Five takeaways from the 2025 NHL trade deadline

3. Trade protection is bad for the league, actually

Guys with trade protection are tough to move, which is a line you hear so often from general managers that it is a trope at this point. This is the reality, though. 

And a player like Seth Jones limited Chicago's options in who it could trade him to even after he essentially forced his way out of the Windy City. Meanwhile, Mikko Rantanen's lack of contract protection led to him getting traded twice. Several really good prime-aged players in their mid-20s were dealt because they weren't yet eligible for trade protection. 

As a result, big young names like Josh Norris, Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt all were moved. It's easier to move a big contract when there isn't arbitrary trade protection.

Players earn trade protection through success and longevity, but the league should see how interesting and exciting player movement is for building storylines for fans. Finding a way to reduce the amount of trade protection around the league would be better long term. 

4. Draft picks have only one true value to contenders — as trade chips

Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois made it clear with his trade for Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde from Seattle. Draft picks are only useful as trade fodder when you're going to be picking late in the first round. 

The historical success of late first-round draft picks is bad. If you can get a player to help your team — particularly a player who isn't a rental — the move to make is to include draft pick capital.

5. What is Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman doing?

Steve Yzerman gave defenseman Jake Walman away to San Jose in the offseason. At the time, the move was widely panned. Walman won't ever be confused with an elite defenseman, but he is a rock-solid blueliner on a manageable $3.4 million per year contract that doesn't expire until July 2026. 

San Jose took Walman and draft pick compensation from Detroit last summer. On Friday, it turned around and sold Walman for a conditional 2026 first-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers. 

Outside of that bizarre situation, Yzerman made only one small lateral move, acquiring utility forward Craig Smith and a struggling goaltender in Petr Mrazek. The Wings are battling for a playoff spot. If they miss, they'll be the first Original Six team to ever miss in nine consecutive seasons.