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Deadline Primer 2025

Trade Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers

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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: Edmonton Oilers

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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 Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers were one of the busier teams over the offseason, adding as much veteran scoring depth as possible after falling painfully short of a Stanley Cup in a hard-fought Final against the Panthers. As usual for Edmonton, things were slow out of the gate, but they have heated up since then with a 24-8-2 record since Nov. 23. Unlike last season, they didn’t require a coaching change, and Kris Knoblauch has his club rolling with both a top-10 offense and defense entering the stretch run as they battle it out with the Golden Knights for the divisional crown.

Record

34-17-4, 1st in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$948K on deadline day + $5.13MM LTIR pool, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: STL 2nd, STL 3rd, EDM 6th, EDM 7th
2026: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, EDM 7th

Trade Chips

While the Oilers still have decent depth scoring, all the big names on the roster aside from Leon Draisaitl have taken a significant step back in their production from the 2023-24 campaign. Among their non-stars, it’s been a resurgent Connor Brown and a quiet late-offseason pickup in Vasily Podkolzin driving the bus. Their major UFA splashes, Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, have both disappointed. The latter won’t be on the move as he holds an NMC and is slated for the first postseason appearance of his 15-year career, but Arvidsson and his $4MM AAV through next season could be on the block if the Oilers need to clear a space for an upgrade in their top nine. He missed over a month with an undisclosed injury and hasn’t been himself when healthy, limited to 7-11–18 in 40 games with his lowest ATOI in nine years.

Edmonton’s roster has been relatively cost-effective outside of those pickups, and it’s hard to envision them moving anyone else. They’ll need to turn to the minors, where 21-year-old center Matthew Savoie stands as their top trade chip. Acquired from the Sabres in last summer’s Ryan McLeod trade, the ninth overall pick of the 2022 draft ranks second on AHL Bakersfield in scoring with 12-22–34 in 42 games in his first entire season at the professional level. The 5’9″ pivot also has a team-high +14 rating and would be most comprise most, if not all, of the trade value in return for a big fish. Whether any player is available who could command that value remains to be seen, though, and they’ll likely restrict themselves to the rental market with Evan Bouchard needing a new deal this summer and extensions required for Connor McDavid, Mattias Ekholm and Stuart Skinner in 2026.

In reality, the Oilers will likely be dealing from their 2026 draft pool to fill their short-term needs. There are some other intriguing prospects in their limited pool that teams might be interested in, though. They won’t be keen on moving 2024 first-rounder Sam O’Reilly, but 19-year-old defender Beau Akey, winger Roby Järventie, and netminder Olivier Rodrigue will hold some value. Akey, in particular, will be an intriguing pickup for rebuilders looking to add to their defense pool if he’s available. The 20-year-old already inked his entry-level contract, was a second-rounder in 2023, and has 4-22–26 in 38 games for the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts this season after missing most of his post-draft campaign with an injury.

Team Needs

1) Top-Four Option On Defense: The ever-steady Ekholm, continued dominant possession play from Bouchard, and a bounce-back year from Darnell Nurse largely have Edmonton’s defense in good shape. Ty Emberson, Brett Kulak and Troy Stecher have all been solid but upgradable depth pieces. Recent veteran pickup John Klingberg has fared okay at even strength so far in his five-game return to the league but has yet to receive any power-play deployment, which is where his principal value resides. There’s a clear need for at least another option for Knoblauch to deploy on the second pairing alongside Nurse, even if they’re not an established top-four player. Without many quality call-up options, more depth is needed, especially with Klingberg’s injury history a pressing concern.

2) Depth Center: The Oilers got a twofer down the middle at last year’s deadline when they picked up Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique from the Ducks. The latter is still in the fold and anchors their fourth line, as Knoblauch has recently opted for a more balanced lineup, deploying McDavid, Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on separate lines down the middle. He’d surely like to return one to the wing, but they need another player with top-nine utility. They’ll consider parting ways with one of their B-tier prospects or a decent pick from their 2026 crop to land a Henrique-esque talent this time.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings

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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.

Trade Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars

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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 Dallas Stars.

The Stars have barely missed a beat following an offseason that raised more questions than it answered. Questions arose about their defensive depth for the first time in a while, but they’ve managed to keep their two-way system alive and remain a legitimate championship contender. After making two notable adds last month in Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the Sharks, could there be more for Dallas to do to improve their roster in the wake of injuries to key players?

