The NHL Trade Deadline is here, and we’re keeping track of all the madness in one safe space for all hockey fans to gather .
We’ve arrived at the NHL trade deadline, the unofficial final push towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams are either going to buy big in an effort to make a run at the Cup or sell off assets in order to recoup their losses.
So far most of the trade activity has happened well before the deadline, which means teams have their stuff together. Minnesota and Los Angeles are among the earlier blockbuster participants, acquiring huge names in a clear push for a title.
Then there are teams like Tampa Bay, Dallas and Vancouver who are trying to set themselves up with future assets by dealing away pieces that help others in the present.
The trade deadline will pass at 3pm ET on March 1st, but keep it glued to this tracker for the latest results and instant analysis.
Note: The latest trades will be placed at the top of tis tracker, immediately below this text.
Winnipeg Makes A Deal After All
Analysis: There was an indication late in the day that the Jets weren’t going to make a deal. But even though everyone was accounted for at the afternoon skate, Drew Stafford’s time there is over. He’ll be heading to Boston where the Bruins attempt to rebound after firing Claude Julien last month. Right now they’re in a playoff spot looking at a first-round matchup with Ottawa, and adding some help like Stafford could go a long way.
Pittsburgh Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Analysis: The Pens sat around in the weeds this entire time, only to pounce right as the deadline passed. Pittsburgh made two deals at the deadline, the latter of which was moving Eric Fehr to Toronto for Frank Corrado. They additionally gave up prospect Steve Olesky and a 4th round pick this year to make the deal happen, but this is a move that flexes muscles in Pittsburgh. Also, Frank Corrado is now free.
Lighting Strikes Twice
Analysis: Well all of the nice things we said about Streit in Tampa Bay are now bunk. Steve Yzerman was wheeling and dealing on Wednesday, flipping the recently acquired Mark Streit to Pittsburgh. The Bolts are still in the playoff hunt but this is the double down move that seems to suggest the chips won’t be pushed to the middle this season. As for Pittsburgh, they’re ready to rumble in the East.
Calgary and Ottawa Make A Deal
Analysis: A pair of playoff teams getting together for a trade is always interesting, especially when big names change hands. Calgary lands a young forward in Curtis Lazar as well as a seasoned vet in Mike Kostka. Ottawa’s haul for the trade is highlighted by a potential key piece of the future with Jyrki Jokipakka and a high draft pick coming to Ottawa. It’s not a world moving trade but it’s one that shows the Flames are serious about snagging the top Wild Card spot in the West, if not a seed higher.
Nashville Sneaks In Under The Wire
Analysis: The Preds didn’t make a huge splash, but they upgraded with a nice fit at forward. P.A. Parenteau moves from New Jersey to Nashville and should be a nice low-key pick up for the Predators. The upside here is that unlike other contenders, Nashville barely gave up anything (a 6th round pick) and landed a guy who slides into their system. It’s about as low-risk as it gets for the Predators.
Tampa Bay Is Feeling Optimistic
Analysis: While trading away Ben Bishop seemed like a fold, the Bolts needed to do it. They got decent return for a guy who was likely going to be gone one way or another this summer, and struck a deal with the Flyers that showed fans they’re not giving up. Tampa sits just five points out of the last Wild Card spot in the East and adding Streit is a low-risk last ditch effort to remain in the hunt.
Columbus Finally Makes A Move
Analysis: A lot of people are starting to believe that this could be the year that Columbus makes something of themselves. Currently tied with Pittsburgh for the second-best record in the East, the Blue Jackets acquiring Kyle Quincey means they add veteran strength and someone who can continue to make the roster even more playoff ready than it already seemed to be. For New Jersey, this is a straight up deal that gives them a young-ish defenseman to help build for the future.
Jarome Iginla Goes Hollywood
Analysis: This one was to be expected, but the Avalanche fire sale has engulfed Jarome Iginla. His tenure in Colorado didn’t go as expected, but he is continuing his chase for a Cup by joining rank in Los Angeles. The Kings snagged Ben Bishop in a big deal with Tampa Bay and now add the veteran Iginla to not only add depth to their bench but a goal scoring threat hungrier than most to win another Stanley Cup before he calls it a career.
Montreal Snags A King
Analysis: One thing that the Habs wanted to do was add some size up front, and they did that by swapping for Dwight King. Los Angeles is retaining no salary in the deal and Montreal is giving up a 4th round pick next season to make the deal happen. This is the third big trade for the Canadiens, adding King to their haul that includes Jordie Benn to shore up depth on defense and Brandon Davidson from Edmonton. They also added Steve Ott, which means at least the Habs will be interesting.
