The NHL Trade Deadline: A Time of Big Shifts for Players

The NHL trade deadline is always a pivotal moment for teams looking to strengthen their rosters, restock their prospect pool, or free up cap space for future moves. For players, it can mean the difference between joining a playoff contender or being thrust into a rebuilding phase. Some players have seen their fortunes improve, while others have found themselves in challenging new situations.

Unlucky at the Deadline

Josh Norris' trade to the Ottawa Senators marked a tough chapter in his career. Acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to Ottawa, Norris found himself entering a rebuild as the franchise's legendary defenseman departed.

In Norris' first full season with the Senators in 2020-21, he was impressive, finishing second in team scoring and earning fourth place in Calder Trophy voting. He followed that up with a 35-goal season in just 66 games, securing an eight-year, $63.6 million extension. Unfortunately, Norris' next two seasons were marred by shoulder injuries, limiting him to just eight games in 2022-23 and 50 in 2023-24. During those years, the Senators missed the playoffs, extending their playoff drought to seven years.

However, this season, Ottawa looked poised to end that drought, with key players like Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Tim Stutzle leading the charge. But at the deadline, the Senators traded Norris, along with teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft. Ottawa secured a playoff spot, but Norris' move to Buffalo has been unfortunate, as he has only played three games since the trade due to injury. Buffalo’s playoff drought continues at 14 seasons.

Lucky at the Deadline

When Seth Jones was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021, he signed an eight-year, $76 million extension, expected to anchor the team’s defense through a rebuild. However, the rebuild faltered, and Jones spent his first three seasons in Chicago watching the team miss the playoffs each year. As the team found itself out of contention again this season, Jones requested a trade to a more competitive team.

Chicago accommodated his request, trading Jones to the Florida Panthers, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a first-round pick in 2026. For Jones, it’s a massive upgrade: playing nearly 25 minutes a night for a Stanley Cup contender, while Chicago once again finds itself near the bottom of the standings.

Unchanged at the Deadline

Mikko Rantanen’s trade saga took him on quite the journey before finally returning to a familiar place. After winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and posting back-to-back 100-point seasons, Rantanen was unable to negotiate a long-term extension with Colorado and was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal that also involved Chicago.

However, Carolina soon found itself unable to secure a new deal for the star winger. To recoup some of the assets they had given up to acquire him, including fan-favorite Martin Necas, the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars after just 13 games. Now, Rantanen is back in the Central Division, once again playing for a playoff contender and facing his former Avalanche teammates in the first round of the playoffs. The Stars, eager to lock him in for the long term, gave him the eight-year, $96 million contract he had been seeking, giving him stability after a whirlwind season.