Thoughts on 40 NHL trade deadline deals — Andrew Copp to the Rangers, and lots of defensemen on the move

With the NHL trade deadline on Monday, The Athletic provides instant analysis on the major moves as they happen.

Deadline resources: Trade board | What to expect from all 32 teams | Players most likely to be dealt

Rangers boost forwards by bringing in Andrew Copp

The Rangers needed to solidify their middle six, and the addition of Copp does exactly that. There’s a versatility factor because he plays both center and wing, regardless of whether he fits on the second line wing or somewhere on the third line. The Jets were a better team with him on the ice at five-on-five offensively, and this is a player who ranks highly in his controlled entry rate and can set up his teammates for scoring chances. Plus, there are special teams benefits on both the penalty kill and power play. The drawback this season has been his finishing ability, as he scored less than expected.

Two conditional picks, a fifth-rounder and Morgan Barron is a somewhat steep price for a rental, but the Rangers come out slightly ahead in value with their return (unless that conditional second-rounder becomes a first-rounder). Barron didn’t get much of an opportunity in New York, but there’s potential for the center in Winnipeg.

Hurricanes acquire Max Domi from Blue Jackets in three-team trade

Eastern Conference teams are loading up, so it only makes sense that those in the playoff race will try to keep pace. Is acquiring Max Domi that for the Hurricanes? Apparently!

Despite attempts at center, he’s a better fit on the wing. Domi has finishing talent and can provide offense but his defensive metrics are abysmal. In a sheltered role, he could provide some value. But this took work to make him fit under the cap with Columbus retaining half of his salary and the remaining being split between Florida and Carolina. At that final cap hit for the Hurricanes, his value could exceed his salary — but it’s still hard to see why this is the move for a team already so well built.

Golden Knights move Evgeny Dadonov to Ducks in salary dump

We all knew the Golden Knights were going to have to clear cap space out eventually — it was just a matter of who would be moved in a cap dump. While speculation was on Reilly Smith, seeing as he’s a pending UFA, it was actually Dadonov heading out, to Anaheim. The winger is signed through next season with a $5 million cap hit, and his market value comes in a bit under that salary.

The Ducks added an offensive winger in Dadonov. He can create his own scoring chances — most of his shots at five-on-five and the power play are concentrated to the home-plate area in front of the net — or set his teammates up with high-danger pass. The Ducks leveraged their cap space with this move to bring back a future asset while filling out a roster spot in the top six that opened after they traded Rickard Rakell.

By moving salary out now instead of waiting, Vegas should be able to activate a player off LTIR if they’re ready ahead of the playoffs. And they’ll obviously take any help they can get, seeing as there’s no guarantee they will even make the postseason. Kesler’s contract helps their LTIR purposes. Coming back is Moore, who is signed for $2.75 million in cap space for next season as well. If Moore is sent to the minors, it skims even more off that value, leaving the Golden Knights with a bit more cap flexibility than before.

Ultimately, the Golden Knights had to pay more to move him (a second-rounder, plus) than it cost to acquire him initially (a third-round pick) — showing just how tough it can be to go “all in” to the extent that they have and also maneuver a cap league.

Penguins make deal for versatile Rickard Rakell

If any team should be investing in a playoff run, it’s the Penguins, given how many expiring contracts they have this summer — including some of their core players. Rakell’s versatility makes him a really interesting fit for the Penguins, whether he slots on the wing in the top nine or somewhere down the middle. The most likely landing spot may be on Evgeni Malkin’s wing. He’s more of a shooter than a passer, can drive to the quality areas at even strength, and should see power-play time.

A second-rounder, Dominik Simon and Zach Aston-Reese make up the return. The player going the other way with the most NHL experience is Aston-Reese, who is stellar defensively. The problem is that no offense is created when he’s on the ice, at either end. He’s one of those pending UFA forwards, and his next contract may be exceeded what a team should extend a bottom-sixer for. Where he should help, in particular, is on the penalty kill. The Ducks’ expected goal rate against is 19 percent weaker than average.

