Making Sense Of The Maple Leafs’ Downfall
Much has been said about the Maple Leafs’ decline this season, and rightly so. The team has shifted from a serious Stanley Cup contender just three years ago to a potential lottery pick this year.
Along the way, several targets have drawn criticism from Leafs fans and the media alike. From former head coach Mike Babcock to ex-GM Kyle Dubas and current captain Auston Matthews, no one has escaped the fans’ wrath or the media glare.
Still, amid all the turmoil, it’s unclear what specific factors brought about the end of an era that started with great promise and finished with a whimper this season.
Noticeably missing from the paragraph above is the name Brendan Shanahan, the man who sparked this entire era from the moment he was hired in April 2014. Shanahan was appointed president and alternate governor at the time and oversaw all Maple Leafs operations.
Some may forget, but back then, questions arose about whether Shanahan had the experience for such a role. Fair or unfair, those questions were valid since he was only five years removed from his last NHL game and lacked prior executive experience with an NHL team.
Shanahan did have executive experience, working at the NHL’s head office after his playing career. He was hired in December 2009 as the league’s vice president of hockey and business development and served in that role for just over a year before succeeding Colin Campbell as the senior vice president in June 2011.
Much of Shanahan’s role involved issuing suspensions for illegal hits and plays, and Shanahan modernized this system by introducing videos in which he narrated the plays in question. While this was relevant experience for an executive role in an NHL club, it is fair to question whether Shanahan had the appropriate experience to make management, coaching, and player personnel decisions and oversee the entire operation.
Ultimately, Shanahan was responsible for many of the key figures involved in this era of Maple Leafs hockey. Shanahan brought in figures like Babcock, Dubas, Lou Lamoriello, and eventually Brad Treliving. These men played major roles in shaping the team, from the coaching staff to the backup goaltender.
It’s impossible to know who made the final decisions on every move, but since Babcock, Dubas, and Lamoriello all exited at different times, it’s fair to say Shanahan held the overall authority and was accountable for nearly everything that occurred under his leadership.
So, what actions did Shanahan take when Lamoriello was in charge? There were certainly some good and bad decisions, but overall, they didn’t lead to the downfall this piece suggests.
Lamoriello attached the Maple Leafs to some problematic contracts during his time as general manager. Nikita Zaitsev received a seven-year, $31.5MM extension that proved disastrous and led to his trade, along with forward Connor Brown.
Patrick Marleau was signed as a free agent to a three-year deal worth $6.25MM per year. Toronto had to trade Marleau’s contract along with a first-round pick in 2019 because of salary-cap pressure.
There was also a four-year deal for veteran forward Matt Martin at $2.5MM per season, another far-from-ideal contract that took up valuable cap space. Although these contracts weren’t great and cost assets to unload, none of this was catastrophic, and Lou was out of Toronto before any serious damage was done.
Moving on from Lamoriello to Dubas, much of his work has been criticized as the downfall of the Maple Leafs. Dubas became a popular target for Maple Leafs fans, blamed for the decline of this era of hockey in Toronto.
It’s hard to judge if these criticisms are fair, considering we don’t know how much power Dubas actually held or how much veto power Shanahan exercised. It’s also fair to look at Dubas’ record in Pittsburgh and wonder if he learned from his mistakes in Toronto or if he is now benefiting from full autonomy in his new role with the Penguins.
But was the Dubas era in Toronto really that bad?
Dubas was responsible for the large contracts awarded to the Big Three after their entry-level deals expired. He signed William Nylander to a six-year deal, Auston Matthews to a five-year contract, and Mitch Marner to a six-year agreement. He also signed UFA John Tavares to a seven-year, $77MM deal, which many felt was unnecessary because it led to the departure of fellow center Nazem Kadri, who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a move that didn’t work out for Tyson Barrie.
The Kadri trade is probably the biggest blemish on Dubas’s resume, although some fans might argue that other moves by Dubas, such as the Morgan Rielly extension, the Petr Mrazek signing, and the subsequent trade that saw Toronto give up a first-round pick to rid itself of his contract, are also questionable.
Signing the big four essentially meant the Maple Leafs had to spend nearly $40MM of their cap space on four players, and there is a fair argument that this forced Dubas to tighten the budget elsewhere on the roster. While that’s true, Dubas managed to find affordable depth over the years, with Michael Bunting being a good example.
There was also significant criticism of Dubas’ handling of several trade deadlines, during which he traded away many assets for short-term rentals. Despite these additions late in the season (such as Ryan O’Reilly, for example), Toronto was never able to get past the second round, and in most cases, they couldn’t win a single series.
While this isn’t entirely Dubas’ fault, he bears most of the criticism, since it was technically his decision to go all-in at these deadlines. He also left the Maple Leafs with many assets missing when he was dismissed.
Without delving too much into the drama surrounding Dubas’s departure, it seemed to be something that wasn’t part of Shanahan’s plan and ultimately led to the hiring of Treliving as general manager. Despite some of the flaws on Dubas’ résumé, it was difficult to argue at the time that moving to Treliving was an upgrade for Toronto. Treliving had just left his role as GM in Calgary, leaving the Flames with an aging, costly core that wasn’t a playoff team and needed a rebuild.
Treliving arrived in Toronto and enjoyed a fairly good first summer with the Maple Leafs as he signed Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi to one-year contracts. These moves provided the Maple Leafs with some flexibility, but that suddenly diminished when Matthews signed a four-year extension in August 2023, making him the NHL’s highest-paid player at that time with a $13.25MM AAV.
A few months later, Treliving managed to sign Nylander to an eight-year deal worth $92MM. This was the first time the Maple Leafs had secured a member of the original Big Three with a maximum-length contract. Neither of the contracts for Matthews nor Nylander was particularly egregious; however, they fully committed Toronto to this core, a group that had not reached the third round of the playoffs.
Treliving didn’t do too badly in the UFA market, although signing Domi to a four-year extension after his first season in Toronto was a risky move that hasn’t worked out. Another tough contract to evaluate now is the six-year deal with defenseman Chris Tanev, which still has four years remaining after this season.
Those two deals essentially committed Toronto to $8.25MM in salary for two veteran players whose best years are behind them. This pattern reflects a tendency Treliving has often shown throughout his career as a GM.
Treliving’s first two seasons with Toronto were mostly decent, as the Maple Leafs made the playoffs and even won the Atlantic Division in 2025. The pivotal moment in his tenure occurred in the summer of 2025 when it became evident that Marner was planning to leave Toronto.
