Trade Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Florida Panthers.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are again one of the top teams in the league. While many factors can influence the outcome before the Stanley Cup is awarded this season, MoneyPuck currently gives Florida a 15.9% chance of winning again, the highest probability of any team. Probability doesn’t always reflect reality, however, and the Panthers will look to put the finishing touches on their roster by deadline day. Still, given that this season’s roster is remarkably similar to last year’s, Florida won’t have to do much.
Record
34-20-3, 1st in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Conservative buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$3.506MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2025: CGY 4th, FLA 4th, SJ 5th, FLA 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th
2026: FLA 1st, FLA 2nd, FLA 4th, FLA 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th
Trade Chips
The Panthers are somewhat limited in terms of trade assets. They are unlikely to trade any draft picks, especially since their next selection won’t come until the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft. While their 2026 first-round pick holds significant value, the Panthers have not had a first-round pick since the 2021 NHL Draft. Despite Florida being in their championship window, missing out on adding a promising prospect for several years is concerning.
They don’t have many prospects to trade either. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (Subscription Article) recently ranked Florida dead last in prospect pool rankings although they had more quantity than their lower-ranked peers. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Panthers trading away two, three, or four of their prospects to land an impact player. 
Thanks to top-notch performances from players already on the team, and an important lack of injuries this season, Florida doesn’t need to add much. The only player on the roster that may have value, and the Panthers might be inclined to move in the right deal, is netminder Spencer Knight. The former 13th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft is doing well in his return to the NHL, managing an 11-8-1 record through 20 starts with a .906 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. Still, the perceived trade market for goalies and a $4.5MM salary for this year and next might push a decision on Knight’s future with the team to the offseason.
All in all, this deadline should look remarkably similar to last year’s for the Panthers. Florida acquired Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo in separate deals for a combination of three mid-round picks. Should the deadline become a buyers’ market, Florida may be willing to deal with some fourth- or fifth-round picks but it’s unlikely to be more.
Team Needs
1) Right-Handed Defenseman: If Florida needs anything, it’s a right-handed shooting defenseman. Aaron Ekblad is the only one on the NHL roster and one of only three, including their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Henri Jokiharju of the Buffalo Sabres is likely their best option. He’s posted solid possession and defensive metrics in his role with Buffalo which should translate well into the Panthers’ system. They do not need an offensive weapon from the back end, given that Florida has a top-five offensive and top-10 powerplay. Jokiharju should help keep the puck out of the net and improve a 17th-ranked penalty kill.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Detroit Red Wings.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Detroit. The playoff-hopeful Red Wings started the 2024-25 campaign with a 13-17-4 record, nearly falling to last place in the Eastern Conference. Since relieving former head coach Derek Lalonde of his duties and replacing him with veteran bench boss Todd McLellan, the Red Wings have vaulted themselves back into the playoff conversation. Detroit is holding down the final wild-card spot in the East heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off thanks to a 15-5-1 record under McLellan. The recent hot streak has likely changed Detroit’s trade deadline strategy.
Record
28-22-5, 5th in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer/Conservative Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$12,626,183 on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2025: DET 1st, DET 2nd, NYR 3rd, DET 3rd, DET 5th, DET 6th, STL 7th, DET 7th
2026: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
Trade Chips
The Red Wings are in a position to buy leading up to the trade deadline now that they’re back in the playoff conversation. Still, general manager Steve Yzerman has been known to trade expiring assets even with his eyes set on the playoffs.
Detroit doesn’t have many valuable rental pieces. Patrick Kane‘s no-trade clause and looming $1MM performance bonuses (should the acquiring team make the playoffs) will likely drive away most interested parties. Defenseman Jeff Petry‘s recent surgery could keep him out of action until a handful of games remain in the regular season, although his $2.34MM salary is more than palatable. Lastly, netminder Alex Lyon may be the most valuable rental asset, but the goalie market and the Red Wings’ desire to win should preclude his name from any trade conversations. 
The one established player recently mentioned in trade rumors is winger Vladimir Tarasenko. In last week’s ‘Saturday Headlines,’ Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes that Tarasenko is a player to monitor, even with his entire no-trade clause in effect this season. The former 40-goal scorer is enthralled in one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, scoring seven goals and 22 points in 53 games in the first year of a two-year, $9.5MM contract signed with Detroit last offseason. Reasonably, assuming the relationship hasn’t proven beneficial for either side, Detroit may work with Tarasenko to send him to a more favorable destination.
