, earning themselves contract extensions.

Joe Sakic was the general manager behind those moves. He has since moved up to the Avalanche's president of hockey operations, and we can expect his successor, Chris MacFarland, to monitor the trade market for deals that improve the team's chances of successfully defending the Cup.

The Avalanche will have a projected $5.2 million in cap space at the trade deadline. That could provide them with some wiggle room to bring in a player or two.

MacFarland could seek an experienced second-line center to fill the void left by Nazem Kadri's offseason departure to the Calgary Flames. Bringing in a second- or third-pairing defenseman could be another option given Bowen Byram's injury history. The Avs GM could also look at bolstering the checking-line depth.

When the Chicago Blackhawks officially hired Kyle Davidson as general manager on March 1, he said that it was time for his club to rebuild. He wasted little time getting started, trading notable players like Brandon Hagel and Marc-André Fleury by the March 21 trade deadline.

With the Blackhawks sinking toward the bottom of the NHL standings, expect Davidson to become a seller once again. His moves last season brought in young players Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk (both now 24) along with two conditional first-round picks and a second-rounder.

Longtime Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are slated to become unrestricted free agents in July. Each will draw plenty of interest from playoff contenders if they agree to waive their no-movement clauses. However, their hefty $10.5 million cap hits could require the Blackhawks to retain up to half of their remaining salaries.

Pending UFAs like Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou could be enticing to contenders that are seeking affordable secondary scoring. Both are on one-year, $3 million contracts. Jujhar Khaira ($975,000 cap hit) could be a good fit with a playoff team looking for checking-line grit.

The New York Rangers returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2017, reaching the Eastern Conference Final before bowing out to the Tampa Bay Lightning. With expectations raised by that performance, general manager Chris Drury could be active in the trade market.

Drury proved last season that he's willing to make moves near the deadline, bringing in rental players such as Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, Frank Vatrano and Justin Braun. He could be busy again this campaign, especially if New York is still jockeying for a wild-card spot when the calendar flips to March.

Unlike last season, the Rangers aren't as flush with cap space, carrying a projected $6.7 million of room. Nevertheless, Drury will likely attempt to find a deal that can not only improve his club's chances of clinching a playoff berth but also stage a run for the Stanley Cup.

The Rangers lack an experienced scoring right winger and are using Jimmy Vesey, Vitali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko in that role. They could also use a reliable center for their second line if Vincent Trocheck or Filip Chytil continues to struggle in that role.

The rebuild continues for the Arizona Coyotes. General manager Bill Armstrong has been shipping out veterans for young players, draft picks and prospects since taking over the job in September 2020. Ilya Lyubushkin, Ryan Dzingel, Johan Larsson, Riley Nash and Scott Wedgewood were dealt leading up to last season's deadline.

Armstrong is attempting to build up his roster with younger players currently in the lineup such as Clayton Keller, Matias Maccelli, Dylan Guenther, J.J. Moser and Barrett Hayton. He also has promising talent such as Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie in his prospect pipeline.

The Coyotes have 14 picks in the 2024 NHL draft and 10 in the 2025 draft but just seven picks for 2023. Armstrong could attempt to load up with more picks and perhaps add some prospects prior to this year's trade deadline.

He has one big trade chip in defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who's been the subject of trade rumors for some time. Pending free agents such as blueliner Shayne Gostisbehere and forward Nick Bjugstad could also become trade candidates.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' last Stanley Cup was in 1967. Their last playoff series victory was in 2004. This is a franchise under pressure from a demanding fanbase. General manager Kyle Dubas' job could depend on the moves he makes leading up to the trade deadline.

Dubas hasn't been afraid to make deals in years past. He brought in Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell last season; Nick Foligno, Stefan Noesen, Riley Nash, Ben Hutton and David Rittich in 2021; Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford in 2020; and Jake Muzzin in 2019. Only Giordano, Muzzin and Clifford remain.

The Leafs have a projected $7.9 million in cap space. With Muzzin potentially sidelined for the remainder of the season with a cervical spine injury, Dubas could go shopping for a top-four shutdown defenseman or perhaps a puck-moving right-shot blueliner.

That's not the only spot in the roster that Dubas could attempt to address. He might consider adding a reliable checking line center. Depending on the health of oft-injured Matt Murray, the Leafs GM could look for an experienced, affordable third-string goaltender.

Since Jeff Gorton took over as vice president of hockey operations and Kent Hughes became general manager last season, the Montreal Canadiens have focused on rebuilding with youth. That involved being active in the trade market.

From February 14 to March 21, Hughes traded winger Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames, shipped defenseman Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers, dealt winger Artturi Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche and peddled blueliner Brett Kulak to the Edmonton Oilers. The Habs GM should be active again in the weeks leading up to this season's deadline.

The Canadiens are having a better-than-expected start this season after finishing dead last in 2021-22. However, they lack experienced blue-line depth, a reliable starting goalie and power-play proficiency. Those issues should prevent them from reaching the playoffs, leading to several pending free agents hitting the trade block.

Sean Monahan could become a valuable trade target for teams that are seeking a second-line center. Fellow free-agents-to-be Jonathan Drouin and Evgenii Dadonov will also be available. Veterans with a year remaining on their contracts, such as defenseman Joel Edmundson and winger Mike Hoffman, could also end up getting dealt by March 3.

Salary info and trade histories via Cap Friendly. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.