With the Bo Horvat trade over with and the trade deadline approaching, I believe that the trades will soon be flying. With that being said, this year is going to be the most active the NHL trade deadline has been in several seasons (or so it should be). With 2023 draft picks being worth far more than picks of past years, selling teams will want them, and buying teams will use them as heavy ammunition. This is going to be a buyer’s market, and even with that being said, we should still see 1st rounders fly with how much star-power is available. The following trades I am listing are win/win trades given each team’s situation.
Trade #1
Red Wings get: Jordan Martinook, Brady Skjei, 2023 1st round pick (Hurricanes), and a 2023 3rd round pick (Flyers)
Hurricanes get: Dylan Larkin (50% retained), Olli Maatta
Breakdown: The Red Wings appear to be in a bind with pending UFA and captain Dylan Larkin. Rumors are rumors, but the rumor is that he wants $9M per season, and general manager Steve Yzerman is not budging. There is a deadline for a reason, and creating a center grouping of Aho, Larkin, Staal, and Stastny, makes the Hurricanes a powerhouse in the east. To make the money work, the talented defenseman Brady Skjei would need moved out of Carolina, and slotting in would be the cheaper pending UFA Olli Maatta. Carolina upgrades their top 6, and Maatta is formidable enough to slot in with Slavin, Burns, and Pesce. From the Red Wings perspective, they are likely getting picks in the 20’s and 70’s in a very nice draft class, as well as both Martinook and Skjei are under contract for next year. Skjei upgrades their blueline, and Martinook would either be an easy player to flip, or give them some veteran leadership next year.
Trade #2
Blue Jackets get: 2023 3rd round pick (Avalanche), and accrue $2.5M of Patrick Kane
Blackhawks get: Vitali Kravtsov, 2023 1st round pick (Stars), and a 2023 2nd round pick (Rangers)
Rangers get: Patrick Kane (75% retained)
Breakdown: Either a Ranger heads out the door, or they pay a 3rd party to take on salary; enter Columbus. Blackhawks wise, this trade is fairly simple given their situation. The Blackhawks are obtaining a young scoring threat, and 2 high draft picks. The Rangers are getting Patrick Kane who bolsters them offensively. The east is becoming terrifying, and reuniting Panarin and Kane only heightens that fear. Having a top 6 of Panarin-Trocheck-Kane and Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kreider, is insane. To go with Kakko and Chytil as well as Fox and Shesterkin, and you have a bonified Cup contender.
Trade #3
Coyotes get: Justin Schultz, 2023 1st round pick (Kraken), 2023 2nd round pick (Leafs), 2023 2nd round pick (Jets)
Kraken get: Jakob Chychrun
Breakdown: This is the Kraken finally going for it. They have an amazing glut of forwards with Shane Wright on the Horizon and with Beniers cruising. What they have lacked is talent on the defensive side of the puck. The Kraken have beasts in Soucy and Oleksiak, but only Vince Dunn really moving the puck. Chychrun automatically fills a void and slots in on that powerplay. This is a great hit, and even though they gave up 3 high picks, they got a stud with term. Coyotes wise they can finally move on from Chychrun who has said he wants to move on, and they get 3 picks, one in the 20’s, and 2 probably in the 50’s. Pretty good return given the draft quality.
Trade #4
Blue Jackets get: Jeese Puljujarvi, 2023 1st round pick (Oilers)
Oilers get: Vladislav Gavrikov (50% retained), Emil Bemstrom
Breakdown: The Oilers are adding at the deadline here in a few areas. Gavrikov has been linked to the Oilers for months now and this is the final deal. This fills a large hole on the Oilers blueline, and adds a depth scorer in Bemstrom, where Puljujarvi was not producing. Puljujarvi saves Edmonton more money on the salary cap, and he also reunites with Patrik Laine in Columbus. Sort of a change of scenery between the 2 forwards, and a 1st rounder going to Columbus for Gavrikov; fairly standard hockey trade here.
Trade #5
Blackhawks get: Mason Appleton, 2023 3rd round pick (Jets), 2024 2nd round pick (Jets)
Jets get: Jonathan Toews (50% retained)
Breakdown: Simple rebuilding move for the Blackhawks with the acquiring picks, as well as a useful middle 6 forward. Jets building for a giant playoff push with Dubois, Scheifele, and Toews down the middle. The Manitoba kid returns home here.
Trade #6
Blackhawks get: 2023 3rd round pick (Senators), 2024 5th round pick (Leafs)
Coyotes get: 2023 5th round pick (Leafs), accrue $1.5M (50%) of Max Domi
Leafs get: Max Domi (50% retained)
Breakdown: Leafs bring Tie Domi’s kid in! Max is talented and a playoff type player. The Leafs need a 2nd line left winger, and it is a bonus that Domi can play 2nd or 3rd line center as well. Blackhawks and Coyotes accruing picks and rebuilding.