If the Red Wings aim to make a strong playoff push this season, they must actively engage with other teams about their prospects. Detroit has not historically been motivated to move their prospects, especially under Yzerman’s regime. Defensive prospects such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder, and Shai Buium are likely out of the question, given the lack of long-term contracts on the blue line on the NHL roster. Still, the Red Wings could dangle forward prospects such as Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur, or Amadeus Lombardi should the right player become available.
Team Needs
1) A Right-Handed Defenseman: Although rookie defenseman Albert Johansson has filled in nicely next to Simon Edvinsson on the second-pairing after Petry succumbed to his injury, Detroit would be better served having a more experienced talent on the right side. Moritz Seider and Sandin-Pellikka are assuredly the long-term answers on the right side of the defense, so it may be an opportune time to enter the rental market. Now that Cody Ceci has already joined the Dallas Stars for the rest of the season, Montreal Canadiens’ David Savard and Buffalo Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju may be the remaining options.
2) A Second Line Center: Despite signing Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher in back-to-back offseasons, the Red Wings have yet to figure out their long-term answer behind Dylan Larkin. Yzerman might believe Marco Kasper will fulfill that role as his game develops, but it’s challenging to rely on that now in his career. Detroit has already been linked to Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens and Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson. Still, the latter may have already been pulled from the trade block, given their recent trade activity. Casey Mittelstadt of the Colorado Avalanche and Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks have also been floated as trade candidates this year. At any rate, it might be time for the Red Wings to take a shot.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Five Key Stories: 2/3/25 – 2/9/25
Regular season action halted this evening as the league shifted its focus to the 4 Nations Face-Off. Trading dropped significantly compared to last week, but there was no lack of speculation. The league’s 32 general managers will have two weeks off to discuss trades before the regular season resumes on February 22nd. Let’s review some of the key stories from the week before turning our attention to the international best-on-best tournament.
Quick Extension For Pettersson: The Vancouver Canucks are once again in the headlines this week after making a pair of trades last week. They moved quickly on one of the players acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in last week’s flurry of moves, signing defenseman Marcus Pettersson to a six-year, $33MM extension. The native of Skelleftea, Sweden now has the second-longest active contract on the Canucks’ blue line behind Filip Hronek despite having only played four games. Of course, it shouldn’t be considered a hasty extension given Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford‘s familiarity with Pettersson dating back to their time in the Penguins organization.
Avs Still Looking To Deal: Despite connecting on the biggest in-season trade in recent memory, the Colorado Avalanche are reportedly still open for business. Multiple reports earlier in the week asserted the Avalanche were one of the teams to propose a trade to the Canucks for J.T. Miller before he ultimately went to the New York Rangers. The trade proposal did not persuade Vancouver away from their eventual deal with the Rangers. However, reports indicated the Avalanche were willing to trade Casey Mittelstadt in the proposal and remain open to moving him for a difference-maker. Aside from adding to their forward core, an additional report linked Colorado to San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro. 
Center Trade Market Heating Up: As the deadline season approaches, there is a strong market for rental centers, and those with multiple years remaining on their contracts are also attracting interest. Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres has six years and $42.6MM left on his contract and has been in the rumor mill for much of the regular season. On Wednesday, Kevin Weekes from ESPN confirmed that the market for Cozens has specifically picked up with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Cozens wasn’t the only one as TSN’s Darren Dreger shared his belief that the St. Louis Blues are gauging interest in captain Brayden Schenn. The former Stanley Cup champion may prove more difficult to move with four years and $26MM remaining on his deal with a 15-team no-trade clause.
Hughes Out, Sanderson In For Team USA: A fear has become a reality for Team USA heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Canucks shared this afternoon that defenseman Quinn Hughes has withdrawn himself from Team USA’s roster due to a nagging hand injury. As much as Hughes would have liked to participate in the best-on-best tournament, he’s putting his energy toward helping Vancouver compete for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Replacing Hughes on the roster will be Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson, who suited up in one game for the United States during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
Ten For Hartman: The NHL’s Department of Player Safety got involved in the news this week bestowing a whopping 10-game suspension on Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman for roughing Senators’ forward Tim Stützle. Hartman has a history of supplemental discipline throughout his career, leading to a lengthy suspension, but revealed a few days later that he will be appealing the decision. Should commissioner Gary Bettman uphold the suspension, it will be the longest since Radko Gudas, with the Philadelphia Flyers, was suspended for an identical length for slashing Winnipeg Jets’ forward Mathieu Perreault in the neck.
Photo courtesy of USA Sports Images.
