With the NHL trade deadline behind us, teams made their final moves to bolster their rosters for the stretch run—some pulling off deals that could define their seasons, while others might have found themselves on the wrong side of a steal.
In this article, we’re going to be breaking down who got their hands dirty, and who kicked their feet up while watching the frenzy happen right in front of them.
Big names such as Brad Marchand, Mikko Rantanen and more are on the move, read through the article to see who’s ending up where.
THE TIMELINE
Let’s go back earlier to the start of the trade deadline week which began back on March 1st. Defenseman Seth Jones was sent to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goalie Spencer Knight, who made his debut in Chicago just two days later, winning 5-1 and stopping 41 out of 42 shots.
Forward Gustav Nyquist was sent to the Minnesota Wild and gave the Nashville Predators a 2026 second round pick in return.
A few days later, on Tuesday, the Oilers, Bruins, and Devils all got in on a deal that sent Trent Frederic, Max Jones, and prospect Petr Houser to Edmonton. Boston received Max Wanner and a couple draft picks while the Devils get the rights to prospect Shane Lachance.
March 5th really got the ball rolling as a couple teams shipped some big name guys away. In another 3-way trade, the Lightning obtained center Yanni Gourde, right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand, and a couple other pieces while the Kraken acquired center Michael Eyssimont, and two first rounders along with a second rounder for this year as well. Detroit secured a conditional fourth-rounder.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made two moves that day but their biggest move coming in an agreement with the Nashville Predators to send Michael Bunting and a fourth in exchange for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn. However, as you will read later in the article, Schenn doesn’t stay in the city, nor the country for very long.
The timeline brings us to the final day of the trade deadline, which ended Friday, March 7th, at 3:00 PM EST.
A late-night bombshell of a trade was made between the New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche. Assistant captain for the Isles, Brock Nelson, was shipped off alongside William Dufour. In return, they received Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a first round pick and a conditional 2028 third-rounder.
Nelson was emotional in his final interview on March 4th after their 3-2 win over the league-leading Winnipeg Jets, where he notched a goal and an assist. He spent his first 12 years in the NHL inside UBS Arena.
Shortly after the trade, the Islanders flipped Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
Another big name that has been in many headlines the last couple months is Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen was traded from the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Martin Necas and Jack Drury back on January 25th.
Reports stated that Rantanen did not want to resign in Colorado, and was then traded. A month and a half later, Rantanen ends up landing in Dallas. The Stars gave the Hurricanes Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks, and two third-round picks.
This is the trade everyone was eyeing as Rantanen had some monetary decisions he wanted to analyze. It’s reported that he has been offered roughly the same amount he would’ve received in Colorado had he resigned. However, due to the property tax, income rate, and many more factors, it appears Rantanen will be keeping more money from his contract in Texas than he would’ve in Colorado. We believe this is the ultimate factor in his decision to move again.
In just 13 games with Carolina, Rantanen racked up 2 goals and 4 assists.
In the final hour, the Avs make another big move and keep loading up to make a postseason run. They trade Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers and a second round pick to Boston for Charlie Coyle and a fifth round pick.
Remember Luke Schenn’s move to Pittsburgh? Well, he’s packed up and dusting off the passport as he is traded to Winnipeg for a second and fourth-round pick. Winnipeg is looking strong already as they’re in the lead of the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Right after acquiring Luke Schenn, the Jets give the Kraken a second round pick for Brandon Tanev. The Jets are all in on a cup run this year.
Toronto gets in on the action with Philadelphia. They get center Scott Laughton, a fourth and sixth round pick. The Flyers in return get Nikita Grebenkin, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and retains 50% of Laughton’s salary.
Lots of action as some big names were moved around, here’s a look at some of the other trades made right at the deadline:
Devils acquire Cody Glass while Pittsburgh receives a third-rounder. Columbus snags Luke Kunin from the Sharks in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Red Wings grab goalie Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith and the Blackhawks get Joe Veleno. Headed to Ottawa is Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick while on the way out is Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. The Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals give Pittsburgh a second round pick for Anthony Beauvillier.
As the clock strikes 3pm, the Boston Bruins are waiting in the trade calling queue and ready to finalize their day of selling. They send two big stars to rival teams. Captain Brad Marchand is sent to the Florida Panthers for a conditional second round pick and Brandon Carlo is sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a three-way trade including the Penguins. The Maple Leafs get Brandon Carlo and future consideration from the pens, the Bruins get Fraser Minten and a first-rounder, and the Penguins get the Connor’s (Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar).
And to wrap things up, a feel good story as Erik Johnson is headed back to Colorado. What feels like and very well could be his last year in the league, fans are excited to see him finish out his career where spent most of his time.
DEALS VS. STEALS
Now it’s time to answer the question asked every year at this time: who are the winners and who are the losers of the 2025 NHL trade deadline?
WINNERS
- The Dallas Stars. After making what is probably the biggest splash of the deadline by trading for Mikko Rantanen, and then extending Wyatt Johnston, they have emerged as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup sitting at +600 (previously +700).
- The Florida Panthers. Throw the rats, because the rat himself has reached the sunshine state ready to help the Panthers go back-to-back. Just like the Stars, the Panthers made one of the biggest splashes at the deadline, a buzzer beater too. Adding Brad Marchand puts them on the same level as Dallas and gives them a boost from +750 to +600 odds to win the Cup. Marchand will host likely not play until very late in the regular season, but is reported to be ready come playoff time.
- The Colorado Avalanche. Charlie Coyle, Brock Nelson, etc. After these additions, the Avalanche went from contenders to threats for the Stanley Cup in just a couple days. Winnipeg looked like they were going to be the team to beat come April, but Dallas and Colorado have now turned the heads of everyone in the western conference.
LOSERS
- The Vancouver Canucks. There was no winning for the Canucks here. Trading Brock Boeser or Elias Pettersson would have just decreased moral and would’ve taken away their fire power. It was a lose-lose for them and it left very little room for the management team to do anything.
- The Carolina Hurricanes. What a few months it has been for the Canes. First the trade for Rantanen, just for him to not want to sign at the end of the year. So, they’re forced to trade him. While they did get a couple first-round picks in the process, it’s hard to see who they let go off. Martin Necas having a great year, Jack Drury was solid, and they just didn’t make any progress. They don’t have the same fire power they have had in previous years. They did get Logan Stankoven in return from Dallas, but it still doesn’t fill the glaring holes that Carolina has created for themselves.
- The Edmonton Oilers. Selected as the preseason favorites to represent the western conference in the Stanley Cup Finals, now they’re 5th in their conference, and most likely won’t move up. Colorado and Dallas went out and added a solid few pieces to help them make a run, and while the Oilers added Walman and Frederic, their going to be playing catch up against the new beasts in the west.
While it wasn’t as chaotic as last year’s trade deadline, this one still had its headlines. As the final push for the playoffs begins, teams are going all out, aggressively fighting for every point they can get.
We’re just past the three-quarter point of the season, and with 20 to 22 games remaining (depending on the team), it’ll be interesting to see whether these roster changes prove to be beneficial or backfire.
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