ANALYSIS: Reacting to every NHL trade deadline deal

This year’s NHL trade deadline had everything a fan of the sport could ask for. The deadline had people glued to their TVs or phones, anticipating the next trade that would shake up the landscape of the NHL for the remainder of the season. Sellers were hoping to get the best value for the players they wanted to move, while buyers wanted to find the talent that would put them in the best position to win the Stanley Cup at the end of the season. 

Here is how the deadline played out. 

Dallas Stars fire the opening salvo a week before the deadline

Some teams just could not wait to get the trading going. On Feb. 28, one week before deadline day, the Dallas Stars acquired defenseman Christopher Tanev from the Calgary Flames. In return, the Flames received defenseman prospect Artyom Grushnikov, the Stars’ second-round pick in 2024 and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 draft. To receive this pick, the Stars must advance to the Stanley Cup Final; if not, the Flames do not receive the pick.

The New Jersey Devils decided to broker this deal, retaining some of Tanev’s salary in exchange for Dallas’ fourth-round pick in 2026. They also sent goalie prospect Cole Brady to Dallas.

At the time of the trade, Tanev had a stat line of 1–13—14. Known more for his defensive ability, the 34-year-old defenseman had 171 blocks at the time of the trade. Tanev is on the last year of his contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. 

Brady was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Devils. He is currently with UMass in the NCAA, where he has a 3.03 goals against average and .886 save percentage.

Grushnikov, the prospect Calgary obtained in this trade, was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Stars. He is currently 20 years old, and this season in the AHL. He had a stat line of 1–4—5 in 44 games with the Texas Stars. He immediately joined Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, where he has zero points in four games since the trade. 

With the playoffs out of reach, Calgary wanted to get the most out of a defensive minded 34-year-old defenseman, and the Stars were happy to oblige. Tanev has immediately slotted into the second defensive pairing, and his defensive instinct should be a great help for the Stars, who are looking to make a deep playoff run after years of coming up short. 

The Flames were able to get solid value out of an aging defenseman. Acquiring a future second-round pick and a former second-round pick in Grushnikov helps improve what is a middling prospect pool for the Flames, and this would not be the only Flames defenseman moved this deadline for draft compensation, but that will be addressed later in this article.

Toronto Maple Leafs leave many scratching their heads

On Feb. 29, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired an old friend in Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team deal. 

In exchange for Lyubushkin, the Ducks received a 2025 third-round pick from the Maple Leafs.

This deal was brokered by the Carolina Hurricanes, who retained part of Lyubushkin’s salary in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick. 

The Leafs also acquired 24-year-old winger Kirill Slepets from the Hurricanes. Slepets was a 2019 fifth-round pick of Carolina and is currently playing in the KHL for the Amur Khabarovk, where in 53 games, he has put up a stat line of 8–11—19. He is currently unsigned.

In his second time around with Toronto, Lyubushkin seems like an odd choice for the Leafs. Struggling mightily this year, in 55 games with the Ducks before being traded, Lyubushkin was only able to manage a stat line of 0–4—4. Perhaps the Leafs liked his familiarity with Toronto’s locker room, and with defenseman Mark Giordano going down with injury, the need for defensemen who knew the Leafs system was of highest need.

For the Ducks, to get a third-round pick for a player who has scored zero goals for your team all season must feel like robbery. The Ducks are far from competing, and a 29-year-old defenseman with ugly metrics is someone a team like Anaheim would try to get off their hands at any cost.

Lyubushkin will become an unrestricted free agent at seasons end.

Colorado Avalanche clear up cap space before the deadline

More of a cap dump than anything else, the Colorado Avalanche traded defenseman Kurtis MacDermid to the New Jersey Devils on March 1. In exchange, the Devils sent over the Nashville Predators’ 2024 seventh-round pick and forward prospect Zakhar Bardakov.

MacDermid is a very physical defenseman who has been with Colorado since 2021, and won the Stanley Cup with the Avs in the 2021–22 season. This season with Colorado, MacDermid put up a stat line of 2–0—2 in 29 games.

Bardakov was drafted in the seventh round by the Devils in 2021. At 23 years old, Bardakov still has not signed an NHL contract. He is currently playing with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, where he has put up a stat line of 6–6—12 in 51 games this season.

A pure cap dump for the Avs, this deal freed up $987,500 in cap for Colorado, which they utilized extensively this deadline.

The Devils simply needed defensive bodies to finish out the season, and MacDermid was there for a cheap price, both in draft compensation and cap space.

Vegas Golden Knights knock down the first domino

After four days of anticipation, the Vegas Golden Knights got the deadline excitement going, making a deal with the Washington Capitals to acquire forward Anthony Mantha on March 5. In exchange, the Knights sent Washington a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Mantha is a 29-year-old scoring winger, who in 56 games this season with Washington put up a stat line of 20–14—34. 

As one does in Vegas, the Knights find another opportunity to gamble. After winning the Stanley Cup last season, Vegas looks to be the first team to go back-to-back since the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning. With forwards such as Mark Stone and William Carrier going on the long-term injured reserve list, the Knights were looking for scoring forwards. Mantha fit that mold, and should fit into the second line for the remainder of the season.

For Washington, competing for a playoff spot seemed to be out of reach as the season went on. With Mantha on the last year of his contract, it seemed inevitable that Mantha would have a new home by the deadline. With a prospect pool still looking to improve, the Capitals now add two new draft picks in hopes of adding more young talent to a team that has struggled to bring up NHL-caliber players through the system. 

Washington retained 50% of Mantha’s salary in this trade.

