2025 NHL Trade Deadline: 5 Teams That Made the Most Impactful Deadline Day Moves
Sportsgrid Staff
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1. Mikko Rantanen Moved to Dallas
The Carolina Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars, where he immediately signed an eight-year, $96 million contract. In return, Carolina receives forward Logan Stankoven, along with a first-round and third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and another first in 2027 and third in 2028.
This move is puzzling. Just weeks after acquiring one of the league’s elite wingers from the Colorado Avalanche for Martin Necas, the Hurricanes flipped Rantanen ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. The primary issue? Carolina was unable to secure him on a long-term deal, leading them to cut their losses rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Rantanen’s short tenure in Carolina was underwhelming. He managed just six points in 12 games, a stark contrast to the 1.3 points per game he averaged over his final four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. His fit in Rod Brind’Amour’s system never materialized, prompting Carolina to move on.
Despite his struggles with the Hurricanes, Rantanen remains the most prized asset at this deadline, and Dallas was willing to pay a hefty price for him. Now armed with one of the league’s best offensive weapons, the Stars will capitalize on this blockbuster addition for a deep playoff run. Dallas saw its Stanley Cup odds shrink to +600, the second shortest on the board.
5. Jets Fly Under the Radar with Depth Moves
The Winnipeg Jets, sitting atop the NHL standings with 90 points, made key depth additions ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring veteran defenseman Luke Schenn and reuniting with gritty forward Brandon Tanev. Winnipeg acquired Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins after he was dealt there from the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.
The Jets gave up a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a 4th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, adding a physical presence and Stanley Cup-winning experience to their blue line. Tanev, who played the first four seasons of his career with the Jets, was brought back from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2nd-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Schenn has 44 career goals and 203 points across 1,057 NHL games, while Tanev, known for his relentless energy, has 17 points in 60 games this season. Winnipeg didn’t make a blockbuster move but addressed key needs as they gear up for a deep playoff run. The Jets sit with +1300 odds to win the Stanley Cup this season.
4. Maple Leafs Land Laughton
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While it may not be the sexiest of adds, it fills an obvious need for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Picking up Scott Laughton, a 4th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and, a 6th-round pick in the 2027 NHL for forward Nikita Grebenkin, and a 1st-round pick in 2027 from the Philadelphia Flyers gives Toronto that gritty center they've been missing. The price tag of a first-rounder is probably a little more than Toronto wanted to give up, but in the top ten with +1300 odds to win the Stanley Cup, the organization had to make a meaningful move.
3. Brock Nelson Getting Rocky Mountain Rise
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While this deal went down yesterday, Brock Nelson is heading to the Mile High City. The Colorado Avalanche acquired the veteran center along with William Dufour from the New York Islanders in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in 2028.
Nelson, 32, has tallied 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 61 games this season and brings a strong two-way presence to an Avalanche team looking to bolster its forward depth for another Stanley Cup run. Nelson had three straight 30+-goal seasons coming into 2024 and is a high-volume shooter. Colorado sits in a wild card spot with a nine-point cushion and holds the fourth-shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup (+900).
Four points out of a wild card spot, the Islanders opted to move on from their long-time center to inject youth and future assets into their roster.
2. Panthers End Brad Marchand's Long Boston Tenure
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The Boston Bruins have traded Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, though details of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
After 16 years of agitating opponents across the league, Marchand will now have to walk into a new locker room and make peace with some of his former rivals.
Boston’s midseason coaching change hasn’t sparked the expected turnaround, leading the Bruins to make a significant move by parting ways with one of their longtime core players.
While Marchand has built his career on getting under opponents’ skin, he now has a chance to compete for another Stanley Cup with a legitimate contender atop the oddsboard at +500. Seeing him in a non-Bruins jersey will be a shock, but it’s just another twist in this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.
1. Mikko Rantanen Moved to Dallas
The Carolina Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars, where he immediately signed an eight-year, $96 million contract. In return, Carolina receives forward Logan Stankoven, along with a first-round and third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and another first in 2027 and third in 2028.
This move is puzzling. Just weeks after acquiring one of the league’s elite wingers from the Colorado Avalanche for Martin Necas, the Hurricanes flipped Rantanen ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. The primary issue? Carolina was unable to secure him on a long-term deal, leading them to cut their losses rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Rantanen’s short tenure in Carolina was underwhelming. He managed just six points in 12 games, a stark contrast to the 1.3 points per game he averaged over his final four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. His fit in Rod Brind’Amour’s system never materialized, prompting Carolina to move on.
Despite his struggles with the Hurricanes, Rantanen remains the most prized asset at this deadline, and Dallas was willing to pay a hefty price for him. Now armed with one of the league’s best offensive weapons, the Stars will capitalize on this blockbuster addition for a deep playoff run. Dallas saw its Stanley Cup odds shrink to +600, the second shortest on the board.
5. Jets Fly Under the Radar with Depth Moves
The Winnipeg Jets, sitting atop the NHL standings with 90 points, made key depth additions ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring veteran defenseman Luke Schenn and reuniting with gritty forward Brandon Tanev. Winnipeg acquired Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins after he was dealt there from the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.
The Jets gave up a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a 4th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, adding a physical presence and Stanley Cup-winning experience to their blue line. Tanev, who played the first four seasons of his career with the Jets, was brought back from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2nd-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Schenn has 44 career goals and 203 points across 1,057 NHL games, while Tanev, known for his relentless energy, has 17 points in 60 games this season. Winnipeg didn’t make a blockbuster move but addressed key needs as they gear up for a deep playoff run. The Jets sit with +1300 odds to win the Stanley Cup this season.
