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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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 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 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.
Korczak had a big role on the Vegas Golden Knights' blueline in the 2025-26 season, playing a career-high 78 games and scoring 16 points (3G / 13A). The 25-year-old Korczak is entering the first year of a four-year contract worth $13 million ($3.25M AAV).
Wotherspoon had a breakout 2025-26 season, playing predominantly alongside Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh, recording 30 points (3G / 27A) and a +17 plus/minus in 80 games. The 28-year-old defenseman spent his first six professional seasons playing exclusively in the AHL before making his NHL debut in 2022-23 with the New York Islanders.
Philp is an undrafted forward that made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes midseason in 2025-26, but he only suited up in two games, spending most of his campaign in the AHL, recording 17 points (8G / 9A) in 29 games with the Chicago Wolves.
Masters was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft that has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old defenseman spent the 2025-26 season in the ECHL, where he recorded three assists in 10 games with the Wichita Thunder.
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.
