Eklund's Rumor Chart Snapshot: The NHL Trade Deadline Is Here and the Board Is Loaded\DEEP DIVE BELOW CHART
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A snapshot analysis of The Rumor Chart — March 4, 2026
The NHL trade deadline is bearing down like a freight train, and The Rumor Chart is absolutely stacked with names. From franchise cornerstones to veteran depth pieces, the board is alive with movement, shifting percentages, and behind-the-scenes chatter that suggests this could be one of the most active deadlines in recent memory. What follows is a full breakdown of every player currently listed on the chart, what the numbers say, and what it all means for the teams involved. Remember — these are educated predictions based on sourced information, meant for entertainment purposes only. But when the chart is this loaded, it's hard not to pay close attention.
THE HEADLINERS: Stars Who Could Change Everything
Brady Tkachuk — Ottawa Senators (C)
If there is one name on this entire chart that stops you cold, it's Brady Tkachuk. The Ottawa Senators captain — a player who was supposed to be the face of a franchise rebuild — sits atop the chart with a staggering 65% chance of being traded, a number that has climbed another 5% in the most recent update. The leading destination is Ottawa itself at 65%, which likely reflects the possibility of a contract extension keeping him in place, but the fact that St. Louis Blues (15%), Detroit Red Wings (10%), and Florida Panthers (10%) are all in the mix tells you that real conversations are happening. When a player of Tkachuk's caliber and age is on a rumor chart at this level of probability, something significant is in motion. The Senators faithful should be watching this one very closely.
Auston Matthews — Toronto Maple Leafs (C)
The most polarizing entry on the entire chart. Auston Matthews, the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the most gifted goal scorers of his generation, is listed with a 65% chance of staying in Toronto — but that number has only climbed 5%, and the fact that he's on the chart at all speaks volumes. Detroit Red Wings (15%), Philadelphia Flyers (15%, up 5%), and Los Angeles Kings (5%, down 5%) are all listed as potential destinations. The Kings number dropping is notable. The Flyers number rising is eyebrow-raising. Matthews in Philadelphia or Detroit would be a seismic shift in the Eastern Conference landscape. Toronto fans have been here before with their stars, but this one feels different.
Elias Pettersson — Vancouver Canucks (C)
Another superstar whose presence on this chart sends shockwaves through his fanbase. Pettersson sits at 60% to remain in Vancouver, but that number has dropped 10% — a significant slide that suggests the noise around a potential departure is getting louder. The Montreal Canadiens are surging as a destination at 25% (Åup 10%), with the New York Rangers at 10% and Boston Bruins at 5% also in the picture. A Pettersson trade would be one of the most stunning moves in Canucks history. The 10-point drop in his "stays" percentage is the kind of movement that makes insiders sit up straight.
THE BLUE LINE BONANZA: Defensemen Dominating the Chart
This deadline is shaping up to be a defenseman's market, and the chart reflects that reality in a big way. Multiple high-profile blueliners are in play, and the teams acquiring them could dramatically alter their Stanley Cup trajectories.
Morgan Rielly — Toronto Maple Leafs (D)
In what would be a stunning development even by Toronto standards, Morgan Rielly — a Maple Leaf for his entire career — is listed with a 40% chance of heading to the San Jose Sharks (up 15%), 30% to the Pittsburgh Penguins (down 10%), and 30% to stay in Toronto. The Dallas Stars are listed at 0%, meaning that door appears closed. The Sharks number rising sharply is fascinating — San Jose has been aggressive in acquiring assets and veterans as they build toward contention, and Rielly's experience and offensive upside from the back end would be a significant addition. A Rielly trade out of Toronto would be a franchise-defining moment.
