Being a player in any professional sport, not just hockey, is never a stable place to be. No matter what team you are on or what contract you have, you can be traded, released and/or brought back “home” during the trade deadline. March 7 changed the lives of so many players, some in a good way… but some not so much.
Winners:
Brad Marchand (Left Wing, Florida Panthers), Seth Jones (Defense, Florida Panthers) and Nico Sturm (Forward, Florida Panthers)
Marchand goes from the Bruins, who are let’s just say it… going to miss the playoffs, to the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. Marchand has a good chance to win a championship for the first time since 2011. Jones has been one of the most consistent players of the past decade, serving as a reliable athlete on both sides of the puck, and he will help the Panthers climb to the top. Nico Sturm was traded to the Florida Panthers for a 2026 fourth-round pick because Sturm was a reliable two way center, a strong face off winner, and a valuable penalty killer, particularly beneficial for a playoff-bound team like the Panthers.
Mikko Rantanen (former Av, Carolina Hurricanes to the Dallas Stars)
After his trade to the Stars, he gets to join fellow players from the 4 Nations Face-Off and also sets a bump to a $12 million cap hit next season. Rantanen was a key player for the Avalanche, but could not come to terms with a long term contract decision. Mikko was traded to the Hurricanes for a third-round draft pick. Rantanen was a Colorado Avalanche until Jan. 24. The star was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and then on March 7 was traded again to finally end up with the Dallas Stars. The Stars needed a key player like him to take them far into the playoffs when things get serious.
Colorado Avalanche
General Manager Chris MacFarland has constantly updated his rosters this season with two new goalies, the original Tantanen trade and defenseman Ryan Lindgren. He added Brock Nelson at midnight to upgrade the Avalanche’s No. 2 center and also added big center Charlie Coyle during the day.
Utah Hockey Club
General Manager Bill Armtstrong spent the lead-up to the deadline getting his key free agents under contract, including goalie Karel Vejmelka. That’s big with the team coming into a new market this season and pushing for a playoff spot.
Losers:
Detroit Red Wings
A team still battling to lock up a wild-card playoff berth, the lack of additions is particularly baffling. The only move Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman made was trading center Joseph Veleno to Chicago in return for goalie Petr Mrazek and center Craig Smith.
Vancouver Canucks
If we’re judging the Canucks’ pre-deadline moves dating back to the acquisitions of defenseman Marcus Pettersson and center Filip Chytil, Vancouver’s moves are kind of justifiable. However, they didn’t trade looming UFA Brock Boeser. That inaction is not going to please Canucks fans who expected a long playoff run coming into this season.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes came into the season as a favorite to go far, but gave up a ton to gain right winger Mikko Rantanen from the Avalanche. The Hurricanes ended up not being able to get Rantanen’s signature on a contract extension. The Canes sent center Martin Necas, center Jack Drury, a second-round draft pick and a fourth-rounder for Rantanen.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have been bringing in the standings late, but if Edmonton fans were expecting game changing signings on deadline day, they were hugely disappointed. All General Manager Stan Bowman was able to get was former Bruins center Trent Frederic and former Sharks defenseman Jake Walman and to get Walman, the Oilers had to give up a first-round draft pick and center Carl Berglund.
All stats from: NHL as of March 17.
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