Playoffs
5 Teams Cursing Their Deadline Blunders
The 2026 NHL trade deadline came and went, leaving a handful of front offices staring at their phones wondering what went wrong. New CBA rules forced contenders to play it safe with cap compliance straight through the playoffs, killing off those sneaky LTIR stashes that fueled past Cup runs. Teams like the Hurricanes stood pat despite cap space and Stanley Cup dreams, while others watched rivals like the Ducks snag John Carlson and the Avalanche grab Nazem Kadri with retention.
Related Coverage
NHL News, Your Way
- ✓Scores, highlights & recaps every morning
- ✓Trade rumors & deadline coverage
- ✓Personalized for your teams
- ✓Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime
NHL Games Today
Loading scores...