Kampfer, 26, never suited up for the Rangers organization after coming over this summer. He played 69 games and recorded 26 points (6G / 20A) for Minnesota's AHL affiliate in Iowa last season.
Crabb, 31, has played 179 career NHL games for the Thrashers, Maple Leafs, Capitals and most recently the Panthers. He gives the Rangers fourth line depth or a solid AHLer and the 2-for-1 trade frees up a roster spot, likely for rookie Anthony Duclair who had a tremendous preseason.
Boychuk, 30, had five goals and 18 assists (23 points) in 75 games with the Bruins last season. He has played 321 games in five seasons with the Bruins, but will head to Long Island where he should play a key top-4 role. He has a big slapper and should see some an increased power-play role with the Islanders. Boychuk will be an unrestricted free-agent at the end of next season, and gives the Bruins some cap flexibility.
Pokka, 20, was one of the Islanders' top D prospects. He was selected 34th overall in 2012 and is in his third full season with Karpat of the SM-liiga. He had six goals and 21 assists (27 points) in 54 games as a teenager last season.
Nilsson, 24, has posted a 4-1-2 record, 2.10 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in eight games with the KHL’s Ak Bars this season. Nilsson split the 2013-14 season between the New York Islanders and American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Nilsson posted an 8-7-2 record with a 3.11 GAA and .896 SV% in 19 regular-season games with the Islanders. He collected a 12-4-2 mark, 2.81 GAA, .901 SV% and two shutouts in 29 regular-season games with Bridgeport.
Brennan, 25, had a great season with the Toronto Marlies last season. He finished the year with 25 goals and 47 assists (72 points) in 76 AHL games. He signed with the Isles this offseason, but will now likely report to Rockford (AHL).
Simpson, 22, was the 58th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. He went 11-14-1 with a 3.64 GAA and .891 SV% with Rockford (AHL) last season. He will report to Bridgeport (AHL).
Leddy, 23, had seven goals with 24 assists (31 points) in 82 games with the Blackhawks last season. Leddy has never missed a regular season game in three NHL seasons and should be in the Isles' top-4 with a lot of power-play time.
D'Amigo, 23, had three points (1G / 2A) in 22 games with the Maple Leafs last season. While in the AHL he was able to post 20 goals and 13 assists (33 points) in 51 contests. He is a strong two-way player with an ability to score.
Frattin, 26, returns to Toronto after he was dealt to the Kings in the Jonathan Bernier trade. After 40 games with Los Angeles he was traded to Columbus in the Marian Gaborik deal. He finished the season with two goals and five assists in 44 total games.
Stuart, 34, had just 11 points (3G / 8A) in 61 games with the Sharks last season. His offence is not where it used to be, but he brings a stable and physical game to the Avalanche's blueline.
Gorges, 29, had 14 points (1G / 13A) in 66 games with the Canadiens this season. He turned down the opportunity to get traded to the Maple Leafs earlier in the week, but now heads to the Sabres, who were the NHL's worst teams last season. He will step into a leadership role on a young Sabres team.
Karlsson, 23, had 11 goals and 13 assists (24 points) in 39 games with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.
Guptill, 22, was a third-round pick (77th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Guptill scored 12 goals with 13 assists (25 points) in 31 games at the University of Michigan.
Paul, 19, was selected in the fourth-round (#101 overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Paul had 26 goals and 20 assists (46 points) in 67 games with the North Bay Battalion (OHL) this season. Paul had a strong postseason as well, posting 18 points (12G / 6A) in 22 games.
Chiasson, 23, recorded 35 points (13G / 22A) in 79 games for the Stars last season. Chiasson is a big forward at 6-foot-4, 205 lbs. and has shown an ability to score in the NHL. At this point in his career, Chiasson will likely find himself in the Senators top-9 opposed to the top-6.
Spezza, 31, scored 23 goals with 43 assists (66 points) in 75 games with the Senators in 2013-14. Spezza, who made it clear that he wanted out of Ottawa, refused a deal to Nashville on Draft Day, but is now on his was to Dallas. He will join Tyler Seguin as the Stars 1-2 punch. He carries a $7 million cap-hit in this, his final season on a seven-year deal.
Briere, 36, scored 13 goals with 12 assists (25 points) in 69 games with Montreal. He found himself relegated to the fourth-line for much of the season and playoffs. The trade adds an experienced forward to a young and up-and-coming team. Briere will be entering his final year of a two-year $8 million dollar deal.
There were rumblings of a possible trade in the middle of the season, but the Avs waited until the offseason to ship him for a veteran forward. Parenteau missed 27 games with a knee injury in 2013-14 and finished the year with 14 goals and 19 assists (33 points) in 55 games. He will look to land a top-6 role in Montreal. The trade has no effect on the salary cap of either team for the 2014-15 season, with Briere and Parenteau each scheduled to make $4 million. The difference is Parenteau has an extra year on his contract with Briere entering the final season of his.
Thompson, 29, had nine goals and seven assists (16 points) in 81 games for the Ducks last season. He adds forward depth to the Ducks lineup and will likely centre the Ducks' fourth line in 2014-15.
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.