Record

35-18-2, 2nd in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$5.52MM on deadline day + $12.3MM LTIR pool, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: DAL 3rd, NJD 5th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th
2026: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, TOR 7th, DAL 7th

Trade Chips

While Dallas may have already made their big splash, they’ve got plenty of financial flexibility to make another with Nils Lundkvist and Tyler Seguin on long-term injured reserve, and both are expected to remain out through the regular season. None of their top trade chips from last year’s deadline are available – Lundkvist was one of them, as were then-AHLers Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven, who are now top-nine forwards on the NHL roster and won’t be going anywhere. If general manager Jim Nill still wants to make a big splash for a defenseman, he could make 2022 first-rounder Lian Bichsel available. Still, even he’s working his way into a third-pairing role on the Stars’ defense with injuries to Lundkvist and star Miro Heiskanen.

Their prospect pool is thinner than in years past (for a good reason; they’re reaping the rewards), but they still have a recent first-rounder in winger Emil Hemming to leverage if they’re able to swing a significant upgrade for a thin right side on the blue line. The 18-year-old was the 29th overall pick last year and jumped to North America from his native Finland. He’s suiting up for the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts and has done reasonably well amid a deep forward group there, posting 14-22–36 through 44 games. He also scored once and added three assists in seven games for the Finns en route to a silver medal at last month’s World Junior Championship. The 6’2″ sniper likely checks in as a B-tier prospect in terms of his trade value, though – too valuable to leverage for a lower-level rental stopgap but not valuable enough on his own to land a big fish.

Regarding roster players who could move out, they likely don’t need to do any salary-matching in any other acquisitions they make, given their vast in-season flexibility. But they have a substantial free-agent crop this summer, including Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston. They’ll likely be tight fits even with the salary cap increasing to $95.5MM, so if there’s an opportunity for the Stars to send out a contract with term in a swap, they may take it. Dealing from a position of need may be puzzling, but 30-year-old Mathew Dumba has underperformed in the first year of his two-year, $3.75MM AAV deal. If he has any positive trade value left (or even if he doesn’t and the Stars need to attach a draft pick with him), it wouldn’t be surprising to see him head out the door to make room for a more dynamic player on the right side.

Outside of Hemming, another prospect who could draw interest is forward Antonio Stranges. The 23-year-old was in the ECHL as recently as two seasons ago but has exploded in the AHL this season, leading the Texas Stars in scoring with 17-22–39 through 41 games. The 5’11”, 185-lb left-winger was a fourth-round pick in 2020, and while his development may have been a bit of a slow burn thus far, his breakout indicates he still has fringe top-six potential.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Matěj Blümel, F Justin Hryckowian, D Christian Kyrou

Team Needs

1) Right-Shot D Upgrade: Ceci’s acquisition gives them a serviceable second- or third-pairing stopgap (and is a Dumba upgrade if they can move him), but they’re missing a secondary offensive presence behind Thomas Harley in Heiskanen’s and Lundkvist’s absence. Even when healthy, Lundkvist had emerged as arguably their top right-shot option – not a particularly strong one for a championship contender. Even without Heiskanen, the left side is set in the interim, with Harley and Esa Lindell anchoring the top four. Rasmus Ristolainen and David Savard are some of the top options available, but don’t put up the point totals of the archetype they need. Could they be among the few teams making sense for a Seth Jones trade?

2) Cheap Forward Depth: Scoring isn’t what the Stars need – they’re a top-10 offense that’s already added Granlund. Their AHL call-up options are high-ceiling, but they’ve been given minimal ice time when dressed. A more experienced fourth-line piece/13th forward could be more desirable for head coach Peter DeBoer to rotate in along with Oskar Back, Colin Blackwell and Sam Steel.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets’ performance in 2024-25 has exceeded all expectations. Training camp began weeks after star winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died after being struck by an accused drunk driver. Captain Boone Jenner has been unavailable for the entire regular season after sustaining a shoulder injury during a preseason practice, and core pieces Yegor Chinakhov, Erik Gudbranson, Kirill Marchenko, and Sean Monahan have all missed significant time. Nonetheless, they enter the 4 Nations break one point back of the Red Wings for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, enough for general manager Don Waddell to anoint himself as a buyer entering the final few weeks before the deadline.

Record

26-22-8, 4th in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Conservative Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$85,690,994 on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: CBJ 1st, MIN 1st*, CBJ 3rd, STL 4th, CBJ 4th, CBJ 6th, VGK 7th
2026: CBJ 1st, COL 3rd, CBJ 3rd, TOR 4th, NYR 4th, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, PIT 6th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th

*2025 MIN 1st is top-five protected.

