5 Win-Win Trades That Should Happen at the NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL's March 21 trade deadline (3 p.m. ET) is approaching. Speculation over which players will be on the move continues to grow as the big day draws near.

Most trades leading up to the deadline tend to involve non-playoff clubs shedding pending unrestricted free agents they cannot afford to sign or who no longer fit into their plans. The return is usually for draft picks and prospects, with the receiving team hoping one of them will one day blossom into a talent equivalent of the player traded away.

Occasionally, an actual hockey trade involving a swap of players takes place, like the Washington Capitals trading Jakub Vrana to the Detroit Red Wings for Anthony Mantha at last year's trade deadline. That deal was considered a win-win deal as each club got an established young NHL player they wanted in the deal.

While most of this year's deals will likely be of the usual player-for-picks/prospects variety, it's possible we'll see a swap of NHL players. The Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser or the Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk could be involved in that type of deal.

There could also be a deal when a team ships out an established player for a return that contains one or two promising young players who could have a more immediate effect. The rebuilding Arizona Coyotes, for example, might be able to get that type of deal for defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

Here are five suggested deals for the 2022 NHL trade deadline that could benefit both clubs. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below.

Montreal Canadiens Trade Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot, 30, is among the notable players in this season's NHL trade market. He's been a fixture in the rumor mill and is ranked No. 4 on our NHL Trade Block Big Board entering this month. As per a Jan. 8 report by Florida Hockey Now's George Richards, Chiarot is among the defensemen the Florida Panthers could pursue in the trade market. 

The Panthers could use some experienced depth on the left side of their blue-line corps behind MacKenzie Weegar. Chiarot can handle second-pairing minutes as a shutdown defender. His size and physical style of play would come in useful for the Panthers during the long postseason grind.

Most of the speculation suggests the Canadiens' asking price could be a first-round pick, but the Panthers lack a first-rounder in this year's draft. Perhaps the Habs would consider instead a package offer of a former first-rounder such as Owen Tippett and a prospect.

Tippett, 23, was the 10th overall selection of the 2017 draft. He's had difficulty cracking the Panthers roster, managing 14 goals and 33 points in 94 games seeing mostly checking-line minutes. With the Canadiens rebuilding, the right wing could be an affordable reclamation project who could regain his scoring touch under Habs coach Martin St. Louis.  HockeyDB.com indicates he averaged over 70 points in each of his final three OHL seasons. 

This deal would give the Panthers the seasoned playoff left-side rental defenseman they'll need for a Stanley Cup this spring. The Canadiens would get a forward with scoring potential still young enough to blossom if given an opportunity. The addition of a prospect in the deal, such as Mackie Samoskevich or Grigori Denisenko, would be insurance for the Habs if Tippett fails to develop as hoped.

Boston Bruins Trade Jake DeBrusk for Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome

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The Boston Bruins haven't had much success honoring winger Jake DeBrusk's trade request. Meanwhile, Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Strome has been the topic of NHL trade rumors for some time. Perhaps a one-for-one swap could work out for both teams at the trade deadline.

After starting his NHL career with back-to-back 40-plus-point seasons, DeBrusk has struggled to regain that form. He's averaging just 14 minutes and 25 seconds this season spent mostly in checking-line duty. A recent shift to the top line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand since Feb. 19 provided a boost to his numbers as the 25-year-old has 10 points over his last 10 games.

Like DeBrusk, the 25-year-old Strome has had difficulty regaining his once-promising early-career form. Injuries and inconsistency contributed to his struggles, as well as being bounced around the Blackhawks lineup. Strome has been centering their top line of late, with 10 points in his last five games, showing the form that saw him net 51 points in 58 games for the Blackhawks in 2018-19.

Both players are completing two-year deals and will become restricted free agents with arbitration rights this summer. DeBrusk's annual average salary is $3.675 million, but his actual salary this season is $4.85 million. Strome's cap hit is $3 million with an actual salary of $3.6 million.

The Bruins need a second-line center with the playmaking skills and size of the 6'3", 200-pound Strome. The Blackhawks could use a second-line winger with scoring potential like DeBrusk. It could be a worthwhile move for both clubs to give it try and see how things shake out, especially since those players wouldn't be playoff rentals and can be retained beyond this season. 

Arizona Coyotes Trade Jakob Chychrun to the Detroit Red Wings

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Jakob Chychrun has been a fixture in the NHL rumor mill for weeks amid reports the Arizona Coyotes were entertaining offers for the 23-year-old defenseman. In January, Jeff Marek of Sportsnet linked him to playoff contenders such as the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. 

