Flyers chase Bowen Byram for a marquee left-shot upgrade, with size on the blue line a priority as Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York begin the season sidelined. Emil Andrae could be used as a trade chip, possibly in a Tippett–Andrae package to Buffalo, to clear cap and land the defenseman they covet. The club sits on about $6.6M in cap space, with more room as the deadline approaches. Montreal’s internal structure and Hutson’s contract talks illustrate a market hungry for clarity and value, while other teams—Penguins, Stars, Canadiens—fuel the rumor mill.

Across the league, prospects like Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe, plus teams like Buffalo and Anaheim, shape the trade landscape as deals breeze toward the summer and the season alike. The dynamic centers on balancing cap, asset value, and immediate impact on a playoff push, with several clubs weighing bold upgrades against long-term flexibility.