Trade Chips

Early in the season, it seemed like a foregone conclusion the Blue Jackets would at least shop pending UFA defenseman Ivan Provorov around before the deadline. But with the blue-liner interested in an extension and Columbus looking to add, not subtract, to their roster, it will take a gargantuan offer to convince the Jackets to move on at this stage.

While Columbus may have declared itself a buyer, don’t expect them to deal any of its genuinely high-value prospects or young players. Most of them are already in the NHL, and outside of Hart and Norris Trophy candidate Zach Werenski, they’re the ones driving the bus in the absence of names like Gudbranson, Monahan and Jenner. 

Even among their young talent still developing in the AHL, they’re unlikely to dip into names like Gavin Brindley and Corson Ceulemans for a rental. Those names will only be in play if the Blue Jackets make a run for a young center with term. They’ve been connected to the Sabres’ Dylan Cozens and the Canucks’ Elias Pettersson to varying degrees, but they haven’t been mentioned as finalists for the former in recent reports, and the latter is almost certainly sticking around in Vancouver after teammate J.T. Miller was traded to the Rangers.

That leaves their arsenal of draft picks, particularly in the deeper 2026 class, as their primary fodder for acquiring lower-cost rental pickups to boost the team heading into the stretch run. They’re without any second-rounders in the next two years – 2025’s was traded to acquire Provorov, and 2026’s was given to the Canadiens to offload Patrik Laine. But plenty of mid-round picks remain available, and their currently well-stocked prospect pool, plus clear emergence from their rebuild, could entice them to leverage one of the two first-rounders they currently own for June’s draft.

The Blue Jackets have already shown an unwillingness to part ways with any of their lower-level pending UFAs. With essentially unlimited cap space, there won’t be a need to leverage any of them for financial flexibility, either.

Team Needs

1) Top-Nine Forward: Columbus’ biggest addition will be Jenner, who’s been skating for weeks and is expected to make his season debut sometime before the deadline. That, plus Monahan’s eventual return, doesn’t make a center a pressing need if they also continue to run Adam Fantilli and Sean Kuraly down the middle. One of those four could easily shift to wing like Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger already have, but either way, they need another option to avoid overtaxing call-ups like Luca Del Bel Belluz and short-term veteran pickups like James van Riemsdyk as they enter every-point-matters territory. Center or wing may not matter to them much longer, but they’ll still be in the mix for names like Brock Nelson and Brandon Tanev and could even make a run for higher-impact names with a bit of term left like Rickard Rakell if the price is right.

2) Goaltending Depth: The Jackets’ possession numbers have faltered amid a four-game losing streak, but that’s to be expected with injuries piling up. Otherwise, Columbus’ skater core has played extremely solid two-way hockey this season. The limiting factor on their record has been goaltending. While Elvis Merzļikins has at least rebounded to a respectable .895 SV% and 2.99 GAA on the season, backup Daniil Tarasov’s play remains a concern. The 25-year-old Russian has been wildly inconsistent in limited action this season, conceding six goals above expected (MoneyPuck) in just 14 appearances while posting a .876 SV% and 3.69 GAA. Picking up a name that could challenge Merzļikins for the starting role may be too optimistic, given the lack of names on the goalie market, but there should be at least a marginal upgrade over Tarasov out there that’s worth pursuing. Among veteran pending UFAs, James Reimer and Vítek Vaněček could be available as limited upside but low-risk pickups.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Colorado Avalanche.

The Colorado Avalanche have been busy on the trade market this season, moving on from long-time star Mikko Rantanen and acquiring two netminders to remake their goaltending. Given the talent on the team, it would be fair to say their season has been a disappointment. However, with the injuries that the Avalanche have dealt with this year, it’s fair to say that they’ve navigated some bumpy waters admirably. Colorado does have holes in its lineup, but with how busy they’ve been in-season up to this point, it’s hard to imagine them making many moves over the next few weeks.

Record

33-22-2, 4th in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$3,986,500 on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: CAR 2nd, NYR 2nd, COL 4th, VAN 4th, COL 7th
2026: COL 1st, COL 4th, CAR 4th, COL 5th, PHI 5th, COL 7th, NYR 7th, OTT 7th

Trade Chips

The Avalanche don’t have many desirable trade chips that they would be willing to move on from, which is the price you pay when you are a team that has been in Stanley Cup contention for the last few years and you’ve already moved on from your biggest pending UFA . In terms of roster players that Colorado could move, center Casey Mittelstadt and forward Ross Colton come to mind, but both players have term remaining and have struggled this season.

