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ESPN staff
The trade deadline for the 2022-23 NHL is 3 p.m. ET on March 3. Some stars have already been traded — including two 2023 All-Stars — with some impactful players remaining on the list of those potentially being moved.
After discussions with folks inside the game, reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski devised a handful of trades that could be consummated before the deadline.
More: 2022-23 trade tracker
Grades on biggest deals
Latest buzz
Devils get: RW Timo Meier
Sharks get: 2023 first-round pick, RW Alexander Holtz; D Seamus Casey or D Shakir Mukhamadullin or G Akira Schmid
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski has already reported the Devils and Sharks have been engaged on a potential deal. A hypothetical deal such as this one would be somewhat similar to what the Vancouver Canucks received in the Bo Horvat trade. It only makes sense the Devils would be one of the teams vying for Meier’s services, considering a potential trade would have a chance to be a win-win for all involved.
For the Devils, it’s all about getting a top-six winger for both now and in the future. Meier has one year left on his deal before he becomes a restricted free agent. One of the recruiting tools they could use — other than money — is selling him on being part of a young team that is built with the expectation they could be a perennial playoff team that later evolves into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
This hypothetical version of the trade would also see the Sharks address a number of needs for the future from what is considered to be one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. Holtz is a former first-rounder who still played less than 30 games while averaging just under 11 minutes per game. It’s possible going to San Jose would lead to him getting more opportunities. Asking for one of those prospects between Casey, Mukhamadullin or Schmid would allow the Sharks to add another young, promising player to go with Holtz and the first-rounder. — Clark
Rangers get: RW Patrick Kane, 2023 fourth-round pick
Blackhawks get: RW Vitali Kravtsov, C Jake Leschyshyn, 2024 first-round pick, Colorado’s 2023 fourth-round pick
Third-party team gets: Chicago’s 2023 fourth-round pick
What a wild few weeks for Patrick Kane. The palpable disappointment after the Rangers, his preferred destination, traded for Vladimir Tarasenko as a top-six right wing instead. Channeling that energy into a four-game Blackhawks’ winning streak in which Kane scored seven goals and added three assists, defiantly attempting to calm suitors’ doubts on what they believe was a lingering hip injury. There’s speculation that the Rangers could still be an option despite the Tarasenko trade, if the accounting is creative enough.
Any deal for Kane begins with the Rangers trading Vitali Kravtsov ($875,000 average annual value) and Jake Leschyshyn ($766,667), to clear out any money they can. They don’t want to give up their 2023 first-round pick — remember, they sent a conditional one to the Blues for Tarasenko — so they ante up a 2024 first-rounder instead to get the Blackhawks to retain 50% of his salary.
But wait, there’s more! The Rangers also swap fourth-round picks with the Blackhawks, sending them the Avs’ pick they own this season so the Blackhawks will send their 2023 fourth-rounder to a third-party team, which then takes another 25% off of Kane’s salary. Remember, the Wild facilitated the Ryan O’Reilly trade’s salary retention for a fourth-rounder.
The Blackhawks get something for a player with an expiring contract and a full no-movement clause. The Rangers add another star to their galaxy at forward; and Patrick Kane gets to reunite with Artemi Panarin and play for the Rangers, which is what he wanted all along. — Wyshynski
Jets get: LW James van Riemsdyk
Flyers get: 2023 first-round pick, C Danny Zhilkin
Third-party team get: 2024 fourth-round pick
Bringing in scoring help appears to be one of the priorities for the Jets in their bid to win both the Central Division and Western Conference. They’ve found ways to generate offense but are still around 16th in goals per game, which is exactly league average.
Going after van Riemsdyk would give them another top-six winger who gives them more size on the edge and a net-front option. He’s also a pending UFA carrying a $7 million annual cap hit. CapFriendly projects the Jets have around $2.293 million in available cap space. That means the Jets could have the Flyers retain 50% and then bring in a third-party broker to help facilitate the deal.
Building for the future is the plan in Philadelphia, and getting assets for the future accomplishes that goal in the event van Riemsdyk gets moved. Getting the Jets’ first-round pick would give the Flyers two first-round selections. There’s also the value Zhilkin could provide as a center for a Jets prospect pool that could use more options down the middle. — Clark
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Penguins get: F Ivan Barbashev
Blues get: 2023 second-round pick, F Filip Hallander
Pittsburgh may not reach the postseason — let alone go far in it if they do — without improved scoring depth. Enter Ivan Barbashev.
The Blues’ winger is a highly coveted player on this season’s trade market for a reason. Barbashev is versatile enough to play on the wing or at center, boasts a strong two-way game, good scoring ability and some physical punch. It’s quite a combination, and one that would upgrade the Penguins’ lagging offensive attack.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain top-notch players; Jake Guentzel and Rickard Rakell are having good seasons as well. But Pittsburgh’s other forwards haven’t kept pace. Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen have 40 points this season combined, and Brock McGinn clocks in with just 15. Barbashev could immediately elevate Pittsburgh’s middle-six, and the increased competition for spots might light a fire under some of those stragglers.
Giving up a high draft pick and Hallander would prove GM Ron Hextall believes in Pittsburgh’s chances to win now. The 22-year-old Hallander has struggled to translate his game to North America, but there’s enough upside in his potential as an NHL depth forward to intrigue St. Louis — a team uninterested in long rebuilds and looking to acquire players that can help in the here and now.
Ultimately Barbashev can fill in a significant gap for the Penguins. It’s a possibility too tantalizing not to pursue in full. — Shilton
Kings get: G Thatcher Demko, F Anthony Beauvillier, D Luke Schenn, 2023 third-round pick
Canucks get: 2023 first-round pick (unconditional), 2023 third-round pick, F Alex Iafallo, F Alex Turcotte, D Jordan Spence, G Cal Petersen
The Kings’ interest in Demko, 27, has been the source of much speculation. At the peak of his powers, he could be a top 10 goalie in the NHL, with a contract that carries a $5 million cap hit through 2025-26. This trade gets Los Angeles its heir to Jonathan Quick, but obviously at a cost.
While Iafallo is meaningful to the Kings on and off the ice, he’s become a little redundant after some of the other moves for wingers they’ve made — hence, his ice time is down a bit this season. He’s signed through 2024-25 at $4 million AAV. Beauvillier, who can fill that void on left wing, is signed through 2023-24 at $4.15 million AAV. Schenn, a pending UFA, gives the Kings a physical veteran on the back end.
The Canucks pick up two picks from the Kings as well as Turcotte and Spence, two of their top prospects. That’s a lot of prospect getting shipped out here, but that’s the price to pay for Demko … and for getting the final two seasons of Petersen’s contract off the books at $5 million AAV and $11 million in money owed. — Wyshynski