The star forward headed to Vegas, and although Treliving managed to acquire Nicolas Roy in a trade for Marner, what followed revealed a GM who was unprepared for the situation. Treliving’s moves after Marner’s departure didn’t make a significant difference and did little to replace the scoring loss.
Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, and Roy were brought in, and it was assumed these three could fill Marner’s scoring gap. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only did they fail to replace Marner’s scoring, but they also left the Maple Leafs with a roster that was ineffective defensively.
Now, Treliving is left in Toronto as the de facto last man standing from a management regime that will likely be criticized for decades for squandering a golden opportunity to bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. Folks will point fingers and blame the hierarchy from Shanahan to the backup goaltender, but the truth is this: The Maple Leafs’ downfall was not immediate; it was built on bad hires, bad trades, bad signings, and bad bets.
While it’s hard to narrow ten years down to one defining moment, there is a key two-month period that occurred in 2023.
The two moments that stand out as the beginning of Toronto’s decline are the firing of Dubas in May 2023 and Mitch Marner’s no-move clause kicking in on July 1, 2023. It’s long been speculated that Dubas wanted to reshape the Maple Leafs roster if he remained in the GM role, but he was fired before he could do so, and Toronto let Marner’s no-move condition trigger in his contract.
Dubas’ firing led to the hiring of Treliving and to the recent three seasons of moves in Toronto (including Marner’s departure). Now, most people will compare Treliving’s record to Dubas’s and claim Treliving has been more successful as a GM.
However, Dubas inherited a complete mess in Pittsburgh, as the Penguins were old, stagnant, in cap trouble, and lacked prospects. Treliving, on the other hand, inherited a top team in the Eastern Conference and kept it competitive for two seasons. It’s an apples-to-oranges comparison between Dubas and Treliving; however, one crucial fact remains: Dubas put the Penguins on the upswing, while Treliving has overseen the Maple Leafs’ decline.
Then there is Marner, who was never traded until the summer of 2025, and fetched only Roy in return for the Maple Leafs. Losing a top NHL player and failing to recoup the asset were major cases of disastrous asset management.
Sure, the Maple Leafs got two extra years of Marner, but not trading him in 2023 would have allowed them to acquire a haul of players back then and give Matthews, Tavares, and Nylander more depth.
That eight-week period in the spring of 2023 was a turning point, and for Maple Leafs fans, it’s hard not to look back and wonder what would have happened if Dubas had stayed in Toronto and Shanahan had been the one to depart.
We’ll never know, and for Maple Leafs fans, it doesn’t do any good to speculate; the era is over, and what comes next is unknown.
Photo by Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Assessing The Hurricanes’ Underwhelming Trade Deadline
There have been many unpredictable developments in the NHL this season, especially in the Metropolitan Division, where the Penguins and Islanders are unexpectedly holding playoff spots while the Devils and Capitals appear to be out of the race. Yet, one constant this year — as it has been nearly every year this decade — is that the Hurricanes are leading the division and poised for a strong playoff run.
Despite their impressive record and deep roster, it still seems like the Hurricanes missed an opportunity at this year’s trade deadline to elevate their team into the top tier of contenders by making just one or two small moves.
The Stars are in a similar position to Carolina, but Dallas made some moves by acquiring forward Michael Bunting and defenseman Tyler Myers. This isn’t to say those players were exactly what the Hurricanes needed, but Dallas only traded a second-, third-, and fourth-round draft pick for them.
Carolina didn’t need to be as bold as the Stars, given the depth on their roster, but they could have made a few small pickups to try and win their first Eastern Conference title in nearly 20 years.
There are reasons why Carolina might have been apprehensive. Sure, they got burned last season with the Mikko Rantanen deal, a short-lived acquisition that led to his quick trade to Dallas, and the year before, they traded for forward Jake Guentzel, only to see him leave and join Tampa Bay after their playoff elimination.
But again, Carolina didn’t need to add much, and what they did felt underwhelming as they only made one move to acquire physical forward Nicolas Deslauriers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick.
Much has been said about the Hurricanes’ lack of success in the postseason after the second round, and for good reason. The Hurricanes have made a habit of reaching at least the second round and have regularly played in the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, they have had almost no success advancing past the third round in the last two decades, dating back to 2009 when they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Penguins. Carolina was also swept in 2019 by Boston and in 2023 by Florida. Last year, they were eliminated in the third round once again, but this time they managed to secure a single win against the Panthers.
While their regular-season success is well documented, it seems their window is beginning to close, as their prospect pool is only average at best, and depth will eventually run out. Now, folks might point to their big acquisitions last summer and say those were the major moves, suggesting they were going all in, which is fair enough.
Last summer, Carolina acquired K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers and also signed Nikolaj Ehlers as a UFA, giving him a six-year deal worth $51MM. Both moves indicated that the Hurricanes were willing to take risks and aim for a Stanley Cup.
Those moves, however, make the silence at this year’s trade deadline all the more puzzling. Why load up last summer only to hold back and not address shortcomings right before the playoffs?
You might look at Carolina’s lineup and think they have a flawless roster fill-out, but they do have some gaps in the lineup that could have been addressed.
The biggest issue for Carolina is on their fourth line, where journeyman center Mark Jankowski is anchoring the fourth-line center spot. No disrespect to Jankowski, who has kept his NHL career alive after several AHL stints, but he is not a center for a team with visions of winning a Stanley Cup this spring.
Jankowski is a suitable injury replacement or 13th forward, but regularly dressing him in every game of the playoffs probably isn’t ideal in a best-of-seven series. The 31-year-old Jankowski has six goals and nine assists in 51 games this season, which is acceptable for a fourth liner, but he has been used mostly in offensive zone situations, suggesting some sheltered usage.
The bigger issue for Carolina is what would happen to their center depth if someone like Sebastian Aho or Logan Stankoven were to get injured. Jordan Staal could step up to play in the top six, although it wouldn’t be ideal.
But suddenly, Jankowski becomes a top-nine center on a team with Stanley Cup ambitions. It’s a lot of hypotheticals, but injuries do happen, and an injury to a center could be disastrous for the Hurricanes.
Carolina didn’t need to make a big splash with a major acquisition; Teddy Blueger from Vancouver would have been enough, or even a Lars Eller from Ottawa (if he was available) would have worked too. Another option could have been a veteran like Erik Haula out of New Jersey. But Carolina chose to stand pat and hope they have the depth to make a run.
