Gendron was drafted by Philadelphia in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game and scored 22 points (10G / 12A) in 47 games this season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL).
Brink has increased his goal totals in each of his three full NHL seasons and will add some offensive depth to a Minnesota Wild team that is hopeful to make a deep playoff run. The 24-year-old Brink scored 26 points (13G / 13A) in 55 games with Philadelphia this season.
Minnesota acquired David Jiricek for a hefty price tag last season, but he did not materialize as they hoped and pivoted this season, trading him to Philadelphia for Bobby Brink. The 22-year-old Jiricek has had trouble establishing himself at the NHL level, as evidenced by his zero points in 25 games with Minnesota this season.
After 17 seasons and one Stanley Cup victory, John Carlson is no longer a member of the Washington Capitals after he was acquired by Anaheim for conditional 2026 or 2027 1st round pick and a 2027 3rd round pick late Thursday. The 36-year-old appeared in 1143 games with the Capitals, picking up 166 goals and 771 points while posting an impressive a +117 plus/minus. He should step right in to a top line and power play role with the Ducks and will make an excellent mentor of budding star Jackson LaCombe.
After six seasons in Buffalo, Jacob Bryson is now a member of the Winnipeg Jets alongside Isak Rosen a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. Bryson is 28-year-old and has never surpassed more than 10 points in an NHL season. Through 35 games played in 2025-26, he has two goals, five points and eight PIMs.
With Buffalo having an influx of young forwards, Isak Rosen found himself on the outside and has been traded alongside Jacob Bryson, a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick to Winnipeg for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. Rosen was drafted in the 1st round of the 2021 NHL Draft (14th overall) but has failed to stick at the NHL level through three seasons. In 2025-26 he appeared in 16 games, picking up a career high three goals, seven points and 16 SOG.
Buffalo added to their defensive depth late Thursday after they announced they had trade for Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley from Winnipeg for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick. Schenn will join his 10th NHL franchise in his 18th NHL season and has a goal, seven points and 32 PIMs in 46 games played so far in 2025-26.
After Buffalo missed out on Colton Parakyo earlier on Thursday, they ended the day by acquiring defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from Winnipeg for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick as a consolation prize. Stanley is a 27-year-old towering defender who had spent his first six NHL seasons with WInnipeg. He has already set career highs in most statistical categories this season including goals (9), points (21), PIMs (99) and PPP (1).
Carrick was one of many Ranger players on the trade block and finds himself in Buffalo after the Sabres traded a 2026 3rd round pick and a 2026 6th round pick (CHI) to New York to acquire him. The 34-year-old veteran forward has reached double digit points (10) for just the 4th time in his 11 NHL seasons and should play a complimentary role in Buffalo's bottom-six.
Vancouver has sold their 2nd piece of the deadline after they announced late Thursday that they have traded Conor Garland to Columbus for a 2028 2nd and 2026 3rd round pick. Garland is a fiesty 29-year-old winger who is in his eighth NHL season and will now be joining his third NHL team (VAN, ARI, CBJ). He's struggled to produce at his usual rate this season, with seven goals, 26 points and 103 SOG through 50 games played.
Perron hasn't played since January 20th due to a sports hernia. He needs to play in either a regular season or playoff game with the Red Wings in order for the Senators to receive the fourth-round pick. The draft pick could also become Detroit's 2026 third-rounder if the Red Wings make the second round of the playoffs and Perron plays in 50% of the round one games. Perron returns to Detroit where he spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, racking up 41 goals and 62 assists across 158 games.
Foegele struggled with the Los Angeles Kings this season, scoring only nine points (7G / 2A) in 47 games, and hopes a change of scenery can give him a boost. The 29-year-old Foegele is just one season removed from a career-high 46 points (24G / 22A) in 82 games.
The Stars addressed their pre-deadline need for a depth scorer, acquiring Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators. Bunting has had success in his career playing alongside high-end talent, notably during his time with Toronto when he played with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, and could be poised for a top-line role in Dallas with Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen, who is currently out with a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old Bunting averaged 14:48 time-on-ice and scored 31 points (13G / 18A) in 61 games with Nashville this season.
Minnesota has acquired some depth on their blueline as they hope for a deep run in the upcoming postseason. The 38-year-old veteran Petry averaged 14:51 time-on-ice, recording eight points (0G / 8A), 57 blocks, and 59 hits in 58 games with Florida this season.
Woo was a second round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make his NHL debut. The 25-year-old defenseman scored eight points (1G / 7A) in 26 games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.
Thompson was a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft that made his made at the NHL level last season, playing a career-high 31 games with the San Jose Sharks and scoring 10 points (4G / 6A). That said, the 23-year-old blueliner has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 12 points (3G / 9A) in 42 games with the San Jose Barracuda.
Roy has become a valuable bottom-six center in the NHL and will bring that presence to Colorado as they set their sights on a deep playoff run. The 29-year-old Roy averaged 14:45 time-on-ice, recording 20 points (5G / 15A), 32 blocks, and 61 hits in 59 games this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dowd has been an effective bottom-six forward for the course of his career and will add some stability to the Golden Knights' lineup as they continue to battle for playoff positioning. The 35-year-old Dowd averaged 15:33 time-on-ice, recording 16 points (4G / 12A), 43 blocks, and 113 hits in 55 games this season with the Washington Capitals.
Vikman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, but has yet to make his NHL debut. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie had a 3.41 GAA and .866 SV% in 18 games (8-7-3) this season with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).
Mangiapane's brief and disappointing career as an Oiler comes to an abrupt end on Wednesday, with the Oilers shipping him and a first-round draft pick out in exchange for forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. Mangiapane just couldn't find his footing in Edmonton after signing a two-year, $7.2-million contract in the off-season. The 29-year-old winger scored just seven times in 52 games and struggled to even hold a place in Edmonton's lineup toward the end of his Oilers tenure. Luckily for Mangiapane, he should be afforded plenty of ice time and opportunity to rediscover his game on a young and upcoming Chicago team.
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.
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.
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.
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.
