Ranking the Top 10 Trades Ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline
Grant White
Host · Writer
1. Hurricanes Acquire Mikko Rantanen
Carolina Hurricanes Receive: Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall, and Nils Juntorp
Colorado Avalanche Receive: Jack Drury, Martin Necas, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks Receive: A third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes
The biggest deal ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline was the Carolina Hurricanes' acquisition of Mikko Rantanen. Over the past few seasons, Rantanen has cemented his place as the top-scoring winger in the NHL and is a virtual lock to excel in Carolina. Taylor Hall has developed into an underappreciated two-way player that is (ahem) tailor-made for the Hurricanes.
Knowing they would probably lose Rantanen for nothing in the offseason, the Colorado Avalanche softened the blow by acquiring pieces to help them this year. Martin Necas salvages this trade for the Avs, but Jack Drury could finally round into form in Colorado.
As is typically the case with the Chicago Blackhawks, they were an afterthought in this deal, only acquiring a third-round pick.
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10. David Jiricek Heads to Minnesota
Minnesota Wild Receive: David Jiricek and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft
Columbus Blue Jackets Receive: Daemon Hunt, a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, third- and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft
One of the league's most sought-after defensemen was moved well ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. The Columbus Blue Jackets moved David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild for a king's ransom of draft picks.
Evidently, no one was willing to pay what the Wild were for Jiricek's services. Minnesota gave up a first-round pick in this year's NHL Draft, with third and fourth-round picks in 2026 and a second-round pick in 2027.
Daemon Hunt feels like an afterthought in the deal but has been an integral part of the Blue Jackets AHL squad. As a result, he could earn a promotion to the big club before the end of the campaign.
6. Jacob Trouba Unceremoniously Traded to the Ducks
Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jacob Trouba
New York Rangers Receive: Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft
Since the offseason, the New York Rangers have reportedly wanted to move on from their former captain, Jacob Trouba. But with a no-trade clause, Trouba thought he was safe from being moved.
Instead, the Rangers threatened to put Trouba on waivers, meaning any team would have been free to claim him, and he'd have no say in where he ended up. Reluctantly, he accepted a trade to the Anaheim Ducks, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
In exchange, New York received former first-round pick Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.
8. Cam Fowler Jettisoned to Greener Pastures
St. Louis Blues Receive: Cam Fowler and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft
Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jeremie Biakabutuka and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft
The Ducks continued to build for the future, acquiring Jeremie Biakabutuka and a second-round pick from the St. Louis Blues for Cam Fowler, and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
Fowler was a staple on the Ducks' blueline for many years but no longer fits their current roster composition. Anaheim has an eye on the future, and a second-round pick helps reshape its future trajectory.
Conversely, the Blues solidify their backend and continue to compete for a postseason spot in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.
7. Avs Address Goaltending Concerns
Colorado Avalanche Receive: Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft
San Jose Sharks Receive: Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft
The Colorado Avalanche needed to do something to address their goaltending woes. Thankfully, they found a trade partner in the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose dealt Mackenzie Blackwood and Givani Smith to the Avs for Nikolai Kovalenko, Alexandar Georgiev, and a second-round pick in next year's draft. The teams also exchanged fifth-round picks, with Colorado getting the Sharks' pick in 2027 and San Jose getting the Avs' selection in the upcoming draft.
The move is paying dividends for the Avalanche. Blackwood is having a banner year in Colorado, posting a 92.2% save percentage and 2.13 goals against average. More importantly, he's well on his way to a new career-high wins.
6. Rangers Deal Kakko to Seattle
New York Rangers Receive: Will Borgen, third-round and fifth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft
Seattle Kraken Receive: Kaapo Kakko
In December, the New York Rangers made one of the more prominent moves in the trade market. They traded away former second-overall draft pick Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for Will Borgen and a few inconsequential draft picks.
Kakko was obviously not part of the Rangers' future plans. With Alexis Lafreniere due for a significant increase next season, part of the rationale must have been that they wanted to get something for the once-highly touted playmaker. But we know now that this trade could have also been posturing for future deals.