Florida Panthers add a scoring winger to a dangerous forward group

The Florida Panthers decided to start March 6 off with some fireworks, acquiring winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators. To acquire Tarasenko, Florida sent Ottawa a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick. If the Panthers were to win the Stanley Cup this season, the conditional 2024 fourth-round pick would turn into a 2026 third-round pick.

Tarasenko has been known for his scoring touch for his entire career, registering 553 points in 644 career games. This year with Ottawa, Tarasenko registered a stat line of 17–24—41 in 57 games. Currently 32 years old, Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Sens and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. 

Florida wanted to add more scoring to their top six, and they found it with Tarasenko. Whether Florida wants to pair Tarasenko with Aleksander Barkov on the top line or move him down to the second line to pair with Sam Bennett, the Panthers should be incredibly excited to bolster an already fantastic forward core with even more talent. A chance to make up for last year’s Stanley Cup Final loss is in sight, and the Panthers will make any move to make that possible.

For Ottawa, the frustration continues. Last year, they were able to add players like Alex DeBrincat, Claude Giroux and Jakob Chychrun in hopes of finally competing for a playoff spot. Now a year later, and with the playoffs continually out of reach, the Sens hope to get anything out of the players they can move. Here, although the return was not great, the Sens had to get whatever they could for a player who was more than likely not going to re-sign with the team in the summer.

Avalanche get better while clearing more cap

Colorado was able to do what every competing team dreams of on March 6. They were able to get better and clear cap at the same time. The Avs acquired defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Ryan Johansen and a 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick. 

Walker is a 29-year-old right-handed defenseman who has had a career year with Philly this season. In 63 games with the Flyers, Walker was able to put up a stat line of 6–16—22. Walker currently has a cap hit of $2.65 million and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Johansen is a 31-year-old centerman who never seemed to find his footing with Colorado this season. Expected to be a second-line center, Johansen put up a stat line of 13–10—23 in 63 games with the Avs this season. After being traded to Philly, Johansen was immediately placed on waivers, with no teams willing to take on his contract, which runs through next season at a $4 million cap hit.

Not only do the Avalanche acquire one of the better defensemen on the market, but they also do it while freeing up $1.35 million in cap space. It is hard to argue that the Avalanche did not make out like bandits here, having only given up a late first-round pick next season. With the expectation of competing next season, it would be hard to see this pick in the top 20 next year.

For the Flyers, it is hard to see the logic in this trade. After trying to re-sign Walker, it appears that no deal would be on the table. They did command a first-round selection for Walker, so they were at the very least able to acquire their asking price. The problem for them is that they have acquired an immovable contract that they will be on the hook for for another season. 

Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres pull off a surprising one-for-one

The trading on March 6 did not stop for Colorado, because they traded defenseman Bowen Byram for centerman Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres. A rare one-for-one trade, both teams are looking to get the most out of both young newcomers.

Mittelstadt has taken his time getting accumulated to the NHL. As a former eighth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Mittelstadt had spent his entire career with the Sabres. Over the past two seasons, Mittelstadt has started to show signs of improvement, ending last season with 47 points, and putting up a stat line of 14–33—47 in 62 games this season with Buffalo. The 25-year-old is on the last year of his contract, carrying a cap hit of $2.5 million. He joins the Avs with the expectations that he can slide into the second-line center role for a team hoping to make another deep playoff run.

Byram comes to the Sabres as a young, promising defenseman with a lot of injury concerns. At only 22 years old, Buffalo is hoping to continue Byram’s development into the defenseman he was expected to be when drafted by Colorado with the fourth-overall pick in 2019. Unfortunately for Byram, concussions have continually sidelined him throughout his young career, with this season being the first where he eclipsed the 50-game mark. In 55 games with Colorado this season, he put up a stat line of 8–12—20. He carries a $3.85 million cap hit over the next two seasons.

For Colorado, after trading for Walker, and having defensemen like Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard, it was hard for them to see a place for Byram. In need of a centerman to play behind Nathan MacKinnon, Mittelstadt looked like a fantastic choice. It is still unknown whether a contract extension is in the works between Mittelstadt and the Avs, but at only 25 years old, there is still room to grow for this young forward, and the Avs have shown the ability to get the most out of young forwards. Colorado will also free up $1.35 million in cap space with this deal.

For Buffalo, they are hoping to get the Byram that flashed in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. At only 22, Byram joins a very young defensive core in Buffalo with Rasmus Dahlin (23), Owen Power (21), Henri Jokiharju (24), Mattias Samuelsson (23), Ryan Johnson (22) and Jacob Bryson (26). Moving on from Mittelstadt, Buffalo also hopes to find space for young forwards coming up through the system who would have been blocked. 

Edmonton Oilers acquire center depth from Anaheim

The Edmonton Oilers decided to make a move that would give them one of the most impressive center cores in the entire NHL. Not only were they able to acquire centerman Adam Henrique from the Ducks, but they also received another center in Sam Carrick in this deal as well. 

In return, the Ducks received a 2024 first-round pick from Edmonton, along with a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick. If Edmonton were to win this seasons Stanley Cup, that 2025 fifth would turn into a 2025 fourth. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning decided to broker this deal, retaining part of Henrique’s salary in exchange for a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick. That pick would become a 2026 fourth-rounder if Edmonton were to win the Stanley Cup this season. The Lightning also sent former seventh-round selection Ty Taylor to Edmonton. Taylor is a 24-year-old goaltender currently playing for the Evansville Thunderbolts in the SPHL, where he has a 2.91 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

For Edmonton, the ability to add not one, but two productive centermen is an incredible get. Henrique is a versatile, penalty-killing, face-off-winning center who brings a lot of experience to Edmonton’s middle six. In 60 games with the Ducks this season, the 34-year-old put up a stat line of 18–24—42 and had a face-off win percentage of 52.9%. A center a team can trust in their own zone, Henrique had a defensive zone start percentage of 56.6% with the Ducks this season. Henrique has been quietly producing on a rebuilding team, and now gets a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup like he did back in his Devils days. Henrique is on the last year of his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $5.825 million.

