Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 24 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. We are just a few days away from the trade deadline and this will be a very busy time in the NHL. So here goes (although there will most likely be more trades coming in throughout the next few days):
- The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline – The NHL trade deadline is just days away (March 6, 2026) and there are several reports highlighting teams with strong prospect assets positioning as buyers, and some contenders already gearing up to make moves. We have already seen some trades taking place but could we see some more big moves, with multiple teams who believe that they are in it and willing to go all in?
- Kirill Kaprizov makes History – Kaprizov, 28, has set a franchise-record for the Minnesota Wild by becoming the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer in a 5-1 win over the Lightning, part of a slate of high-scoring NHL action. He has been an excellent winger for them, as they wish to compete in the very tough Central Division. To bolster the team, Bill Guerin has also bolstered their forward group by trading for Michael McCarron from Nashville in exchange for a 2028 2nd-round pick, strengthening their playoff push. Can Minnesota go far this year and potentially win the cup?
- Tyler Myers is a Star – Myers was traded today to the Dallas Stars by the Vancouver Canucks as part of the 2026 National Hockey League Trade Deadline activity. The 36‑year‑old veteran defenseman agreed to waive his no‑movement clause to join Dallas, which sent a 2027 second‑round pick and a 2029 fourth‑round pick back to Vancouver, with the Canucks retaining 50 % of his contract to help the Stars manage the cap. Myers, in his 17th NHL season, had logged one goal and seven assists in 57 games this season, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time and bringing size, experience, and penalty‑kill strength to Dallas’ blue line as they push toward the playoffs.
- Cole Smith is a Golden Knight – In the Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights acquired forward Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round pick, adding depth and physicality to their lineup. But the team still may make a move as their captain Mark Stone listed as ‘day-to-day’ from a collision with Kris Letang. The Vegas Golden Kniths lost that game 5 to 0.
- Connor Murphy is an Oiler – In Edmonton, Stan Bowman made a key defensive addition ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring veteran blueliner Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks. In the deal, Edmonton sent draft capital to Chicago, which also retained part of Murphy’s salary to facilitate the move. The 32-year-old right-shot defenseman brings size, shot-blocking ability, and playoff experience to bolster the Oilers’ blue line as they gear up for a postseason run. For the Blackhawks, the trade continues their longer-term retooling strategy, converting a veteran asset into future pieces while giving younger players more opportunity down the stretch. This comes after a wild finish game between them and the Ottawa Senators, where Leon Draisaitl had a 5 point night (hat-trick and 2 assists) showcasing an explosive offensive performance.
- Depth Trades – The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Roman Schmidt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Boris Katchouk. The move represents a classic change-of-scenery deal, with Philadelphia adding forward depth and physicality to its bottom six while Minnesota gains a young defenseman to strengthen organizational depth on the blue line. Katchouk brings size and forechecking ability that can fit into a checking role for the Flyers, while Schmidt provides the Wild with defensive depth and potential upside as they evaluate options for both the stretch run and future roster planning.
- Sam Girard is a Penguin – The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off a notable defensive upgrade at the trade deadline by acquiring veteran blueliner Samuel Girard from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2028 second-round draft pick. Girard, a 27-year-old puck-moving defenseman with Stanley Cup experience, had 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points through about 40 games this season, along with a +12 rating, showing his effectiveness at both ends of the ice before the trade. He brings strong skating, transition play and power-play potential to Pittsburgh’s blue line, giving the Penguins greater offensive support from the back end and bolstering their defensive depth down the stretch. The deal also gives Pittsburgh an extra draft asset, while Colorado cleared cap space and added a veteran presence in Kulak to balance their roster. But look for Kyle Dubas to do more still.
- Michael Brandsegg‑Nygård earns player honors – Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg‑Nygård was named the AHL Player of the Week after a strong stretch with the Grand Rapids Griffins, including five goals and a plus‑three rating over the past few games, contributing to his team securing a postseason spot earlier than many AHL clubs manage. Way to go Michael.
- The 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge – The CHL USA Prospect challenge is a premier junior hockey showcase and is heading to Chicoutimi and Québec City, Quebec for the first time in its history, with games scheduled for December 1 and 2, 2026 at the Georges‑Vézina Centre and the Vidéotron Centre respectively. This two‑game series pits the top NHL Draft‑eligible players from the Canadian Hockey League (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) against the U.S. National Under‑18 Team, serving as a key stage for scouts and a measuring stick for elite prospects ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft. The event has quickly become a predictor of draft success, a large majority of CHL participants in previous years have gone on to be selected early in the NHL Draft and the 2026 edition will also feature an ongoing Canada‑U.S. rivalry as the series winner takes the edge in the matchup history.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey as we start up Season 7 of the Podcast each Wednesday night at 7pm MST, where we dive into some of these great topics, interview many in the game and so much more. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two & @revinev on X and give us a follow on YouTube, and check out our website for articles that we share regularly at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/. If you wish to reach out to us, feel free to email us at twoguyshockeytalk@gmail.com
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