Stars acquire Vladislav Namestnikov from Red Wings

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Stars	Vladislav Namestnikov
To the Red Wings	Fourth-rounder in 2024

In Namestnikov, the Stars add a hard-nosed utility forward. He can be trusted in all situations, can slot at center or on the wing, and can fit anywhere in the lineup. While his scoring and overall offensive impact aren’t too noteworthy, he can still contribute to those sequences when skating alongside a team’s best players. He can be thought of as a facilitator, a player who puts in the work to spark a play but doesn’t end up on the scoresheet. Namestnikov’s true strength is his play in his own zone, though, even against tough competition.

While Dallas probably shouldn’t be buying, the return was low enough to make this fair for both — though what the Stars really need are more players with offensive upside to support their top line.

Flames pick up Ryan Carpenter from Blackhawks

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Flames	Ryan Carpenter
To the Blackhawks	Fifth-round pick in 2024

The Flames add a potential fourth-line center in Ryan Carpenter. Teams tend to look for depth adds like this for the playoffs, players who are hard to play against, fine defensively, are physical and so on. He checks off those boxes. At five-on-five, according to HockeyViz, he’s had a positive impact in his own zone over the last few years, although his offense leaves a lot to be desired.

The forward can also be deployed on the penalty kill, though the Blackhawks allowed more shots while he was on the ice in those short-handed minutes. Team systems and surrounding players can influence that, and the Flames are one of the stronger short-handed teams — ideally, that will balance out his game in those situations.

Anthony Bitetto to Sharks in minor deal

This is probably an AHL-caliber trade. Bitetto hasn’t played in the NHL at all this season and only took part in 14 games last season. He can either be a veteran presence in the AHL or serve as depth at the NHL level, depending on San Jose’s needs. Nick Merkley, on the other hand, has been quite productive with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda this season, scoring 36 points in 43 games. He’s not the most high-end forward but adds some offense to Hartford.

Oilers add depth scoring with Derick Brassard

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Oilers	Derick Brassard
To the Flyers	Fourth-rounder in 2023

Derick Brassard hasn’t quite been the same since he left the Senators, really falling flat after he went to the Penguins. That said, he bounced back from what was a tough year in 2020-21 in Arizona and managed well enough on a struggling Flyers team, which is why his market value exceeded his inexpensive cap hit.

The Oilers certainly could use some depth scoring and there’s potential for the forward, who can play center or wing, to bring it. Edmonton may be hoping for “Big Game Brass” this spring, as he joins his 10th NHL team. A fourth-rounder back to the Flyers is a solid return for the pending free agent.

Rangers bring in Tyler Motte

New York adds a solid two-way winger with this trade. Motte represented one of the ‘“under the radar” next Barclay Goodrow/Blake Coleman-type player for teams at the deadline. A fourth-rounder for a pending UFA is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Rangers, though the return seems on the low end for Vancouver.

The winger likely fits in their bottom six, though there could be potential if they’re looking for a Jesper Fast/Colin Blackwell-type player to balance out the Artemi Panarin line. Motte was one of the Canucks’ best forecheckers, and rates well relative to the Rangers’ forwards as well. Defense is his standout skill, though he can kick in scoring chances and shot assists to bolster the offense.

The Rangers have a good penalty kill, but there’s potential to make it even better, especially with this acquisition. The speedy skater can disrupt opponents’ attempts to generate chances while in formation, and chip in with some short-handed chances.

Jets bring in Zach Sanford

A fifth-round pick for Sanford is a fine enough trade. He plays up to his cap hit, is a serviceable winger and should have more support in Winnipeg than in Ottawa. Given their standing in the playoff race, it doesn’t make perfect sense for the Jets to acquire a rental, but they did trade Andrew Copp and may want a replacement.

Devils acquire goalie Andrew Hammond

Hammond is probably nothing more than a stopgap, but that’s really what the Devils need in goal right now. If there isn’t an option for them to make a splashy upgrade, a temporary fix to relieve Nico Daws of some of the pressures of the starter’s crease is a help because there isn’t trust in Jon Gillies’ game. He has allowed 13.22 goals above expected in 16 games this season with New Jersey.

