There is no overwhelming Stanley Cup favorite with just a few weeks remaining in the NHL regular season, and teams are already taking advantage of what they perceive as a window to win a championship.
With the Panthers and Oilers surging in recent weeks to solidify their places among the league’s contenders, several front offices are under pressure to add and put their teams in the best positions down the stretch.
Many franchises already did make significant midseason deals well ahead of the deadline. Elias Lindholm, Vladimir Tarasenko, Casey Mittelstadt, Bowen Byram, and Anthony Mantha are already on the move. Who could join them?
Jake Guentzel is among the biggest names as the deadline nears, with the Penguins seeking a major return for one of their core pieces.
The Sporting News is tracking live news and rumors ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline. Follow along below with the action.
MORE: 14 players most likely to be traded by NHL deadline
NHL trades completed
Here is a list of all the major trades completed ahead of the Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
— March 7: The Avalanche acquired LW Yakov Trenin and D Graham Sward from the Predators for D Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick
— March 7: The Avalanche acquired LW Brandon Duhaime from the Wild, in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
— March 7: The Oilers acquired D Troy Stecher and a 2024 seventh-round pick from the Coyotes, in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
— March 7: The Predators acquired LW Anthony Beauvillier from the Blackhawks, in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick.
— March 7: The Maple Leafs acquired D Joel Edmundson from the Capitals, in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and 2025 fifth-round pick.
— March 6: The Golden Knights acquired D Noah Hanifin from the Flames for D Daniil Miromanov, a first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick.
— March 6: The Rangers acquired C Alexander Wennberg from the Kraken for a 2024 second-round draft pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
— March 6: The Avalanche acquired C Casey Mittelstadt from the Sabres in exchange for D Bowen Byram. The deal is one-for-one.
— March 6: The Oilers acquired C Adam Henrique, C Sam Carrick, and a seventh-round pick from the Ducks in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick. The Lightning also received a fourth-round pick from Edmonton in the deal as a third-party broker.
— March 6: The Avalanche acquired D Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Flyers in exchange for Ryan Johansen and a conditional 2025 first-round pick. Johansen was subsequently placed on waivers.
— March 6: The Panthers acquired RW Vladimir Tarasenko from the Senators in exchange for a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick.
— March 5: The Golden Knights acquired RW Anthony Mantha from the Capitals in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
MORE: Oilers surge to top of Stanley Cup odds
— March 1: The Devils acquire D Kurtis MacDermid from the Avalanche for prospect F Zakhar Bardakov and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
— Feb. 29: The Maple Leafs acquire D Ilya Lyubushkin from the Ducks in a three-team trade also involving the Hurricanes.
— Feb. 28: The Stars acquired D Chris Tanev from the Flames for prospect D Artem Grushnikov, 2024 second-round pick and conditional 2026 third-round pick. The Devils also acted as a third-party, receiving a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Stars, while sending the Flames prospect G Cole Brady.
— Feb. 22: The Penguins acquired F Emil Bemstrom from the Blue Jackets for F Alex Nylander and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick.
— Feb. 2: The Jets acquired C Sean Monahan from the Canadiens for a 2024 first-round pick and conditional 2027 third-round pick.
— Jan. 31: The Canucks acquired C Elias Lindholm from the Flames for LW Andrei Kuzmenko, prospect D Hunter Brzustewicz, prospect D Joni Jurmo, 2024 first-round pick and conditional 2024 pick.
NHL trade deadline 2024: Tracking the latest news, rumors
March 7 — The Devils were trying to work out an extension with winger Tyler Toffoli, but that appears to have fallen through. Instead, it looks like New Jersey is pivoting and is shopping the scoring winger.
Tyler Toffoli sitting out tonight. Asset management ahead of the deadline.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 7, 2024
March 7 — All eyes remain focused on Pittsburgh and Jake Guentzel. The winger is undoubtedly going to be moved before Friday’s deadline, and a number of teams remain in on the talented forward.
