Usually we say pencils down, but as the clock strikes midnight, it’s time for all general managers to pick up their pencils and start working, with the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze officially over.
During the break, the teams were unable to make any exchanges. Players could be excluded, but they were not required to report immediately, while contract negotiations could also be officially signed and submitted.
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There have been rumors – when have there not been rumors? — that general managers could have trades scheduled, as teams were allowed to talk with other teams throughout the break.
Jordan Kyrou’s name has been swirling around – the St. Louis Blues love to test the market on their players but don’t do anything with them, so we’ll see what the fate of Kyrou and Robert Thomas is.
What an Islanders trade for Jordan Kyrou could look like
As for the New York Islandersthey have $6.02 million in available cap space, and while they’ve already made two deep moves, they have the assets — two 2026 first-round picks and a solid prospect pool — to really do whatever they want at this deadline, provided they find a suitable dance partner.
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I’m sure GM Mathieu Darche has heard other GMs talking about a few of his players. Pending unrestricted free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau is assumed to be the number one name he’s been asked about.
The type of player the Islanders should look to acquire
The type of player the Islanders should look to acquire The NHL’s Olympic break is coming to an end. THE New York Islanders have returned to training, and now their first game back from break is just a week away.
But with the Islanders in the playoffs, even if #44 doesn’t have a contract extension, I doubt he’ll be moved unless Darche is blown out of the water.
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Other pending UFAs: F Anders Lee, D Tony DeAngelo, D Carson Soucy, G David Rittich
Here are the pending calls for tenders: F Maxim Shabanov, F Marc Gatcomb, D Adam Boqvist
Could we see players like Anthony Duclair, who has two seasons remaining on his $3.5 million contract and a full no-trade clause, given he’s outside the starting lineup?
The 2026 NHL trade deadline arrives on March 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