The same could apply to their defense, where Mike Reilly is currently getting regular shifts on their third pairing. Although Reilly has been a solid professional for quite some time, it’s not ideal to have him in the everyday lineup for the playoffs at this stage of his career.
It’s a bit less of a concern with Reilly because the Hurricanes have reinforcements on the way, including returning injured players like Shayne Gostisbehere and Charles-Alexis Legault. Reilly’s underlying stats have been quite good this season, but much like Jankowski, he’s been sheltered when he’s in the lineup.
Given the high costs at the trade deadline, it is understandable why Carolina would hesitate to add to their lineup. However, since they are firmly in their contention window, it was surprising to see them do so little to address their lineup deficiencies.
They might still make a deep run; however, if they fall short of their ultimate goal once again, they could end up regretting their inaction last week.
Kyle Dubas Deserves Praise For Retooling The Penguins
When the Pittsburgh Penguins dismissed GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke in April 2023, it created a vacancy that needed to be filled by an individual with a clear vision. The Penguins arguably had the least desirable job in the NHL, and there was no extensive list of candidates capable of stepping in and transforming a struggling franchise.
Pittsburgh had missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons, had an aging, costly roster, lacked prospects in the pipeline, had very few draft picks, and had minimal cap space. Despite all the negatives linked to the role, Pittsburgh leveraged its considerable resources at the time to attract Kyle Dubas to lead the organization, offering him a lengthy, substantial financial commitment and full autonomy to run the team as he deemed fit.
It was a significant gamble, and one that appears to be paying off nearly three years later.
Make no mistake: during the first two months Dubas was in charge, he did almost nothing right. The Ryan Graves contract remains a complete disaster; the Tristan Jarry deal was a major failure; and the other contracts he signed that summer did little to benefit the Penguins the following season.
The only positive from that summer was acquiring three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, who hasn’t been his usual offensive self but has become a more complete defender this season.
But during the 2023-24 season, when it became clear the Penguins were out of contention, they shifted to a retooling approach that resembled a rebuild. At the deadline, Dubas traded pending UFA Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Michael Bunting, a second-round pick that would become defenseman Harrison Brunicke, forward prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasiliy Ponomarev, and Cruz Lucius, along with a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick.
It was a significant haul for Dubas, although it lacked top-tier assets and was viewed as a move focused on quantity rather than quality. Nevertheless, the move sparked a run for Dubas that allowed him to avoid a full-scale rebuild, despite widespread belief that he was rebuilding the Penguins.
Dubas started dismantling the Penguins’ roster by trading away several veterans. At the same time, he added draft picks and young players who hadn’t panned out elsewhere, along with veterans on overpriced contracts that their former teams needed to shed for salary-cap reasons.
Dubas was happy to acquire these types of players in exchange for draft picks, as shown in his trades for Kevin Hayes and Cody Glass, in which he received second-, third-, and sixth-round picks for taking on their contracts. He also made short-term bets on players with potential upside, signing forward Anthony Beauvillier to a one-year deal and defenceman Matt Grzelcyk for just one year.
During the first part of the 2024-25 season, Dubas’ decisions seemed disastrous. The Penguins were out of playoff contention by January and began selling off pending UFAs, starting with Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor, whom they traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a first-round pick and several other veterans who were eventually moved out.
Dubas kept retooling, moving on from Glass to acquire more assets, including Bunting, who eventually helped the Penguins land Thomas Novak and additional draft picks. He also traded Beauvillier for a second-round draft pick at the deadline and acquired Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins for a fifth-rounder.
It all seemed like a video game. Dubas was wheeling and dealing as if he had a controller in his hand, but on-ice results were underwhelming at best.
The Penguins missed the playoffs for a third straight year, and fans and media alike began questioning whether Sidney Crosby should remain in Pittsburgh, since Dubas wasn’t building a strong team around him. Despite missing postseason hockey, the Penguins weren’t building for the here and now, as Dubas was adding draft picks and younger assets – something many believed was impossible without a full rebuild.
Aside from the asset acquisition, another big story was brewing. Dubas had pulled the Penguins out of an awful cap situation, and they had flexibility on the horizon.
Pittsburgh has over $47MM in cap space available this summer (per PuckPedia) and won’t have a ton of holes to fill, as they finally have a youth movement coming.
Then there was the mastery Dubas showed during the summer of 2025, first drafting Benjamin Kindel with the 11th overall pick, which most people thought was a reach. He then traded down with his second pick and ultimately left the first round of the entry draft with Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff.
Dubas then spent the rest of the summer acquiring castoffs and second-round picks, taking on Matt Dumba’s contract and the sweetener from the Stars, as well as Connor Clifton from Buffalo. By late summer, the Penguins had more draft capital for the next three NHL drafts than any other team, all without a full-scale rebuild.
Dubas also went bargain-hunting among free agents last summer and found great success, signing Anthony Mantha to a one-year deal that has been a significant bargain, as well as defensemen Parker Wotherspoon and Justin Brazeau, who fill top four and top six roles on the Penguins for just $2.5MM combined and are signed for another season.
But Dubas’s best work this season has been the Jarry for Stuart Skinner swap and the Egor Chinakhov trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Skinner has outperformed Jarry since the trade, playing exceptionally well and helping the Penguins re-enter playoff contention.
Pittsburgh also received a second-round pick and Brett Kulak from Edmonton, who was later traded for Samuel Girard and an additional second-round pick. The Chinakhov trade, on the other hand, has worked out splendidly, as he has fit seamlessly alongside Evgeni Malkin, and the Penguins have been red hot since the trade.
Pittsburgh is now firmly in a playoff race, even without Crosby and, more recently, Malkin. The team isn’t a Stanley Cup favourite, but Dubas has achieved the impossible with this roster in just a few short years.
He made the team younger and faster, overhauled the prospect system, accumulated draft picks, and gained cap flexibility. He managed all of this while keeping the team in playoff contention during the final years of Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Dubas provided the Penguins with direction and made the tough decisions and bold moves that come with having a clear vision. Make no mistake, Dubas had the term and independence when he was hired; he could have torn down the roster and taken the easy route to rebuild.
But he chose the more challenging path of retooling on the fly, one of the toughest ways to build. Dubas took one of the league’s oldest rosters and revitalized it, and for that, he deserves a lot of credit.
