The Devils have acquired Luke Evangelista from the Predators for a conditional 2028 1st Round Pick and a 2027 2nd Round Pick.
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NHL Trades
Jake Middleton has been acquired along with a 2029 2nd-round pick, a 2027 3rd-round pick, and a 2028 4th-round pick for Blake Coleman (50% retained) and Olli Maatta.
Middleton has spent the past five seasons with the Minnesota Wild, but will have a change of scenery to start the 2026-27 season as he heads to the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-old defenseman averaged 17:30 time-on-ice, recording 16 points (2G / 14A), 87 hits, and 117 blocks in 75 games last season.
Olli Maata and Blake Coleman (50% retained) have been acquired from Calgary for Jake Middleton, a 2029 2nd-round pick, a 2027 3rd-round pick, and a 2028 4th-round pick.
After spending the first six seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a steady shutdown defenseman, Maata has struggled to find a permanent home and will join his seventh team in the last eight seasons. That said, the 31-year-old Finnish defenseman remains a reliable bottom-pairing defenseman. Last season, he averaged 17:13 time on ice, scoring 15 points (2G/3A) in 43 games split between the Calgary Flames and the Utah Mammoth.
Blake Coleman (50% retained) and Olli Maata have been acquired from Calgary for Jake Middleton, a 2029 2nd-round pick, a 2027 3rd-round pick, and a 2028 4th-round pick.
Coleman's name circulated in rumours before last season's trade deadline, and his departure from Calgary came to fruition early in the offseason, in a trade to the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Texas native has established himself as a heavy-hitting and intimidating middle-six forward who should fit seamlessly into a gritty Minnesota Wild team. In 2025-26, Coleman averaged 17:20 time-on-ice, recording 35 points (20G / 15A) and 152 hits.
Boston has acquired Will Borgen from New York for a 2027 2nd round pick and a conditional 2028 3rd round pick.
Borgen has become a reliable bottom-four defenseman in recent seasons and will bring his talents to the Boston Bruins after being acquired in a trade. The 29-year-old Borgen averaged 18:03 time-on-ice, recording 15 points (5G / 10A) and a +3 plus/minus in 75 games last season.
New York has acquired Marcus Pettersson from Vancouver for a 2030 1st round pick (top-10 protected).
The New York Rangers acquired Marcus Pettersson in a trade, reuniting him with head coach Mike Sullivan, who coached him for seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old defenseman recorded 18 points (3G / 15A) and a -19 plus/minus last season in 82 games with the Vancouver Canucks.
Detroit has acquired Keegan Kolesar from Vegas for a 2027 7th round pick and a 2029 3rd round pick.
The Red Wings added some grit and physicality to their bottom six on the opening day of free agency, acquiring Kolesar in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old forward recorded 17 points (6G / 11A) and 270 hits in 82 games last season.
New York has acquired Cole Beaudoin, Sean Durzi and a 2027 3rd round pick from New York for Vincent Trocheck.
Beaudoin was drafted 24th overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has yet to play at the professional level but is coming off a solid final OHL season, scoring 88 points (33G / 55A) in 54 games with the Barrie Colts.
New York has acquired Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 3rd round pick from Utah for Vincent Trocheck.
Durzi has been a high-pedigree, talented defenseman who has been buried behind teams with strong defensive depth, preventing him from showing his full potential. He had 41 points (9G / 32A) in 76 games as a 25-year-old in the 2023-24 season. He recorded 27 points (5G / 22A) and a -12 plus/minus last season in 60 games.
Utah has acquired Vincent Trocheck from New York for Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 3rd round pick.
Trocheck's name has circulated in trade rumours since last season, ultimately leading to a trade on July 1, sending the veteran center to the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old Trocheck had 53 points (16G / 37A) and 193 hits in 67 games last season. His unique blend of physicality and offensive presence should help a young, exciting Utah team elevate its game in 2026-27.
Edmonton has acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp from San Jose for Darnell Nurse.
Mukhamadullin was drafted 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He played a career-high 50 games last season with the Sharks, recording 12 points (5G / 7A) and a -3 plus/minus. He is currently an RFA and is coming off a one-year, $1.0 million contract.
San Jose has acquired Darnell Nurse from Edmonton for Zack Sharp and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Nurse requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers, which came to fruition in a deal that sent him to the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old Nurse has four years remaining in his contract with a $9.25 million AAV. He had 24 points (7G / 17A) and a -12 plus/minus in 82 games with Edmonton last season.