Mittlestadt started the season on fire, posting six goals and seven assists in his first 10 games. However, since that torrid start, the 26-year-old has struggled considerably, tallying just three goals and 16 assists in 47 games. His underlying numbers have also fallen off this year; his possession numbers have dropped at even strength, as evidenced by his CF%, which was 56.7% last season and has fallen to 50.5%. Any acquiring team is going to see Mittelstadt as a bounce-back candidate with a change of scenery but likely won’t want to pay a big cost to trade for him.

Colton’s decline this season hasn’t been as pronounced as Mittelstadt’s, however, his play hasn’t been what it was in previous years. On the surface, Colton’s 13 goals in 40 games represent the best pace of his career, however, he has produced these numbers with the most favorable deployment of his career. His overall point production has declined, with just 16 points in 40 games, and his control of the puck has been a problem throughout the season. Colton has 33 turnovers in 40 games compared to just 23 in 80 games a year ago.

Outside of their roster players, Colorado isn’t exactly ripe with draft picks, but they do have two second-round picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, as well as two fourth-round picks. Next season, Colorado has eight draft picks available, including their first-round pick. However, they don’t have a second or a third-round pick, and three of those eight picks are in the seventh round.

Finally, Colorado could dip in their prospect pool and look to move out some pieces from an already thing depth chart. Center Calum Ritchie and defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev are arguably their top two prospects, and while neither player is a can’t miss prospect, they do have an upside, though. Both players would be a valuable trade piece if Colorado is looking to swing a bigger deal. Ritchie had a seven-game NHL audition this season, posting a single goal. He has since been tearing it up in the Ontario Hockey League with the Oshawa Generals, registering 14 goals and 42 assists in 30 games.

Gulyayev, on the other hand, has been playing in the KHL this season and has posted six goals and six assists in 52 games. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, it is a solid improvement on last season’s numbers when he had four goals and eight assists in 64 games. The 19-year-old was a late first-round pick and is undersized at just 5’10” and 172 lbs, which could chase some teams off who have seen undersized defensemen struggle in recent seasons when trying to break into the NHL.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Jonathan Drouin

Team Needs

1) A Center: With J.T. Miller off the market, the options for Colorado might be limited here. At the start of the year, it didn’t seem possible that Colorado would be hunting for a center, but the play of Casey Mittelstadt has been a major cause for concern.  Acquiring a second line center could allow Mittelstadt and recently acquired Jack Drury to shift down the depth chart, which would likely suit both players better at this point in their respective careers. If that is a route Colorado opts to go, their options will be extremely limited. Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres is available, but the cost would be high, and like Mittelstadt, the young center has struggled this year. Brayden Schenn is another possibility out of St. Louis, but with three more seasons at $6.5MM per year, Colorado might not want to take on a veteran on a high-priced long-term deal. If they want a younger center under control, Trevor Zegras out of Anaheim would be an option. The 23-year-old has one more year at $5.75MM and would be an arbitration-eligible RFA in the summer of 2026.   The Avalanche might need to pivot and look at other forwards or perhaps add a center to the bottom half of their forward group, it will all come down to how the market shakes out.

2) A Defenseman: In an ideal world, the Avalanche would probably love to acquire a right-shot, second-pair defenseman to slot alongside Samuel Girard. Injured defender Josh Manson could certainly fill that role when he returns but would be better served on a third pairing at this point in his career. Bumping Manson down to the third pairing would mirror what the Avalanche did in 2022 when they acquired Manson and bumped veteran Erik Johnson to the third pair. Manson has dealt with injuries this season and would likely be more effective in a less demanding role. Right shot defensemen are always in demand, and acquiring one is never easy, especially in season. Erik Karlsson and Seth Jones are two defensemen who are available, but both would come with high-priced cap hits and may not fit in the salary cap structure of the Avalanche.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Chicago Blackhawks.

Despite a litany of veteran additions this summer, the Chicago Blackhawks have once again found themselves competing with the San Jose Sharks for dead-last in the NHL. It’s been a stressful season for the team’s young stars, with 19-year-old Connor Bedard playing the most minutes among Hawks forwards, while Landon Slaggert and Frank Nazar fight to step up and support the third-lowest scoring team in the NHL. Chicago’s Trade Deadline will focus on building the support around those burgeoning prospects, as they try to craft a roster that can climb to long-term success.