Carrick brings a similar skillset to Edmonton that Henrique brings. In 61 games with Anaheim this season, Carrick had a stat line of 8–3—11 with a face-off win percentage of 51.0% and a defensive zone start percentage of 68.1%. A Henrique-like center with less scoring prowess, Carrick provides the Oilers’ fourth line with much-needed defensive play. The 32-year-old is also on the last year of his contract, but only carries a $850,000 cap hit this season.

For the Ducks, the tanks keep rolling. Coming in fighting with the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks for dead last in the West, the Ducks were looking to move on from two players in their 30s. Retaining salary on both Carrick and Henrique, Anaheim was able to obtain a first along with a conditional fifth as they continue to try to build a competitive team in Southern California.

Probably the most shocking part of this deal, the Lightning decided to retain part of Henrique’s salary in exchange for a conditional fourth. With no first-round picks until 2026 and no selections in the 2024 draft until the fifth round, the Lightning were looking to obtain draft picks where they could find some, and if that meant retaining on the Henrique deal, so be it. Tampa Bay will be on the hook for $1,456,250 of Henrique’s salary for this season.

New York Rangers add center depth of their own

The New York Rangers could not let Edmonton have all the fun when it came to centers on the trade market. Shortly after the Henrique trade went down on March 6, the Rangers traded for Seattle Kraken center Alexander Wennberg. In exchange, the Seattle Kraken acquired a 2024 second-round pick and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick. The condition on this pick is a strange one. If Nils Lundkvist is to earn a cumulative 55 points over the 2022–23 and 2023–24 season, that fourth-round pick becomes a 2025 third-round pick.

Wennberg has been with Seattle since 2021, and in 60 games with the Kraken this season has put up a stat line of 9–16—25. He is on the last year of his current contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

After making the playoffs last season, the Kraken find themselves on the outside looking in this season. Deciding to sell, they get good value out of an expiring contract.

For New York, acquiring a third-line center was of high priority, and Wennberg will be able to fill in that role right away. 

The Knights strike gold with the Flames

After acquiring Mantha from Washington on the previous day, Vegas continued to be high-rollers this deadline. The Knights acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Flames in exchange for Daniil Miromanov, a conditional 2024 third-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick. The condition on the 2024 third-round pick is that if the Knights are able to advance beyond the first round of the 2024 playoffs, that pick becomes a 2025 second-round pick. The Flyers decided to broker this deal, retaining part of Hanifin’s salary in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick from Vegas.

Hanifin is a top pairing defenseman who can produce on offense. This season with Calgary, he put up a stat line of 11–24—35 in 61 games. At 27 years old, Hanifin is on the last year of his contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

Miromanov is a 26-year-old right-handed defenseman who is also on the last year of his contract. He currently carries a cap hit of $762,500. Miromanov struggled with injuries this season, failing to put up a single point with Vegas in four games this season, while putting up a stat line of 1–5—6 in five games with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL. 

For Vegas, adding Hanifin to an already fantastic defensive core allows the great to become even deadlier. Hanifin can be slotted on any defensive pairing, but his most likely partner will be Alex Pietrangelo on the top pairing. 

For Calgary, this is the second defenseman they have traded away this deadline. It is clear that the Flames want to overhaul this roster and hope to use draft picks acquired this deadline to improve for the future.

Leafs add another defenseman

The Leafs were apparently not done adding to their defense after their trade for Lyubushkin. On March 7, the Leafs and Capitals agreed to a deal that would send defenseman Joel Edmundson to Toronto in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Edmundson is a defensive-minded, bottom-pairing defenseman. At 30 years old, Edmundson put up a stat line of 1–5—6 in 44 games with Washington this season. He is on the last year of his contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

For Toronto, the need for defensive depth without giving up any draft pick in the top two rounds was a priority. Now, with Edmundson and Lyubushkin added, the Maple Leafs hope to improve what has been a defensive core that has struggled all season to keep pucks out of the net. 

For Washington, the sell off continues. After receiving a second- and fourth-round pick for Mantha, the Caps get to add a third and a fifth to their arsenal. This is a solid return for two impending UFAs, and to get solid draft compensation for a 30-year-old bottom-pairing defenseman is impressive.

Ducks and Canadiens swap disappointing prospects

A rather unexciting trade, the Ducks and Montreal Canadiens agreed to swap struggling prospects. The Ducks acquired forward prospect Jan Mysak in exchange for winger Jacob Perreault.

Mysak, a former second-round pick of the Canadians in 2020, has struggled to take his game to the next level. At 21 years old, Mysak has struggled to find footing since joining the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. In 48 games with the club this season, Mysak has put up a stat line of 13–7—20. Mysak’s contract runs through the 2024–25 season.

Perreault, a first-round pick by the Ducks in 2020, has played one NHL game with the Ducks, but has spent most of the past three seasons with the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ AHL affiliate. In 31 games with the Gulls this season, Perreault has put up a stat line of 7–11—18. Like Mysak, Perreault’s contract runs through the 2024–25 season.

The hope for both prospects is obvious. Each team hopes to unlock the promise that both prospects had when drafted by their respective teams.

