2025 NHL Trade Deadline Recap: The Biggest Deals and Surprises

The NHL trade deadline has elapsed, and this year was a special one!

The New York Islanders have removed prominent center Brock Nelson, having traded him to the Colorado Avalanche. Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars captivated attention by securing Mikko Rantanen on deadline day. However, these were not the lone significant trades that caused commotion.

Presented below are our evaluations on the most significant deals and surprises of the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

The Panthers Welcomes Brad Marchand from the Bruins

The Boston Bruins terminated their last remaining connection to the 2011 Stanley Cup title squad by moving Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers.

The Bruins have indicated they are commencing a rebuilding process. It was speculated that they established a substantial price for Marchand. Ultimately, they agreed to a 2027 second-round selection, which has the potential to convert into a 2028 first-round pick. They kept 50% of Marchand’s $6.13 million salary cap hit, thus leaving an inadequate return for a player of Marchand’s prominence.

For 16 years with the Bruins, Marchand was an integral part of the team’s success and a fan favorite. Appointed club captain in September 2023, he engaged in contract extension negotiations during the current season. Nevertheless, the Bruins chose to trade him instead of jeopardizing his exit as a free agency on July 1.

Even if he isn’t as prolific as he once was, Marchand is still a frustrating and efficient two-way winger. In 61 games this season, he has scored 21 goals and collected 47 points. He is presently classified as week-to-week due to an upper-body ailment but is anticipated to return later this month.

Marchand’s exit signifies the conclusion of an era for the Bruins; yet, he is expected to assist the Panthers in their endeavor to retain the Stanley Cup. Marchand and Tkachuk are poised to significantly disrupt their adversaries’ performance upon the latter’s comeback in the playoffs.

Marchand and Seth Jones Boost Panthers Stanley Cup Betting Odds

The Panthers acquisition of Marchand wasn’t the only huge trade deadline news, as they’d already bolstered the roster with Seth Jones.

Jones is hardly a premier defenseman, despite being compelled to assume that position with the struggling Blackhawks. He will serve as an exceptional top-four defenseman in Florida, complementing the premier pairing of Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling.

Following the announcement of the Marchand deal, Florida’s Stanley Cup odds shifted from +800 to +650, establishing them as the new favorites for the championship. While the price may have dropped, don’t neglect other benefits when backing the champs like this ESPN BET promo code from Gambling.com.

Is a repeat of last year’s final on the cards for the Panthers?

Here’s a look at the current top-five Stanley Cup Winner Future Odds:

• Panthers @ +650
• Stars @ +700
• Oilers @ +800
• Avalanche @ +1000
• Golden Knights @ +1200

The Maple Leafs Snatch Brandon Carlo

Prior to 1 p.m. on deadline day, Maple Leafs supporters were perplexed by club general manager Brad Treliving’s lack of activity, especially when other teams were enhancing their rosters. It appears he had a strategy, one that is commendable, I must say.

Following participation in the Mikko Rantanen sweepstakes, it appears Treliving established an internal deadline, and upon its expiration, he transitioned to the next viable option.

Brandon Carlo, Welcome to Toronto

Following Scott Laughton’s previous afternoon acquisition, it seemed that would be the Maple Leafs’ last significant action. Until the Panthers got Marchand, it appeared like a brilliant strategy.

Conor Timmins was called from the rink at practice, so everyone assumed the Leafs had struck a deal even at the very moment supporters were trying to process the news.

Though Brandon Carlo was being sent to the Maple Leafs, shocking everyone on the outside, nobody—not even Friedman—expected what would follow next. The Maple Leafs front office said, “we got you.” and has since made his debut.

Brock Nelson to the Islanders

As part of a trade, the Colorado Avalanche received a conditional first-round selection in the 2026 NHL draft, a conditional third-rounder in 2028, forward prospect Calum Ritchie, defender Oliver Kylington, and center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.

The Islanders also kept half of Nelson’s $6 million salary-cap hit. For future considerations, Kylington was then turned over to the Anaheim Ducks.

What does this trade mean?

This action indicates two things: the Islanders are rebuilding their squad out of overdue need, while the Avalanche are all-in for a Stanley Cup push this season.

The Avalanche acquired the best center available on the trade market this year. Strong two-way center Nelson, 33, with three 30-plus-goal seasons and much of postseason experience. He will play the second-line center, giving their front lines great depth and talent.

They sacrificed a lot to land Nelson, and there’s a chance he will go via free agency on July 1. If Colorado helps them win the Stanley Cup, no one there will be concerned about that; but, should they fail, they will have given away a significant portion of their future for an ill-fated temporary benefit.

Mikko Rantanen Is on The Move, Again!

Signed to a contract with a lower AAV than Nathan MacKinnon, do you suppose the Colorado Avalanche front staff expected when they dealt Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes would wind up back in their division not even two months later?

My guess is no.

Although the Hurricanes were anticipated to attempt to relocate Mikko Rantanen, given the player’s size and what has transpired since Jan. 24, following his first trade to Carolina from Colorado.

As a result, the Dallas Stars currently have the second best betting odds to win the Stanley Cup after pulling off something nobody would have imagined possible.

The Oilers Surprise Everyone with Jake Walman Trade

The Edmonton Oilers traded for a defender; is that surprising? No, but the person they traded for is unexpected.manscaped.com/prohockeynews

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Before planning another run at the Stanley Cup, the Oilers sorely needed a defensive improvement. Leading by Evan Bouchard, who seems to be on the negative end of every highlight versus the Oilers, the issue with the team all season long has been their lack of defense.

Therefore, given the offensive-defenceman kind of game Jake Walman was playing for the Sharks, it was very surprising when the agreement for him was formally revealed early Friday morning.

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