Record

16-31-6, 8th in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$10.23MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention spots used, 42/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: CHI 1st, TOR 1st, CHI 2nd, DAL 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, NYR 4th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
2026: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, NYI 2nd, TOR 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, OTT 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th

Trade Chips

Another down year has put the Blackhawks’ veterans at the center of trade attention. It seems any of their aging options could be available for the right return. That rings particularly true for alternate captain Seth Jones, who’s been tasked with holding down the Chicago blue-line for the last four seasons. The Blackhawks acquired Jones alongside a first and sixth-round pick (turned into Nolan Allan and Dominic James) in exchange for Adam Boqvist, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick (turned into Cole Sillinger, David Jiricek, and Aleksi Heimosalmi) in the summer of 2021. They signed Jones to an eight-year, $76MM extension on the same day, setting him up for to seemingly ride out the rest of his career in the Windy City.

Jones brought his patented all-offense, no-defense style with him – with his 51 points in the 2021-22 season marking the most a Hawks defender had scored since Erik Gustafsson potted 60 points in 2018-19. But Jones has been on a gradual decline ever since then. He scored 37 points in the 2022-23 season, and fell to 31 in the year after – as he struggled to produce on a vacated Chicago offense. He’s improved a bit this year – with 24 points in 36 games, a 55-point pace across 82 games. That could be the turnaround needed to convince teams to take on his daunting $9.5MM cap hit. But that price tag still stands as the wedge between Jones and a likely move. The Blackhawks will almost certainly need to retain a heavy chunk of Jones’ cap in a move – a move made challenging by the fact that they only have one retention spot available after facilitating the Mikko Rantanen trade. A high cost will also likely limit the return the Hawks are able to receive for their high-scoring defender, even if he does offer the potential to play on a top pair.

Should those factors dissuade teams from looking into Jones, Chicago should also have a heap of veteran forwards available. Centerman Ryan Donato tops that list on the back of a red-hot scoring season. He has 32 points, split evenly, through 51 games this year – a full-season pace of 51 points. Donato also ranks third among all Hawks forward with 87 hits. He’s managed those numbers despite a middling role in the Blackhawks lineup, and minimal ice time with the team’s star prospects. The Trade Deadline is often about finding the hot hand rather than the best asset – and Donato’s consistent scoring on a muddling team suggests he could bring a lot to a playoff hopeful.

Chicago can also offer a lofty physical presence through wingers Pat Maroon or Ilya Mikheyev. Maroon has continued to serve in the diligent, fourth-line role he’s carried through tenures with four teams over the last three seasons. He has just 11 points in 47 games, while averaging 11:32 in ice time. But he’s a veteran presence with multiple Stanley Cup rings, and could offer a cheap way for Cup hopefuls to add more size to their lineup. Mikheyev could offer the same, with a bit more scoring and defensive prowess to boot. The Russian winger has 16 points in 51 games, but he’s worked his way into a top-six role alongside Jason Dickinson and Teuvo Teravainen. Mikheyev’s $4.04MM cap hit could pose problems for hopeful – but those issues could be mitigated by a cheap return or added sweeteners.

Other trade chips: Philipp Kurashev, Craig Smith, Alec Martinez, T.J. Brodie

Team Needs

1) Future Capital: The Blackhawks have a lot of options to move this Deadline, but none seem poised to bring in a massive return. Even trading Jones would require strategic negotiating from Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson, as he tries to convince teams to take on a lofty salary cap. With seemingly light trades on the horizon, Chicago’s focus will need to be on continuing to build out their future through the acquisition of draft capital and low-grade prospects. Plenty of teams seem one addition away from pushing for playoff, or even Stanley Cup, contention – and Chicago could find a trade partner with plenty of expendable future capital in a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, or even the Detroit Red Wings. All three teams are within sparring distance of the Eastern Conference’s second wild card, and could be convinced to spend a bit more to round out their lineup and hedge their bets.