Trade Deadline Primer: Utah Mammoth
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is tomorrow. Where do each team stand, and what moves should they be targeting? We continue our look around the league, focusing on playoff-hunting teams, and we’re back with the Mammoth.
The Mammoth are currently in a wild-card spot in the Western Conference and would love nothing more than to give their fans some playoff home games in just their second season. Utah has been mentioned as a potential suitor for St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas, who, at just 26 years of age, would fit with the Mammoth’s contention timeline. There are a few teams that can match Utah’s stockpile of future assets and young players, making that link a real possibility.
Record
32-25-4, 4th in the Central
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$25.72MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: UTA 1st, UTA 3rd, CAR 3rd, UTA 4th, UTA 5th, CHI 5th, UTA 7th
2027: UTA 1st, UTA 2nd, UTA 3rd, TOR 3rd, UTA 4th, EDM 4th, UTA 5th, TBL 5th, UTA 6th, UTA 7th
Trade Chips
The Mammoth have a key UFA this summer in forward Nick Schmaltz, a player expected to be among, if not the best, free-agent forwards available. The Mammoth are unlikely to move the 30-year-old, who is having a career year and should be a major part of their playoff push. Other pending UFAs include forwards Alexander Kerfoot, Kevin Stenlund, defenseman Ian Cole, and backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek. Aside from Schmaltz, none of these players are expected to fetch much value on the trade market, and considering Utah’s position, it doesn’t make sense to move them.
Looking down the list of other potential trade chips, Utah has a top-five prospect system in the NHL with an embarrassment of riches, including Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, Dmitri Simashev, Daniil But, and Maveric Lamoureux.
Iginla has name recognition thanks to his father Jarome Iginla’s illustrious career, but he is a very different player from his dad. Iginla works quickly and plays a speed-based game that excels in transition and on the rush. He is a decent playmaker, though not exceptional, but his shot can do a lot of damage. Iginla plays with a high motor and isn’t afraid to be first in on the forecheck. If Utah were to make him available, there would be teams interested in him because of his abilities and pedigree.
As promising as Iginla is, he isn’t the Mammoth’s top prospect; that distinction belongs to forward Desnoyers, who was the fourth overall pick in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. Desnoyers had an outstanding playoff last year in the QMJHL, showcasing his skills and size by scoring 30 points in just 19 playoff games. Desnoyers plays a well-rounded game overall, but his skill level wouldn’t be considered high-end. That said, he is quite responsible defensively and is one of the hardest workers on the ice.
On the back end is Simashev, a towering defenseman who dominates the defensive zone and rarely gets caught running around in his own zone. Big defensemen remain in demand regardless of skill level and effectiveness, which is quite evident if you look at recent NHL trades (Tyler Myers, for example). Simashev doesn’t light up the score sheet (one assist in 24 NHL games), and no one will mistake him for an offensive defenseman, but he is a capable puck carrier, has fairly good passing skills, and, of course, can hit. Simashev’s already broken into the NHL roster at 21 years of age and has top-four NHL potential; he would be an ideal partner for an offensive defenseman, which is something teams are always looking for.
Finally, let’s look at Daniil But, who has spent some time in the NHL with the Mammoth and is having a solid offensive showing in the AHL as well. At 6’6” and just 21 years old, you might expect some awkwardness or clumsiness in But’s game, but he is actually quite smooth and refined in his puck handling, shooting, and passing. Not to be overlooked is his shooting, which is excellent, as his large frame allows him to generate plenty of torque on his shots, no matter which foot he uses. Teams often pay a premium for size, but the combination of size and skill gives But significant trade value if Utah decides to move him.
Team Needs
A Top Nine Forward: This team’s primary need was a top-four defenseman; however, since the Mammoth recently acquired MacKenzie Weegar, Utah now has a solid defensive unit. Up front, they could benefit from a scoring forward to better balance their top nine, as their offense is only average, ranking 16th in the NHL in scoring. As mentioned earlier, Utah was in talks with the Blues for Thomas, but no deal was reached. It’s difficult to determine whether Utah needs to acquire a player with Thomas’ skill level, but a top-six forward would definitely be ideal to move players down the lineup into roles better suited to their abilities. The player they acquire could also be a third liner, but their main focus will likely be scoring, whether it’s depth scoring or improving overall.
A Backup Goaltender: Utah is among the top defensive teams in the NHL, ranking fifth in goals against this season. The team has relied heavily on starter Karel Vejmelka and has used backup netminder Vaněček sparingly. The reason for Vaněček’s limited play is quite clear, given his poor performance this season in just 14 games. The 30-year-old has a 3-9-2 record, a 2.94 GAA, and a .884 SV%. Vaněček’s -1.3 goals saved above expected (according to MoneyPuck) isn’t the worst figure, but his lack of appearances and record with the team indicate a goaltender who hasn’t exactly boosted confidence among his teammates. Utah also lacks a reliable third option if Vejmelka or Vaněček were to get injured.
Photo by Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Trade Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is this week. Where do each team stand, and what moves should they be targeting? We continue our look around the league, focusing on playoff-hunting teams, and we’re back with the Predators.
Nashville isn’t a strong hockey team, but luckily for them, they play in the Western Conference. Despite an unimpressive record, they are still fighting for a playoff spot. The Predators have an ageing and costly core and would likely prefer to get younger now. However, they have several high-priced contracts that are hard to move, and a few others they might deal if they can persuade the players to accept a trade. What Nashville will do remains uncertain, but they do have options despite their fragile roster setup.
Record
27-26-8, 5th in the Central
Deadline Status
Conservative Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$31.75MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 41/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: NAS 1st, NAS 2nd, MIN 2nd, NAS 3rd, NAS 4th, NAS 5th, EDM 5th, CAR 5th, UTA 6th, NAS 7th
2027: NAS 1st, NAS 2nd, STL 2nd, NAS 3rd, EDM 3rd, VGK 3rd, COL 3rd, NAS 4th, NYR 4th, NAS 5th, COL 5th, NAS 6th, NAS 7th
Trade Chips
What the Predators do over the next two days will depend on several factors, including the offers they receive and how they play this week. They don’t have to do anything. They could retain their pending UFAs and make a run for the playoffs if they wanted, and it would be understandable given the age of their core players.
