Bongiovanni was an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac University, who has appeared in 215 AHL games since 2022. In 2025-26, Bongiovanni has 25 points (12G / 13A) in 54 games with Belleville and he's expected to report to Hershey (AHL).
Clarke was originally drafted by the Devils but has spent the last two seasons in the Wild and Capitals organizations. The 24-year-old winger has appeared in just three career NHL games, spending the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he has 24 points (15G / 9A) in 50 games. He'll report to Belleville (AHL).
Kadri's name had circulated in trade rumours for weeks and was finally traded in a last-minute deal before the deadline to a team he had tremendous success with, the Colorado Avalanche. Kadri scored a career-high 87 points (28G / 59A) in 71 games with the Avalanche in the 2021-22 season en route to a Stanley Cup Championship. Now in his age-35 season, Kadri has remained an effective player, scoring 41 points (12G / 29A) in 61 games with Calgary.
Olofsson was productive in brief stints with Colorado's top powerplay unit, but has primarily been a bottom-six player with the team this season. The 30-year-old Swedish forward has 25 points (11G / 14A) in 60 games. He scored a career-high 49 points (20G / 29A) in 72 games with the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021-22 season.
Curran was a fifth round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft that has impressed over the past two seasons in the WHL. The 19-year-old Czech forward has 41 points (14G / 27A) through 31 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) this season.
Battaglia was a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, who has yet to make his professional debut. The 19-year-old is currently playing in the OHL, where he has 16 points (12G / 4A) in 22 games with the Flint Firebirds.
Othmann was drafted 16th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward has yet to make the full-time jump to the NHL level and scored only one point (1G / 0A) in 17 games with the Rangers this season.
Buffalo bolstered their offensive depth at the deadline, adding Tanner Pearson, as they have their sights set on ending a long playoff drought. The 33-year-old Pearson averaged 10:53 time-on-ice and scored 13 points (7G / 6A) in 52 games with Winnipeg this season.
Liljegren was acquired mid-season by the San Jose Sharks in 2024-25, but his stay was short lived after being dealt to the Washington Capitals ahead of the 2025-26 deadline. The 26-year-old defenseman averaged 20:08 time-on-ice and scored 11 points (1G / 10A) in 43 games with San Jose this season.
Buchelnikov was a second-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entyr Draft that has yet to make his professional North American debut. The 22-year-old forward has 23 points (13G / 10A) in 38 games with CSKA Moscow (KHL) this season.
Laughton was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2024-25 trade deadline and has been flipped before the 2025-26 deadline, heading to the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Laughton averaged 13:40 time-on-ice and scored 12 points (8G / 4A) in 43 games with the Maple Leafs this season.
Reichel has had trouble making an impact at the NHL level and joins the Boston Bruins, his third team this season. The 23-year-old forward has five points (2G / 3A) in 19 games split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks this season.
Kampf had his contract terminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this season and pleased reasonably well in a bottom-six role after joining the Vancouver Canucks. The 31-year-old Czech forward is averaging 15:02 time-on-ice and has six points (2G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
Drouin never really fit the Islanders' style of play and will ultimately get a fresh start after being traded to the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Drouin scored 21 points (3G / 18A) in 55 games with the Islanders this season, but only had two points (0G / 2A) in his last 19 games.
After nine seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Schenn will join his fourth NHL team after being acquired in a trade by the New York Islanders. The 34-year-old Schenn will add some grit and goal scoring to an Islanders team trying to secure a spot in the postseason. In 61 games with the Blues this season, Schenn scored 28 points (12G / 16A) and recorded 138 hits.
Strome has one year remaining on his contract after this season and hopes that a change of scenery can help him improve his offensive production after a trade to the Calgary Flames. After five consecutive seasons with over 40 points, the 32-year-old Strome has struggled in the 2025-26 season with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring only eight points (3G / 6A) through 33 games.
Holl, a veteran of 396 career NHL games, has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 34-year-old defenseman scored 14 points (2G / 12A) in 41 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season and could be in line for a larger opportunity with the Blues.
Faulk has had an excellent season for a struggling St. Louis Blues team and will join the Detroit Red Wings as they continue their late-season push to return to the postseason. The 33-year-old averaged 22:30 time-on-ice, recording 32 points, 102 blocks, and 49 hits in 61 games with the Blues this season.
McMann, an impending UFA, has been in frequent trade rumours leading up to the deadline, which came to fruition on Friday in a deal to the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old McMann averaged 15:19 time-on-ice, recording 32 points (19G / 13A), and 135 hits in 60 games with the Maple Leafs this season.
Thompson was a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old forward scored 15 points (6G / 9A) in 40 games with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) this season.
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.