Trade #7
Sharks get: Casey Mittlestadt, Isak Rosen, 2023 2nd round pick (Sabres), 2023 2nd round pick (Golden Knights), 2023 2nd round pick (Flyers)
Sabres get: Timo Meier
Breakdown: Oh boy we have a massive one here. The Sabres win the Timo Meier sweepstakes. The Devils weren’t willing to part with Holtz, Hughes, or Nimec, so the Sabres win with a plethora of stuff. Meier could extend with Buffalo, or, they could afford his $10M qualifying offer. Three 2nd rounders in 2023 is a massive return for the Sharks, as well as 2 young forwards in Mittlestadt and Rosen. The Sabres keep their 2023 first rounder, Jack Quinn, And Peyton Krebs. The plan for the Sabres is to build around Thompson, Tuch, Olofsson, Meier, Dahlin, and Power. Win/win here.
Apr 14, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) celebrates his goal with San Jose Sharks teammates against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Trade #8
Detroit gets: Denis Gurianov, 2023 2nd round pick (Stars)
Stars get: Tyler Bertuzzi (50% retained)
Breakdown: Bertuzzi has played his value down a bit, but id certainly worth the 2nd round pick come playoff time. The Stars are all on on their.core players, and Bertuzzi fits their pain in the ass to play against culture. Gurianov is a talented guy that could use the change of scenery. Trade makes sense for both. Have fun with Robertson, Hintz, Bertuzzi, and Benn in the playoffs.
Trade #9
Blues get: 2023 2nd round pick (Devils), 2024 2nd round pick (Devils)
Coyotes get: 2023 5th round pick (Devils), accrue $1.875M (25%) of Vladimir Tarasenko
Devils get: Vladimir Tarasenko (75% retained)
Breakdown: Devils absolutely going for it and building around Hughes/Tarasenko and Hischier/Bratt. Coyotes get a reward for being an ATM, and the Blues build for the future. Their 2019 Cup team disbands, and the soft reset begins.
Trade #10
Blues get: Blake Lizotte, 2023 2nd round pick (Kings)
Canucks get: 2023 3rd round pick (Penguins), accrue $1.875M (25%) of Ryan O’Reilly
Kings get: Ryan O’Reilly (75% retained), 2024 5th round pick (Canucks)
Breakdown: The Blues once again are adding a nice 2nd round pick, as well as a solid middle 6 forward with term in Blake Lizotte. The Canucks are the ATM here getting that valuable 3rd rounder in exchange for a 5th rounder in 2024. Ryan O’Reilly secures the Kings as one of the toughest outs in the West. Kopitar, Danault, and O’Reilly is a tough nut to crack, with Kempe, Arvidsson, Iafallo, and Fiala chipping in the goals.
Trade #11
Ducks get: 2023 4th round pick (Wild), 2024 3rd round pick (Wild)
Wild get: John Klingberg
Breakdown: Very simple trade here. A puck moving powerplay catalyst at a cheap price for a playoff caliber team who has had Calen Addison running their powerplay. Cheap price with some upside for the Wild; the Ducks are full rebuilding.
Trade #12
Flyers get: 2023 3rd round pick (Bruins), 2023 4th round pick (Bruins)
Blue Jackets get: 2024 3rd round pick (Bruins), accrue $1.75M (25%) of James Van Reimsdyk
Bruins get: James Van Reimsdyk (75% retained)
Breakdown: Bruins are going for the Cup this year baby. JVR gives depth scoring pop to an already devastating lineup. The Blue Jackets are the ATM to push this deal through, and the Flyers get a fair price for their veteran goal scorer. Watch JVR knock the Leafs out of the second round.
Trade #13
Canadiens get: 2023 5th round pick (Avalanche), 2023 6th round pick (Avalanche)
Sabres get: 2024 4th round pick (Avalanche), $1.25M (25%) of Evgeni Dadonov
Avalanche get: Evgeni Dadonov (75% retained)
Breakdown: What could be a nothing move at the end of the deadline could mean all of the difference for the Avalanche. With not many futures to give, and with them wanting to keep their 2023 1st rounder, the Avalanche have a quiet but deadly deadline here. Dadonov is the perfect buy low option here for the Avalanche’s middle 6, and with Landeskog potentially coming back, watch out. Dadonov has had a tough season, hence the price of the player; but GM Joe Sakic will always reward his troops for going to war for him.