That being said, if a team makes a high-priced offer for center Ryan O’Reilly, you have to believe the Predators would listen. O’Reilly has one year left on a team-friendly $4.5MM cap hit and would bring Nashville a substantial return if traded. It’s difficult to assess whether it’s a buyer’s or a seller’s market. Some people have said it leans heavily towards the sellers, but a few teams have committed to selling in recent days, which will change the market a bit. That being said, if it turns out to be a seller’s market, Nashville will likely trade him. If the opposite is true, they will probably hold onto him until at least the summer.
Steven Stamkos has also been mentioned as a potential trade candidate in recent weeks. Stamkos is in his second year with the Predators after a widely discussed departure from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 36-year-old Stamkos didn’t have an ideal first year in Nashville by his standards, but he has improved significantly this season, with 30 goals and 17 assists in 61 games. His near 0.5 goals per game would be very attractive to any NHL team, but Stamkos holds sway over his own fate thanks to a full no-movement clause and can remain with the team if he chooses. Given the limited time to make a move, it seems likely Stamkos could be a summer trade candidate, but anything is possible if teams and players are motivated to facilitate deals.
Beyond the two veterans, Nashville has a few other players they could trade at the deadline, starting with forward Michael Bunting, who is a UFA this summer. The 30-year-old has been traded twice in the last two years, both times around the trade deadline, and could be moved for a third time during his current three-year contract. There is nothing wrong with Bunting’s game; he remains a solid depth scorer with a bit of sandpaper to his game. Bunting could be a good addition to a team seeking more scoring from their middle six and likely wouldn’t cost too much if Nashville decides to move him.
Erik Haula is another veteran forward with an expiring deal who might be moved. The 34-year-old is having a solid offensive season, with nine goals and 21 assists in 61 games, making him a decent addition to a team’s bottom six. Like Bunting, he is a UFA this summer, and the cost to acquire him shouldn’t be too high, which could attract teams working within an asset budget. Haula is a fantastic penalty killer, decent on faceoffs, and a good defensive forward, but he takes far too many minor penalties, which might be problematic for a contending team.
Team Needs
A Center: The Predators currently lack sufficient center depth, and trading O’Reilly would weaken what little they have. The team recently moved Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild and needs to acquire some centers — preferably young ones — who can eventually play behind the 2025 fifth-overall pick, Brady Martin, once he makes his full-time transition to the NHL. The Predators have a few other center prospects who project as NHLers, but it’s hard to tell if they will develop into top-six options. O’Reilly won’t be around during the Predators’ next contention window, but if they want to develop strong center prospects, he could serve as a mentor, similar to how Sidney Crosby has helped 18-year-old Benjamin Kindel develop in Pittsburgh.
Prospects: The Predators have a slightly above-average farm system if you look at conventional prospect rankings. But if they are keen on launching their rebuild while the likes of Juuse Saros and Filip Forsberg are still key contributors, they will need to ramp up their drafting and development. The optimal way to do that would be to sell off any veteran assets that can be moved and trade for futures or young roster players. As the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have demonstrated in recent years, teams can retool on the fly with a veteran core and compete quickly if they are willing to make tough decisions and take chances. Current GM Barry Trotz won’t be the one to make those decisions, but he can lay a foundation on his way out the door that will allow the next general manager to make those hard choices. Nashville has Saros signed until 2033 and Forsberg until 2030. It’s not unrealistic to believe that the Predators could be competitive again in another 2-3 years, giving them some runway with their vets to serve as both mentors and contributors while their young players find their way in the NHL.
Photo by Per Haljestam-Imagn Images
Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is this week. Where do each team stand, and what moves should they be targeting? We continue our look around the league, focusing on playoff-hunting teams, and we’re back with the Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets haven’t made the playoffs since the 2020 bubble and were close last season, finishing with 89 points and narrowly missing the postseason. Coming into this year, there was an air of optimism in Columbus. However, a 19-19-7 start under former head coach Dean Evason quickly let the air out of the balloon and left many fans wondering whether Columbus would sell off their pending UFAs. They haven’t done that to this point and have climbed back into the playoff picture, going 11-2-1 under new head coach Rick Bowness. Now heading into the deadline, Columbus sits five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand and 23 games to go. What they will do at the trade deadline is anyone’s guess, but they have dropped hints.
Record
30-21-8, 5th in the Metropolitan (39.2% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$45.55MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: CBJ 1st, STL 2nd, CBJ 3rd, COL 3rd, TOR 4th, CBJ 5th, PIT 6th, CBJ 7th
2027: CBJ 1st, CBJ 3rd, WAS 3rd, COL 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
Trade Chips
The Blue Jackets dealt their best trade chip at the end of December, trading Egor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Danton Heinen and two draft picks. That move wasn’t a trade for this season, but it did give the Blue Jackets two additional draft picks to potentially make additions with, on top of their other catalogue of picks. Columbus GM Don Waddell doesn’t sound like he is ready to make a big splash or punt on this season, so it could be a quiet deadline in Ohio.
2021 fifth overall pick, Kent Johnson, is a potential trade chip who has been a healthy scratch for a few games now. The 23-year-old has a pair of successful NHL seasons under his belt, but they are sandwiched between several seasons of inconsistency, including this year. Johnson has just six goals and 12 assists in 56 games, after registering 24 goals and 33 assists last year in 68 games. Johnson was once touted as the Blue Jackets’ top prospect, but at this point, he could be their best trade chip if they want to make additions at the deadline. There is a gamble in moving him while he is slumping, though he does have a track record of scoring in the NHL, and it might be best to be patient with him and see if he can rediscover his game, particularly given that the Chinakhov trade looks quite bad right now for Columbus.
Columbus will likely keep this next player, but there will be interest in center Charlie Coyle. The 34-year-old has 126 games of NHL playoff experience, and many teams would love to have him as their third-line center should he be available. Coyle has 15 goals and 30 assists in 59 games this season and fits a need that many teams have, but very few sellers are currently offering. The Blue Jackets likely want to keep Coyle, but they might get offers that are too difficult to ignore for a player who likely doesn’t figure in much of the Blue Jackets’ long-term future. Even if they re-sign Coyle to a multi-year deal, he likely won’t be producing at his current levels when Columbus enters their contention window.
In terms of prospects, the Blue Jackets aren’t dealing their top picks, Cayden Lindstrom or Jackson Smith, but a prospect such as Luca Del Bel Belluz could be the centerpiece of a big trade in Columbus, had the team changed its mind and gone big-game hunting. Belluz was the Jackets’ second-round pick (44th overall) in 2022 and is likely to return to the NHL very soon, given his impressive AHL numbers this year (15 goals and 28 assists in 41 games). The 22-year-old was with Columbus until just before Christmas, when he was demoted to the AHL after posting just a single point in 13 NHL games. It was Belluz’s second lengthy NHL audition, with his previous opportunity yielding eight points in 15 games. Belluz might not have the name recognition of some of Columbus’s other prospects, but he does have a solid resume thus far and is in just his third professional season.
