Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau has reflected on his experiences as a head coach at the NHL trade deadline, including that of the Washington Capitals' then-head coach, where he had limited influence on personnel decisions. He shared his experiences with the Deseret News ahead of the 2026 deadline. The importance of this time of year is to keep players focused on the game, especially players with families. Boudgrugrugruffing with players is also crucial, as it's not up to them to make the moves, but to ensure they are informed about their needs. This communication can help avoid situations like the Carolina Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen blunder last year, which led to a costly trade. Budgrugruppen was sent to the Dallas Stars for an undisclosed package, but would have been better off keeping Martin Nečas and Jack Drury.