We’re only just past the quarter mark of the regular season, but some of last offseason’s trades have already proven valuable for specific teams. While it’s difficult to judge a trade based on a small sample size, some moves have yielded such early gains that it’s clear the trade was a win, especially considering the low cost to acquire the player.
Notably missing from the list is Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner; however, since the move was expected in free agency, it was not included. Clearly, it’s been a significant acquisition for Vegas. Nonetheless, given the article’s tone, it was left off the list.
The first trade involves the Blackhawks acquiring forward André Burakovsky from the Kraken in exchange for forward Joe Veleno, who was subsequently bought out. Initially, this move didn’t attract much attention, but early this season, it’s clear that it’s a great deal for Chicago. Burakovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, was a very productive scorer before joining the Kraken, surpassing 44 points in three consecutive seasons with the Avalanche before signing a five-year, $27.5MM contract as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. While Burakovsky addressed a definite need for Seattle, there were concerns at the time that head coach Dave Hakstol’s system might negatively affect his numbers. That’s precisely what happened, as his production dropped to 30 goals and 62 assists in 177 games over three seasons with Seattle. Multiple significant injuries didn’t help those numbers.
From Seattle’s perspective, this summer’s trade was a salary dump aimed at moving a player who wasn’t making a significant contribution. Chicago correctly saw an opportunity to acquire an offensive forward at a low cost, and it has worked out very well so far. The 30-year-old Burakovsky has scored seven goals and added eight assists in 18 games, and he is now being used in more favorable offensive roles with better zone starts and more ice time alongside Connor Bedard. However, several warning signs with Burakovsky could lead to issues later, including his unsustainable shooting percentage (26.9%) and a PDO (104.8) that is likely to decline. 
When the Anaheim Ducks acquired Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers, many fans believed that Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek had done the Rangers a favor regarding salary cap issues. The trade sent Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Ducks in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. The cost to acquire Kreider was minimal, as the 34-year-old is set to earn $6.5MM in the final two years of his contract and had his stats drop significantly last season, with 22 goals and just eight assists in 68 games. The Ducks probably saw Kreider as a valuable veteran leader who could score goals and be tough to play against. He’s demonstrated that so far, with 10 goals and six assists in 19 games. Kreider isn’t going to shoot 24% for the rest of the season, but even if he regresses to his career average (15.3%), he should still score 30 goals again, making this trade a significant win for the Ducks.
Next on the list was a very quiet transaction that has paid off significantly so far: the Penguins’ trade for goaltender Arturs Silovs. The trade sent prospect Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick back to the Canucks. It was an interesting gamble for the Penguins, but one that made a lot of sense given their goaltending situation at the time. Silovs had just been named the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs with AHL Abbotsford and had shown potential as an NHL goaltender in previous seasons. With the Canucks locking in Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen on long-term deals, it seemed likely Silovs would be moved, especially since he might have been claimed on waivers at the start of this season. Vancouver did well to get what they did for him, but the Penguins have found a reliable netminder at a low cost, and given his age, he could be an NHL goalie for many years.
The risk with Silovs has always been his consistency, and that remains a concern even though he’s posted good numbers this season. In 11 games, the 24-year-old is 4-3-4 with a .908 SV% and a 2.74 GAA. His underlying numbers look even better as he’s posted a 5.8 goals saved above expected (per MoneyPuck). The season is still early, but so far, this looks like a big win for the Penguins. Silovs might not be an NHL starter long-term, but if he keeps up his current play, he could become a reliable backup to Pittsburgh’s goalie of the future, Sergei Murashov.
Sticking with the Metropolitan Division, we examine the Trevor Zegras trade to the Flyers. The 24-year-old was traded by the Ducks on June 23, in exchange for center Ryan Poehling, the Blue Jackets’ 2025 second-round pick (No. 45 overall), and Philadelphia’s 2026 fourth-rounder. The return to the Ducks seemed underwhelming at the time, and after Zegras’ start to the season, it feels even less impressive. Through 21 games in Philadelphia, Zegras has scored seven goals and 14 assists, while Poehling has just one goal and five assists in 16 games.
The Ducks essentially had to move Zegras, whose play had fallen off considerably in Anaheim and who needed a fresh start elsewhere. The Flyers were more than happy to take a chance, and so far, it has worked out well. While some of Zegras’ success this season has been due to favorable deployment and a fair bit of luck, his level of play feels the most sustainable among all the players on the list. He is shooting slightly above his career average, his PDO is marginally higher, and his usage aligns well with his skills. All that said, none of this is a significant departure from his time in Anaheim, but Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and his staff have managed to get more out of Zegras. It’s worth noting that Tocchet has a track record of getting the best from enigmatic players, with Phil Kessel being a prime example during their time together in Pittsburgh. If Tocchet has truly found a way to maximize Zegras’ potential, it will go a long way in helping the Flyers regain relevance.
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Great article.