Edmonton adds a depth defenseman

After acquiring both Henrique and Carrick the day before, Edmonton was not done adding. Edmonton was able to add defenseman Troy Stecher from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Oilers also received a 2024 seventh-round pick in this trade.

Stecher, a 29-year-old right-handed defenseman, carries a $1.1 million cap hit until the end of this season. In 47 games with Arizona this season, Stecher put up a stat line of 1–4—5. 

For Edmonton, the need for competent defensive depth is crucial for any team hoping to make it deep in the playoffs. Stecher offers that for a price that is easy to swallow for the Oilers.

For Arizona, giving up Stecher for a fourth-rounder is decent asset management. The problem with Arizona, as it has been in the past, is that they struggle get the most out of later draft picks. 

The Avalanche continue to buy

Adding Mittelstadt and Walker was not enough for Colorado, because on March 7 they needed to keep buying. The first Colorado trade of the day included the Minnesota Wild. The Avs acquired winger Brandon Duhaime from Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.

Duhaime, at 26 years old, is a young, energetic winger who adds physicality to Colorado’s bottom six. In 62 games with the Wild this season, Duhaime has put up a stat line of 4–4—8. He also recorded 155 hits and 29 blocks in that time. Duhaime has a cap hit of $1.1 million and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

For Colorado, their top line has carried the burden all season. In adding Duhaime, along with the forward they added in the next trade, the Avs hope to change that. Duhaime, although not lighting up the box score, should help bolster a bottom six that Colorado has struggled to solidify.

For Minnesota, although not out of the playoffs, selling on a forward like Duhaime allows them to give youngs forwards like Mason Shaw a shot at more ice time. Receiving a third-round pick for a forward like Duhaime is solid asset management for the Wild.

The Avs are not done yet

Shortly after acquiring Duhaime, the Avs decided that once you start to shop, you just cannot stop. The Avs acquired forward Yakov Trenin from the Nashville Predators for defensive prospect Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick. The Avalanche also received the signing rights of defenseman Graham Sward.

Trenin, a 27-year-old forward, is another physical bottom-six player who Colorado seemed to covet this deadline. In 60 games with Nashville this season, Trenin put up a stat line of 10–4—14, along with recording 171 hits. Trenin has a cap hit of $1.7 million and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Hanzel is a 21-year-old defenseman. Drafted in the sixth round in 2023, Hanzel is currently in the WHL, where he has put up a stat line of 14–38—52 in 60 games this season. He is currently under contract until the 2026–27 season.

Sward is 20-year-old defenseman. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 draft, Sward is currently playing in the WHL, where he has a stat line of 15–61—76 in 60 games this season.

For the Avs, the need was obvious. They needed physical forwards for their bottom six, and they got it. Trenin should slot in right away, and along with Duhaime, adds over 300 hits to the Avs’ roster.

For Nashville, whether they compete for a playoff spot this season or not, it was clear that Trenin was not going to be a part of that vision. Acquiring a third-round pick, the Preds found value on the market for a player who did not fit in with what Nashville has in mind for the team, both this season and in the future.

Nashville buys right after selling

Shortly after trading a forward in Trenin, Nashville decided to turn around and trade for another forward. In a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Predators acquired forward Anthony Beauvillier in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick.

This is the second time being traded this season for Beauvillier, after being acquired by the Blackhawks from the Vancouver Canucks back in November. In 45 games between the Canucks and Blackhawks this season, Beauvillier put up a stat line of 4–10—14 between the clubs. Seemingly never finding footing with Chicago, Beauvilliler will be looking to find stability with Nashville. Beauvillier will be an unrestricted free agent this summer

For Nashville, scoring has been a problem all season. Beauvillier may offer an answer for their forward scoring woes. The goal of the Preds will be to find a place in the lineup for Beauvillier to play. Is he going to find time on the top line, or the bottom? That is a question Nashville will need to answer quickly if they wish to have Beauvillier to be a productive member of a team on a hot streak looking to sneak into the playoffs.

For Chicago, Beauvillier was frustrating to figure out. After acquiring him for a fifth-round pick, Beauvillier spent most of his time in Chicago injured and inconsistent. The problem was finding a place for Beauvillier to thrive. One game he could find himself on the bottom lines, and other games he was brought up to the first line. Nothing seemed to work for the Hawks and Beauvillier, so Chicago cut their losses and re-acquired a fifth-round pick in moving Beauvillier.

Tampa Bay acquires scoring from San Jose

The Lightning acquired forward Anthony Duclair from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defensive prospect Jack Thompson and a 2024 third-round pick. The Lightning also received a 2025 seventh-round pick in this trade.

Duclair has found himself on his eighth NHL team in his 10-year career. At only 28 years old, Duclair is making his case to become the most curious NHL journeyman. In 56 games with San Jose this season, Duclair put up a stat line of 16–11—27. Duclair will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Thompson, a 2020 third-round pick, will remain in the Sharks’ control until the 2024–25 season. He spent all season with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, where he put up a 5–27—32 stat line in 46 games.

For Tampa Bay, Duclair offers scoring for the middle six. Other than scoring, Duclair does not offer much else, so defense will have to be picked up by his linemates. It is not a bad trade for a team strapped for cap and struggling with injuries, but the strengths of Duclair are limited and his weaknesses will need to be compensated by good coaching and great linemates.

For San Jose, moving Duclair was an easy decision. Sitting near the bottom of the standings, any player who could prevent them from receiving a top draft pick needed to be moved. Moving Duclair allows for a better chance at a top prospect for the Sharks at this year’s draft.