MacKenzie Weegar — Calgary Flames (D)
Weegar is one of the most coveted defensemen on the market, and the chart shows it. He's listed at 50% to stay in Calgary (up 15%), with Ottawa Senators at 30% (up 15%) and Detroit Red Wings at 20% (down 15%). The Ottawa surge is interesting — the Senators have been building a legitimate contender and adding a two-way defenseman of Weegar's caliber would be a major statement. The Detroit number dropping suggests that particular conversation may have cooled. Calgary keeping him at 50% means this one is genuinely on the fence.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Toronto Maple Leafs (D)
OEL is listed at 40% to land with the Buffalo Sabres (up 15%), 30% to the Los Angeles Kings, 15% to the New Jersey Devils, and 15% to the Dallas Stars (up 15%). The Sabres and Stars numbers both climbing suggests multiple teams are actively engaged. Buffalo has been one of the more aggressive teams in recent weeks, and adding a veteran defenseman with OEL's pedigree — even at this stage of his career — would give their blue line a different look. The Kings and Devils connections make geographic and roster sense as well.
Radko Gudas — Anaheim Ducks (D)
The veteran blueliner is listed with 35% odds of landing in Dallas (up 10%), followed by the New York Islanders at 20% (down 10%), Tampa Bay Lightning at 15% (down 15%), Boston Bruins at 15% (down 5%), and Philadelphia Flyers at 5%. The Dallas number climbing while Tampa drops is notable — the Stars have been one of the most active teams in deadline chatter all season, and adding a physical, experienced defenseman like Gudas fits their identity perfectly. The Islanders number dropping may reflect a shift in their priorities.
Justin Faulk — St. Louis Blues (D)
Faulk is listed at 45% to Detroit Red Wings, 25% to Edmonton Oilers (up 5%), 20% to Dallas Stars (down 5%), and 10% to Boston Bruins. Detroit keeps appearing as a destination for veteran defensemen, which tells you the Red Wings are serious about adding to their blue line before the deadline. Faulk's experience and physicality would be a welcome addition to a Detroit team pushing for playoff positioning. The Oilers connection is intriguing as well — Edmonton is always looking for defensive depth to protect their offensive stars.
Luke Schenn — Winnipeg Jets (D)
The veteran Schenn is listed at 40% to Dallas Stars, 35% to Montreal Canadiens, and 25% to Detroit Red Wings. Three legitimate destinations, no clear frontrunner — this one could go anywhere. Dallas keeps appearing across the chart as an aggressive buyer, and Schenn's physical, stay-at-home style would complement their existing blue line. Montreal at 35% is interesting, suggesting the Canadiens may be looking to add some veteran toughness to their defensive corps.
Logan Stanley — Winnipeg Jets (D)
Stanley is listed at 60% to Detroit Red Wings, 20% to Boston Bruins, 15% to Winnipeg Jets (staying), and 5% to Carolina Hurricanes. The Detroit number is dominant here — the Red Wings are clearly in the market for multiple defensive pieces, and Stanley's size and physicality fit the profile of what they're looking for. Boston at 20% makes sense given their perennial need for defensive depth.
Rasmus Ristolainen — Philadelphia Flyers (D)
Ristolainen is listed at 40% to Detroit Red Wings, 35% to Edmonton Oilers (up 5%), 15% to New York Islanders (up 15%), and 10% to stay in Philadelphia (down 5%). The Islanders number jumping 15% is the most significant movement here — that's a major surge that suggests a real conversation has developed. Edmonton at 35% makes sense given their defensive needs, and Detroit once again appears as a major player in the blueliner market.
Zach Whitehead — Calgary Flames (D)
Whitehead is listed at 45% to Dallas Stars (up 15%), 20% to Carolina Hurricanes, 20% to Buffalo Sabres, 10% to Montreal Canadiens, and 5% to Nashville Predators. The Dallas number surging 15% is consistent with the Stars' aggressive posture throughout this chart. Carolina and Buffalo both appearing reflects the interest from Eastern Conference contenders looking to shore up their blue lines.
