NHL News

Is the Olympic Break Freezing the NHL Trade Market?

NHL trade chatter feels frozen—but it’s not laziness. Teams are pacing moves around the Olympic break, timing, and salaries carefully.

by
Old Prof
January 26, 2026

If you’ve been following NHL trade chatter, you might notice things are moving slowly. Not because there’s nothing to move. In fact, plenty of teams are ready to sell; they’re just keeping quiet.

The big question is why so many potential moves aren’t happening right now. One answer might be the upcoming Winter Olympic break.

Some Teams Don’t Want to Carry Contracts Over the Olympics

On the latest FAN Hockey Show, the hosts dug i nto the freeze. The idea is simple: some teams are hesitant to pull the trigger because they don’t want to carry contracts over the Olympic period. Paying salaries for a player you’re not fully ready to integrate—or losing the flexibility to maneuver afterward—can make even obvious trades feel less urgent.

Think of it this way: some clubs might have identified a few players they like, but there are multiple options in that category. If you know you can get one of five similar players, why rush? Better to wait until after the Olympics, when you can make the deal without paying extra and without rushing the decision.

<a rel= — Can any team beat Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche this postseason?

Will Any Trade Help an NHL Team Beat Colorado (For Example)

Here’s the thing: the big teams at the top, like Colorado, make everyone else think twice. Even if a trade helps, will it actually get you past the powerhouses? Some teams are just sitting tight for now.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to every player. High-value guys—think of someone like Rasmus Andersson—are too important to wait. If a team wants him, they act now, because letting him go could cost them dearly. But for other players, like Evander Kane, there’s a different calculus. Teams might be willing to wait until after the Olympics to complete a deal, just to avoid paying through the break or committing too early. There’s a whole bucket of players in that category—good enough to trade for, but not urgent enough to move mid-season.

With the Olympic break coming up, trades might feel stuck. Teams aren’t lazy—they’re just pacing themselves, thinking about money, players, and timing. Once the games start again, expect the deals to hit fast.