Carolina really shakes it up

The Carolina Hurricanes made the biggest trade of March 7, acquiring forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, Pittsburgh acquired Michael Bunting, Vasiliy Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Ville Koivunen, a condition 2024 second-round pick and a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick. The conditions on the second-round pick is that it will become a first-round pick if the Hurricanes make it to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The condition on the fifth-round pick is that Carolina must win the 2024 Stanley Cup in order to receive this pick. Pittsburgh will retain 25% of Guentzel’s salary.

Guentzel was one of the top forwards on the market this deadline, even while being on the injured reserve. An integral part of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup run in 2017, the 29-year-old Guentzel impressed with his speed and scoring. In 50 games with Pittsburgh this season, Guentzel put up a stat line of 22–30—52. Guentzel is in the last season of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Smith is a former first-round pick of the Devils in 2018. Having struggled most of his career with injuries and inconsistency, the 23-year-old Smith has spent the season with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s AHL team. In 53 games this season, Smith put up a stat line of 9–25—34. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Bunting comes to the Penguins under contract through the 2025–26 season. Bunting will carry a $4.5 million cap hit during that time. A middle-six forward for most of his career, the 28-year-old Bunting put up a 13–23—36 stat line through 60 games with Carolina this season. 

Ponomarev was a second-round selection by Carolina in 2020. At 21 years old, Ponomarev is under contract through 2024–25. Ponomarev made his NHL debut this season, putting up two points in two games with the Hurricanes this season. He spent most of this season with the Chicago Wolves, putting up a stat line of 8–21—29 in 39 games in the AHL as a center.

Lucius was a fourth-round selection by the Hurricanes in 2022. At 19 years old, this winger is currently not under contract. Currently with the University of Wisconsin, Lucius has put up a stat line of 13–21—34 in 34 games this season.

Koivunen was a second-round pick of Carolina in 2021. Currently under contract through the 2025–26 season, the winger has spent this season in the Liiga league. In 58 games this season, Koivunen has put up a stat line of 21–34—55.

For Carolina, getting arguably the best forward on the market without giving up an unconditional first-round pick is a massive win for the team. Guentzel, once he returns to the lineup, will immediately slide into the top six and contribute to a team looking to make another deep playoff run. The addition of Smith more than likely does not move the needle, but if Carolina can develop him into a bottom-pairing defenseman, it is an added bonus to a great trade.

For Pittsburgh, they asked for a lot for Guentzel, and did receive a lot. Acquiring Bunting allows Pittsburgh to get a forward who can play in the top six while being under team control for a few seasons. The three prospects acquired could develop into contributors in a few seasons, but nothing is guaranteed with prospects. The big problem for the return was the conditions on both draft picks. Pittsburgh fans will have to cheer for Carolina to make the Stanley Cup Final if they want to receive a first-round pick for Guentzel. It is not ideal when the best possible return for Guentzel is the 31st overall pick.

Columbus adds goalie depth

Deadline day started as a quiet one. The Columbus Blue Jackets made a trade with the St. Louis Blues, acquiring goalie Malcolm Subban for future considerations on March 8.

Subban has spent the entire season with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ AHL affiliate. In 32 games this season, Subban has a 2.94 goals against average and a .907 save percentage

Carolina follows up a good trade with a curious one

One day after acquiring Guentzel, the Hurricanes decided they were not done acquiring forwards. On March 8, Carolina acquired center Evgeny Kuznetsov from Washington in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. In this deal, the Caps will be retaining 50% of Kuznetsov’s contract.

Kuznetsov has been on a slow downhill trend since playing a massive role in the Caps’ 2018 Cup run. The 31-year-old center has seen his issues over the last few seasons, whether its on-the-ice performance or off-the-ice concerns. In 43 games this season, Kuznetsov has put up a stat line of 6–11—17. Kuznetsov’s contract runs through the 2024–25 season.

For Carolina, this is admittedly a head-scratcher. With a center depth including Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, it is hard to see where Kuznetsov fits. Perhaps the Hurricanes hope a change in scenery could help revitalize Kuznetsov.

For the Capitals, they saw a chance to sell off more players for draft capital, and they took that chance. Even having to retain salary is worth it to free up cap and acquire a third-round pick for a player who has seen better days.

Buffalo’s captain is on the move

The Panthers wanted to add more forwards at the deadline, and they did on March 8, acquiring Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo in exchange for Calle Sjalin and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. This seventh-round pick will turn into a fifth-round pick if Florida wins the Stanley Cup.

Okposo has seen his eight-year tenure in Buffalo constantly interrupted by concussion issues. At 35 years old, Okposo has found himself avoiding injury over the last few seasons with the Sabres. In 61 games this season, Okposo has put up a stat line of 12–10—22. Okposo will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Sjalin is a 24-year-old left-handed defenseman prospect. A former fifth-round pick of the Rangers in 2017, Sjalin’s NHL dreams are slim. Sjalin has spent this season with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, putting up only three points on three assists in 22 games this season. Sjalin will become a restricted free agent this summer.

For Florida, the ability to add forward depth at the deadline for cheap is a plus. Although slow on the ice, Okposo offers veteran experience and injury depth for the Panthers. 

For Buffalo, they wanted to do right by their captain by trading him to a team that can potentially help him win a ring. The return was nothing special, but doing right by your leader is always appreciated around the league.

Ducks get Meyers

The Ducks acquired forward Ben Meyers from the Avalanche for a 2024 fifth-round pick.

Meyers is 25 years old and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Spending most of the season in the AHL, he had a stat line of 11–14—25 in 32 games with the Colorado Eagles. In nine games with the Avs, he scored one goal.

Rangers add defensive depth

The Rangers added defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from the Penguins in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Ruhwedel, a 33-year-old veteran defenseman, has spent the last eight seasons with Pittsburgh. In 47 games this season, Ruhwedel recorded a stat line of 1–3—4. Ruhwedel will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

For New York, this trade simply adds defensive depth in case of injury.