Team Needs
A Top Six Forward: Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, Johnson’s poor season has left the team in a spot where they could use another top-six forward. With Johnson playing his way off the top two lines, Heinen has occasionally taken a spot, as have other depth forwards. Columbus has a below-average offense, and a top-six forward could push others in the lineup into a more advantageous position and unlock additional offense. Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, things didn’t work out with Chinakhov, as he has filled that top-six role in Pittsburgh for the Penguins, leaving them in a spot where they have to hunt down their own top-six solution.
A Top Pairing Defenseman: Damon Severson is a very good NHL player and has long been an analytical darling. But the once-offensive defenseman has struggled with turnovers over the last two seasons and is better served on the second pairing. The 31-year-old has yet to top the 30-point mark in Columbus, something he did four times in New Jersey and would be better served to play against lesser competition, which could free him up more offensively. It’s unlikely the Columbus could find a right-shot top-pairing defender before the deadline, but in a perfect world, they would supplant Severson. It’s also possible that the Blue Jackets feel they have the heir apparent in Denton Mateychuk, who is just 21 years old and has been terrific this season.
Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Trade Deadline Primer: Anaheim Ducks
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is less than a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? Next up is the Ducks.
The Ducks currently hold a playoff spot in the Western Conference and have been a pleasant surprise this season. The team is in a very advantageous position heading into the trade deadline, with a ton of trade capital and plenty of space under the salary cap. If GM Pat Verbeek wanted to get aggressive, he certainly could, but given that it is a buyer’s market, it feels as though this club might not be ready to make a splash just yet. Verbeek has seen mixed results making trades in recent years, but there is no doubt he has put together a good blend of youth and veteran experience in Anaheim.
Record
33-23-3, 2nd in the Pacific (93.6% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$52.61MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, ANA 3rd, DET 4th, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th
2027: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, STL 2nd, DET 3rd, ANA 3rd, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th
Trade Chips
Pavel Mintyukov isn’t necessarily the Ducks’ best trade chip, but he’s the most likely to be used before the deadline if the Ducks are to make a significant move. It was just a few years ago that the former 10th-overall pick (in 2022) was a standout OHL defenseman with a lot of shine to his game. In 2023-24, the then 20-year-old had a terrific rookie season, tallying four goals and 24 assists in 63 games, finishing 14th in the Calder Trophy conversation. The versatile defenseman hasn’t been able to match that level of production since and has been squeezed quite a bit by the Ducks’ packed left side of their defense.
This depth has led to Mintyukov being a healthy scratch at times and to his playing time being reduced, something he clearly isn’t happy with. If the Ducks decide the youngster isn’t a fit with the team, he still has enough value to be a solid trade chip if the Ducks want to grab a bigger asset to improve their lineup in the here and now. The issue for the Ducks on their back end is that they need defensive defenders on the right side, which is what Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas were supposed to be. With both of those men likely gone in the offseason, Verbeek may hang on to Mintyukov.
Among other top young players, the Ducks aren’t moving forward Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick in 2024, who has been a rookie sensation this year, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists in 58 games. Beyond Sennecke, the Ducks have a few prospects they could look to move if they wanted to go big-game hunting.
The Ducks have strong depth on the left side of their defensive core, which could make Stian Solberg expendable. The 2024 first-round pick (23rd overall) has been toiling in the AHL in his first full season in North America. At just 20 years old, Solberg has shown he is very difficult to play against, thanks to a mean streak a mile long and an ability to keep opponents away from the front of his team’s net. Solberg doesn’t have the offensive instincts to contribute much on the scoresheet, but he does have a heavy shot and is an efficient skater.
Moving up to forward, there is little chance the Ducks move Roger McQueen, whom they drafted last summer, but Lucas Pettersson, a 2024 second-round pick (35th overall), could interest teams looking for a player whose NHL trajectory is about two years away. Pettersson is a bit on the small side, but he makes up for it with a two-way game that leans offensively. The 19-year-old is a creative playmaker who can play in any situation and possesses terrific offensive skills, including a sneaky-accurate wrist shot and great passing. Pettersson could be of interest to teams seeking a plug-and-play forward who is potentially a second- or third-line NHL center in the making.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: The Ducks continue to deploy Trouba and Gudas in roles that are beyond their skill set, but that shouldn’t be the case beyond this season. Right-handed defensemen are always in demand and among the hardest assets to acquire. The Ducks may opt to wait until the summer to try to sign or trade for one, but the free-agent market for defense is barren, and the Ducks may not be inclined to get into a bidding war. GM Pat Verbeek has shown a tendency to overpay in free agency to acquire assets (Alex Killorn, for example), but with Cutter Gauthier and Leo Karlsson both due raises as RFAs this summer, he might not want to spend so liberally. Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights could be the best available defender if he reaches the market, while Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddyish is having a monster year with the Lightning. A veteran like John Carlson could also test the market, but at 36, he might be too late in his career for the Ducks to consider him an option.
Bottom Six Depth: The Ducks’ bottom six isn’t great right now, as injuries have forced Ryan Poehling to center the third line and Jansen Harkins to take regular shifts in the NHL lineup. No disrespect to either man, but they are both currently playing in roles beyond their skill sets. Poehling is a capable fourth-line center but is often overmatched when playing in the top nine, while Harkins is best served as a tweener with limited offensive capabilities. Both men’s spots in the lineup clearly indicate a need for the Ducks to get deeper on their bottom two lines. The Ducks could acquire top-six help and push players down the hierarchy, or they could look for bargain options that could slide onto the third or fourth line to fill out a bottom six that is currently quite weak.
Image courtesy of Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: New York Islanders
With the Olympic break over, the trade deadline is under a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? Next up is the Islanders.
The Islanders made some big moves last summer, sending defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens and drafting Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. Many pundits weren’t sure what the Islanders would be this season, but they have surprised some folks by becoming a playoff contender with a roster that doesn’t have much flash but is solid enough to compete in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders have won on the back of strong team defense and goaltending this season, and despite the lack of skill in their lineup, they’ve managed to score enough to win games.