Kakko is finding his rhythm with the Kraken, and he'll likely deserve a pay increase at the end of this season.
5. Penguins Sell-Off Begins
Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernstrom, and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Vancouver Canucks Receive: Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor
Still, one of the shrewdest General Managers in the NHL, Kyle Dubas, desperately needed to make a move to shake up the floundering Pittsburgh Penguins. He did precisely that at the end of last week, acquiring a much-needed first-round draft pick from the Vancouver Canucks for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor. However, Danton Heinen and Vincent Desharnais represent NHL-caliber players who help the Pens stay competitive this season.
Pettersson solidifies the Canucks' top-four on the blueline, with O'Connor serving as a middle-six forward with modest scoring potential.
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4. Stars Bolster Depth & Stanley Cup Chances
Dallas Stars Receive: Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci
San Jose Sharks Receive: First- and third-round picks in the 2025 Entry Draft.
Low-key, this could be a move that helps the Dallas Stars get over the hump in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The two-time Western Conference Final runner-ups acquired Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks, bolstering their forward and defensive depth. Ceci was a stalwart in the Edmonton Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, while Granlund is on pace for his career's most productive offensive season.
The Sharks continue to look toward the future, acquiring first and third-round picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.
3. Flames Land Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee
Calgary Flames Receive: Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee
Philadelphia Flyers Receive: Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a seventh-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft
The Calgary Flames weren't supposed to be in this position. The playoff hopefuls started the season with the third-longest odds on the Stanley Cup futures board. But past the season's halfway point, the Flames find themselves in the thick of the Wild Card race.
Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee joined the Flames' cavalry following a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Both forwards have promising offensive ceilings, sliding into Calgary's top nine.
The Flyers acquired building blocks for the future, but Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier have proven to be competent NHL talents.
2. J.T. Miller Bullies His Way Out of Vancouver
New York Rangers Receive: J.T. Miller, Erik Brannstrom, and Jackson Dorrington
Vancouver Canucks Receive: Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
One of the most expected moves of the NHL's trade season came to fruition last week. J.T. Miller finally forced the Canucks' hand and got the trade he so desperately needed. Erik Brannstrom and prospect Jackson Dorrington joined him on their way to the New York Rangers. Assuredly, Miller and Brannstrom will be integral figures in the Rangers' playoff pursuit.
Vancouver came nowhere close to replacing Miller's offensive contributions. Nevertheless, Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini should fare well in the Canucks' systems. The first-round pick was a must, considering the lopsided nature of the trade.
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1. Hurricanes Acquire Mikko Rantanen
Carolina Hurricanes Receive: Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall, and Nils Juntorp
Colorado Avalanche Receive: Jack Drury, Martin Necas, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks Receive: A third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes
The biggest deal ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline was the Carolina Hurricanes' acquisition of Mikko Rantanen. Over the past few seasons, Rantanen has cemented his place as the top-scoring winger in the NHL and is a virtual lock to excel in Carolina. Taylor Hall has developed into an underappreciated two-way player that is (ahem) tailor-made for the Hurricanes.
Knowing they would probably lose Rantanen for nothing in the offseason, the Colorado Avalanche softened the blow by acquiring pieces to help them this year. Martin Necas salvages this trade for the Avs, but Jack Drury could finally round into form in Colorado.
As is typically the case with the Chicago Blackhawks, they were an afterthought in this deal, only acquiring a third-round pick.
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10. David Jiricek Heads to Minnesota
Minnesota Wild Receive: David Jiricek and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft
Columbus Blue Jackets Receive: Daemon Hunt, a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, third- and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft
One of the league's most sought-after defensemen was moved well ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. The Columbus Blue Jackets moved David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild for a king's ransom of draft picks.
Evidently, no one was willing to pay what the Wild were for Jiricek's services. Minnesota gave up a first-round pick in this year's NHL Draft, with third and fourth-round picks in 2026 and a second-round pick in 2027.
Daemon Hunt feels like an afterthought in the deal but has been an integral part of the Blue Jackets AHL squad. As a result, he could earn a promotion to the big club before the end of the campaign.
