Trade
The Lightning have acquired Eddie Pasquale from the Oilers for future considerations.
NHL Trades
Trade
The Blue Jackets have acquired Jeff Zatkoff from the Kings for future considerations.
The Coyotes have acquired John Ramage from the Blue Jackets for future considerations.
Ramage, 26, was a fourth round pick of the Flames in 2010 and has been with the Blue Jackets since 2015-16. Ramage has appeared in just two career NHL games, but has collected nine points (2G / 7A) in 33 games with Cleveland (AHL) this season. He will report to Tucson (AHL).
The Coyotes have acquired Laurent Dauphin and Richard Panik from the Blackhawks for Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening.
Dauphin spent the first two seasons of his professional career in Arizona but spent the first three months of this season in the Blackhawks organization. Dauphin had four goals and 10 assists (14 points) in 33 games with the IceHogs and will likely report to Tucson (AHL).
The Coyotes have acquired Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin from the Blackhawks for Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening.
Panik signed a big contract with the Blackhawks ($2.8M AAV) but has yet to replicate last year’s numbers. The 26-year-old winger showed he can put up solid numbers and will likely play a big role in Arizona. He heads to the desert with six goals and 10 assists (16 points) in 37 games this season.
The Blackhawks have acquired Adam Clendening and Anthony Duclair from the Coyotes for Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin.
Clendening was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in 2011 and played with the until the start of the 2014-15 season. The 25-year-old has two points in five games with the Coyotes this season and has picked up five points (1G / 4A) in 21 AHL contests.
The Blackhawks have acquired Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening from the Coyotes for Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin.
Duclair reportedly asked to be dealt out of Arizona and they granted his wish. Duclair has nine goals and six assists (15 points) in 33 games with the Coyotes this season, but has yet to live up to expectations to this point in his career. Duclair is still young and could become a capable goal-scorer in this league and will look to start fresh in Chicago. The Blackhawks don’t have a lot depth on the wing, so Duclair could earn a sizeable role at some point.
The Oilers acquired Al Montoya from the Canadiens for a conditional 2018 4th round pick.
Montoya has been sidelined for a lengthy period of time with a concussion but recently returned to practice. Acquiring Montoya means that the Oilers plan on sending Laurent Brossoit to Bakersfield (AHL) and use Montoya as Cam Talbot’s backup. Montoya has gone 2-1-0 with a 3.77 GAA and .863 SV% this season, but has a career .908 SV% in 160 NHL games.
The Flames have acquired Dalton Prout from the Devils for Eddie Lack.
Trade
The Devils have acquired Eddie Lack from the Flames for Dalton Prout.
The Penguins have acquired Jamie Oleksiak from the Stars for a conditional 2019 4th round pick.
The Coyotes have acquired Josh Archibald, Sean Maguire and a 2019 6th round pick from the Penguins for Michael Leighton and a 2019 4th round pick.
Archibald was a sixth round pick in 2011 and has scored three goals in 14 career NHL games. The 25-year-old winger will report to the Coyotes.
The Penguins have acquired Michael Leighton and a 2019 4th round pick from the Coyotes for Josh Archibald, Sean Maguire and a 2019 6th round pick.
Leighton moves to his fourth AHL team of the season as he will report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). Leighton has started 14 AHL games this season, allowing a combined 38 goals on 289 shots (.869 SV%).
The Sabres have acquired Scott Wilson from the Red Wings for a 2019 fifth round pick.
The Devils have acquired Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick from the Ducks for Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a 2018 3rd round pick.
The Ducks have good D-depth but were extremely thin up front, so moving Vatanen helps balance things out for them. Vatanen, who missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury has picked up four points (1G / 3A) in 15 games. He will likely play a huge role on the Devils’ blueline, including likely anchoring their top power-play unit. He will no longer have to fight for PP time with Cam Fowler or Brandon Montour.
The Ducks have acquired Joseph Blandisi, Adam Henrique and a 2018 3rd round pick from the Devils for Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick.
Blandisi was a sixth round pick (No.162 in 2012) but has turned into a quality pro forward since. Blandisi has picked up 26 points (8G / 18A)in 68 career NHL games with the Devils and should immediately report to the Ducks to help their forward depth. Blandisi has recorded three goals and 11 assists (14 points) in 19 games with Binghamton (AHL) this year.
The Ducks have acquired Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a 2018 3rd round pick from the Devils for Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick.
The Ducks are extremely thin at centre with Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler both sidelined with injuries, so adding Henrique will help them down the middle immediately. Henrique is two years removed from 30 goals and 20 assists (50 points) and has registered four goals and 10 assists (14 points) in 24 games this season. He was averaging 18:15 TOI/GM with the Devils and could see even more playing time in Anaheim while Getzlaf and Kesler are out. He is an interesting waiver add as he should see top line minutes alongside Corey Perry and should see plenty of PP time as well.
The Kings have acquired Jussi Jokinen from the Oilers for Michael Cammalleri.
Jokinen struggled to get on his feet in Edmonton, collecting just one assist in 14 games with the Oilers. Jokinen is a smart player, but played a slow game that didn’t quite fit the Oilers scheme. The Kings play a much more up-tempo style than they have in years past, so it might not be a great fit in L.A. either, but Jokinen brings versatility and playmaking ability to the Kings bottom-6 and has the ability to work his way up the depth chart.
The Oilers have acquired Michael Cammalleri from the Kings for Jussi Jokinen.
Cammalleri has registered three goals and four assists (seven points) in 15 games with the Kings this season. Jokinen never seemed to be a fit in Edmonton, so they get another veteran forward with offensive instincts. Cammalleri has put up solid numbers, even late in his career, but injuries have been an issue for him. The move should help both the Oilers scoring issues a little bit and gives Cammalleri a small fantasy boost.
The Coyotes have acquired Michael Leighton and Tye McGinn from the Lightning for Louis Domingue.
Leighton is a veteran netminder who has spent the large majority of his recent years in the AHL. Last year he was excellent as a member of the Hurricanes organization, but has gone 3-3-2 with a 3.03 GAA and .868 SV% in nine starts with Syracuse (AHL).
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.