For Pittsburgh, adding a fourth-round pick for a 33-year-old defenseman is solid asset management. 

Rangers and Wild swap depth pieces

Shortly after acquiring Ruhwedel, the Rangers made another trade. New York acquired forward Nic Petan from Minnesota in exchange for winger Turner Elson.

Petan, a 28-year-old depth forward, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Spending most of the season with the Iowa Wild, Petan has put up a stat line of 12–28—40 in 44 games in the AHL. In six games with Minnesota, Petan recorded two assists. 

Elson, a 31-year-old winger, will also become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Elson spent all season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, putting up a stat line of 5–7—12 in 38 AHL games.

Winnipeg acquires Toffoli

On March 8, the Winnipeg Jets made their first move of the deadline, adding winger Tyler Toffoli from the Devils in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and a 2025-second round pick. 

Toffoli, a 31-year-old winger, has been an efficient scorer for most of his career. This season in New Jersey, Toffoli put up a stat line of 26–18—44 in 61 games. Toffoli has a current cap hit of $4.25 million and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. 

For Winnipeg, trading for a scoring winger was a need, especially while trying to maintain form at the top of the Central Division. The price may be steep, but with a fantastic goalie tandem and a need to prove that the team must remain in Winnipeg despite attendance issues, adding Toffoli to gear up for a playoff run was needed for the team.

For New Jersey, getting a second and a third for Toffoli is fantastic asset management. After this trade, New Jersey has added three draft picks at this deadline.

Detroit and San Jose trade depth

In their first trade of the deadline, the Detroit Red Wings paired with the Sharks to swap depth players. The Red Wings acquired defenseman Radim Simek and a 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange for winger Klim Kostin.

Simek, a 31-year-old defenseman, has spent his entire five-year career with the Sharks. A defensive-minded bottom-pairing defenseman, Simek has put up a stat line of 1–2—3 in 44 games with the Sharks this season. Simek has a cap hit of $2.25 million and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. 

Kostin, a 24-year-old winger, has struggled to find a spot in the crowded forward core of the Red Wings since being traded to Detroit. In 33 games with the Wings this season, he has put up a stat line of 3–1—4. Kostin carries a cap hit of $2 million this season and next.

For Detroit, defense has been rough. Most of their defensemen are either slow or offensive-minded. The addition of Simek could help to alleviate defensive issues on the team.

For San Jose, Kostin being under team control beyond this season allows the Sharks to try to unlock Kostin’s abilities. For now, Kostin will play a bottom-six role as he gets acclimated to San Jose.

Predators add another forward

Adding Beauvillier was not enough for Nashville. On March 8, Nashville acquired forward Jason Zucker from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.

Zucker, a 32-year-old winger, has a $5.3 million cap hit and becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 51 games in Arizona this season, Zucker put up a stat line of 9–16—25.

For Nashville, the middle six was in need of tender love and care. Adding Zucker, along with Beauvillier, allows the Preds to solidify a place of weakness on this roster.

For Arizona, another deadline of trading players for picks continues. The massive cap hit of Zucker more than likely turned other teams away, and Nashville was more than likely the only team willing to take on that entire contract.

The Big Rig heads to Boston

The Boston Bruins made a trade for Jack Edwards’ favorite player, Pat Maroon. In exchange for Maroon, the Bruins sent Minnesota forward prospect Luke Toporowski and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick. If Maroon were to play one 2023–24 playoff game, Minnesota acquires the pick.

Maroon, currently recovering from surgery, heads to Beantown as a physically aggressive veteran winger. At 35 years old, Maroon carries a $1 million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. In 49 games with the Wild this season, Maroon has put up a stat line of 4–12—16. 

Toporowski, a 22-year-old forward prospect, joins the Wild without a contract. Spending this season in the AHL, Toporowski put up a statline of 7–10—17 in 49 games with the Providence Bruins.

For Boston, adding a physical forward with Stanley Cup playoff experience for cheap was necessary. Although Maroon does not have the best reputation with the Bruins organization, it is clear that the past remains in the past for the Bruins’ front office. 

For Minnesota, Maroon lost value on the team even before his surgery. Moving on to open up a roster spot was beneficial for the Wild.

Sabres dump more salary

After bringing in Byram, the Sabres needed to make room on the defensive depth chart. To accomplish this, Buffalo sent defenseman Erik Johnson to the Flyers in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Johnson, a 35-year-old defenseman, is being sent to Philly with a $3.25 million cap hit. Buffalo retained none of his contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. In 50 games with the Sabres this season, Johnson recorded a stat line of 3–0—3.

For Philadelphia, acquiring Johnson grants Philly a veteran defenseman who is known most for his defensive responsibility.

For Buffalo, freeing up space for Byram was a must, and acquiring a fourth for Johnson was a plus for them. 

Boston adds a young defenseman

Adding Maroon was not the only thing Boston did on March 8. In a trade with the Blue Jackets, the Bruins add right-handed defenseman Andrew Peeke in exchange for defenseman Jakub Zboril and a 2027 third-round pick.

Peeke, a 25-year-old defenseman, struggled to get on the ice for Columbus this season. Known for blocking shots and throwing hits, Peeke has put up a stat line of 1–7—8 in only 23 games this season. In the first year of his contract, Peeke is under contract util the 2025–26 season with a yearly cap hit of $2.75 million.

