4 NHL Teams That Should Be Eyeing Early-Season Trades to Boost Their Playoff Hopes

4 NHL Teams That Should Be Eyeing Early-Season Trades to Boost Their Playoff Hopes

As the NHL season picks up steam, the trade rumors are starting to swirl. While many teams are still assessing their rosters and the market, some GMs are already feeling the pressure to make moves before it’s too late. The American Thanksgiving mark — historically a crucial checkpoint for teams — is fast approaching, and for some franchises, it’s decision time. Should they buy now or wait it out?

In recent seasons, we’ve seen GMs like Jim Rutherford act early, making bold moves before the market truly heats up. Meanwhile, others prefer to hoard cap space and play the waiting game until the deadline. With teams like the Washington Capitals already making their first trade of the year, it’s clear that some teams can’t afford to wait.

Let’s dive into four teams that should be considering early-season trades to get themselves back on track and boost their playoff chances.

Buffalo Sabres: Time to Act Before It’s Too Late?

The Buffalo Sabres have been making waves early in the season, but their streaky play has them on the edge of contention. As Buffalo’s GM Kevyn Adams recently acknowledged, the time to improve is now before a poor run of games buries their playoff hopes. The Sabres have the cap space ($8 million) and the draft picks to make a move, but what do they need?

With Mattias Samuelsson out week-to-week, the Sabres’ defense is thinning, and secondary scoring is an issue with young wingers like Jack Quinn and Zach Benson struggling to find the net. Given their potential to fall behind a competitive Atlantic Division, the Sabres may need to pull the trigger on a trade sooner rather than later.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Rebuild is Coming — Are They Ready to Sell?

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in uncharted territory. For the first time in the Crosby-Malkin era, the team might be facing a more significant rebuild or retool. GM Kyle Dubas has already dipped into the trade market, acquiring depth center Lars Eller from Pittsburgh’s bitter rival, the Washington Capitals, but this may just be the tip of the iceberg.

With several key players under contract with no-movement clauses (Crosby, Malkin, Letang), any trade involving stars like Kris Letang or Erik Karlsson would require their approval. But what about the rest of the roster? Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, and others may soon be on the move, especially as the Penguins look to capitalize on cap space for a potential rebuild and future lottery positioning.

As they sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, it might be better for Pittsburgh to start making moves early, before the season slips away entirely.

Boston Bruins: Should They Shake Up the Bench?

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Elliotte Friedman and Ron Maclean discuss the Saturday Headlines and what could happen with the 2025-26 cap and how it could increase next year.

After a rough stretch — including a brutal 7-2 loss to Dallas and a 5-1 blowout at home to Columbus — the Boston Bruins may be on the verge of making a coaching change. The team’s poor play and mounting frustrations have fans questioning the leadership of head coach Jim Montgomery. The pressure is mounting, and the once-stalwart Bruins may need to change course before their playoff hopes slip through their fingers.

Whether that means firing Montgomery or making roster moves, the Bruins’ front office will need to decide how much of the team’s current struggles are due to coaching or personnel. It’s a situation to watch closely as Boston tries to recapture the magic of their historic regular season last year.

Vancouver Canucks: A Steady Hand at the Helm?

The Vancouver Canucks are another team that might be eyeing an early-season deal, especially given the aggressive history of their front office under Jim Rutherford. Last season, they traded for Nikita Zadorov before the American Thanksgiving, signaling the team’s desire to strengthen their roster ahead of time.

This year, the Canucks find themselves in a precarious spot: They’re competitive, but could they use more depth on the blue line or up front? With some cap flexibility and a desire to make a push for the playoffs, Vancouver might be one of the teams to make an early splash in the trade market.