Tampa Bay has acquired Dennis Hildeby, 2027 4th round pick and a 2028 3rd round pick from Toronto for Nick Paul.
With the signing of UFA Sergei Bobrovsky, Dennis Hildeby became expendable for the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in a trade sending him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Hildeby had an impact at the NHL level last season, posting a 2.86 GAA and .912 SV% in 20 appearances with the Maple Leafs (5-7-4).
Toronto has acquired Nick Paul from Tampa Bay for Dennis Hildeby, 2027 4th round pick and a 2028 3rd round pick.
New GM John Chayka has been busy for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the opening day of free agency, mixing in a trade with the acquisition of Nick Paul. The 31-year-old Paul has been an integral part of the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past few seasons. He battled injuries in 2025-26, playing just 51 games, but scored 148 points (75G / 73A0 in 310 combined games with Tampa Bay.
Edmonton has acquired Devon Levi and a 2028 7th round pick from Buffalo for a 2028 3rd round pick.
Levi was once considered the goalie of the future with the Buffalo Sabres, but he failed to make that leap, ultimately spending most of the past two seasons in the AHL. The 24-year-old goalie posted a 2.83 GAA and .904 SV% last season in 52 games (23-20-9) with the Rochester Americans.
New York has acquired Joonas Korpisalo from Boston for Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick.
Korpisalo has spent the previous two seasons as a serviceable backup for the Boston Bruins, but he will head to the New York Rangers in the 2026-27 season to serve as Igor Shesterkin's backup. The 32-year-old Korpisalo posted a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% last season in 31 appearances (14-9-6).
Boston has acquired Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick from New York for Joonas Korpisalo.
Vaisanen was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, but he has yet to make his NHL debut. The 23-year-old forward spent his first full professional season in North America, recording four points (3G / 1A) in 51 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Penguins have acquired Nick Robertson from the Maple Leafs for a 2028 4th Round Pick.
Robertson joins the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas, who was part of the team responsible for drafting Robertson in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Robertson was never able to establish himself as a full-time top-six forward with the Maple Leafs and hopes to have better luck in a fresh start with his new team. Robertson had 32 points (16G / 16A) in 78 games last season.
The Predators have acquired Ilya Lyubushkin and Mavrik Bourque from the Stars for a 2027 2nd Round Pick and a 2028 3rd Round Pick.
The Dallas Stars have addressed some salary cap issues by trading Ilya Lyubushkin, who will join the Nashville Predators. Lyubushkin has one year left on a three-year contract worth $3.25 million AAV. The 32-year-old Lyubushkin recorded nine points (1G / 8A) in 53 games last season.
The Predators have acquired Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin from the Stars for a 2027 2nd Round Pick and a 2028 3rd Round Pick.
The Dallas Stars faced salary-cap issues and the fear of a looming offer sheet for Bourque, whom they ultimately traded to the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Bourque was the 30th-overall pick by Dallas in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He scored a career-high 41 points (20G / 21A) last season in 82 games.
NHL Trade Tracker
Are you looking for all the latest NHL trade news from around the league? Then you’ve come to the right spot! Daily Faceoff’s NHL trade tracker provides up-to-the-minute updates on the latest personnel moves and trade rumours from all 32 franchises. When your favourite player gets dealt for future considerations, you’ll be the first to know!
Along with our NHL trade tracker, we also provide information on how hockey trades work, the strategy behind these moves, and how the latest NHL trades could impact your sports betting strategy.
It’s important for fans, sports bettors, and fantasy managers to stay informed on the latest NHL transactions. If you can keep tabs on the latest moves in the NHL, this can assist you in making intelligent pickups or trades in fantasy hockey and help shape your bets based on the new personnel added to a team.
NHL Trade Rules
NHL trades can be quite lucrative, with players, prospects, and draft capital moved to complete a deal. While there are a variety of ways to finalize trades, they all need to abide by the trade rules and regulations set by the league. Even the San Jose Sharks can’t take on everyone’s bad contracts.
Learn more about the rules around trades below so you can better understand how trades work, and the transactions made in our NHL trade tracker.
Salary Cap
In order for any NHL trade to be processed successfully, all parties involved must abide by the league’s salary cap rules. The current NHL salary cap is $88M, meaning that each team’s total payroll must fall within the budgetary restriction.