2) A Binding Center: If Chicago is looking for roster players on the open market, they should be looking for more support down the middle. Both Luke Richardson and Anders Sorensen have awarded veteran center Jason Dickinson prime minutes this season, largely thanks to his ability to win faceoffs and hold down the defensive zone where young players like Bedard and Nazar struggle. But Dickinson has recently fallen to injury, and even then – his 16 points in 53 games are at the core of Chicago’s struggles to score. Finding another veteran center who can fill middle-six minutes and support Dickinson would go a long way in giving Bedard, Nazar, and Slaggert a sturdier platform to perform from. Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton seems a sure bet to bring modest offense, defense, and leadership to a Hawks lineup in need – though the Flyers have previously said they’d need a hefty return to move Laughton. Should Chicago get priced out, they could also turn towards the Nashville Predators, who have options like Thomas Novak, Michael McCarron, or Colton Sissons up for grabs. All three players have faced their own unique struggles this year, but would again bring an air of physicality and gumption to a Chicago lineup lacking in both regards. Adding a center, even if he may retire before Chicago reaches their next prime, could prove the rich lineup support the team needs.

Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Carolina Hurricanes.

Like a handful of other teams, the Hurricanes already landed their big fish well in advance of the March 7 trade deadline. Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall are in for Martin Nečas and Jack Drury, giving them some additional scoring punch on the wings. There are still some areas for improvement on the roster, though, and general manager Eric Tulsky may have another more minor move or two up his sleeve.

Record

32-18-4, 2nd in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$282K on deadline day + $3.17MM LTIR pool, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: CAR 1st, TBL 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th
2026: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 5th, TOR 6th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th

Trade Chips

Unlike most contenders, the Hurricanes’ draft pick pool is quite well-stocked. Their prospect pool also ranks in the league’s upper echelon – depending on who you include – and they barely dipped into it in the Rantanen blockbuster by leveraging an already-established top-six winger in Nečas. Whether they have the cap flexibility to acquire an asset that warrants a first-round pick remains to be seen, but they do have their own picks for the next few years left at their disposal, plus a 2026 second-rounder that’s also fairly valuable.

The qualifier in the first paragraph refers to defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who’s the most valuable trade chip Carolina could leverage outside of their first-round picks. The 23-year-old lefty has aged out of being able to be considered a prospect in some circles, but he’s easily the best and highest-ceiling player in the Hurricanes organization who’s not on the roster. Standing at 6’4″ and 216 lbs, the 2020 third-round pick has blossomed into arguably the best defenseman not currently in the NHL.

Now in his second season as captain of SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, he’s led KHL defensemen in scoring in back-to-back seasons and has added 35 points in 47 games this year with a +17 rating. He’s on an expiring contract and will almost certainly be coming to the NHL next season, whether that’s in Carolina or elsewhere, if they deal his signing rights. They’d prefer retaining him, especially with Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov on expiring contracts, but he’s an asset they’ll need to consider if they figure out a way to make another sizable splash. But depending on how (and if) their other top defense prospect, Scott Morrow, performs after this week’s recall, they could be more willing to move on from one or the other.

Outside of that, it’s hard to imagine the Hurricanes dealing from their roster again after already parting ways with Nečas and Drury. There are some other depth pieces in their prospect pool they could be willing to move, namely wingers Nikita Artamonov and Felix Unger Sörum, but the organization has spoken highly of both and would likely rather part ways with their draft capital.

Team Needs

1) Help Down The Middle: While Rantanen’s been snakebitten since his acquisition with a goal and an assist in five games, he’s shooting at just 5.6% and will rebound soon enough. They accomplished their main objective of adding general scoring punch and high-end talent – something that’s been sorely lacking throughout their championship window to date outside of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. They now have time to focus on positional needs, where adding another player who can ice out Jesperi Kotkaniemi as their second-line center reigns supreme. He’s producing more offense than 2023-24’s nightmarish 12-15–27 line in 79 games played, but he’s still barely clicking at a 40-point pace and has underwhelming possession numbers in already limited minutes for someone currently tasked with centering Hall and Svechnikov. It could be another low-cost, high-risk pickup in the vein of last season’s Evgeny Kuznetsov trade, of which Ryan Donato would fit the bill if the Blackhawks are willing to be trade partners again. He’d be affordable given their tight cap situation – the same can’t be said for others on the board like Dylan Cozens or Brock Nelson without a third team retaining salary in a deal. The Canadiens’ Jake Evans is also producing at a slightly higher rate than Kotkaniemi this year in more extended usage, with much better relative possession impacts.

