NHL Trade Reality Check: Coleman, Thomas & Garland

The NHL trade deadline is when the noise gets loudest. With the 2026 Olympic Winter Games less than a month away and another roster freeze on the horizon, NHL teams want clarity on their direction before the market pauses. Once the freeze lifts, things tend to move fast.

In this edition of NHL Trade Reality Check, we dig into the latest buzz surrounding a veteran leader in Calgary, a surprising name in St. Louis, and a high-motor winger in Vancouver to separate what is real from what is mostly talk. Also, it’s important to keep a close eye on developments as the Trade Deadline approaches.

Blake Coleman: Calgary Flames

Believability Rank: Less Believable

With the Calgary Flames already moving Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, the fire sale narrative is officially in full swing. Naturally, Blake Coleman has become one of the next names to surface. Rumors have linked him to teams like the Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins, and his former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, especially as the Trade Deadline gets closer.

The reason this feels less believable, at least for now, is that Coleman still has another year of term remaining. While moving him now could bring back a strong return, the Flames may prefer to hold onto him through the rest of the season and revisit trade talks in the offseason. Much of this will depend on the quality of the offers and whether a team is willing to pay a premium for a player who brings leadership and playoff experience as the Trade Deadline looms.

Connor Garland: Vancouver Canucks

Believability Rank: Highly Believable

The Vancouver Canucks appear to be fully committing to a rebuild. They have already traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild and Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. Elias Pettersson‘s name continues to come up in trade speculation. That naturally makes Conor Garland one of the next logical names to watch.