Montreal Canadiens, Jake Evans Not Close On Extension
Thanks to a 13-3-1 record from December 17th to January 21st, there was growing belief that the Montreal Canadiens may pull one of the top rental centers off the trade market and instead target an extension. However, due to a 1-6-1 record through their last eight contests, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the Canadiens have repivoted toward trading Jake Evans at this year’s trade deadline.
LeBrun shared that Evans and Montreal exchanged numbers on a hypothetical contract extension but haven’t gotten close. He also hints that more teams have called the Canadiens regarding Evans’ availability since they began sliding down the Eastern Conference standings.
There’s no question that Evans would make a valuable rental candidate for almost any contending team. He’s only two points shy of reaching a career-high in points while being the leading center on the seventh-ranked penalty kill in the league. The Toronto, Ontario native also gained ample playoff experience during Montreal’s Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
Evans’ 11 goals and 27 points through 55 games this season don’t suggest he should be placed in a top-six role with a playoff team, but he’s an ideal third-line center for most clubs. The Canadiens may be able to create a bidding war, given his reasonable $1.7MM salary without any trade protection.
The Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets could all use more depth down the middle as they continue their push toward the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. Montreal should have plenty of flexibility to capture the best available return.
Quinn Hughes Won’t Play In 4 Nations Face-Off, Jake Sanderson Named To Team USA
A third and arguably best defenseman has bowed out of the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. The Vancouver Canucks announced defenseman Quinn Hughes would miss the international tournament due to injury. Shortly after, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators would replace Hughes on Team USA’s roster.
Hughes’ departure from Team USA’s roster follows on the heels of Dallas Stars’ defenseman Miro Heiskanen and Vegas Golden Knights’ defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Both blue-liners are dealing with injuries (the former recovering from knee surgery) and have already been replaced on Team Finland and Team Canada.
With all due respect to Heiskanen and Pietrangelo, the Canucks captain is the highest-profile name to be removed from the competition. He’s missed the last four games for Vancouver due to a hand injury and the team is prioritizing their playoff hopes over Hughes’ participation in the tournament.
Although Heiskanen may ultimately be more valuable to his team, that’s only a testament to Team USA’s defensive depth. Hughes, who won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenseman only one year ago, has scored 31 goals and 151 points in his last 129 regular-season games. The native of Orlando, Florida, last represented Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championships. If he does not play for the United States’ World Championship team this upcoming summer, he’ll have to wait until the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan to compete again.
Replacing Hughes on the roster is Ottawa’s Sanderson, who last played for Team USA in the 2024 IIHF World Championships. The Whitefish, MT native is only two and a half years removed from debuting in the NHL scoring 19 goals and 105 points in 211 career games. Given the rest of the talent on Team USA’s blue line, Sanderson should represent the team’s seventh defenseman although he’ll likely play in a handful of games.
Penguins, Jesse Puljujärvi Mutually Terminate Contract
Feb. 9: Puljujärvi went unclaimed and will have his deal terminated, Friedman reports.
Feb. 8: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed forward Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. Puljujärvi would become an unrestricted free agent should he go unclaimed over the next 24 hours.
It is an anticipated conclusion to a relationship that has seemingly deteriorated over the past two months. The Penguins placed Puljujärvi on regular waivers on December 30 and officially reassigned him on January 14th, a few weeks later.
The former fourth-overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft has been reassigned for a second time recently. Over the past month, he has primarily played with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. His performance has been respectable, recording one goal and three points in four AHL games. However, the Penguins have decided to move forward without him in their organization.
Unfortunately, Puljujärvi’s potential as a prospect has drastically diminished. Since returning to the NHL for the 2020-21 season, he has scored 40 goals and 90 points in 243 games for the Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
His production will ultimately limit his traction as an unrestricted free agent. Some teams may offer the Älvkarleby, Sweden native a bottom-six role down the stretch but Puljujärvi may be limited to more of a taxi role if he chooses to stay in North America.
Injury Notes: Ristolainen, Rantanen, Samoskevich
Earlier this morning, NHL deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman reported that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen would be a game-time decision for tonight’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed Ristolainen’s expected absence was due to injury concerns, not trade-related reasons.
In addition to today’s rivalry matchup, Ristolainen’s availability may affect Team Finland in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off. Friedman suggests that the Flyers would like Ristolainen to participate if he is healthy; however, his current condition may prevent him from playing, becoming a more pressing issue.
Finland has already lost defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpää to various injuries, and the potential loss of Ristolainen would further diminish their chances. Ristolainen has scored two goals and recorded 15 points in 54 games this season while averaging 20:31 of ice time for the Philadelphia Flyers. He is currently the highest-scoring active defenseman on Finland’s roster.