Jake Guentzel trade discussions are intensifying. While the #LetsGoPens keep working at it, I’m told it’s “getting close.” At this hour, the Rangers, Golden Knights, Canucks, Panthers & Hurricanes are still in the mix, per source.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 7, 2024
Jake Guentzel Derby Speculation:
NYR + CAR: Most to offer in NHL ready young players/picks
VAN + FLA: Might not have enough to outbid
VGK: Crazy magicians still in position to do this even after the Hanifin deal. Have picks, but CAR/NYR have players.Dark horse: The pesky Avs. pic.twitter.com/MGW9BOaekt
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 7, 2024
March 7 — The Avalanche made a couple of strong acquisitions to their bottom-six forward group, adding Yakov Trenin from the Predators and Brandon Duhaime from the Wild.
March 7 — The Maple Leafs are acquiring defenseman Joel Edmundson from the Capitals, according to former NHL defenseman Jordan Schmaltz. Washington is receiving the Islanders’ 2024 third-round pick and the Blackhawks’ 2025 fifth-round pick while retaining half of Edmundson’s salary.
March 7 — The Kraken plan to trade Jordan Eberle before the deadline if an extension can’t be reached, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Servalli, who notes that the Oilers have interest in the veteran.
March 6 — The Golden Knights are making a big splash, as the defending Stanley Cup champions reportedly are getting Noah Hanifin from the Flames, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. Not only that but there is an extension being worked out with the pending free agent.
March 6 — The Rangers are reportedly getting some bottom-six help, as the team is acquiring center Alexander Wennberg from the Kraken, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. Seattle is retaining 50% of Wennberg’s contract, while receiving a second- and fourth-round pick.
March 6 — One potential trade target is off the board. The Flyers are re-signing pending UFA defenseman Nick Seeler to a four-year extension, keeping the 30-year-old in Philadelphia.
March 6 — A big one-for-one deal: the Avalanche are sending young defenseman Bowen Byram to the Sabres for Casey Mittelstadt, according to Kevin Weekes, hoping to boost their offense after landing some defensive help with the deal for Sean Walker.
March 6 — The Avalanche have struck a deal to land defenseman Sean Walker from the Flyers, sending a conditional 2025 first-round pick back to Philadelphia. The Flyers also received Ryan Johansen but will place him on waivers.
Full trade, per sources:
To #Flyers: Cond. 2025 1st Rd Pick, Ryan Johansen
To #GoAvsGo: Sean Walker, 2026 5th Rd PickCondition: 2025 1st is Top 10 protected, in which case it would slide to 2026.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2024
March 6 — The Oilers become the latest Pacific Division squad to make a move and acquire veteran Adam Henrique from the Ducks in a deal that sends two picks to Anaheim and one to Tampa. Henrique spent nearly seven years with the Ducks and continues to produce with 42 points this season.
Trade call(s) going down now:
To #Oilers: Adam Henrique (75% retained), Sam Carrick, 7th Rd Pick
To #NHLDucks: EDM 2024 1st Rd Pick, Cond. 2025 5th Rd Pick
To #GoBolts: EDM 4th Rd PickCond: 5th becomes 4th in EDM wins the Cup.
Tampa also must send a reserve list player.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2024
March 6 — The Vladimir Tarasenko sweepstakes are over, as the Panthers swung a deal to land the former Blues star from Ottawa for third- and fourth-round picks. Tarasenko didn’t sign with the Senators until late July but emerged as an intriguing trade candidate with 41 points in 57 games.
The Senators retained half of Tarasenko’s salary as part of the deal, which became possible when the veteran waived his no-movement clause.
Ottawa retains 50 percent on Tarasenko in the trade with Florida.
Going to Ottawa from Florida:
2024 4th RD pick (which becomes 2026 3rd RD pick if Panthers win Cup)
2025 3rd Rd pick— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2024
March 5 — The Penguins are hoping to trade Jake Guentzel by the end of Wednesday, according to Darren Dreger. Pittsburgh is expecting to receive a significant haul for the 29-year-old.
Sources say the Penguins are hoping to have a trade in place for Jake Guentzel by tomorrow evening. Pittsburgh is open to quality over quantity in return, but would like a 1st, young NHL player, plus prospects. Flexibility comes in the calibre of prospect or roster player.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 5, 2024