3 Players Changing the NHL Trade Deadline With their Play at the Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have been a showcase for NHL talent, with the league’s first participation since 2014. In some cases, the way players perform here can directly influence the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. In other cases, the impact is more indirect. When the roster freeze lifts and only a short window opens up for moves by NHL GMs, many will look to what happened in Cortina as an indication that certain moves might be worth making. Many players who could be on the move might be open to possibilities they’d otherwise ignored.

Standing out on the international stage is boosting (or potentially hurting) trade value for several players—especially those already in rumors or on teams eyeing rebuilds/sellers.

With two goals and two assists, Dalibor Dvorksy has been excellent in this tournament. The 20-year-old rookie center was the reason for the upset over Finland, and outside of Juraj Slafkovsky, has been arguably the team’s best offensive weapon. His emergence as a high-end prospect is making some wonder if it accelerates the Blues’ timeline.

First, there is no way the Blues trade Dvorsky, not that there was ever really talk of that happening. Second, it could potentially make veteran center Robert Thomas more available as a trade chip.

If Dvorsky continues proving he can handle top-line responsibilities internationally, it could push St. Louis toward bigger moves—turning a young breakout into indirect trade fuel.

As one of Canada’s key goalies, Jordan Binnington’s Olympic play has silenced a few naysayers. He was under heavy scrutiny coming into the tournament, and his name had been out there in the trade rumor mill this past summer, and when the season started. He likely remains a rumored trade target (with teams like contenders seeking goaltending depth), but the Blues may be more picky about what they move him for.

If teams see him as a big-game, reliable No. 1 option, it will raise his trade value.

Don’t get me wrong, there is no way the San Jose Sharks consider trading Macklin Celebrini. Why he’s on this list is because players will be watching what he does at this tournament and realizing he’s the players and the Sharks are the team to join if they want to win. He’s that good.

At just 19 years of age, Celebrini has been a standout for his play with Team Canada and he’s barely scratching the surface of how good he’ll be. That’s going to draw interest from players who want to take a run over the next few seasons. Someone like Vincent Trocheck, who might have otherwise avoided the Sharks to play out the final few seasons on his contract, might now look at them and say, ‘This is the team to play for.’

In many ways, players who joined the Edmonton Oilers for a chance to play with Connor McDavid will now start looking at the Sharks, knowing that Celebrini could boost their personal production.

The short post-Olympic window (trades resume Feb 22-ish) means these performances could spark quick action.

Next: McDavid Might Be the Most Dominant Player at These Olympics