2) Another Depth Forward: The Hurricanes have a strong No. 3 option in goal in Dustin Tokarski and decent defensive depth in case of injury, with names like Morrow, Ty Smith, Joakim Ryan, and Riley Stillman providing a good mix of offensive utility and experience in case of an injury to their ironclad top-six group. The same can’t be said for their depth wingers, which have taken a hit with Jesper Fast’s season-long absence and a long-term injury to his replacement, William Carrier. Their LTIR flexibility could allow them to at least add a six-figure winger with a bit more experience or offensive upside to rotate into their bottom six in case of added injury issues.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Calgary Flames

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Calgary Flames.

This season hasn’t quite gone as many anticipated in Calgary.  But unlike some underachieving things, not going as expected is actually a good thing.  The Flames went into the season as expected sellers but instead enter tonight’s action with a share of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.  As a result, we’ve seen them make one buyers move already although they could look to play both a buying and selling role as the deadline approaches.

Record

26-20-7, T-4th in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Long-Term Buyer, Possible Short-Term Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$78.698MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: FLA 1st*, NJ 1st, COL 2nd, CGY 3rd, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th
2026: CGY 1st, VGK 1st, CGY 2nd, CGY 3rd, VAN 3rd, CGY 4th, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th

*-Depending on how the Draft Lottery falls, it’s possible that Florida’s first-round pick will go to Montreal in which case Calgary would keep their own.  There is also a remote chance that the pick won’t be conveyed to the Canadiens until 2026.  This is from the Sean Monahan trade in 2022.

Trade Chips

There’s a big difference between what teams want Calgary’s trade chips to be and what they’re actually going to be.  It was recently reported that the Flames have been receiving calls on top veterans Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, and Rasmus Andersson but GM Craig Conroy has been rebuffing those efforts, telling inquiring teams that those players aren’t available.  While Andersson’s contract is up after next season, early indications are that the team believes they can get him signed to an extension.  So those players, as well as their other top ones, are off the table.

It’s not a great group of rental players for Calgary as many of the ones on shorter-term deals were moved out already over the past 13 months or so.  But one that might draw some interest is goaltender Daniel Vladar.  After undergoing hip surgery last season, he has played a bit better this season, shaving more than a half-goal off his GAA while adding six points to his save percentage.  Early on, he was platooning with top prospect Dustin Wolf but the youngster has taken full hold of the top spot now.  At $2.2MM and on an expiring deal, Vladar could be a lower-cost acquisition for a team looking for extra depth or a short-term option if one of their options goes down.  While it might seem strange for a team with playoff hopes to move a goalie, they do have one in the minors who is more than making a case for an extended look.

That player is Devin Cooley.  The 27-year-old is signed through next season at the league minimum and has been dominant with AHL Calgary this season, posting a 2.24 GAA and a .928 SV% and playing a big role in putting the Wranglers atop the Western Conference at the All-Star break.  If Vladar is moved, Cooley will likely get the chance to make a case for the full-time backup spot next season.  But it’s also possible that teams will come calling about Cooley with the intent of evaluating him for their own second-string slot next season.  The Flames would undoubtedly need another AHL goalie as part of any return but if there are teams who feel he’s NHL-ready (or want to keep their goalie costs down), he might actually have more suitors than Vladar.

Among their healthy veterans on expiring deals, the most notable ones are blueliner Tyson Barrie and center Kevin Rooney.  Barrie, on a $1.25MM deal, has been a frequent healthy scratch and his value, if there is any, would be for a late-round pick at most.  Rooney hasn’t had a great year but he can kill penalties and play with some grit.  He’s the type of late-deadline depth addition a couple of teams might consider and with a $1.3MM price tag, he’d be affordable but again, the return would be minimal.  They also have the RFA rights to Nikita Okhotyuk, the 24-year-old playing in the KHL but has 67 career NHL games under his belt.  If Calgary wants to add a low-cost addition, he’s someone they could potentially dangle instead of parting with a draft pick or prospect.  But all things considered, if the Flames aren’t selling, they don’t have much in the way of physical trade options to work with.

But they do have cap space.  More than any other team than Columbus, in fact.  Conroy might be able to add some extra draft picks by taking on an expiring contract or being a third-party retainer to facilitate another team’s trade.  If they don’t do anything goaltending-wise, their open cap space might be their best chip to play.

