NHL Trade Deadline 2026 Betting Preview: Predictions, Odds, & Best Bets

Will Auston Matthews Be Traded Odds and Pick

• • Yes (+1400)
  • No (-10000)

Could newly minted Olympic gold medalist Auston Matthews be on the move now that the Games are over? The Team USA and Toronto Maple Leafs captain is in the middle of a difficult season on a squad that’s sinking fast. For all the public denials from the front office, the Maple Leafs simply don’t look like a playoff team.

Whether it’s their 27-23-9 record, good for just 63 points and last place in the Atlantic Division, or the visible frustration and sagging body language, the red flags are everywhere.

Fans and outside observers can see the writing on the wall, and head coach Craig Berube is under immense pressure to restore this team’s confidence before the season completely slips away.

Gold Medalists Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk were honored by the Panthers before tonight's game 👏🥇 pic.twitter.com/zVO78d5Zvr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 27, 2026

After Mitch Marner signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in the offseason, the Maple Leafs have tried to keep their core intact and contributing. But there are simply too many holes on this roster for Toronto to be considered a true contender.

That leaves the front office with a difficult question: do they try to patch things up on the fly, or do they completely blow it up and commit to a full-scale rebuild?

Complicating matters is their draft capital. The Maple Leafs only keep their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft if they finish in the bottom five. Otherwise, they’ll be without a first-, second-, and fourth-round pick in 2026, as well as their first- and third-round selections in 2027. Moving their most valuable assets at the deadline could be the only realistic way to replenish those picks and reset the direction of the franchise.

Sending Matthews elsewhere while his value is still high would be the cornerstone of that decision. He is currently on a four-deal, $53 million contract that expires in 2028.

However, Matthews has a no-trade clause and he would only waive it for certain teams. There are reportedly clubs kicking the tires on Matthews’ availability, but I don’t believe there’s any substance to it.

I also don’t believe the Maple Leafs’ brass thinks they’re out of the playoff conversation or ready to throw in the towel and commit to a full rebuild. Trading Matthews would signal the start of a massive teardown in Toronto that could take years to recover from, and I don’t see that happening.

If Matthews were listed at +4000 or +5000 to be traded, I’d consider a small play at that price. However, +1400 offers no value for your NHL trade deadline picks – the fair number is much higher. On the other side, laying -10000 isn’t worth considering either, so the best approach is to pass on this prop altogether.

Where Will Stuart Skinner Be Traded Odds and Pick

The Anaheim Ducks are looking to bolster their goaltending depth and would benefit from a reliable backup behind Lukas Dostal. With Petr Mrazek out for the season, the Ducks would benefit from adding another goaltender.

A solid tandem is crucial at this time of year, and Anaheim is in the middle of a playoff push at 32-23-4, sitting second in the Pacific Division.

Dostal isn’t having a fantastic season, with a 3.00 GAA and 0.895 save percentage. Ville Husso hasn’t proven to be a quality option in a backup role, as he boasts a shaky 3.26 GAA and 0.882 save percentage. The Ducks need to address their defense in the offseason, but for now, another goalie would be a fix for now.

Follow along with Stuart Skinner's pregame routine! 🙆‍♂️

He's 5-0-1 in his last six starts!

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/6F2iWxVyfM

— NHL (@NHL) February 28, 2026

Stuart Skinner is having a solid season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has posted a 2.76 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage over 37 games. Along with his reliability as a backup, Skinner also offers playoff experience from his time with the Edmonton Oilers, making him a potentially strong addition to the locker room.

The Ottawa Senators could be in the mix as well, but the Ducks are red-hot right now and likely going to be clear buyers at the deadline. In short, Skinner being traded to the Ducks is a solid wager at +175 odds.

Nazem Kadri (Calgary Flames)

The Calgary Flames have made it clear they’ll be sellers at this year’s trade deadline. At 24-28-6 with 54 points, they sit second-to-last in the Pacific Division and are well out of the playoff race.

Nazem Kadri, 35, is in the fourth season of his seven-year, $49 million deal with Calgary, which runs through 2029-30. With the Flames shifting into a full rebuild, moving on from Kadri’s hefty contract would be an ideal scenario for the front office.

He isn’t having a standout season, but Kadri would still be a valuable addition for a contender. A new environment, upgraded linemates, and a deeper lineup could give his game a real boost. It’s a situation that makes sense for both sides, so a Kadri trade before the deadline shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Blake Coleman (Calgary Flames)

Another veteran likely on the move in Calgary is left winger Blake Coleman. Like Kadri, there isn’t much incentive to keep Coleman in Calgary. The 34-year-old is buried on the Flames’ third line with Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin.

He recorded a career-high 30 goals in 2023-24, but Coleman’s production has stalled. Through 46 matchups, the veteran has tallied 13 goals and eight assists this season. Coleman isn’t a game-changer but would be a solid depth piece to any contender in the NHL.

Tyler Myers (Vancouver Canucks)

Elsewhere in Western Canada, the last-place Vancouver Canucks appear poised for a fire sale at the trade deadline. Veteran defenseman Tyler Myers has already been held out of the lineup and hasn’t played since February 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Myers, 36, seems to have reached his expiry date in Vancouver. He joined the Canucks for the 2019–20 season after five years with the Winnipeg Jets. It’s been a dismal campaign for Vancouver: at 18-34-7, they sit dead last in the NHL with 43 points and look to be in full tank mode.

Elliotte Friedman provides an update on Tyler Myers and Elias Pettersson.

🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/nRRVsxTVnV

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) March 1, 2026

With Myers’ three-year contract set to expire next year, there isn’t any plausible reason for keeping him in Vancouver. Losing his presence in the locker room will be a loss for the Canucks, but they need to sell and look to the future. Myers is most likely gone.

Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks)

Swedish center Elias Pettersson has been a mainstay in Vancouver since the 2018-19 season. He’s had some fantastic years with the Canucks, including a career‑high 39 goals in 2022-23, but the organization is now entertaining offers for the 27-year-old.

Even in a down season, Pettersson should still command a strong trade package. It feels like he could benefit from a change of scenery and a stronger supporting cast. A fresh start and the motivation of playing for a true Stanley Cup contender could go a long way toward reigniting his game, so there will be no shortage of suitors.

Pettersson is in the second year of an eight-year, $92.8 million contract that runs through 2032, and the Canucks would love to move that deal off their books. The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline presents a prime opportunity for Vancouver to do exactly that.

Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers)

It has been a frustrating season in New York, and the Rangers are shaping up to sell at the deadline. 32-year-old center gold medalist Vincent Trocheck is among the hottest NHL Trade Deadline rumors on the board.

Trocheck signed a seven-year, $39.4 million contract with the Rangers in 2022. At the time, he expected the Rangers to be competitive throughout his deal, but that hasn’t been the case. At 23-39-7 with 53 points and last in the Metropolitan Division, Trocheck is prime trade bait material for the front office.