The salary cap in the NHL is considered a “hard cap,” meaning that no team can exceed it. While the limitations around roster construction can be strict, there are still ways for teams to legally exceed the set limit that won’t cost teams a first-round pick.
In the playoffs, teams are technically able to exceed their cap space through the long-term injured reserve (LTIR). The LTIR allows teams to place injured players on extended leave (24+ calendar days or 10 NHL Games) and fill their roster spots based on their cap space heading into the regular season.
If a player is on the LTIR heading into the postseason, they can be activated regardless of if their re-addition to the team puts them over the salary cap.
Roster Limit
For any active NHL roster, they can only dress 23 skaters. While they’re able to move players up and down through their farm system (AHL/ECHL/International Players), they must abide by this player limit when it comes to active players dressed in each game.
This plays a big factor in determining trades, as teams will need to make salaries work to make the move official and fit the current team’s available roster spots.
Depth is an incredibly important part of any successful NHL team, so filling out their roster with talented players is pivotal to their success. Each roster spot holds immense value.
NHL Trade Deadline
The NHL trade deadline is the last opportunity for teams to make moves between each other during the regular season. The trade deadline generally falls after the All-Star break so teams can make their last-ditch efforts before the playoffs begin. Players must be on the team’s roster by the deadline at 3 PM to be eligible for the NHL playoffs.
Technically, teams can still make trades after this point if they don’t qualify or have been eliminated from the postseason. These trades will not take effect until the next season, but the transactions can still go through.
The deadline can make or break a team’s playoff hopes, making it a dramatic and hectic period for hockey fans and managers alike. Be sure to regularly check back with our NHL trade tracker around the deadline so you don’t miss any latest moves from across the league.
Understanding the Strategy Behind NHL Trades
NHL teams may want to make a trade for a number of reasons. Often, teams make trades when they are looking to head in a certain direction, whether this means trying to improve and compete for the Stanley Cup or tank and enter a rebuild.
A team that feels it has a strong enough unit to make a deep run into the postseason will likely forgo some of its draft capital to acquire proven talent and enhance its winning capabilities.
Conversely, a team that has hit a wall in terms of success and doesn’t feel they have what it takes to compete in the playoffs may opt to trade away valuable assets in favour of draft picks or promising prospects.
Other NHL trade strategies may involve team culture/personnel fits. If a player doesn’t fit within a coach’s game plan or doesn’t have chemistry with his line mates, teams may opt to deal him to find a better fit.
For daily fantasy sports players or hockey bettors, understanding the logic behind NHL trades can play a big part in your success. If you have a solid understanding of a team’s needs and the value brought by particular players, you can use this to gain an edge on your roster moves and bets.
Check out the most recent roster moves from around the league with our NHL trade tracker, and be sure to analyze the strategy used by each team when making their next move.
How NHL Trades Impact Sports Betting
NHL trades can have a major impact on sports betting, both in terms of daily games and futures. Players moving from team to team can alter a squad’s potential success and on-ice production.
For example, if a team decides to trade their leading goal-scorer, you can rightfully assume that their overall scoring numbers may drop as a result. This means a team you once would’ve taken the Over on may be better suited for the Under due to their new lineup.
Acquiring an all-star player for futures bets can dramatically influence the betting lines, increasing one team’s value while dropping another. If you’ve already placed a futures bet and the team you wagered on makes a trade, this could possibly increase or lower the value of your original ticket, depending on the result of the roster change.
Daily fantasy hockey players can also be impacted by NHL trades as you will need to see how a player fits into their new setting before including them in your drafted lineup.Be sure to watch for any of the latest transactions by using our NHL trade tracker to stay informed on all the roster changes occurring throughout the league.
NHL Trades FAQs
Who decides NHL trades?
NHL trades are decided between two or more team general managers. The front office’s job is building a winning team. Building a winning team means discussing trades with other general managers across the league.
When can players be traded in the NHL?
During the NHL regular season, players can be traded up until the trade deadline. The deadline is the official cutoff point for when teams can no longer make moves between each other. Players can also be traded throughout the offseason.
Why do they trade players in hockey?
Teams trade players in hockey for a variety of reasons, but generally, it is done to find success, whether that is in the short term or long term. Teams may trade their top players in search of draft picks if they are undergoing a rebuild, whereas contending teams may look to acquire talent to boost their playoff chances.
How often are NHL players traded?
Trades are a common occurrence throughout the NHL and happen often. Some years feature less trades than others, it all depends on each teams needs and the availability of attractive talent.