Johan Larsson dealt to Capitals

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Capitals	Johan Larsson
To the Coyotes	Third-round pick in 2023

With Carl Hagelin sidelined with injury, the Capitals found another defensively sound forward who can bolster their bottom six in Larsson. The shutdown center maintained that positive impact in his own zone at five-on-five despite playing on some subpar teams over the years, and can play on the penalty kill as well. The Coyotes made the most of their cap space, pushing the price to a third-rounder for salary retention.

Avalanche bring in veteran Andrew Cogliano

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Avalanche	Andrew Cogliano
To the Sharks	Fifth-rounder in 2024

Another move by the Avalanche to bolster their forward depth. Cogliano is fine defensively and can kill penalties, but Colorado probably shouldn’t expect much offense. This season in San Jose, the Sharks’ expected goal generation was 30 percent below average while he was deployed, and the forward finished below expectations on his shots. A change of scenery may revitalize his game, though — especially when that change takes him to one of the best teams in the league.

It’s an inexpensive add for Colorado and the return for the Sharks, given his caliber of play and contract status, is reasonable.

Artturi Lehkonen traded to Avalanche

The Avalanche missed out on Claude Giroux, but are still making a splash at the deadline with the acquisition of Artturi Lehkonen. Defense is the highlight of his game. He’s had a positive impact at five-on-five in his own zone in every year of his career — including this season, which was nothing short of challenging ahead of the coaching change. That all translates to the penalty kill as well. He saw the highest percentage of short-handed time among forwards in Montreal this past season. That fits a clear need for the Avalanche, who allow more scoring chances than league average on the penalty kill. But don’t overlook his offense, either. While his scoring totals may not overwhelm, Lehkonen can help his team hold the offensive zone and generate off the cycle. That should help Colorado create more when their top players aren’t on the ice.

The return for Montreal is fine, too. A second-rounder plus a solid defensive prospect fits their long-term plan, although maybe the Canadiens could have pushed for more given that they’re retaining salary for a player the Avalanche retain control of at season’s end.

Blues add defenseman Nick Leddy

The Blues have a solid forward group and goaltending, but defense has been a clear weakness all season. Using the Cup checklist, they fell short, or in the lower end of the range, with most of their top four. Nick Leddy isn’t going to suddenly transform this group. He’s past his prime at this phase in his career but he’s a really solid puck-moving upgrade. He can bring the puck out of the defensive end into the offensive zone with possession and set up his teammates. His presence in the top four, maybe with Colton Parayko, should be quite the upgrade over Marco Scandella.

Jake Walman had a depth role in St. Louis and should see more playing time in Detroit. The Red Wings can expect some solid two-way play and quite a few shots from the point. Oskar Sundqvist on a strong team fits as depth, but there also could be more time for him in Detroit. Or, they could always retain salary and flip him to a contending team before the deadline.

Bruins add defenseman Josh Brown

Remember that time the Bruins could have gotten Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor and Oliver Kylington through the draft? Instead, they drafted Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk and Zach Senyshyn.

Senyshyn’s time in Boston wasn’t remarkable, and the return for him isn’t either. Maybe he’ll have a better chance to break through in Ottawa with a clean slate. In return, the Bruins add a pending UFA defender in Josh Brown, whose defensive metrics are, well, not great! Maybe moving teams will help his game, seeing as the Senators are one of the weakest defensive teams in the league.

Oilers add defenseman Brett Kulak

Everyone wants depth defense this year, and the Oilers found it in Brett Kulak. He’s a more favorable option compared to others on the move today (and still on trade boards). Credit to the Oilers for adding this depth defender as opposed to others who fit Ken Holland’s profile a bit more. Defense is undoubtedly a need there, but this team can’t be done yet if they want to legitimately contend. The return, however, is on the high side. That’s the theme of today: spending a lot for depth, which is just questionable asset management all around. Nice return for Montreal, at least.

Kulak has put up some really solid results defensively in years past, and after some lesser results at times this season, he has really trended up over the last month. Kulak’s one of the few Canadiens defenders to keep his head above water, but he also was the most sheltered in terms of forward competition against.

