1 Word for Every NHL Team After the 2024 Trade Deadline
With the 2024 NHL trade deadline done, we're getting our first looks at all the acquisitions in their new homes.
Imagine if we told you two months ago that the Jake Guentzel-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Martin Nečas line exists. You'd probably say "Wow, where'd the Penguins find that cap space?" or "What are the Capitals doing?"
Nope. It was the Hurricanes with the biggest uncharacteristic splash of the trade deadline, and the Golden Knights had the biggest characteristic splash of the trade deadline.
So, who is fitting in seamlessly on their respective teams? Who needs a little more time? Which general managers are kicking themselves due to a lack of activity?
Read on.
Anaheim Ducks: Correct
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It was reported that the Ducks stood pat on Frank Vatrano because their asking price was too high for certain teams, and the lack of desperation from general manager Pat Verbeek deserves respect.
Meanwhile, they got a first-round pick from the Oilers for Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick. This is exactly how you sell in a buyers' market, especially when the Ducks are one of those teams that might pull a Flyers-like revival next year.
Arizona Coyotes: Ugh
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Just retain the salary!
Even if the Coyotes retained a small portion of the cap hit on Matt Dumba, Troy Stecher, or Jason Zucker, they probably get a better return than they received.
It's paltry, considering they had prime assets that other teams would have given up better picks or prospects if only they retained salary.
Boston Bruins: Fine
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We're all aware that, in a perfect world, the Bruins would have done more at the deadline.
The center depth is lacking, and reinforcements on defense are always encouraged when you're attempting a long postseason run. But Boston's hands are tied right now due to the salary cap, and other teams know that.
Pat Maroon is a fine addition for the playoff vibes, and I believe we'll look back at not trading Linus Ullmark as a good thing.
Buffalo Sabres: Enough!
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Why must the Buffalo Sabres do this to us year after year?
All the seven-goal wins in the world won't fool us this time: You are not making the playoffs. Sure, you sit three points out, but we can't get our hopes again for you.
At least Bowen Byram looks awesome on the team, though.
Calgary Flames: Welp
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The Flames were the No. 1 seller of this trade deadline, clearing every big hitter off the books except maybe the one who could have yielded the biggest return: Jacob Markström.
Just take a look at their trades list during the deadline. That's a lot of wheeling and dealing for GM Craig Conroy.
With Markström's future unclear, it seems the moves aren't done in Calgary and the rebuild is well underway.
Carolina Hurricanes: Finally
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They did it!
The shrewdest perennial playoff team in the league traded for the biggest name on the block who was also a rental in Jake Guentzel.
If you were going to design a player who fits in perfectly with what the Hurricanes do, it's Guentzel. He's a goal-scoring winger who should play well in Rod Brind'Amour's team.
They also acquired former in-division rival Evgeny Kuznetsov. It's a small gamble, but one that could have big benefits for a former Cup winner on a team that has lacked scoring punch in the playoffs in previous years.
No matter how it ends up, we're all proud of the front office for giving the hardworking 'Canes a real shot to succeed this year.
Chicago Blackhawks: Different
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The Chicago Blackhawks had a quiet trade deadline, which is different from their past few seasons but right on track for their status as a team.
They will be relieved they didn't have much urgent work to do this deadline when you look at some of these returns.
The bottom line is they have Connor Bedard and could add Macklin Celebrini in the NHL draft. It's not great now, but it could get better quickly.
Colorado Avalanche: Smart
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Colorado's deadline felt like something we would concoct via Cap Friendly's Armchair-GM.
Sean Walker's game is a great fit for the team, but I was a bit confused as that news rolled in. Then we saw they shed Ryan Johansen's contract in the process and then traded Bowen Byram for Casey Mittelstadt, and the full picture emerged.
The Avalanche were able to upgrade down the middle, keep the same quality on defense and shed some cap space in the process.
It's bold, creative and exciting from a front office, something other NHL teams should learn from.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Meh
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The conditional 2026 fourth-rounder for Jack Roslovic feels like an underpayment, but it was a buyers' market.
