There was a flurry of trades made 48 hours before the NHL Trade Deadline, with a number of contenders adding that one piece that might propel them to a Stanley Cup victory. The Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Edmonton Oilers all moved a package of draft picks to acquire forwards and have teams retain salary, while the busiest team was the Colorado Avalanche, who added their long sought-after second-line center to back up Nathan MacKinnon and a defenseman.
Here are the trades made through Wednesday and the grades:
Vegas Golden Knights acquire Anthony Mantha (with WAS retaining 50%)
Washington Capitals acquire a 2024 second-round pick and 2026 fourth-round pick
Vegas Grade – B+
Washington Grade – A
The Golden Knights needed to add a winger with Mark Stone out until the playoffs with a spleen injury, and it appears they did not want to pay the steep price that Pittsburgh wanted for Jake Guentzel. Mantha is a very good Plan B option. The 29-year-old has been a disappointment for most of his tenure with the Caps, but he has 20 goals in the walk year of his contract. GM Brian MacLellan has to be thanking his lucky stars that he was able to get a second and fourth for him, but Vegas might be the one who’s thankful if he continues to score like he has been.
Florida Panthers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko (with OTT retaining 50%)
Ottawa Senators acquire a 2025 third-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
Florida Grade – A-
Ottawa Grade B+
Ottawa GM Steve Staios did well in his first deal, moving Tarasenko (who had a no-trade clause) to the Panthers for a pair of draft picks, including a conditional fourth in 2024 that could move up to a third if Florida wins the Cup. The Panthers needed to add another scorer to help out their high-octane core group, and while Tarasenko is not the 30+ goal scorer he was with the Blues, but he will help.
Colorado Avalanche acquire Casey Mittelstadt and Sean Walker
Buffalo Sabres acquire Bowen Byram
Philadelphia Flyers acquire 2025 first-round pick (COL) and Ryan Johansen
Colorado Grade – B
Buffalo Grade – A
Philadelphia Grade – A-
Avs GM Chris MacFarland did some major renovations to his lineup. The Johansen experiment as the #2 center was a failure, and to improve their chances in the West they added Mittelstadt, who was leading the Sabres in scoring with 47 points, but they paid a hefty price in the talented (but injury-prone) Byram. MacFarland then pivoted and sent a first to the Flyers for a rental in Walker to replace Byram and jettison Johansen’s $4 million salary.
Edmonton Oilers acquire Adam Henrique (with ANA retaining 50% and TB retaining 25%) and Sam Carrick (with ANA retaining 50%)
Anaheim Ducks acquire a 2024 first-round pick (EDM) and a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick
Tampa Bay Lightning acquire a 2025 fourth-round pick
Edmonton Grade – B-
Anaheim Grade – A
Tampa Bay Grade – B
The Oilers puzzlingly traded a pair of draft choices to bolster their forwards with Henrique and Carrick when they should have upgraded their lacking defense. Maybe they are hoping to win games in the playoffs 8-7. The Ducks did well in getting a first and fifth for a pair of expiring contracts, and the Lightning get the going rate for being a salary cap middleman.
New York Rangers acquire Alexander Wennberg (with SEA retaining 50%)
Seattle Kraken acquire a 2024 second-round pick and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick(DAL)
New York Grade – A-
Seattle Grade – B+
The Rangers were looking for depth up the middle and found a good fit in the experienced Wennberg, who had 25 points with the Kraken this season. In a market thin on center help, Seattle got a good return in a second-rounder and a fourth-rounder to retain salary.
Here’s more on the deal from Jan Levine
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