Zboril, a former first-round pick of the Bruins in 2015, never seemed to fit the Bruins in his entire tenure in Boston. The 27-year-old will be looking for a new start in Columbus. In the last year of his contract, Zboril will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Spending this entire season in Providence, Zboril put up a stat line of 0–9—9 in 31 games.

For Boston, getting a defensive defenseman at 25 years old with multiple years of control is impressive. Although sidelined since December with a broken finger, Peeke can return to offer the Bruins a defenseman with room to grow and years to do so.

For Columbus, this trade makes little sense. Peeke is a defenseman a team like the Blue Jackets desperately need during a rebuild. Zboril has done nothing of note since being drafted nearly a decade ago, and a third-round pick in 2027 for a player under multiple years of control is not enough. Other teams got way more for way less this deadline.

Florida adds goaltender depth

The busy Panthers stayed busy this deadline on its last day. On March 8, Florida acquired goaltender Magnus Hellberg from Pittsburgh in exchange for goaltender Ludovic Waeber and a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.

Hellberg, a 32-year-old goaltender, will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. This season, Hellberg split time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. With Wilkes-Barre, Hellberg started 19 games in net, putting up a 2.92 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. In three games in Pittsburgh, Hellberg put up a 2.50 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.

Waeber, and 27-year-old goaltender, will also become an unrestricted free agent this summer. This season, Waeber split time between the ECHL with the Florida Everblades and the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. In one game with the Everblades, Waeber gave up five goals on a .762 save percentage. In 15 games with Charlotte, Waeber put up a 3.09 goals against average and a .887 save percentage.

For Florida, Hellberg offers a solid option for third goalie in case of injury. A team like the Panthers cannot be too careful when attempting to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.

For Pittsburgh, Hellberg was never going to be there beyond this season, so getting anything for him was the right move.

New Jersey creates a new goalie room

In a deadline of selling, New Jersey did buy on its last day. The Devils acquired goaltender Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a conditional 2025 third-round pick. The condition on this pick is that it becomes a 2025 second-round pick if Allen plays in 40 or more games in 2024–25 and if the team that Allen is a part of in 2024–25 is in the playoffs. Montreal retained 50% of Allen’s contract.

Allen, a 33-year-old goaltender, is currently in the first year of a two-year contract. In 21 starts for the Canadiens this season, Allen has a goals against average of 3.65 and a .892 save percentage.

For New Jersey, they decided to use this deadline to completely remake their goalie tandem. This will not be the only goaltender trade involving the Devils this deadline. Allen has been a consistent goaltender for most of his career, despite his struggles over the last two seasons.

For Montreal, one okay 33-year-old backup goaltender is not worth keeping around for a team in their position. The chance to get a second-round pick for Allen is worth the loss.

Tampa Bay adds another defenseman on the cheap

A day after acquiring Duclair, Tampa Bay again went out west to acquire depth. In a trade with Arizona, the Lightning acquired defenseman Matt Dumba in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Tampa Bay also received a 2025 seventh-round pick in this deal.

Dumba, a 29-year-old right-hand defenseman, currently has a cap hit of $3.9 million and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 58 games this season in Arizona, Dumba put up a stat line of 4–6—10.

For Tampa Bay, getting a defenseman to replace Mikhail Sergachev while he spends the rest of the regular season on LTIR was a must. Dumba is far from Sergachev in terms of ability at this point, but acquiring Dumba did not require a lot of draft capital, which is something Tampa Bay lacks. Dumba is a bottom-pairing defenseman who does nothing great but does not do anything poorly. He does just enough to keep himself on the ice.

For Arizona, when will the selling ever end? Will they even make the most of the draft capital they obtain? This is still to be determined, and it needs to be determined in a positive way if Arizona ever wants to be taken seriously.

Calgary acquires a defensive prospect

After selling off Hanifin and Tanev this deadline, defense will be an obvious need in the future for Calgary. Partnering with San Jose, Calgary acquired defensive prospect Nikita Okhotyuk from the Sharks in exchange for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick. For this pick, San Jose will receive the better of the two 2024 fifth-round picks that the Flames own.

Okhotyuk, a former second-round pick by the Devils in 2019, is a 23-year-old left-handed defenseman. In the last year of his contract, Okhotyuk will become a restricted free agent after this season.

Okhotyuk split this this season with the San Jose Sharks and the San Jose Barracuda. With the Barracuda he played five games, registering one assist. In 43 games this season with the Sharks, he registered a stat line of 1–7—8.

Sharks acquires a struggling goaltender

Shortly after moving Okhotiuk, the Sharks made another trade. San Jose acquired goaltender Devin Cooley from the Sabres in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick. 

Cooley, a 26-year-old goaltender, has a current cap hit of $775,000 and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. In 14 games in the AHL this season, Cooley recorded a 3.77 goals against average and a save percentage of .891.

Rangers make more noise

Not satisfied with just Wennberg and Ruhwedel, the Rangers added on the last day of the deadline. New York acquired forward Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick. The condition on this pick is if the Rangers make it to the Stanley Cup Final and Roslovic plays in 50% of the Rangers’ playoff games, the 2026 fourth-round pick becomes a 2026 third-round pick. The Blue Jackets retained 50% of Roslovic’s contract in this trade.

Roslovic, a 27-year-old winger, is in the last season of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. In 40 games with the Blue Jackets this season, Roslovic put up a stat line of 6–17—23. 

For the Rangers, adding Roslovic creates no excuses for this team. It is, at the very least, Eastern Conference Final or bust. Roslovic can be put anywhere on this team, so the goal will be to find where Roslovic fits best before the playoffs.

For the Blue Jackets, they continue to fail to get satisfying value for their trade pieces. Getting little for Roslovic, while also receiving underwhelming compensation for Peeke, is nothing short of disappointing. After a season-long soap opera, Columbus will more than likely end the year directionless and trying to answer more questions than they had last summer.