Other injury notes:
- In another potential scare for Team Finland, the Carolina Hurricanes announced forward Mikko Rantanen wouldn’t be in the lineup this afternoon due to a lower-body injury after taking a shot off the foot in Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like Rantanen will miss the 4 Nations Face-Off based on a report from Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff. He’s only mustered one goal and one assist through his first six games with the Hurricanes but he’s still arguably Finland’s top offensive talent.
- According to David Dwork of The Hockey News, the Florida Panthers will be without forward Mackie Samoskevich tonight due to an upper-body injury. It’s not expected to be a long-term issue as Dwork noted he’s only considered day-to-day. The second-year product of the University of Michigan has scored eight goals and 17 points in 48 games for the Panthers this year.
Penguins Recall Vasiliy Ponomarev, Place Bryan Rust On Injured Reserve
Forward prospect Vasiliy Ponomarev is expected to get his fourth opportunity with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. The Penguins announced they’ve recalled Ponomarev from their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and have placed veteran forward Bryan Rust on injured reserve in a corresponding roster move.
Ponomarev was selected 53rd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. He spent two and a half years in the Hurricanes organization, scoring 35 goals and 85 points in 116 AHL contests split between the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and Tucson Roadrunners. Carolina eventually traded Ponomarev to the Penguins in the deal that sent Jake Guentzel to Raleigh last year.
Ponomarev’s performance in the AHL has improved since he moved to Pennsylvania, though the change has not been significant. While playing with the Hurricanes organization, he averaged 0.73 points per game starting in the latter part of the 2021-22 season. Since joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, his average has increased to 0.80 PPG.
Despite limited opportunities, Ponomarev has not made a significant impact at the NHL level. He made his NHL debut last season with Carolina, scoring only one goal and one assist in five games.
He’s certainly not expected to replicate Rust’s production this season. The 11-year veteran winger has scored 20 goals and 42 points in 46 games for the Penguins this season, ranking third on the team in scoring despite losing several games to injury.
Although injuries have limited his availability the last two years, Rust’s continued point production and renewed shot efficiency have made him the subject of trade rumors this year. He owns a no-movement clause in his contract, he loses all trade protection on July 1st, 2025.
Colorado Avalanche Reassign Trent Miner
The Colorado Avalanche made a small roster move in the early hours of Saturday morning. Colorado announced they’ve reassigned netminder Trent Miner to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, leading up to their two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Miner has been rostered on the Avalanche for much of January and February due to the injuries to backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood. The latter missed just over a week in early January with a lower-body injury and the last few days with an upper-body injury.
However, this hasn’t resulted in increased playing time for Miner. The 24-year-old goalie has only played in two games for the Avalanche this season and has been credited with just one loss. His .879 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average aren’t horrible numbers for a backup but it doesn’t appear Colorado is willing to extend his leash just yet.
His production with AHL Colorado has understandably been more fruitful. Miner owns a 9-5-7 record in 19 AHL contests with a .905 SV% and 2.49 GAA. It’s a positive development given he spent much of last season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and has five more opportunities with the Eagles over the 4 Nations Face-Off break at the very least. There’s no indication the Avalanche will recall Miner after the international tournament so he’ll likely stay in Loveland for the foreseeable future.
Utah Hockey Club Places Vladislav Kolyachonok On Waivers
The Utah Hockey Club is now in a position to reduce the number of defensemen on their active roster. They have announced that defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok has been placed on waivers, to eventually reassign him to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
Utah has carried eight defensemen on the active roster for much of the regular season due to long-term injuries to John Marino, Sean Durzi, and Robert Bortuzzo. Kolyachonok’s placement on waivers indicates the team is close to activating Durzi or Bortuzzo given that Marino has already been activated.
The injuries have allowed Kolyachonok to achieve a career-high in games played this season. The native of Minsk, Belarus, has scored two goals and seven points in 23 games this year, averaging 12:20 of ice time per night.
He has significantly improved his possession metrics, boasting a 52.9% Corsi For% at even strength, which is 7.3% higher than his previous career high. However, considering his relative youth, Kolyachonok would likely benefit from playing in the AHL.
Should he clear waivers, it will be his first time playing for the AHL Roadrunners this season. He scored eight goals and 11 points in 36 games in Tucson last season but has only been rostered in the NHL this year.
The improved quality of possession may give Kolyachonok a strong chance of being claimed. The Nashville Predators, currently ranked third-to-last in the league standings, could be a viable option for him. With Kevin Gravel filling in on the left side of their bottom pairing while Jeremy Lauzon recovers from injury, the Predators might consider Kolyachonok an upgrade over Gravel and a potential seventh defenseman.