Rangers bolster blue line with Justin Braun

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Rangers	Justin Braun
To the Flyers	Third-round pick in 2023

The Rangers were looking for defensive depth, and maybe were initially aiming higher than Braun. But the veteran back can provide some insurance on the back end down the stretch with steady play in his own zone. He doesn’t botch many puck retrievals and exit attempts and is average in terms of entry defense.

While he’s experienced, he isn’t an upgrade over any of their right-handed defensemen, including rookie Braden Schneider. So barring injury, he probably will be tasked to play his off side when he slots in. A third-rounder is a bit high for a rental bottom-four defenseman, but other trades may have raised the bar, as have other teams around the league looking for the same.

Wild bring in defensive depth with Jacob Middleton

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Wild	Jacob Middleton
	Fifth-round pick in 2022
To the Sharks	Kaapo Kahkonen

After the Wild acquired Marc-Andre Fleury, moving on from one of their tandem goalies only made sense. Kahkonen, at age 25, has more long-term potential than Cam Talbot, which makes him a sensible fit for the Sharks. But it shows just how invested Minnesota is on right now in net.

Kahkonen should have more playing time in San Jose, especially if James Reimer is on the move today. But he’s going to be challenged behind a Sharks defense that’s much weaker than the Wild team he’s played behind throughout his NHL time.

One area that stood out for the Wild on the contender checklist was depth defense, so Middleton could help strengthen them in that regard. He’s very defensively minded and pairs best with a puck-mover (he played most of his time this season with Erik Karlsson in San Jose). The lefty can block passes and limit scoring chances against at both five-on-five and on the penalty kill, and doesn’t allow many quality looks after teams gain the zone on him. Seeing how much interest there is around the league for depth defenders and that Middleton isn’t a rental, the extra fifth-rounder to San Jose makes some sense.

Marcus Johansson returns to Capitals

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Capitals	Marcus Johansson
To the Kraken	Daniel Sprong
	Fourth-round pick in 2022
	Sixth-round pick in 2023

The Capitals add to their depth with Marcus Johansson. The winger can play either side and help shore up the team’s defense in the bottom six, but probably won’t boost the offense. Obviously, he’s coming from a team that struggled to generate five-on-five offense, but this dip goes back to 2020-21 in Minnesota, where his isolated impact on expected goal generation was 17 percent below the average skater in his role.

Daniel Sprong has some more offensive upside than Johansson but isn’t as strong defensively. But adding a 25-year-old and continuing to stockpile draft picks makes more sense for the Kraken instead of holding onto a pending UFA.

Wild solve goalie issue with Marc-Andre Fleury

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Wild	Marc-Andre Fleury
To the Blackhawks	Second-round conditional pick in 2022

Marc-Andre Fleury’s not having the Vezina Trophy-caliber season he had a year ago when he saved 19.9 goals above expected in 36 games. That said, he doesn’t have nearly the support in Chicago that he had last year in Vegas. This year, he’s conceded 11.3 goals above expected in all situations — so he hasn’t had an easy workload, nor has he responded well to it. With the Wild, he’ll be behind a stronger team at five-on-five on both ends of the ice, but he’s also going to have to elevate his level of play. At age 37, there’s rightfully some doubt, but his body of work to this point, as recent as last year, should instill some confidence.

The Wild need the help between the pipes, as both Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen have trended in the wrong direction. Before Saturday’s game against Chicago, ironically enough, Minnesota hadn’t had a quality start from either goaltender in over a month. So the cost of this acquisition is worth the risk, given their current situation in a year in which they should be going for it given the cap crunch they face next year, which will force subtractions. And the return for the Blackhawks, a rebuilding team, seems fair for an aging pending UFA who had control over his next move.

Coyotes acquire rights to Nathan Smith

It’s always the Coyotes taking on LTIR contracts like Little’s. They gain a fourth-rounder and a chance to sign Nathan Smith before he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The forward played for Team USA in the Olympics and finished in the top 10 for the Hobey Baker, so why not swing for a high-upside player? Plus, the Little contract may help them reach the salary floor, which could be a concern next year given the number of expiring contracts they have. On the flip side, a fourth-rounder essentially buys the Jets some cap space over the next two seasons, since they were going to lose Smith for nothing.