The rebuilding Detroit Red Wings have improved this season but still sit 19 points out of playoff contention. General manager Steve Yzerman won't attempt any season-saving deals for rental players. However, it would make sense if he made a move for an impact player who can help them now and over the long term.

Chychrun could be that player. He's a skilled puck-mover who tallied 18 goals last season. His skills and youth would make him an ideal fit on the left side of the Wings' top defense pairing alongside Moritz Seider or with Filip Hronek on their second pairing. His affordable $4.6 million cap hit through 2024-25 would fit easily within their salary-cap payroll.

The Wings also have the depth in young players and prospects to fill the Coyotes' reported asking price of a young NHL player, a first-round pick and a top prospect. Perhaps they'd bite on a package of 2018 first-round winger Filip Zadina, a promising blueliner such as Simon Edvinsson or William Wallinder, and the Wings' 2022 first-rounder.

Zadina, 22, has struggled in Detroit and could benefit from a change of scenery. He'll get plenty of opportunities to develop into a scorer in Arizona. Edvinsson or Wallinder have top-four blueline potential, while the Wings' first-round pick will be among the top-15 selections in this year's draft.

Vancouver Canucks Trade Brock Boeser for New Jersey Devils' Pavel Zacha

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As the Vancouver Canucks try to keep their playoff hopes alive in the tight Western Conference playoff race, Brock Boeser remains the subject of media trade chatter. That speculation earned the 25-year-old right winger the No. 10 spot on our March 2022 NHL Trade Block Big Board. 

A talented scoring winger, Boeser is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. His annual salary-cap hit is $5.9 million, but his actual salary for this season is $7.5 million, which is what it'll cost the Canucks to qualify his rights. With $70.6 million invested in 14 active roster players for 2022-23, that will take a huge chunk out of their limited salary-cap payroll.

If the Canucks fall further out of playoff contention, they could consider trading Boeser before the March 21 trade deadline for a return of a more affordable young player plus a first-round draft pick or a quality prospect. That player could be New Jersey Devils forward Pavel Zacha.

On Feb. 12, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported the Canucks had an interest in the 24-year-old Zacha. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin know the Devils forward well during their days with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A versatile forward who can play wing or center, Zacha is also an RFA with arbitration rights this summer but would only cost $3 million to qualify his rights.

Boeser has already established himself as a scoring winger and would slot in well alongside a young Devils center like Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier. Zacha still has time to reach his full potential and could do so with the Canucks. The Devils are loaded with young talent and prospects so they can afford to package their 2022 first-rounder with Zacha to balance out the return to the Canucks.

San Jose Sharks Trade Tomas Hertl to the Minnesota Wild for Kevin Fiala

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The Minnesota Wild are slumping with the trade deadline only a week away. They've won just six of their last 16 games and cling to third place in the Central Division with 72 points. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks could consider getting a start on retooling their roster as their playoff hopes fade for this season.

A trade sending the Sharks' Tomas Hertl to the Wild for Kevin Fiala might prove worthwhile for both clubs. Hertl, 28, is a versatile two-way forward slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July who could provide the Wild with experienced depth at center. The 25-year-old Fiala, meanwhile, is due to become a restricted free agent and could prove to be a solid long-term addition to the Sharks lineup.

Hertl could hit the trade block if he and the fading Sharks fail to reach an agreement on a new contract. He carries a three-team trade list, but perhaps he would accept a trade to a contender like the Wild. The Sharks could be asked to retain some of Hertl's $5.6 million cap hit in the deal, while the Wild might have to include a prospect such as Calen Addison or goaltender Jesper Wallstadt in the return.

The Sharks could retool during the offseason and could benefit from a younger player like Fiala. He lacks Hertl's two-way level of play but has established himself as a scoring winger. Completing a one-year, $5.1 million contract, he could prove more affordable for the Sharks to retain with their $60.4 million invested in 10 active roster players for 2022-23 than it would for them to re-sign Hertl.

This season could be the Wild's best opportunity to improve their roster for a Stanley Cup run. Their contract buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will take a big bite out of their salary-cap payroll for the next three seasons. Adding someone like Hertl could give them that chance while they have the cap flexibility to acquire a potential impact rental player.

Stats through Friday's games and via NHL.com, and salary info via CapFriendly.