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2025 NHL Trade Deadline: Live Grades for All the Biggest Deals
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone.
One of the biggest names came off our NHL Trade Block Big Board overnight as the New York Islanders shipped center Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche.
And then the Dallas Stars stole the show by acquiring Mikko Rantanen on deadline day. But that wasn't the only major trade.
Here are our live grades for all of the biggest deals of the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Colorado Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders
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One of the biggest names on our NHL Trade Block Big Board was moved in the early hours before the trade deadline.
The New York Islanders shipped center Brock Nelson and prospect forward William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Oliver Kylington, prospect forward Calum Ritchie, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft and a conditional third-rounder in 2028.
The Islanders also retained half of Nelson's $6 million salary-cap hit. They subsequently flipped Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
This move signals two things: the Avalanche are all-in for a Stanley Cup run this season, and the Islanders are engaging in an overdue roster rebuild.
The Avalanche got the best center available in this year's trade market. Nelson, 33, is a strong two-way center with three 30-plus-goal seasons and plenty of postseason experience. He will fill the second-line center role, bringing invaluable skill and depth to their forward lines.
They gave up a lot to get Nelson, and there's a risk that he will depart via free agency on July 1. No one in Colorado will care about that if he helps them win the Stanley Cup, but if they fall short, they will have sacrificed a big chunk of their future for a short-term gain that didn't pan out.
Meanwhile, the Islanders received a substantial return for Nelson. Ritchie, 20, was the Avs' top prospect and has the potential and size (6'2”, 185 lbs) to become a first-line center in the near future. They now have two first-rounders in the 2026 draft, which can be put toward replenishing their prospect pipeline.
Grades
Avalanche: B+, Islanders: A-
Carolina Hurricanes Ship Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars
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The biggest name in the trade market is on the move for the second time in six weeks.
Traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24, Mikko Rantanen was shipped to the Dallas Stars in exchange for rookie winger Logan Stankoven and two first-round draft picks and two third-round picks. The Stars also signed the 28-year-old winger to an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $12 million.
The Hurricanes peddled Rantanen, a two-time 100-plus-point winger, because he wouldn't commit to an eight-year extension with them. He was reportedly still dealing with the shock of being traded by the Avalanche and was uncertain whether his long-term future was in Carolina.
Rantanen believes he's best suited with the Stars, providing them with an elite scorer and proven playoff performer. His addition should improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup this season, and his new contract ensures they'll remain a contender for several years.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have taken a step back with this move. They gave up a proven scorer in Martin Nečas as part of the return to Colorado for Rantanen, expecting him to be a key piece in their quest for the Cup. Their belief that they could re-sign the superstar winger proved misguided.
The Hurricanes didn't want to risk losing Rantanen for nothing to free agency. However, this return doesn't move them closer to the Cup this season.
Stankoven is a promising young player who should have a bright future with the Hurricanes, but he won't produce at Rantanen's level this season. The two first-rounders might help them, but not this season.
Grades
Stars: A+, Hurricanes: C+
Colorado Avalanche Land Charlie Coyle from the Boston Bruins
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The Colorado Avalanche already made one of the biggest moves of the deadline, acquiring center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders. Nevertheless, they continue to load up at forward in anticipation of a Stanley Cup run this spring.
Their target was center Charlie Coyle, shipping center Casey Mittelstadt, prospect forward Will Zellers and a conditional 2025 second-round pick to the Boston Bruins. They also received a 2026 fifth-rounder from the Bruins.
Coyle, 33, is a versatile, big-bodied, two-way forward who can play center or on the wing. The 6'3”, 215-pounder has plenty of regular-season and playoff experience with 13 NHL seasons under his belt. He has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $5.3 million.
Mittelstadt was acquired by the Avalanche from the Buffalo Sabres before last year's trade deadline. The 26-year-old center showed some promise as a second-line center during the 2024 postseason but struggled in that role this season. He carries an AAV of $5.8 million for two more seasons.
Coyle provides more size and experienced depth to their middle-six forward lines for two playoff runs. Meanwhile, the Bruins get younger with Mittelstadt, hoping that playing under their system will make him a more consistently effective playmaking center.
Grades
Avalanche: B+, Bruins: B
.png?w=256 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers
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The Toronto Maple Leafs addressed their need for a third-line center, acquiring Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for prospect winger Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. The Leafs also received fourth- and sixth-round picks from the Flyers.
Laughton was a regular fixture in our recent NHL Trade Block Big Boards. He is a versatile, hardworking, two-way forward who can play center or on the wing. He plays a physical, feisty style and is a lead-by-example player. The 30-year-old Toronto-area native has 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.
Signed through next season, Laughton carries an affordable $3 million average annual value, made more tolerable for the Leafs by the Flyers retaining 50 percent of his cap hit. He'll provide invaluable depth to the Leafs for this season and next, as they attempt to end their long Stanley Cup drought.
The rebuilding Flyers were reportedly reluctant to part with Laughton because of his experience and leadership. Toronto met the asking price of a promising young player and a first-rounder. Philadelphia now has two picks in the first round of the 2026 draft.