Penguins add defense depth in Nathan Beaulieu

Team	Player
To the Penguins	Nathan Beaulieu
To the Jets	Conditional seventh-round pick in 2022

If you’re going to acquire a depth defender, ideally this is the price, unlike some teams moving a second-rounder for it. Beaulieu wasn’t even a regular on Winnipeg’s iffy blue line, and now he’s on LTIR. So when he’s healthy, he’s an extra option for the Penguins’ defense at a non-existent cost — literally, nothing unless the Penguins win three(!) playoff round and Beaulieu plays in half of those games.

Mason Appleton traded to Jets

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Jets	Mason Appleton
To the Kraken	Fourth-rounder in 2023

Appleton makes his return to the Jets in exchange for a fourth-rounder. The forward’s offensive impact isn’t much to write home about, but he’s above average defensively. If any team knows what he brings to the table, though, it’s Winnipeg. If (or when) they move on from the likes of Andrew Copp and possibly Paul Stastny, they have an NHL-caliber replacement to finish the season.

Another nice bit of business for the Kraken, who collect an asset by returning a player from where he came. They’re stocked with draft picks for at least two consecutive seasons now, which can either set the team up for future success or be used to add players via trade down the road.

Jeremy Lauzon traded to Predators

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Predators	Jeremy Lauzon
To the Kraken	Second-round pick in 2022

Apparently, Lauzon’s services are worth more than Travis Dermott and Troy Stecher’s. That is news! The defenseman, formerly of the Kraken and the Bruins, does not bolster his team’s offense and is not strong enough in his own zone to balance that. He also takes more penalties than he draws (minus-9 differential on minors this year, to be exact), which is unfortunate for a player who was asked to play in approximately 46 percent of the available short-handed minutes this season in Seattle. While the Predators could use defensive depth, this is a misstep and poor asset management.

Great work for the Kraken getting a second-rounder back for this rental.

Scott Wedgewood traded to Stars

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Stars	Scott Wedgewood
To the Coyotes	Fourth-round conditional pick in 2023

As The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf put it, Dallas isn’t a team that anyone expected to have goaltending concerns. But injuries to Braden Holtby and Anton Khudobin have pushed the Stars to this point. Wedgewood, in 26 games in Arizona, saved 3.36 goals above expected in all situations, which helped build his value up to this fourth-rounder. Between his time with the Coyotes and three games with the Devils, his season-wide GSAx is 2.26. Now, he should have more support behind the Dallas defense. At most, the veteran netminder can take a couple of starts off Jake Oettinger’s plate.

Nick Paul traded to Lightning

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Lightning	Nick Paul
To the Senators	Mathieu Joseph
	Fourth-round pick in 2024

The Senators leaned on Paul in top-six usage, which he likely won’t see with his new club. Instead, he’ll presumably fit on the third line, where he can play to his strengths: solid defense, a shoot-first mentality and offensive creation off the cycle. That should mesh well with the Lightning’s other new addition, Brandon Hagel, who is a solid passer (and checks the box as the “Gourde or Coleman” of that line).

Going the other way, Mathieu Joseph will see more usage with his new team after primarily being deployed as depth with the Lightning. Defense and disruptive play are his strengths, which translates to short-handed play as well. The speedy skater can pressure his opponents when they attempt to enter the zone and can help push play back up the ice. Unlike Paul, who is a pending UFA, the Senators will retain control when Joseph’s contract is up this summer.

It makes sense for the Senators to opt for the younger forward (if they plan to extend him) since they couldn’t come to an agreement with their pending UFA. Their willingness to take on, say, Travis Hamonic at a $3 million hit for another year, and not pay the player they’ve relied on so much this last season is perplexing. While Joseph had potential in Tampa Bay, it’s clear they want to better their chances right now above all else.

Maple Leafs acquire Mark Giordano from Kraken

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Maple Leafs	Mark Giordano
	Colin Blackwell
To the Kraken	Second-round pick in 2022
	Second-round pick in 2023
	Third-round pick in 2024

The Maple Leafs adding Mark Giordano makes a ton of sense since the team is without Jake Muzzin. The veteran’s offensive impact isn’t at the heights of years past, though the lefty will still add to their shot generation from the point.

