NHL Enters Olympic Break as Trade Freeze Takes Effect Through February 22

The National Hockey League entered its Olympic break on February 6, 2026, marking the first time in 12 years that NHL players are participating in the Winter Games. The last NHL games before the break took place on February 5, with the league implementing a comprehensive trade freeze that began at 3 PM EST on February 4 and will remain in effect until 11:59 PM EST on February 22. This unprecedented pause in the regular season allows the world's best hockey talent to represent their countries at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The trade freeze means no transactions can be officially filed during this two-week period, though general managers remain free to continue discussions and negotiations. This creates an unusual dynamic in the NHL's transaction landscape, as teams must wait until the freeze lifts on February 22 before finalizing any deals, leaving just 12 days until the official trade deadline on March 6 at 3 PM EST. The compressed timeline following the Olympic break is expected to create a flurry of activity as contending teams make final roster adjustments for their playoff pushes.

Several teams were active ahead of the freeze deadline, making moves to solidify their rosters or position themselves for post-Olympic trades. The Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks were among the teams most frequently mentioned in trade speculation leading up to the freeze. The Maple Leafs faced particular scrutiny about whether they would turn into sellers if their Olympic break begins with the team outside playoff position, with players like Tyler Bertuzzi, Matt Murray, and Ryan Reaves drawing attention as potential trade candidates.

The NHL's decision to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics represents a significant commitment to international hockey after missing the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Games. The two-week break from February 6-24 allows players to travel to Italy, acclimate, compete in the tournament, and return for the resumption of NHL play on Wednesday, February 25. This schedule creates one of the longest mid-season pauses in recent NHL history, raising questions about momentum, injury management, and how teams will perform in the condensed schedule following the break.

The post-Olympic schedule presents unique challenges, as teams will face compressed games and travel before the March 6 trade deadline. Playoff contenders must balance the fatigue and potential injuries from Olympic competition with the urgency of securing playoff positions. Meanwhile, teams out of contention will look to maximize returns on expiring contracts and veteran assets in the brief window between the freeze ending and the deadline passing. The combination of Olympic participation and the trade deadline creates one of the most intriguing mid-season periods in recent NHL memory.