Emil Andrae — Philadelphia Flyers (D)
The young Swedish defenseman is listed at 40% to stay in Philadelphia, 30% to Boston Bruins, 15% to Buffalo Sabres, and 15% to Ottawa Senators. Philadelphia keeping him at 40% suggests the Flyers haven't fully committed to moving him, but the Boston and Ottawa numbers indicate real interest from contending teams. Andrae's offensive upside from the back end would be an attractive addition for any team looking to add a puck-moving defender.
Dougie Hamilton — New Jersey Devils (D)
Hamilton is listed at 55% to stay in New Jersey, 30% to Los Angeles Kings, and 15% to San Jose Sharks. The Kings number is significant — Los Angeles has been building toward a championship window and adding Hamilton's offensive production from the blue line would be a major upgrade. The Sharks appearing again (as with Rielly) suggests San Jose is genuinely active in the defenseman market. Hamilton staying at 55% means New Jersey likely wants to keep him, but the price may be right for the right offer.
BETWEEN THE PIPES: The Goaltender Market
Sergei Bobrovsky — Florida Panthers (G)
One of the most intriguing goaltender situations on the chart. Bobrovsky is listed at 40% to Buffalo Sabres (up 10%), 25% to Edmonton Oilers, 20% to stay in Florida, and 15% to Montreal Canadiens (down 10%). The Sabres number climbing sharply is the headline here — Buffalo adding a proven Stanley Cup-winning goaltender would be a massive statement of intent. Edmonton at 25% makes sense given their championship aspirations and the need for reliable goaltending. Florida at only 20% suggests the Panthers may genuinely be open to moving their veteran netminder.
Jordan Binnington — St. Louis Blues (G)
Binnington is listed at 40% to stay in St. Louis (down 5%), 35% to Montreal Canadiens (down 10%), 20% to Buffalo Sabres, and 5% to Edmonton Oilers. Both his "stays" and Montreal numbers are dropping, which is notable movement. Buffalo appearing again in the goaltender market reinforces the idea that the Sabres are serious about upgrading their crease. The declining Montreal number may reflect a shift in the Canadiens' goaltending strategy.
THE FORWARDS: Skill, Grit, and Big Names in Motion
Alexis Lafrenière — New York Rangers (LW)
The former first overall pick is listed at 40% to stay with the Rangers, 30% to Chicago Blackhawks, 20% to Montreal Canadiens, and 10% to Detroit Red Wings. The Chicago number is fascinating — the Blackhawks have been rebuilding around Connor Bedard, and adding a talented young winger like Lafrenière would accelerate that process considerably. Montreal at 20% makes geographic and cultural sense. The fact that Lafrenière is on this chart at all suggests the Rangers may be willing to move him as part of a larger deal.
Patrik Laine — Montreal Canadiens (RW)
Laine's situation is one of the most fluid on the chart. He's listed at 30% to stay in Montreal, 30% to Calgary Flames, 20% to Anaheim Ducks, and 20% to Los Angeles Kings. Four destinations with relatively even distribution tells you this one is genuinely wide open. Calgary makes a lot of sense — the Flames need a dynamic scorer and Laine's shot is one of the best in the world. The LA and Anaheim connections are interesting West Coast options. Montreal at only 30% suggests the Canadiens may be ready to move on.
Simon Nemec — New Jersey Devils (D)
Nemec is listed at 70% to stay in New Jersey, with Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks each at 10%. The high "stays" percentage suggests the Devils value him highly, but the presence of three legitimate destinations at 10% each means conversations have at least been had. Detroit, Dallas, and San Jose all appearing is consistent with the broader patterns on this chart.
Claude Giroux — Ottawa Senators (C)
Giroux is listed at 70% to stay in Ottawa and 30% to Pittsburgh Penguins (down 10%). The Penguins number dropping is significant — it suggests that particular conversation may be cooling. Ottawa at 70% indicates the Senators likely want to keep their veteran center, but Pittsburgh's interest hasn't completely evaporated. A Giroux return to the Pittsburgh area — where he spent much of his career in Philadelphia — would be a sentimental storyline worth watching.