What he brings is some steady defense at even strength and on the penalty kill. When opponents manage to gain the zone against him, it doesn’t often translate to a scoring chance. Overall, Giordano protects the middle of the ice well, which should ease the workload of the Maple Leafs’ goaltenders. He can either reunite with his longtime partner from Calgary, TJ Brodie, or bring some experience to a pairing with one of their younger defenders.

Colin Blackwell is a really savvy add, too. He fits the bill as a “next Barclay Goodrow” type of acquisition. His defensive impact has been the standout in Seattle, as he’s become a disruptive force alongside Yanni Gourde at both even strength and on the power kill. But as he showed in New York, the forward can actually keep up and complement top offensive players, bringing a two-way presence without dragging down a line. Along with his versatility comes a very reasonable $725,000 cap hit.

Seattle is building the team up from scratch and has some really innovative minds in the front office who can find value through the draft. That’s what makes the return click. However, the Kraken probably could have squeezed Toronto a bit more (even with consideration of Giordano’s preference to play there), especially with that 50 percent salary retention.

Maple Leafs trade Travis Dermott to Canucks

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Canucks	Travis Dermott
To the Maple Leafs	Third-round pick in 2022

The Canucks essentially exchanged “Travis” today, seeing as the return for each was a third-round pick. Hamonic for Dermott is a win for Vancouver, especially with their long-term goals in mind seeing as he’s 25 years old. Both defenders are signed for next season, but Dermott’s cap hit is half of Hamonic’s — and he’s more productive, with long-term upside.

The lefty can help drive play out of his own zone, often making the first pass out of the defensive zone. The Maple Leafs created a high rate of quality chances while he was deployed, which his passing contributed to (he’s not a frequent shooter by any stretch), and didn’t allow a high rate against either.

Dermott became the odd man out in Toronto because he couldn’t handle as much of an expanded role. And with other incoming pieces, they need every bit of cap space they can get. So given how known it was that they were likely going to deal him, there was less leverage to get more than a third-rounder.

Travis Hamonic traded to Senators

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Senators	Travis Hamonic
To the Canucks	Third-round pick in 2022

This is … a trade. A questionable one, at that.

Hamonic is signed for another season with a $3 million cap hit. The Senators already have four defensemen signed for next season, plus another two under team control. While they lost Thomas Chabot to injury for the rest of the season, this isn’t a natural replacement for him, either. A third-round pick in exchange for him is a choice — a very odd one for a team that isn’t close to the playoff picture. It would be a questionable return for a team that is in the playoff picture, too, given his level of play at this point. For the Canucks, this moves out some salary and opens up a slot for younger defenders who actually belong in their long-term picture.

Kings acquire Troy Stecher from Red Wings

TEAMS	PLAYERS
To the Kings	Troy Stecher
To the Red Wings	Seventh-round pick in 2022

Stecher’s a solid depth option for a Kings team dealing with a ton of injuries. He isn’t some spectacular defenseman, but at that cost he doesn’t need to be. If anything, a seventh is a relatively low return for him — a fourth- or fifth-rounder pick would have been a sweeter return. This past season wasn’t the defender’s best, but last year he had some strong results in his own zone, as he limited Detroit’s expected goal rate against at 5-on-5 six percent more than the average skater would in his minutes.

Robert Hagg traded to Panthers

With Aaron Ekblad sidelined with an injury and out for the remainder of the season, the Panthers looked to the market for defensive depth. Is Robert Hagg anything near Ekblad? Not a shot! But the most important part of this trade is the low cost: just a sixth-round pick to plug a very inexpensive player into the lineup as a placeholder.

Hagg isn’t exactly a speculator option. He often botches his puck-retrieval attempts and fails to exit the zone at five-on-five. And among the Sabres’ blueliners this season, he allowed one of the highest percentages of carry-ins against. Plus, the team allowed more than they created while he was deployed. Ideally, the strength around him on the Panthers minimizes any negative impact. And on the other side of the deal, a sixth-rounder for a depth defender on an expiring contract is fine enough for Buffalo.

