Re-Grading Top Deals from 2022-23 NHL Trade Deadline
The 2023 NHL trade deadline on March 3 was memorable for how quiet it was compared to busier deadline days. Only 19 trades occurred, with defenseman John Klingberg the only notable player to be moved that day.
More noteworthy players such as Patrick Kane, Timo Meier and Tyler Bertuzzi were traded within two weeks of the deadline.
We reviewed each of the major deals that took place within those two weeks and offered up our grades for each one. Nearly a year later, and with the 2024 trade deadline only two months away, we felt it worthwhile to revisit those trades and regrade them.
Some of these deals worked out as well as we expected, while others had surprising results. Overall, they show the value of making shrewd acquisitions as well as the risk when a seemingly surefire move fails to pan out.
Do you agree or disagree with our grades? Please let us know in our app comments section.
Anaheim Ducks Trade John Klingberg to the Minnesota Wild
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The Trade: The Anaheim Ducks shipped defenseman John Klingberg to the Minnesota Wild for minor league defenseman Andrej Sustr, the rights to forward Nikita Nesterenko, and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. The Ducks retained half of Klingberg's $7 million cap hit.
Initial Reaction: Given the Wild's need for a puck-moving blueliner with a right-hand shot, we felt Klingberg could be a good fit to address that need. It was also believed that he would benefit offensively from skating with a more talented club than the rebuilding Ducks.
Initial Grades: Wild: B+, Ducks: C-
The Aftermath: Klingberg had nine points in 17 regular-season games and four points in as many playoff games with the Wild. He departed as a free agent, signing a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After 14 games, he's out for the remainder of the season recovering from hip surgery.
Sustr is playing in Germany this season while Nesterenko is skating with the Ducks AHL affiliate in San Diego.
Current Grades: Wild: B, Ducks: C
Dallas Stars Acquire Max Domi from the Chicago Blackhawks
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The Trade: The Chicago Blackhawks sent forward Max Domi and goaltender prospect Dylan Wells to the Dallas Stars for goaltender Anton Khudobin and a 2025 second-round pick.
Initial Reaction: Domi enjoyed a bounce-back performance in Chicago after struggling offensively the previous two seasons in Columbus and Carolina. We felt that his experience, offensive skills and grit would be a good addition to the Stars. Chicago took on pending free agent Khudobin to help the Stars free up sufficient salary-cap room for Domi.
Initial Grades: Stars: B+, Blackhawks: C
The Aftermath: Domi managed just seven points in 20 regular-season games with the Stars. However, he came alive in the postseason, finishing fourth among their scorers with 13 points in 19 games. Signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one-year, $3 million contract, he has 22 points in 36 games.
Khudobin, 37, is now playing in Russia. Wells, meanwhile, has split time this season between the AHL and the ECHL.
Current Grades: Unchanged
Los Angeles Kings Send Jonathan Quick to the Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Trade: This was the first of two trades involving goaltender Jonathan Quick. The Los Angeles Kings sent him along with a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder to the Columbus Blue Jackets for goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
Initial Reaction: The Kings got the better of this deal as they shored up their goaltending with Korpisalo while boosting the left side of their blue line with Gavrikov. The Jackets got a couple of draft picks and a trade chip in Quick.
Initial Grades: Kings: A-, Blue Jackets: B
The Aftermath: Korpisalo was outstanding down the stretch for the Kings, winning seven of 11 games, but struggled during the Kings' brief postseason appearance. He signed a five-year, $20 million contract last July with the Ottawa Senators. Gavrikov, meanwhile, proved himself a reliable second-pairing defenseman, earning a two-year, $11.8 million contract extension.
The Blue Jackets received the Kings' 2023 first-round pick but traded it to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of their acquisition of defenseman Ivan Provorov last June. The Flyers used that pick (22nd overall) to select prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk.
Current Grades: Kings: A, Blue Jackets: B+
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Columbus Blue Jackets Flip Jonathan Quick to the Vegas Golden Knights
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The Trade: The day after acquiring Jonathan Quick, the Columbus Blue Jackets shipped him to the Vegas Golden Knights for goalie Michael Hutchinson and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. They also retained half his $5.8 million cap hit.
Initial Reaction: The Golden Knights acquired Quick as insurance, with netminders Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit nursing injuries. We felt his experience and Stanley Cup pedigree would be a solid addition to their lineup despite his declining performance.
Initial Grades: Golden Knights: B, Blue Jackets: B for sending Quick to a playoff contender.
The Aftermath: Quick had a record of 5-2-2 with the Golden Knights in the regular season. He didn't see any playoff action but served as Adin Hill's backup during their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup, earning his third championship ring. Signed by the New York Rangers last summer, the 37-year-old is enjoying a resurgence as Igor Shesterkin's backup.
Current Grades: Golden Knights: A-, Blue Jackets: A for sending him to a Stanley Cup champion.
Ottawa Senators Acquire Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes
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The Trade: The Ottawa Senators acquired defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes. In return, the Coyotes got a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-rounder and a 2026 second-rounder.
Initial Reaction: Chychrun would bring some much-needed puck-moving skill and experience to the rebuilding Senators defense corps. He was no rental player as his contract runs through 2024-25. Meanwhile, the Coyotes added some potentially promising draft picks to their stockpile.