Devils part ways with Vanecek

The second trade of the day for the Devils, this one also included acquiring a goaltender. The Devils acquired Kaapo Kahkonen from the Sharks in exchange for Vitek Vanecek and a 2025 seventh-round pick.

Kahkonen, a 27-year-old goaltender, currently has a cap hit of $2.65 million and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 31 games with the Sharks this season, Kahkonen recorded a 3.81 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.

Vanecek, currently on injured reserve, is a 28-year-old goaltender in the second year of a three-year contract. Vanecek will have a $3.4 million cap hit this season and next. In 32 games this season, Vanecek has a 3.18 goals against average and a .890 save percentage.

For New Jersey, they felt it was best to move on from Vanecek. He took a massive step back this season, and once he went down with injury, it seemed that the Devils gave up on him. Acquiring Kahkonen now gives the Devils a goalie duo of Allen and Kahkonen. The Devils were more than likely looking for a healthy goalie group to finish out the season.

For San Jose, acquiring a goalie going through a tough season with another year of control is appealing. If Vanecek can come back from injury and find his form again, the Sharks could have the goalie position figured out going into next season.

The Sharks inexplicably sell Hertl

Easily the most shocking trade of the deadline, the Sharks traded not only the best player on their roster, but they traded him to a division rival. San Jose sent Tomas Hertl, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to Vegas in exchange for David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick. San Jose will also be retaining 17.1% of Hertl’s contract.

Hertl, a 30-year-old center, is still under contract until the 2029–30 season. An effective offensive center who can win at the face-off dot, Hertl has spent his entire career with the Sharks. This season, Hertl has put up a stat line of 15–19—34 in 48 games. 

Edstrom was the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft. At 19 years old, Edstrom is in the first year of his three-year entry-level contract. Edstrom is currently with the Frolunda HC of the SHL. In 43 games this season, Edstrom put up a stat line of 7–12—19.

Vegas does as Vegas does. They double down and keep putting all their chips on the table. They end the deadline adding Mantha, Hanifin and Hertl, three excellent players who will immediately play a massive role in the Knights attempt at going back to back.

For San Jose, it is difficult to understand this trade. Hertl is under team control until 2030 and has continued to show his worth throughout his entire career. To only receive a former first-round pick and a first-round pick next year is arguably not enough for a player of Hertl’s caliber. Retaining salary and sending draft capital to Vegas in this trade twists the knife for the Sharks.

Winnipeg adds defensive depth

As the deadline wound down, a few more trades were finalized. The Jets acquired right-handed defenseman Colin Miller from the Devils in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Miller, a 31-year-old defenseman, is in the last year of his two-year contract, carrying a $1.85 million cap hit. In 41 games this season, Miller put up a stat line of 4–4—8. 

For the Jets, adding Miller alongside Toffoli from the Devils allows the Jets to solidify the team’s depth and hedge their bets against injuries. The Jets end the deadline acquiring Miller, Toffoli and Sean Monahan.

For the Devils, they were able to get value for all of their movable assets. They ended this deadline with two new goaltenders, two fourths, a third, a second and MacDermid, which is a solid deadline for a team disappointed in not playing up to expectations this season.

Toronto and Minnesota end the deadline on a quiet note

The Wild and the Maple Leafs agreed to a quiet trade to end the deadline. The Wild acquired forward Dmitry Ovchinnikov and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Leafs in exchange for forward Connor Dewar.

Ovchinnikov, a 21-year-old forward prospect, was drafted by Toronto in the fifth-round in the 2020 draft. In the last season of his entry-level contract, Ovchinnikov spent all season with the AHL. With the Toronto Marlies, Ovchinnikov put up a stat line of 7–3—10 in 20 games.

Dewar, a 24-year-old forward, was drafted by Minnesota in the third-round of the 2018. In the last year of his contract, he carries a $800,000 cap hit. In 57 games with the Wild this season, Dewar put up a stat line of 10–4—14. 

For Minnesota, they continue to move on from players not in the teams long-term vision and acquire more draft capital.

For Toronto, they acquire another depth piece for cheap. It appears that Toronto had no interest in moving a first-round pick this deadline.

Winners and losers of the deadline

It is hard to determine who wins at the deadline so quickly after the dust has settled. A “winner” of the deadline could become a loser by failing to take advantage of the draft picks acquired, or failing to utilize players acquired for their playoff runs.

On the surface, a few winners of the deadline are easy to notice. The Golden Knights, Avalanche and Panthers are winners as of now. They were able to solidify their teams for deep playoff runs without overpaying for rentals.

On the other end of the spectrum, some losers can be identified as well. One loser is Toronto. The players Toronto acquired do not put them over the top compared to other playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, and refusing to trade a first-round pick for better players will haunt them when facing teams willing to do so.

Another loser of this deadline is San Jose. Getting an unimpressive return for Hertl, along with getting nothing higher than a third-round pick for other rentals they sold off put this team in a position where they have to hope to get the first-overall pick this offseason, or else all of this will look even worse as a result.

The final loser of this deadline is Columbus. Receiving only a conditional fourth for Roslovic and a third for Peeke is underwhelming. A team in turmoil put themselves in an even worse position as a result of not getting the proper return for their players.

There are other teams that are harder to determine whether they are winners or losers. The Hurricanes are a prime example of this. If Kuznetsov finds his old form and Guentzel recovers from injury to return at 100%, then Carolina would be considered a sure-fire winner. If not, then the Hurricanes will again have to figure out what it will take to put them over the top in the East.