Record
33-21-5, 3rd in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$6.02MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 49/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: NYI 1st, COL 1st, NJD 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th
2027: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NJD 6th, NYI 7th
Trade Chips
The Islanders have built up their prospect pool in recent seasons thanks to several successful first-round picks. The team likely has a top ten pipeline and the assets to be aggressive on the trade front if the money works. That ranking doesn’t include defenseman Schaefer, who went straight to the NHL, but there is no chance New York moves him anytime soon.
Setting aside the Islanders’ lottery win, they have done some good business in the trade market, moving on from Dobson and Brock Nelson for very strong returns. From these two trades, the team ended up with Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson and Calum Ritchie. Those three are all arguably among the top 100 NHL prospects at the moment and are a big reason the Islanders now have one of the best prospect systems in the NHL.
If the Islanders moved any of those three players, they would have one of the better trade chips available in terms of future value. Eklund’s skill is among his strongest assets, along with his top-notch skating. Those traits would make him appealing to every team in the league, but his ability to battle could be the best feature of his game. Eklund battles from whistle to whistle and isn’t afraid to play with reckless abandon.
Aitcheson is a physical defender who plays an old-school game that should resonate with the Long Island crowd. Aitcheson could one day be a top-pairing, bruising defenseman who plays a stay-at-home game alongside a more offensively minded partner. Aitcheson’s game isn’t flashy, but he is safe and responsible in his own end, bringing an intensity to the ice that few could match. His ability to give the opponent absolutely nothing to work with could eventually earn him a reputation as the NHL’s ultimate shutdown man, provided he improves his average skating and harnesses his intimidating presence.
Ritchie saw his draft stock slide a few years ago as he focused more on becoming a 200-foot player rather than simply being a point producer. It paid off in terms of his overall game, but he did slide in the NHL draft rankings before being scooped up by the Avalanche late in the first round (27th overall) of the 2023 draft. Ritchie possesses a mean shot that should translate well to the NHL, particularly on the power play. He also has elite hockey sense, anticipating plays before they happen and hunting down soft areas of the ice to get himself open or in the right spot at the right time.
Finally, we come to another first-round pick, forward Cole Eiserman. The 20-year-old isn’t an imposing presence, but he loves to throw his body around and doesn’t mind taking a hit to make a play. Eiserman will cruise to the front of the net in the offensive zone to stir up some disruption, but he does most of his scoring from a distance with his shot, which was considered one of the best during his draft eligibility.
Team Needs
A Top Six Forward: The Islanders gambled this summer when they signed forward Jonathan Drouin to a two-year deal, hoping he could fill an offensive role in the top six. While he hasn’t produced what GM Mathieu Darche hoped, he has chipped in with some offense and remains a good gamble. That being said, New York needs more from its top two lines, and bringing in a Jordan Kyrou-type from St. Louis would go a long way toward adding to an offense that is currently 22nd in the league. The Islanders could also look at Kyrou’s teammate, Robert Thomas, if the Blues were open to it, or take a long look at some of the forwards the Vancouver Canucks have made available, such as Elias Pettersson.
Depth Scoring: The Islanders need more offense from the bottom of their lineup and could look at a player like Michael Bunting of Nashville, who has a long history of providing depth offense on good hockey teams. Bunting is a UFA at the end of the season and has been effective as a depth scorer in Toronto, Pittsburgh and Nashville. If Bunting isn’t an option and the Islanders want to look at a pure shooter, Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens would be a player who could fit simply as a triggerman. Laine doesn’t play much of a two-way game, but on a team like the Islanders, where he would be defensively insulated, it might be a great fit for a once-great goalscorer who has fallen on hard times in Montreal. Laine isn’t a prototypical depth player, but at this point, there isn’t much to his game away from the puck, and with all of his injury concerns, he could likely be acquired for very little.
Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is almost a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with teams in the fight for a playoff spot, next up with the Sharks.
The Sharks spent much of last summer bolstering their lineup to protect some of their young stars. So far this season, the additions have worked out well, and the Sharks remain in playoff contention with a third of the season remaining. San Jose management likely didn’t expect this team to be in playoff contention, but second-year superstar Macklin Celebrini has taken massive steps forward in his development, putting the team ahead of schedule in its rebuild. It should be fascinating to see how Sharks general manager Mike Grier responds to a team that wasn’t expected to be in playoff contention.
Record
27-24-4, 6th in the Pacific
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$641K on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: SJ 1st, EDM 1st, COL 2nd, FLA 4th, MTL 5th, PHI 6th, SJ 7th
2027: SJ 1st, SJ 4th, CHI 5th, SJ 6th,
Trade Chips
For a team just emerging from a rebuild, the Sharks don’t have many draft picks in the next two drafts. That said, they have arguably the best prospect pool in the NHL, though it will likely fall down the list as prospects are traded and others graduate into full-time NHLers. The Sharks are in an interesting spot heading into the deadline, as they could do some buying, but also move out one or more of their pending UFA defensemen who don’t fit management’s long-term plans.
Veteran defenseman Mario Ferraro is a good place to start, as he is a UFA at the end of the season. While the Sharks likely aren’t interested in being sellers this season, Ferraro will have significant value at the deadline and could give the Sharks more future pieces to add to their already deep cupboard of future assets. There is an outside chance that San Jose locks him up, as they reportedly have interest in a shorter-term deal with Ferraro, which would make sense given that he is just 27 years old, is one of the team’s leaders, and should have some good years in front of him. Ferraro isn’t overly skilled, but he has a high hockey IQ and is solid in the defensive zone as well as on the penalty kill. Ferraro isn’t a top-pairing presence on the blue line, but he does throw the body around and is a very quick skater, which helps with puck retrieval and getting the puck out of the defensive zone. Ferraro won’t net a top-end asset in a trade, but he is the kind of player teams covet for bottom-pairing and penalty-killing roles come playoff time.
John Klingberg and Vincent Desharnais are two other veteran defensemen on expiring deals who could be moved if the Sharks fall out of playoff contention or acquire younger defensemen and have a surplus. Klingberg has had a resurgence this season in San Jose, playing over 21 minutes a night and scoring at a 40-point pace for the first time in years. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Sharks this season, and the plan at the time was likely to move him to a playoff contender once San Jose fell out of playoff contention. However, that time hasn’t come yet, and the Sharks remain within striking distance, which could complicate matters. The allure for San Jose to move Klingberg will be a market that should heavily favor sellers, as so few teams have punted on this season and are selling off.