Team Needs

Left-Shot Top-Four Defenseman: Usually, it’s the right side of the back end that teams often need to upgrade at.  But with Weegar in the fold long-term and the Flames believing they can re-sign Andersson, that side should be in good shape for a while.  (One of their top prospects, Zayne Parekh, also shoots from the right.)  But the left side isn’t anywhere near as secure.  Jake Bean, Kevin Bahl (currently injured), and Joel Hanley are among those who have seen top-four time on the left side of the back end and that’s not a core group of a contender.  If Conroy wants to make a short-term buyer move, adding a rental who can fill that void would go a long way.  Failing that, it will be near the top of their to-do list over the summer.

Continue Growing Young Core: Conroy has talked before about wanting to add more players around the same age as some of their younger core group.  That played a role in their recent pickups of Morgan Frost (25) and Joel Farabee (24) while also leveraging some of their financial flexibility.  It’s fair to say that a longer-term roster goal will be to try to continue to add players around that age.  Those generally don’t move too often in-season but expect Calgary to kick the tires on more moves like their recent one with Philadelphia.

Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Buffalo Sabres

at CDT | by 12 Comments

With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Buffalo Sabres.

Another year, another disappointing season for the Sabres franchise. Not only is Buffalo on pace to miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, but they’re tracking toward their seventh bottom-five finish during that stretch.

Record

21-26-5, 8th in the Atlantic

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$26.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 3rd, BUF 4th, MIN 4th, BUF 5th, BUF 6th, WSH 7th, NSH 7th, BUF 7th
2026: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 3rd, BUF 4th, BUF 5th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th

Trade Chips

Not to be misconstrued as a positive, the Sabres are in a unique position for the upcoming deadline season. Buffalo is saturated with underperforming players and should be open for business regarding just about anybody. Thankfully, one of the only positive takeaways from the current iteration of the Sabres is that there aren’t any expensive contracts significantly weighing down the team long-term.

Even defenseman Owen Power, whose $8.35MM salary could be considered high by many due to his uninspiring play on the defensive side of the puck this season, is ranked 16th in the NHL among defensemen for total cap hits. The percentage of the salary cap he’s taking up will decrease as the cap goes up, and he has plenty of time to improve as a 22-year-old blue-liner.

The two bigger question marks come in the form of forward Dylan Cozens and defenseman Bowen Byram. After this year, Cozens will have five years and $35.5MM left on his contract and has wildly underperformed since his 31-goal, 68-point performance only two years ago. Byram is a restricted free agent after this season and is likely expecting a substantial increase from his $3.85 million salary.

Byram is the most likely candidate to be traded, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see both players remain with the Sabres after the trade deadline. Buffalo would likely be selling low on Cozens if they attempted to move him, making Byram the highest-value trade asset in the lineup.

The other two valuable trade assets are pending unrestricted free agents Jason Zucker and Henri Jokiharju. The Sabres have the option to retain the salaries of both players, which could slightly enhance their trade return. However, some reports suggest Buffalo may be more interested in extending Zucker than trading him as a rental player.

Team Needs

A Right Shot Top Four Defenseman: The Sabres are a team that continues to have a lot of needs, demonstrated by another season at the bottom of the NHL standings. Their biggest need is a top-four defenseman on the right side who can bump Connor Clifton back to the third pairing, which would better suit his skill set.  The Sabres were reportedly in on Jacob Trouba before he was dealt to Anaheim, but it would be wise to find an emerging defenseman to fill that role. That is certainly easier said than done, as right-shot defenders are always at a premium, as demonstrated by the Trouba trade and the fact that the Rangers were able to get out from under his contract. The Sabres are currently ranked 28th in the NHL in goals against, and given the offensive talent they have on the left side of their defense core, they would be wise to look for a defensive defenseman to slot in on the second pairing next to Power. The price will be steep if the Sabres intend to fill that role, however, they will have plenty of cap space this summer and have all of their draft picks for the next three years plus a handful of extra late-round picks this year.

A Top Six Winger: The Sabres bought out Jeff Skinner last summer and then brought in Zucker via free agency on a one-year deal. Zucker has been terrific this year in Buffalo but is a possible candidate to be dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline (if the Sabres can’t sign him) and isn’t an ideal option long-term at 33 years old. The Sabres need a bonafide top-six winger who can bring more of a two-way game to Buffalo’s forward core. The team could wait for Jack Quinn or Zach Benson to emerge and fill the role. However, both men are better suited as third-line players at this early stage of their careers. The Sabres could be patient and wait until the summer to fill the winger role as there are a number of highly coveted wingers who will be available in free agency, although the Sabres might be forced to overpay to bring them to Buffalo given the Sabres lack of recent success.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.

PHR’s Josh Cybulski contributed to this article.

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