The Blue Jackets are just weird this season. They just fired their GM, and the offseason will be more telling about the direction of the team.
And goodness, do they need a direction.
Dallas Stars: Proactive
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The Stars got the best defensive defenseman on the market, and he happens to be the exact solution to their issues on the blue line.
By striking early, Dallas acquired Chris Tanev at 75 percent off without surrendering a first-round pick, and you have to think it was because of its proactiveness.
The trade adds to a well-rounded team that can go deep in the Western Conference.
Detroit Red Wings: Breathe
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Did we forget about the Yzerplan, Hockeytown?
The Red Wings have been in a position all season where when they play their best, they look like they could win a playoff round. But when they come back to earth, it's obvious they aren't quite there yet.
Dylan Larkin is an incredible player, but the amount of struggling the team does when he's out of the lineup shows they've still got a ways to go before they're constantly in the playoff conversation.
The young core needs a little more time to develop, the goaltending needs to improve, and we all need to temper our expectations.
Edmonton Oilers: Rocking
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Troy Stecher is a great defensive depth add, especially when defensive woes have long plagued this team.
You also don't want to mess with the magic of this season, which has featured a flipped script with players other than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl stepping up big-time on offense.
For whatever reason, I thought they were going to get another scoring winger, but realistically, this was fine.
I somehow forgot the Oilers also acquired Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, but I'll add three words after remembering: Wait, that rocks.
Florida Panthers: Perfect
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What's that, you say? Your team is No. 1 in the league, equipped with almost everything but could use a few more goals?
Allow Vladimir Tarasenko to slot into the top six and score two goals and three points in three games while only averaging 13:34 so far.
This deal made perfect sense the moment it broke, and it continues to make perfect sense.
Good on Florida for constructing a roster so deep and taking so many chances with it over the years that it knew only a simple tweak was needed at the deadline.
This is how a trade deadline should work.
Los Angeles Kings: Woof
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This team really could have used Linus Ullmark.
It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for the Kings and the Golden Knights, two teams in similar spots in the same division who went in different directions with their trade deadlines.
L.A. decided to hold off trading young assets, while Vegas went all-in with an active deadline.
If you were a betting person, you'd think that the defending champs will come out better when the dust settles.
Minnesota Wild: Respect
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The Wild's will-they-won't-they vibe is frustrating, but they deserve respect for saying, "Fine, we are injured and we aren't getting anywhere this season. Let's do some modest selling."
They kept Marc-Andre Fleury, but the roster is still hamstrung due to the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts.
It will take time for Minnesota to recover from those monster contracts.
Montreal Canadiens: Expected
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The Canadiens were right to play it cool and quiet this trade deadline.
The real rebuilding magic happens in the offseason, especially considering what a buyers' market it turned out to be this deadline.
Nashville Predators: Annoying
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The Nashville Predators once again refuse to quit, and although it's annoying, I get it this time.
New GM Barry Trotz had to make a statement and with the team on the tear they were on and Juuse Saros still in the picture, why not take one more kick at the can?
Besides, they barely gave anything up, acquiring Jason Zucker for a sixth-round pick and Anthony Beauvillier for a fifth-round pick.
New Jersey Devils: Sad
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Poor Tyler Toffoli does nothing but score clutch goals and have fun, and he's moving across the continent every six months as a reward.
But the Jets seem great fun to play for right now, and the Devils are just sad.
You've got the glaring goaltending issue that has bled into bad vibes on the entire team and a real lack of cohesion.
This core should come back next year motivated, but this season feels over.
New York Islanders: Typical
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The Islanders haven't made a move at the trade deadline in, what, four years now? Typical Lou Lamoriello. But what he was supposed to do?
Then again, it's his fault the team's hands were tied in the first place. They're cap-strapped and locked into long-term deals.
It's probably for the best that the New York GM decided to stand pat.
New York Rangers: Anticlimactic
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I like Alex Wennberg's game, especially where he fits on this New York team that has a crowded top six.
