Biggest “What If” NHL Trade Rumors That Never Happened in 2026

Sometimes trades get almost to the finish line but not over it. It happens in all leagues, and it’s happened a handful of times already in the NHL. The summer of 2026 was full of potential moves that didn’t quite pan out, and some of them included some fairly big names.

While some of these trades could still happen, others won’t. That’s because either a player squashed the move, changed his mind, or different deals were made with other teams, and the player was moved to a totally different city.

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Here are some of the bigger moves that almost happened:

Zach Werenski to the Dallas Stars

This one is interesting because Zach Werenski spoke to the media in Columbus on Thursday, discussing his decision to stay with the Blue Jackets and his desire to build his future with them. He wants to win there and has no desire to leave. Given that he was almost traded to the Dallas Stars, his 180-degree turn is fascinating.

At the end of June, Chris Johnston reported that Werenski was offered a trade to Dallas. The trade package reportedly included Thomas Harley, and the Blue Jackets, thinking that Werenski was looking for a change, all but accepted the deal. They just needed Werenski to sign off, which he didn’t.

At the time, Pierre LeBrun reported that Tampa Bay and Toronto were the top teams Werenski would accept a trade to, but it turned out Werenski and the Blue Jackets got ahead of themselves with all the contract talk. He didn’t want to leave and a heart-to-heart conversation squashed everything.

Related: Werenski Provides Major Update on His Future with Blue Jackets

Jason Robertson To the Penguins and the Kraken

Speaking of the Dallas Stars, they were almost part of another huge trade this summer. In late June, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said:

“Now I heard that there were talks with Pittsburgh on Friday or Saturday, and there were a couple of teams who thought there was some momentum there, but obviously it didn’t happen. Pittsburgh, by the way, is another team that people are saying is trying to do something with some heft to it. So I wasn’t so surprised to hear that.”

This was all happening on the heels of a trade that, in theory, was completed with the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken made an aggressive run at Robertson, tabling an eight-year offer worth $15 million annually after the Stars granted Robertson permission to speak with Seattle. According to Friedman, Robertson rejected the offer. He adds, “Neither the Stars nor the Kraken agreed to comment, nor did Robertson’s representative, Andy Scott.”

Darnell Nurse to the Flyers

According to Philadelphia insider Anthony SanFilippo, there were serious internal conversations within the Philadelphia Flyers organization about trading for Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers. It’s unclear if Philadelphia had engaged Edmonton in formal trade discussions, but the idea of bringing him in was heavily discussed behind the scenes.

The rumors gained traction because Nurse had the Flyers on his short list of teams he was willing to go to. Ultimately, the Flyers pivoted away from Nurse, which forced the defenseman to expand his list. He was ultimately traded to the San Jose Sharks. Part of the issue in Philly was the Oilers’ hesitancy to retain any salary in the trade, something they didn’t have to do in the deal with San Jose.

Kirill Marchenko to the Canadiens

According to Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media, Kirill Marchenko was about to be traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Apparently there was a team finalizing a deal, and that team was rumroed to be the Montreal Canadiens.

Tuboltseva wrote: “Kirill Marchenko is expected to be traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the near future, according to a source close to the Russian forward, even as talks appear to be picking back up after a summer of mixed signals. RG.org added,‘Kirill is essentially between two teams right now.’ ‘The parties are now negotiating the terms of the trade.’” 

Ultimately, nothing ever happened and the Blue Jackets denied trade speculation. There is a feeling, however, that this deal might still be possible down the road.

Next: In Hindsight: The One‑for‑One Trade That Still Haunts the Oilers