Initial Grades: Senators: A, Coyotes: B
The Aftermath: The Senators are still struggling to reach their potential, but Chychrun has been productive. He's their highest-scoring defenseman, sitting fifth among their leading scorers with 25 points in 34 games. The Coyotes received the Senators' 2023 first-round pick (12th overall) and chose prospect winger Daniil But.
Current Grades: Unchanged.
Boston Bruins Bring In Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings
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The Trade: The Boston Bruins acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and a 2025 fourth-rounder. The Wings also retained half of Bertuzzi's $4.8 million cap hit.
Initial Reaction: We felt this was a smart move by the Bruins as left winger Taylor Hall was sidelined at the time of the deal, though Bertuzzi also had an injury history. As for the Wings, they made this deal to get something for Bertuzzi rather than risk losing him to free agency on July 1.
Initial Grades: Bruins: B+, Red Wings: B
The Aftermath: Bertuzzi fit in well with the Bruins during his brief tenure, netting 16 points in 21 regular-season games and leading them in playoff scoring with 10 points in seven games. However, the Bruins could not afford to re-sign him and he inked a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 36 games with the Leafs, he has 16 points.
Current Grades: Bruins: A for last season (would've been A+ had they re-signed Bertuzzi), Red Wings: B
Edmonton Oilers Bring In Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators
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The Trade: The Edmonton Oilers received defenseman Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round pick from the Nashville Predators. In return, the Predators got blueliner Tyson Barrie, prospect forward Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-rounder. They also retained $250,000 of Ekholm's $6.25 million annual salary-cap hit.
Initial Reaction: The Oilers received a seasoned shutdown defenseman in Ekholm, whose leadership and playoff experience would bolster their blue line. Signed through 2025-26, he would help them over the long term. Meanwhile, the Predators got a good return that provided immediate help in Barrie as well as some promising futures.
Initial Grades: Oilers: A-, Predators: B+
The Aftermath: Ekholm quickly established himself alongside Evan Bouchard to give the Oilers a solid second defense pairing. A nagging hip flexor injury hampered his game earlier this season, but he's since regained his form with 15 points in 34 games.
Barrie has been a frequent healthy scratch for the Predators this season. They've given his agent permission to speak with other clubs about a trade. Schaefer is in his first season with the Predators' AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. They used that first-round pick (24th overall) to select prospect defenseman Tanner Molendyk.
Current Grades: Oilers: A, Predators: B-
San Jose Sharks Ship Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils
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The Trade: This was a nine-player deal that saw the New Jersey Devils receive Timo Meier and defenseman Scott Harrington from the San Jose Sharks. The Devils also got prospects Santeri Hatakka, Timur Ibragimov and Zachary Émond as well as a 2024 fifth-round pick.
The Sharks received forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson, prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk, a conditional 2023 first-round pick, plus a conditional second-round pick and a seventh-rounder in 2024. They also retained half of Meier's $6 million salary-cap hit.
Initial Reaction: We felt that landing Meier, one of the biggest names in the trade market at the time, would provide a boost to the Devils offense. This move also signaled that the Sharks were rebuilding rather than retooling their roster.
Initial Grades: Devils: A, Sharks: B-
The Aftermath: Meier had 14 points in 21 regular-season games with the Devils as they clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2018. On June 28, 2023, they signed him to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension.
Harrington was claimed off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks and now plays in Switzerland. Hatakka and Ibragimov skate with the Devils' AHL affiliate in Utica while Émond plays in the ECHL.
Zetterlund is third among the Sharks scorers with 11 goals and 16 points while Okhotiuk has six points in 27 games. Mukhamadullin is skating with the Sharks' AHL affiliate, while Johnsson is now playing in the Swedish Hockey League. The Sharks received the Devils' 2023 first-rounder and selected left wing prospect Quentin Musty.
Current Grades: Unchanged
New York Rangers Land Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks
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The Trade: On Feb. 28, Chicago shipped Patrick Kane and minor league defenseman Cooper Zech to the New York Rangers in a three-team deal involving the Arizona Coyotes to spread Kane's $10.5 million salary-cap hit among those clubs.
The Rangers sent a conditional 2023 second-round pick, a 2025 fourth-rounder and minor league defenseman Andy Welinski to Chicago, who retained half of Kane's cap hit.
Meanwhile, the Coyotes sent defenseman Vili Saarijärvi to the Blackhawks and received a conditional 2025 third-rounder from the Rangers for retaining $2.65 million of Kane's remaining cap hit.
Initial Reaction: For a player of Kane's stature, we were surprised that Chicago didn't get a better return. It was the best they could get since he couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the Rangers.
Initial Grades: Rangers: A, Blackhawks: C, Coyotes: D
The Aftermath: Kane had 12 points in 19 regular-season games with the Rangers along with six points in seven postseason contests. However, he was hampered by a nagging hip injury requiring a resurfacing procedure in June. Signed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract this season with the Detroit Red Wings, he has 14 points in 15 games.
Zech is now playing hockey in Slovakia, Welinski is skating with the AHL's Iowa Wild and Saarijärvi is playing in Switzerland.
Current Grades: Rangers: B+, Blackhawks: C, Coyotes: D
Stats (as of Friday) via NHL.com. Trade, salary and other info via CapFriendly.
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