Canucks Aim to Trade 2 Olympians Before NHL Deadline

Vancouver looks to rebuild with deals for expiring free agents Teddy Blueger and David Kampf.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 12:51pm

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The Vancouver Canucks are expected to be active ahead of the NHL's March 6 trade deadline, with two Olympic-participating forwards, Teddy Blueger and David Kampf, identified as likely trade candidates. The Canucks are in rebuild mode and the two centers, who will be unrestricted free agents this summer, are seen as solid depth additions for contending teams looking to bolster their rosters.

Why it matters

The Canucks are in the midst of a rebuild, having already traded away star defenseman Quinn Hughes. Moving Blueger and Kampf, who are set to hit free agency, could net the team additional draft picks to aid their rebuilding efforts.

The details

According to reports, the Canucks are looking to trade Blueger, who played for Latvia at the Olympics, and Kampf, who represented Czechia. Both centers have proven they can play at the NHL level and would provide valuable depth for contending teams. While they may not fetch a huge return, the Canucks are expected to be able to acquire a couple of mid-round draft picks in exchange for the two expiring free agents.

  • The NHL's trade deadline is on March 6, 2026.

The players

Teddy Blueger

A center who played for Latvia at the 2026 Olympics and is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

David Kampf

A center who played for Czechia at the 2026 Olympics and is also set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Quinn Hughes

A star defenseman who the Canucks have already traded away as part of their rebuilding efforts.

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What they’re saying

“It doesn't appear as if Kämpf or Blueger's strong performances for their countries at the Olympics had a material impact on either player's projected trade value or the level of interest in their services.”

— Thomas France, Writer

“What's probably more important for the Canucks, however, is that both depth centres have returned from the Olympics fully healthy and ready to go. That will help simplify a pair of trades that the Canucks really must find a way to execute.”

— Thomas France, Writer

“Based on what I'm hearing, there's a level of general interest for teams in adding centre depth on the trade market. Blueger and Kampf aren't starry additions and aren't likely to net the Canucks a haul, but Vancouver should be able to garner a couple of additional mid-round picks in return for the two expiring unrestricted free agent centres.”

— Thomas France, Writer

What’s next

The Canucks are expected to be active ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, with Evander Kane also seen as a strong possibility to be moved as part of the team's rebuilding efforts.

The takeaway

The Canucks' decision to trade away Olympic participants Teddy Blueger and David Kampf highlights the team's focus on rebuilding through the acquisition of draft capital, even if it means parting with proven NHL depth players who could help contending teams.