Jared McCann — Seattle Kraken (C)
McCann is listed at 40% to stay in Seattle (down 15%), 30% to New York Rangers (up 15%), 10% to Philadelphia Flyers (down 15%), and 10% each to Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. The massive swing — Seattle down 15%, Rangers up 15% — is the most dramatic single movement on the chart and suggests a real conversation between Seattle and New York has developed rapidly. McCann's goal-scoring ability would be a significant addition for the Rangers.
Robert Thomas — St. Louis Blues (C)
Thomas is listed at 35% to stay in St. Louis (down 15%), 30% to Ottawa Senators (up 15%), 25% to Buffalo Sabres (up 15%), 5% to Philadelphia Flyers (down 15%), and 5% to Carolina Hurricanes. The Blues' number dropping sharply while Ottawa and Buffalo surge tells a clear story — St. Louis appears increasingly willing to move their talented center, and multiple Eastern Conference teams are lining up. Ottawa adding Thomas alongside their existing core would make them a genuine playoff threat.
Jordan Kyrou — St. Louis Blues (RW)
Kyrou is listed at 65% to stay in St. Louis, 15% to New York Islanders, and 10% to Washington Capitals. The high "stays" percentage suggests the Blues want to keep him, but the Islanders and Capitals connections indicate some level of interest from outside. With Robert Thomas also potentially on the move, St. Louis could be in the midst of a significant roster reshaping.
Connor Garland — Vancouver Canucks (RW)
Garland is listed at 50% to Carolina Hurricanes (up 5%), 30% to Philadelphia Flyers (up 5%), and 20% to Minnesota Wild (down 10%). Carolina and Philadelphia both climbing while Minnesota drops suggests the Hurricanes and Flyers are the real players here. Carolina adding a speedy, skilled winger like Garland would give their already dangerous forward group another weapon. The Flyers connection is interesting given their apparent activity across multiple positions on this chart.
Blake Coleman — Calgary Flames (LW)
Coleman is listed at 50% to Colorado Avalanche (up 5%) and 40% to Dallas Stars (down 5%), with Buffalo Sabres at 10%. Colorado and Dallas are the clear frontrunners, and both make tremendous sense. The Avalanche are perennial contenders who value Coleman's combination of speed, physicality, and playoff experience. Dallas appearing again — their fourth or fifth appearance on this chart — reinforces just how aggressively the Stars are shopping.
Nazem Kadri — Calgary Flames (C)
Kadri is listed at 35% to Colorado Avalanche, 25% to Montreal Canadiens, 15% to Dallas Stars, 15% to Edmonton Oilers, and 10% to Minnesota Wild. Five destinations with no dominant frontrunner suggests this one is genuinely unsettled. Colorado makes the most narrative sense given Kadri's history with the Avalanche. Edmonton at 15% is intriguing — adding a veteran center of Kadri's caliber to Edmonton's lineup would give them another dangerous option down the middle.
Bobby McMann — Toronto Maple Leafs (LW)
McMann is listed at 40% to Edmonton Oilers, 30% to Tampa Bay Lightning, 20% to stay in Toronto, and 10% to Calgary Flames. The Oilers number leading the way is notable — Edmonton has been connected to multiple Toronto players on this chart, suggesting a potential larger deal between the two franchises. Tampa at 30% makes sense given their perennial need for forward depth.
Evander Kane — Vancouver Canucks (RW)
Kane is listed at 45% to Washington Capitals, 35% to Boston Bruins, and 20% to Dallas Stars. Washington leading the way is interesting — the Capitals are in a transitional phase and adding Kane's physical, power-forward presence would give them a different dimension. Boston at 35% makes a lot of sense given the Bruins' history of valuing that style of player. Dallas appearing yet again confirms the Stars are one of the most active teams at this deadline.
