The NHL Trade Deadline comes at 3 ET on Friday: Everything you need to know
The NHL Trade Deadline comes at 3 ET on Friday: Everything you need to know.
There have been double-digit transactions made specifically on Trade Deadline Day every year since 1994. After a lack of movement during the 2021 trade deadline, last year saw a return to more player movement on deadline day.
How important is the deadline?
Many Stanley Cup-winning teams have made acquisitions on Deadline Day in recent years.
In the case of Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Cogliano, their acquisition by the Colorado Avalanche on Deadline Day may have played a role in the team’s eventual championship victory.
Lehkonen’s goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final was certainly a crucial moment in the series, and his contribution to the team cannot be overlooked.
There has been at least one first-round pick traded in each of the last 5 deadline days.
Last season, the Rangers traded their first-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets (along with a 2022 2nd round pick, 2023 5th round pick and Morgan Barron) for Andrew Copp and a 2023 6th round pick.
Copp had 18 points in 16 games, the most points of any player moved on the 2022 trade deadline day and chipped in with an additional 14 points in the playoffs.
Are the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins headed for another Eastern Conference Showdown?
Lets look at what two of the best teams in the East have done thus far.
The Tampa Bay Lightning beefed up with Nashville’s Tanner Jeannot.
The trade, which saw the Lightning give up a promising young defenseman in Cal Foote and several draft picks in exchange for forward Adam Jeannot, was controversial in part because of the perceived imbalance in value between the players and picks involved.
The Boston Bruins stayed within the East to add Dmitry Orlov from the Capitals. They also landed a terrific depth forward in Garnet Hathaway.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney also pulled off a gem when he acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings. Sorry Craig Shemon, but this is what championship caliber teams do. They add depth.
Bertuzzi was a top-line left wing with the Red Wings, coming off a 30-goal season. He will fill-in nicely while Taylor Hall heals and will hopefully be back for the playoffs.
Lots of Movement Already
As of 5:20 ET on Thursday we have seen 35 deals occur just since Saturday. Within those transactions have been 68 players and 45 draft picks.