The NHL has initiated an 18-day freeze on player trades starting February 4 at 3 p.m. ET, ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. This period, lasting until February 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET, limits roster moves but allows contract extensions and certain demotions. Teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins face specific implications for managing players during the break.
The NHL's Olympic roster freeze took effect on February 4, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, prohibiting all player trades until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 22. This measure, tied to the Milan-Cortina Olympics, aims to stabilize rosters during the international tournament in Italy. While trades are halted, general managers can engage in discussions, with many expected to convene in Milan for national team duties.
League executives such as Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues and Chris Drury of the New York Rangers will be on site, potentially fueling trade talks. Others, including Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning, are part of Team Canada's staff. For the Penguins, the freeze means Dubas cannot execute trades as the March 6 deadline approaches post-Olympics.
Roster adjustments are restricted but not entirely frozen. Players can sign contract extensions, with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets eyeing deals for pending free agents such as Boone Jenner. Demotions to the AHL are permitted for waiver-exempt players, excluding those who appeared in at least 16 of their team's final 20 games before the break or accumulated 80 NHL roster days as of January 21.
In Pittsburgh, only Rutger McGroarty and Ryan Graves qualify for demotion without waivers. Graves, recently off injured reserve, has played just two NHL games since clearing waivers on December 31 and meets the criteria due to his AHL time. The Penguins could retain both for their February 5 game against Buffalo before sending them to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which plays that evening. For injured defenseman Caleb Jones, reassignment requires waivers and health clearance, complicating matters.
Waivers operate normally, but claimed players waived after their team's last pre-freeze game need not report until February 17. Non-Olympic players, including Penguins heading to Italy like Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Arturs Silovs, get a break. The league resumes practices on February 17 after 2 p.m. local time, with games restarting February 25.