I'm not the biggest fan of the move for Jack Roslovic, but we'll see how he does on a team primed for success. Does he fit with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider?
The Rangers' deadline felt anticlimactic compared to last year, but that was a first-round exit so maybe it'll end up being for the best.
Ottawa Senators: Nice
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It was nice of the Senators to see how solid of a season Vladimir Tarasenko was having and ship him off to the best team in the league. That's all I got.
Philadelphia Flyers: Sensible
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For as fun as the Flyers' unexpectedly playoff-bound season has been, they've got a long-term future to focus on, and GM Danny Briere didn't stray from that at the deadline.
He cleaned up great getting a 2025 first-round pick out of Sean Walker's breakout season, and that's exactly what you want to see out of a team in this position: Only sell if the return is super worth it. This was.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Brutal
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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is taking a little too much flak in a really difficult position.
Jake Guentzel is Jake Guentzel, but he's also a rental. While I'd have preferred a return that was a solid first-rounder and maybe one less prospect, I understand Dubas was going for quantity a bit if he wants to retool in a way that isn't totally rebuilding.
It's also tough when keeping Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang together was a non-negotiable and the team didn't repay him for it as they flailed into the trade deadline.
The heartless losses have been so tough to watch, and you wonder if Crosby has developed a wandering eye.
San Jose Sharks: Meh
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What are ya gonna do? This team is barely an NHL squad at this point.
Trading Tomáš Hertl means this is a complete rebuild and it's going to be a long time until we see the Sharks being talked about as contenders again.
Seattle Kraken: Yawn
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Welcome back to the Ron Francis school of trade deadlines.
St. Louis Blues: Quiet
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The Blues are six points out of the second wild-card spot in the West, which is essentially a microcosm of the franchise in general right now.
Another up-and-down season had us wondering if they'd end up selling a player like Pavel Buchnevich or Colton Parayko.
Ultimately, they stood pat, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in this market.
Worst-case scenario, you see how the rest of this season shakes out and then either re-sign your long list of pending free agents or begin a rebuild.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Classic
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It was classic Lightning to go out and get two well-known names with high upside in Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba. Looks like they aren't throwing in the towel on a Cup run just yet.
Will they have enough juice to power one more run, though?
Toronto Maple Leafs: Late
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If the Leafs had struck earlier, maybe they would have been able to snag Chris Tanev (at an extremely reasonable price) or Noah Hanifin.
Instead, they sat on their hands and ended up with Joel Edmundson later in the week, which would have been great if the Leafs hadn't already gone out of their way to add extensive snarl in the offseason.
They already have what he brings, and they needed more stability on the back end.
Vancouver Canucks: Overreaction
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With all the big swings in the West, you've gotta be feeling the slightest twinge of jealousy if you're the Canucks.
I wouldn't overreact, though. Let's not forget the early acquisitions of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov still count as a trade-deadline moves.
But the whole Tanev thing stings when he was apparently right there for that cost. Oh well.
Vegas Golden Knights: Menacing
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What else can we say about the Golden Knights and their wonderfully evil trade deadline at this point? Are you not entertained?
Anthony Mantha, Noah Hanifin and Tomáš Hertl were an eye-popping haul at the deadline, and you can never count out Vegas when it comes to making moves.
Like it or not, you have to applaud GM Kelly McCrimmon for continually being aggressive.
Washington Capitals: Hmm...
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Tough to know what to do if you're the Washington Capitals right now. It was nice they gave Kuznetsov a change of scenery.
I was thinking maybe you trade goalie Charlie Lindgren, who has been incredible and could've mustered up a solid return. But clearly, the goalie market wasn't happening this trade deadline, and the Capitals are still sort of in the playoff race.
Lindgren is also someone you could do a soft rebuild around.
The jury's out on Washington post-trade deadline.
Winnipeg Jets: Fun
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I'm really starting to love the Jets. They signed two players rumored to want out to long-term deals and stuck with their plan. They're winning now.
They went out and got Toffoli, who is one of the most fun players one can acquire at the deadline. The vibes aren't bad.
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