Claude Giroux traded to Panthers

The Giroux trade cannot be assessed without the consideration of his no-movement clause, because that stripped the Flyers of a lot of their leverage. And as The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor outlined, this return is comparable to the likes of those for Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny when they were rentals. So while the hope may have been for a better return to Philadelphia, given Giroux’s importance to the franchise, this seems relatively fair.

Owen Tippett isn’t the most dazzling forward to go back to the Flyers. He hasn’t quite made much of an impact at the NHL level, whether high in the lineup or in the Panthers’ bottom six. But he’ll have more of an opportunity to prove himself in Philadelphia than he did on his original club, seeing how deep their lineup is.

The Panthers, on the other hand, add a top-line caliber forward who brings a lot of versatility. He’s a positive influence on both ends of the ice, can play in all situations, slots at either center or wing and can generate his own scoring chances and set his teammates up. And he goes from one of the weaker teams in the league to one of the strongest forward groups (which just got even better). Clearly, they’re all-in and using many future assets to make the best of their playoff chances this season before their cap situation gets trickier to maneuver.

Hampus Lindholm traded to Bruins

Lindholm is known for his stout defensive play without being too physical. In almost every one of his NHL seasons, he has limited shots and quality chances better than the average skater would in his minutes. A highlight of his game is how he holds the blue line, only allowing 48 percent of carry-ins against at five-on-five and conceding a low rate of scoring chances off zone entries against (2.6 per 60). That play is why he has been tasked with leading minutes against top competition. But his game has slipped in recent years, including an uptick in penalties, which was particularly challenging because he is a key cog in the penalty kill. So a change of environment — especially to a stronger Bruins team — could revitalize his game.

The price was high for Lindholm, and other trades that have preceded this that have featured rental defenders may have upped the cost. But for the Bruins, defense below their top three was an area of need. Anaheim used their cap space to their advantage, retaining 50 percent of Lindholm’s salary and taking on John Moore’s contract for another season. That flexibility should allow Boston to extend Lindholm and look for possible other pieces ahead of this playoff run as Eastern Conference teams continue to load up.

While the Ducks’ play to end the season may be tough — especially without their two best in entry defense in Lindholm and Josh Manson — collecting assets for pieces they weren’t going to extend this summer is exactly what this rebuilding team needs. The addition of Urho Vaakaninen has some upside, too, if the 23-year-old can bounce back on a new team after struggling to make an impact so far in his NHL career.

Nicolas Deslauriers traded to Wild

The Wild add a gritty, physical depth forward to their lineup in Deslauriers. He doesn’t bring much to the table offensively, seeing as he’s not a stellar passer or frequent shooter, and creates at a below-average rate both on the rush and off the cycle. Rather, he adds size and strength to the bottom six. That’s what makes the price of a third-rounder a bit steep, even though teams covet these types of players and tend to want to add an element of toughness for the playoffs. But there are other areas of need that are more pressing in Minnesota. On offense alone, the center position still could use a boost. The team still has most of its picks, aside from this third-rounder (in 2023) and this year’s seventh, though, so the assets are there to upgrade elsewhere.

Lightning swing big deal with Blackhawks for Brandon Hagel

The Panthers aren’t the only Florida team loading up for the playoffs. The Lightning are all-in, making quite the splash with the acquisition of Hagel in their quest for a three-peat. Tampa Bay recently lost all three members of its version of the “Grind Line” via the expansion draft and free agency. Hagel represents that Blake Coleman-type player they’ve been missing. His shooting percentage is awfully high, but he was one of Chicago’s best forecheckers at five-on-five, and he can drive play up the ice and generate offense off the rush and is a skilled passer. The winger has already shown that he can pressure top competition while playing on a much weaker team. Now, he should find himself in more optional situations on such a stacked squad.

The cost is super high, especially because he’s not a rental — Hagel is signed to a $1.5 million cap hit for another two full seasons, which helps balance out higher salaries in Tampa Bay. At 23 years old, Hagel is the type of player who could have contributed for Chicago now and down the line — and he is the type of player they’ll likely hope to find with those late-round firsts. But two first-rounders plus Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk makes sense for the rebuilding Blackhawks. They add solid two-way forwards, both with strong defensive results, who should have more opportunities now than they did with the Lightning. The fourth-rounders to Tampa Bay can either help them find late-round gems or get flipped for more playoff assets.