Grades
Maple Leafs: B+, Flyers: B
Detroit Red Wings Deal for Petr Mrazek
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The Detroit Red Wings are jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. They made an interesting move before the trade deadline, acquiring goaltender Petr Mrázek and center Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks for center Joe Veleno.
Mrázek began his NHL career with the Wings from 2012-13 to 2017-18. The 33-year-old is signed through next season with an AAV of $4.3 million. He joins a crowded crease in Detroit, where veterans Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon and promising Sebastian Cossa have shared the duties.
Smith is a 35-year-old checking-line center with plenty of NHL regular-season and playoff experience. He's on a one-year, $1 million contract and will replace Christian Fischer, who was claimed off waivers on Thursday by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Chosen by the Red Wings in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft, Veleno struggled to play up to expectations in Detroit and might benefit from a change of scenery with Chicago. The 25-year-old center is under contract through next season with an AAV of $2.3 million.
It'll be interesting to see how the Wings juggle the goalie duties down the stretch, and whether it'll help their playoff chances.
Grades:
Red Wings: B, Blackhawks: C
Buffalo Sabres Ship Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators in Multi-Player Deal
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Two Atlantic Division rivals made a significant swap, as the Buffalo Sabres sent center Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.
The move comes with the Senators struggling to stay in the playoff race. Meanwhile, the Sabres are poised to miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season.
Cozens, 23, was a frequent fixture in the rumor mill this season, sitting 12th on our recent NHL Trade Block Big Board. A skillful two-way center, he had a career-high 31 goals and 68 points in 2022-23 but has struggled to regain those offensive heights. He's signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $7.1 million.
Gilbert, 28, is a defensive depth blueliner who appeared in 25 games this season. He's on a one-year, $825K contract.
The Sabres' struggles this season made Cozens a hot topic of trade speculation. Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams indicated he wanted players, not draft picks and prospects, and he got that return with this deal.
Norris, 25, is a speedy offensive center who reached a career-high 35 goals and 55 points in 2021-22. However, he's been hampered by injuries, though he has 20 goals and 33 points in 53 games this season. He's under contract through 2029-30 with an AAV of $7.9 million.
Bernard-Docker played a career-high 74 games with the Senators last season, but he's had difficulty securing a full-time role on their blue line this season. The 24-year-old rearguard was a frequent healthy scratch and missed 20 games with a high ankle sprain. He's finishing a two-year contract with an AAV of $805K.
These are two teams swapping second-line centers who've had some difficulties. The Senators hope Cozens can regain his scoring form and bring another measure of defensive depth to their forward lines. The Sabres will look to Norris to provide more offensive depth.
Grades:
Sabres: B+, Senators: B+
Toronto Maple Leafs Bag Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins are cleaning house as they signal their intent to rebuild. They traded away key forwards Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle and sent defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It took a three-team deal for the Leafs to land Carlo, as they cleared cap room by shipping defenseman Conor Timmins and forward Connor Dewar to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Going to the Bruins for Carlo is prospect Fraser Minten and the Leafs' 2026 first-round pick. The 20-year-old center was a second-round pick (38th overall) by the Leafs in the 2022 NHL draft. He's projected to become a third-line center.
The 28-year-old Carlo is a big, physical shutdown defenseman with a right-hand shot who used to be a postseason thorn in the Maple Leafs' side. The 6'5”, 220-pounder will be a welcome addition to their defense corps, likely slotting in alongside Morgan Rielly on their top pairing.
Carlo is also a long-term addition to the Leafs. He's signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $4.1 million.
Grades
Bruins: C+, Maple Leafs: B+
Florida Panthers Acquire Brad Marchand From The Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins severed their final active link to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship roster, trading Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers.
The Bruins have signaled they are starting to rebuild. It was rumored they set a high price for Marchand. Ultimately, they settled for a 2027 second-round pick, which could turn into a 2028 first-rounder. They also retained half of Marchand's $6.13 million cap hit. That's not much of a return for someone of Marchand's stature.
Marchand was a productive and popular star in Boston throughout his 16 seasons with the Bruins. Named team captain in September 2023, he was in contract extension discussions throughout this season. However, the Bruins opted to move him rather than risk his departure as a free agent on July 1.
Now 36, Marchand isn't the high-scoring winger of his youth but remains an effective, pesky, two-way winger, with 21 goals and 47 points in 61 games. He's currently week-to-week with an upper-body injury but is expected to return later this month.
The Panthers already bolstered their defense by acquiring Seth Jones last Saturday and brought in Vitek Vanecek to back up starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. However, they needed someone to fill in for sidelined winger Matthew Tkachuk. Few are better qualified to fill the role of agitating top-six winger than Marchand.
Trading Marchand marks the end of an era for the Bruins, but he should help the Panthers in their quest to defend the Stanley Cup. Marchand and Tkachuk should make their opponents' lives miserable once the latter returns to action in the postseason.
Grades:
Panthers: A, Bruins: D
.png?w=480 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
