NHL trade deadline tracker: Stanley Cup finalist acquires defenseman
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 6, but teams like to get deals done early, too.
Already this season, the Minnesota Wild have acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, and the Los Angeles Kings have traded for high-scoring New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin.
In the latest deal, the Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, March 2.
Plenty of players remain, and the Rangers, Canucks, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames are expected to be sellers. Other teams could be, too, depending on how they fare this week.
Here are some of the more notable trades this season. Follow along for analysis on deals as the NHL trade deadline approaches:
March 2: Oilers acquire Connor Murphy
The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 second-round pick.
Analysis: The Blackhawks retain 50 percent of the $4.4 million cap hit for the pending unrestricted free agent. The Oilers have been leaking goals, and the 6-foot-4 Murphy is a solid defensive defenseman. He played on the No. 1 unit of the league’s best penalty kill, led the Blackhawks in blocked shots and was third in hits.
Feb. 24: Penguins, Avalanche swap defensemen
The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche for defenseman Brett Kulak.
Analysis: The Avalanche pick up salary cap space and add a defenseman who has been to the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons. The Penguins had acquired pending unrestricted free agent Kulak in the Stuart Skinner trade, Girard is also a pending UFA, and Pittsburgh gets a draft pick in the deal by flipping Kulak.
Feb. 4: Kings acquire Artemi Panarin
The trade: The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers for forward Liam Greentree and conditional third-round (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.
Analysis: The Kings are hurting for offense and Panarin can provide plenty. He also signed a two-year extension with an $11 million cap hit, ensuring he’ll be around after Anze Kopitar retires at season’s end. It didn’t help the team, though, that Kevin Fiala broke his leg at the Olympics before Panarin suited up. Panarin had a full no-movement clause, so the Rangers were limited in their return, but Greentree was the Kings’ top prospect and the third-round pick could become a second-rounder.
Feb. 4: Devils acquire Nick Bjugstad
The trade: The New Jersey Devils acquire forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick.
Analysis: This is the third time Bjugstad has been moved near the trade deadline because the 6-6 forward is a good fit in the bottom six. He has another year left on his contract.
Jan. 27: Islanders acquire Ondrej Palat
The trade: The New York Islanders acquire left wing Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Analysis: That’s two trades in two days with a division rival. Palat is a two-time Stanley Cup winner (with the Lightning) and kills penalties. Tsyplakov didn’t get a lot of ice time with the Islanders but has potential.
Jan. 26: Islanders acquire Carson Soucy
The trade: The New York Islanders acquire defenseman Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Analysis: Soucy was the first player moved after the Rangers informed fans that the team would retool. It’s a rare deal completed between the Islanders and Rangers.
Jan. 20: Sharks acquire Kiefer Sherwood
The trade: The San Jose Sharks acquire forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round picks in 2026 and 2027, plus defenseman Cole Clayton.
Analysis: Sherwood had been mentioned as a trade candidate since the Canucks started slowly. The pending free agent is among the leader in hits and had 17 goals at the time of the deal. The Sharks are playing better than expected and this deal shows they are trying to push for a playoff spot.
Jan. 19: Golden Knights acquire Rasmus Andersson
The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2028.
Analysis: The Golden Knights had been without Alex Pietrangelo all season and Andersson gives Vegas another puck-moving defenseman. The Flames get a good return for a pending unrestricted free agent. Andersson is the second defenseman Vegas had acquired from Calgary recently after the 2024 trade for Noah Hanifin. Hanifin eventually signed an extension and the Golden Knights will seek the same from Andersson.
Dec. 29: Penguins acquire Yegor Chinakhov
The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-rounder.
Analysis: Chinakhov had requested a trade last season. He’s a pending restricted free agent so the Penguins have control over his future. Heinen is a pending UFA.
Dec. 19: Canadiens acquire Phillip Danault
The trade: The Montreal Canadiens acquire center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick.
Analysis: Danault is coming back to Montreal. He was a key shutdown player during the Canadiens’ 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Dec. 19: Blue Jackets acquire Mason Marchment
The trade: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Analysis: Marchment had been off to a slow start after signing a four-year deal. But he scored 22 goals in each of his last two seasons in Dallas.
Dec. 12: Wild acquire Quinn Hughes
The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick.
Analysis: This is a sign that the Wild are going for it and it gives them a dynamic former Norris Trophy winner to match Cale Makar if they face the Avalanche in the playoffs. The Wild gave up a lot – Buium was great at Denver and for the USA at the world junior championships – and Hughes acknowledged that and appreciated it. That could help sway Hughes when he’s eligible to sign a contract extension in July.
Dec. 12: Oilers, Penguins swap goalies
The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick.
Analysis: The Oilers pull the plug on Skinner, who was either spectacular or bad during back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final. But they land another inconsistent goalie in Jarry, who has had injury troubles. Skinner and Kulak are pending free agents, so the Penguins could flip them at the deadline. If Skinner works out, it would allow the Penguins to continue developing goalie Sergei Murashov in the American Hockey League.