Panthers add defense depth in Ben Chiarot

With that newly cleared cap space, and the fourth round pick acquired from the Rangers, the Panthers took their next step with the acquisition of Ben Chiarot.

The price for the rugged defender was incredibly high — that return should have been reserved for a player who legitimately would be playing on the top pair as a rental, or bottom-four with more term on his contract. It’s an excellent return for the Canadiens who are trying to retool quickly.

For the Panthers, as strong as their top blue liners are, their bottom-four was an area pinpointed as falling short of the Cup checklist. By the numbers, Chiarot isn’t exactly the player that’s going to thread the needle, especially after his play fell off when he didn’t have a top defender alongside him. But he shouldn’t be as exposed in Florida, seeing as he won’t be deployed like a number one defender in terms of minutes or opponents, and his play was trending in the right direction in Montreal after a coaching change — that all bodes well for a successful stretch with the Panthers, it just came at a sky-high price.

Flames acquire Calle Jarnkrok from Kraken

Team	Player
To the Flames	Calle Jarnkrok
To the Kraken	Second-round pick in 2022
	Third-round pick in 2023
	Seventh-round pick in 2024

Jarnkork’s the ultimate utility player for a team’s bottom-nine. He can play either wing or center, and can help a team on both ends of the ice. While his defensive impact did slip in Seattle, last year in Nashville, he limited the Predators’ expected goal rate against by almost eight percent when accounting for usage, coaching, and competition, relative to the average skater in his minutes, according to HockeyViz. That should rebound within the Flames’ structure, likely somewhere in the middle-six — whether it’s to solidify that second line as a shutdown trio or to be the more defensive presence on the third line with Tyler Toffoli.

The price was a bit high for a depth player on an expiring contract, but other interest around the league and salary retention raised it. That only benefits the Kraken who can continue to build this team from the ground up with an emphasis on upcoming drafts.

Panthers send Frank Vatrano to Rangers

Team	Player
To the Rangers	Frank Vatrano
To the Panthers	Fourth-round pick in 2022

The Panthers’ forward depth made Vatrano expendable and moving him for a draft pick helped clear cap space for their other deadline plans (which continued with the Chiarot trade). That fourth-rounder added to their asset pool, which they very clearly are willing to use for ‘right now pieces’ to better their playoff chances.

The Rangers, on the other hand, need all the forward help they can get since their 5-on-5 offensive creations is below average as is. It’s particularly dismal when their top-six forwards aren’t on the ice. Vatrano isn’t a play driver, but has finishing talent, and can ideally either boost the third line or provide another scorer on Artemiy Panarin’s right. This isn’t the move to take them to that ‘contender level’ they should be striving for, but it’s a step in the right direction as long as there’s more to follow.

Avalanche get Josh Manson from Ducks

Team	Player
To the Avalanche	Josh Manson
To the Ducks	Drew Helleson
	Second-round pick in 2023

With Samuel Girard and Bowen Byram both sidelined with injuries, the Avalanche found some defensive depth in Manson. He’s a very different player from those out with injury since he’s not a puck-moving defender who can transition play up the ice, plus he’s past his prime and his defensive impact has slipped over the last couple of seasons. The righty can, however, defend the blue line well and limit scoring chances off entries, according to Corey Sznajder’s tracking, while adding some physical play that Colorado probably hopes will pair well with Girard’s style come playoffs. And he can kill penalties which is an area with room for improvement for Colorado. Ideally, the support he’ll have on the Avalanche, versus the Ducks of recent seasons, helps him play to his strengths.

The 50 percent salary retention in this deal is key, for both teams. Manson’s play at that lesser cap hit is more fitting for the Avalanche. Meanwhile, the Ducks leveraged their cap space to sweeten the return of future assets for a pending free agent with a draft pick and prospect that should help their building process.

(Data via CapFriendly, Evolving-Hockey, AllThreeZones, HockeyViz and Dom Luszczyszyn.)

(Photo of Andrew Copp: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)