Andrew Mangiapane — Edmonton Oilers (LW)
Mangiapane is listed at 50% to Toronto Maple Leafs, 30% to Montreal Canadiens, and 20% to Philadelphia Flyers. Toronto leading the way at 50% is significant — the Maple Leafs clearly need forward help, and Mangiapane's speed and work ethic would fit their system well. The Montreal and Philadelphia connections provide alternative landing spots, but Toronto appears to be the frontrunner.
Travis Konecny — Philadelphia Flyers (RW)
Konecny is listed at 65% to stay in Philadelphia, 30% to Boston Bruins, and 5% to Ottawa Senators. The Flyers keeping him at 65% suggests Philadelphia wants to retain their top scorer, but Boston at 30% is a significant number — the Bruins have been connected to multiple forwards on this chart and appear to be one of the most active buyers. A Konecny trade to Boston would be a major acquisition for the Bruins.
Sean Couturier — Philadelphia Flyers (C)
Couturier is listed at 40% to stay in Philadelphia, 30% to Edmonton Oilers, 20% to Pittsburgh Penguins, and 10% to San Jose Sharks. The fact that Philadelphia's own captain is listed at only 40% to stay is stunning. Edmonton at 30% would be a blockbuster — Couturier's two-way excellence alongside McDavid and Draisaitl would make the Oilers virtually unstoppable. Pittsburgh at 20% adds another layer of intrigue. This is one of the most shocking entries on the entire chart.
Vincent Trochek — New York Rangers (C)
Trochek is listed at 45% to Boston Bruins, 20% to Minnesota Wild, 20% to Carolina Hurricanes, and 15% to Detroit Red Wings. Boston leading the way at 45% is consistent with the Bruins' aggressive posture throughout this chart. Carolina makes sense given Trochek's history with the franchise. The Rangers moving him would suggest New York is in a transitional mode, potentially retooling around their younger core.
Mark Ferraro — San Jose Sharks (D)
Ferraro is listed at 35% to Boston Bruins (down 10%), 30% to Toronto Maple Leafs (up 10%), 25% to stay in San Jose, and 10% to Dallas Stars. The Boston number dropping while Toronto rises is notable movement. The Maple Leafs appearing as a destination for a defenseman makes sense given their blue line needs, and Ferraro's experience would be a welcome addition.
THE BIG PICTURE: What the Chart Tells Us
Stepping back and looking at the chart as a whole, several themes emerge with striking clarity.
Dallas Stars are the most active buyer on the board. The Stars appear as a destination for Radko Gudas, Luke Schenn, Zach Whitehead, Justin Faulk, Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Evander Kane, and more. General Manager Jim Nill is clearly in full win-now mode, and the Stars have the assets and the cap space to make multiple moves before the deadline.
Detroit Red Wings are the second most aggressive team. Detroit appears as a destination for Logan Stanley, Rasmus Ristolainen, Justin Faulk, Luke Schenn, Robert Thomas, and others. The Red Wings are clearly trying to accelerate their rebuild by adding veteran pieces across the roster.
Boston Bruins are shopping hard. Boston appears as a destination for Travis Konecny, Vincent Trochek, Evander Kane, Mark Ferraro, Emil Andrae, and Jordan Binnington.
Buffalo Sabres are making a statement. Buffalo appears as a destination for Sergei Bobrovsky, Jordan Binnington, Robert Thomas, Zach Whitehead, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Sabres appear to be going all-in on ending their playoff drought, and the moves they're connected to would dramatically transform their roster.
Ottawa Senators are quietly building something special. Ottawa appears as a destination for MacKenzie Weegar, Robert Thomas, Claude Giroux (staying), and Emil Andrae. The Senators are clearly trying to push from fringe playoff team to genuine contender, and the pieces they're connected to would make them a very dangerous team come April.
The trade deadline is hours away, and The Rumor Chart is a living, breathing document of the chaos and calculation happening behind closed doors across the league. Check back often — because in this business, everything can change in a phone call