The rumors are circulating in anticipation of the NHL trade deadline, and I can't help but imagine some incredible deals that I would want to see. Following the conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, teams are either preparing for a postseason run or trying to cash in on their assets. While these aren’t predictions, they’re trades I’d love to see based on players who have been linked to trade talks.
Brock Boeser to the Florida Panthers
The defending champs have been good all year but now find themselves in a tough spot. After Four Nations, it appears that Matthew Tkachuk might be headed to LTIR with an injury he suffered at the tournament. If he is out for a while, the Panthers could need some help on the wing, and given the newfound cap space they would have, Boeser could be a great fit in Florida. As negotiations on an extension seem to be going nowhere (along with their season), the Canucks could look to move Boeser before March 7th for assets to make sure they do not lose him for nothing in July. Would Florida be willing to give up a first-round pick if the Canucks retain some salary? His $6.65 million cap hit is a bit much, but if Tkachuk is put on LTIR, Florida could try to make the money work for Boeser as a rental as they look to defend their title this spring.
Potential Trade Package:
Vancouver Receives: Evan Rodrigues, Mackie Samoskevich, 2025 1st Round Pick
Florida Receives: Brock Boeser, 2025 4th Round Pick
Elias Pettersson Gets a Fresh Start in Buffalo
With every passing day, it seems more and more likely that the Elias Pettersson era in Vancouver is coming to a close and it probably makes sense for both parties. Pettersson probably wants a fresh start, and Buffalo is in desperate need of a player with start potential that could grow with their young core. The Sabres have the resources to make a compelling offer, including draft capital and a large pool of young talent that might speed Vancouver's retool around Quinn Hughes. In my proposed trade below, the Canucks acquire young, but good NHLers who can help them get back to the playoffs in the near future.
Potential Trade Package:
Vancouver Receives: Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, 2026 First Round Pick (Top 5 Protected)
Buffalo Receives: Elias Pettersson
John Gibson to Pittsburgh
John Gibson has wanted out of Anaheim for years. While this might not be a deal that gets him to an instant playoff team, he does get to go play for his hometown team and gets to play on a team with Sidney Crosby. This gives Anaheim a clean exit from Gibson as they move forward with Lukáš Dostál, while Pittsburgh shows Sidney Crosby they are still interested in competing to make the playoffs in 2026.
Potential Trade Package:
Pittsburgh Receives: John Gibson
Anaheim Receives: Valtteri Puustinen, Samuel Poulin, 2025 Third Round Pick
Brock Nelson To Winnipeg
While there has been talk of the Islanders trying to re-sign Nelson, recent reports indicate that negotiations have not made any significant progress. If things remain stagnant, it’s reasonable to expect that the Islanders will look to move Nelson before the trade deadline. If that happens, the Jets, currently the best in the West, need to seriously consider making a push for him. Nelson would provide a boost up front and veteran presence for Winnipeg’s playoff run, as they look hoist the Stanley Cup this spring.
Potential Trade Package:
NY Islanders Receives: Colby Barlow, 2025 First Round Pick, 2026 Third Round Pick (Second Round Pick if Nelson Resigns with Winnipeg or Winnipeg Wins The Cup in 2025)
Winnipeg Receives: Brock Nelson
If Mikko Rantanen Says No to Carolina Long Term... The Oilers Try To Shift The Balance of Power
This deal hinges on Rantanen indicating to Carolina that he's either unsure about signing long-term or has no intention of doing so. Even then, the Canes might choose to keep the star forward simply because of his talent. However, if they decide to flip him again, I'd love to see Rantanen end up in Edmonton. Carolina could retain more salary once more, potentially lowering his cap hit to as little as $2.5 million. While there have been small rumors about the Oilers potentially pursuing him in free agency, I just don’t see any way that happens. However, if the Hurricanes retain salary, and the Oilers decide to make a worthy offer for him as a rental, that is a completely different story. Edmonton goes all-in as they try to avenge last season's loss in the Stanley Cup Finals. In this deal, Carolina still does come out with some assets that keep them competitive going into the playoffs.
Potential Trade Package:
Edmonton Receives: Mikko Rantanen
Carolina Receives: Jeff Skinner, Matt Savoie, Ty Emberson, 2025 First Round Pick
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