When it comes to moving young players, it doesn’t seem San Jose is in a position to move the likes of Michael Misa, Will Smith, Sam Dickinson, or any of their top young prospects. Further down the depth chart, the Sharks could move a prospect such as goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, whom they selected late in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (30th overall). Ravensbergen has great size at 6’5” and moves very well, though he will look to fill out more in the coming years. He is positionally sound and reads the play extremely well for a young goaltender.
It was surprising to see San Jose draft Ravensbergen last year, given that they already have Yaroslav Askarov in the fold. However, given the unpredictability of the goaltending position, the Sharks felt it was a worthwhile bet to add another highly touted goaltending prospect. GM Mike Grier probably isn’t in a hurry to deal Ravensbergen, given that his junior numbers haven’t been great and he has significant untapped potential. If the right move comes along to acquire more developed young players, Grier might feel inclined to pull the trigger on a trade.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: The Sharks were reportedly in on New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton last summer, but didn’t work out a deal. It’s unclear whether they would still have interest, but if they did, a deal for Hamilton would instantly make him their best puck-moving defenseman. That’s less a credit to Hamilton and more a reflection of the offensive capabilities of the Sharks’ current defensive unit. San Jose badly needs a defenseman, ideally on the right side, who can contribute to the offense. It’s hard to gauge whether Grier is desperate enough to go back to Hamilton, but it seems likely he would prefer to acquire a younger player who can grow with the team’s young core and be part of what could be a very special run in San Jose.
A Middle Six Forward: The Sharks were also reportedly interested in forward Artemi Panarin before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, underscoring that the Sharks recognize they need more depth at forward. San Jose could use help in its middle six, and it has already addressed this issue to a degree by acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. Despite the Sherwood addition, the Sharks are still regularly deploying Collin Graf and Philipp Kurashev in their top nine, which is less than ideal for a team with playoff aspirations. No disrespect to Graf or Kurashev, who are both having a great year as younger players, but their spots in the forward group highlight a lack of depth at the position. San Jose could make a top-nine pickup to give their forward group more balance and ultimately a better chance to win on a nightly basis.
Trade Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals
With the Olympic break over, the trade deadline is just over a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at teams at the ends of the standings, we shift our focus to teams fighting for a playoff spot. Next up are the Capitals.
The Capitals have a roster that is too deep and too talented to be sitting where they are in the standings, but that is why teams play the games. Last season, Washington outperformed expectations, and this year, under the weight of those heightened expectations, the team has been inconsistent and has played below its talent level. Despite the struggles, Washington remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a strong push out of the Olympic break would go a long way toward reaching the postseason. There is no guarantee they will do it, but at this point, they seem likely to add to their roster rather than remove from it, as they should, given how unlucky they’ve been this season. Their record doesn’t reflect the team in Washington, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate the deadline.
Record
29-23-7, 5th in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$12.66MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: WSH 1st, WSH 4th, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 6th, WSH 7th
2027: WSH 1st, WSH 2nd, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 7th, OTT 7th
Trade Chips
The Capitals have already borrowed a bit from the future, shipping out their second- and third-round picks this season and their third- and sixth-round picks next season. Those trades have yielded mixed results, but they are the kinds of moves teams make when competing for a playoff spot.
Outside their draft-pick catalogue, the Capitals have a healthy stable of prospects who should continue to make an NHL impact in the coming years. Washington’s system is slightly above average, which is saying a lot for a team that mortgaged its future repeatedly for a decade or more. The Capitals have drafted well recently and have prospects in their system who would make solid trade chips.
As Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports, if Washington wants to go big and make a splash, it might cost them one of their top prospects, either center Ilya Protas or defenseman Cole Hutson. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick has already said he isn’t interested in moving Hutson, and it’s hard to blame him given the player’s profile. Washington has to think about a future without superstar Alex Ovechkin while also trying to give him a potential final season to remember.
Protas would be an excellent trade chip if the Capitals chose to go that route. Protas is having a solid first pro season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, tallying 18 goals and 20 assists in 47 games. The 6’5”, 201-lb pivot won’t burn you with speed and doesn’t separate with his legs, but he is quick with the puck and has a good ability to anticipate the play before moving the puck to teammates. His size will be an attractive quality for teams looking to size up down the middle, and he could be a central piece of a package to acquire a top winger.
With Ryan Leonard now fully graduated to the NHL, the Capitals’ top prospect is likely Andrew Cristall, who put up awe-inspiring numbers in the WHL last season, with 48 goals and 84 assists in 57 games. While his transition to the AHL hasn’t been perfect, he is still putting up points in his first professional season, with nine goals and 28 assists in 47 games. Cristall is the definition of dynamic, using his terrific skating to deceive opponents and operate as a setup man for his teammates. Cristall is a bit on the small side by NHL standards at 5’10”, but given his work with the puck on his stick, there would be many teams willing to facilitate a trade if Cristall is part of the return.
Team Needs
A Top Six Winger: The Capitals were reportedly interested in forward Artemi Panarin, which makes sense given their need for top-six help on the wings. Ethen Frank has seen regular shifts in the top six, suggesting that, as currently constructed, Washington is not a serious contender in the Eastern Conference. Gone are the days when Ovechkin, John Carlson and a lethal power play could carry the Capitals’ offense. The stars need help. Nashville Predators forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are likely available, but do the Capitals want to trade away futures for a couple of aging veterans on expensive deals? Hard to say.
Jordan Kyrou is a name that could make sense, as the St. Louis Blues appear ready to dive deeper into a rebuild. Robert Thomas is also a potential option. Both would require significant commitments in the form of trade assets and cap space, but the Capitals are in a position to make both work if they wanted to.
Depth Forward: Last trade deadline, Washington acquired forward Anthony Beauvillier from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round draft pick. That type of deal was likely an overpay, but Beauvillier is the kind of player Washington could target as they look for help in their middle six. The Capitals have dealt with injuries this season, and some of their depth players haven’t contributed much offensively. In a perfect world, the Capitals could have found a player such as Egor Chinakhov, who is young enough to be part of the future but ready to contribute NHL minutes now. Unfortunately for Washington, he was traded to Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Capitals should have plenty of options should they try to add another depth forward. They could acquire a top-end forward and hope that pushing everyone down the lineup solves the problem, or they could look to a team like Vancouver and perhaps pry away a player like Teddy Blueger, who wouldn’t cost a lot but has looked great in limited action this season.