Panthers Upgrade With Vanek
Analysis: Last year seemed to be one that might have flashed in the pan for the Florida Panthers. But the existential nature of that season has carried over to a sequel season that has the team in the Wild Card hunt. Being that Florida has a real chance to make the postseason, they’ve picked the bones in Detroit and landed Thomas Vanek to both add veteran presence — as if there’s not enough of that already — and a scoring threat to help with the postseason push.
Rangers Aren’t Done Yet
Analysis: After laying dormant for most of the first wave of frenzy, the Rangers are making moves left and right. In addition to the acquisition of Brendan Smith from Detroit on Tuesday, they dealt for young winger in Daniel Catenacci. The move seems to replenish the loss of two draft picks New York gave up to get Smith.
Blackhawks Reunite With An Old Friend
Analysis: Chicago reuniting with Johnny Oduya is a move to bolster the depth of the Blackhawks defense while also bringing back a guy who knows the chemistry. The team has changed since Oduya left in 2011-12, getting traded to Winnipeg, but he knows the core of the Hawks team. Kane, Towes, Keith and Quenneville are all still there and the hope is that Oduya can fit right back in like he did in 2010 and help Chicago bring a Stanley Cup back to town. As for the Stars, this is their third trade in the last week, as the fire sale continues in Texas.
Ottawa Keeps Making Deals
Analysis: Here’s another classic example of a basement team selling off a veteran asset to a team that could use them much more. It’s almost too perfect, as Carolina is currently dead last in the Eastern Conference and in no position to compete. Ottawa, who just acquired Alex Burrows from Vancouver, seems to be stockpiling talent for a deep playoff run — one they hope begins after they can leap the Habs atop the Atlantic.
New York Gets In On The Action
Analysis: The Rangers have been mostly quiet on the trade front, but seeing other top teams in the league acquire talent seemed to be motivation. Montreal and Toronto both made moves, and both are potential playoff opponents come April. Brendan Smith is a free agent after this season so the Rangers managed to get better behind the blue line without tying up too much money or giving up any massive assets.
Capitals Swing For The Fences
Analysis: Washington needs to break through the mummified trope of their Stanley Cup Playoff failures. It’s a weight around not only the franchise but the legacy of Alexander Ovechkin — one that big trades haven’t solved yet. Last year it was a huge deal with the Blues to land T.J. Oshie. This year it’s Kevin Shattenkirk, who required a serious haul to land. Whether it pays off is history that Capitals fans would love to see change.
Senators Pick Vancouver Bones
Analysis: The Canucks aren’t going anywhere this season, and while it seemed they might be better off parting ways with the Sedin brothers, Alex Burrows was wasting away as well. In Ottawa, he can help the Senators catch Montreal and gives them a boost when it comes to forward depth and talent they will surely need in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Dallas Breaks Up the Benn Brothers
Analysis: It’s a bittersweet end to the Benn Brothers era in Dallas. While only 29-years old, Jordie Benn being shipped north of the border to Quebec at least secured the Stars a future pick in this year’s draft and the talented Greg Pateryn. He’s the same age as Benn and isn’t under contract as long, which could help the Stars with cap space in the future. Montreal is Stanley Cup starved and you can do way worse than Benn.
Toronto Lands Brian Boyle
Analysis: There were rumors that Edmonton would be interested in Boyle to help their issues winning face-offs, but Toronto snagged him first. The more immediate gain here, other than one-upping another team from Canada, is that Toronto made a move to further keep them in the Wild Card chase out East. Sitting in the eighth seed at the moment, the Leafs acquiring Boyle adds veteran presence to their young lineup; one hungry for postseason experience.
Minnesota Goes For Broke
Analysis: The Wild are the best team in the Western Conference and just a few points behind league-leading Pittsburgh for the best record in hockey. Fans will tell you that all of it is worth nothing unless they can get over their postseason yips, and the front office shares that sentiment with a trade geared with laser focus at winning a Stanley Cup. Minnesota has always been skittish about trading away assets but they moved future top draft picks to win now — a bold move that could end up paying off.
Ben Bishop Costs A King’s Ransom — Maybe
Analysis: It’s hard to see a real loser in this deal. The Kings get a net minder in Bishop who, while injury prone the last two years, is one of the best between the pipes guys come playoff time. Giving up 34-year old Peter Budaj wasn’t painful but the two picks paired with the young Erik Cernak is what makes this a win for Tampa Bay. Bishop was likely gone always and in exchange for half a season of his services they received a possible defenseman for the future.
Dallas Starts Selling Off Assets
Analysis: This was to be expected, as the only thing keeping the Dallas Stars out of the basement in the Central is their whopping 21-point lead on the astoundingly terrible Colorado Avalanche. Anaheim is chasing San Jose in the Pacific and would love nothing more than to be as prepared as possible to take down former head coach Bruce Boudreau on their way to a place he never got them: the Stanley Cup.