NHL Hockey Player News

The Predators acquired Barron from the Canadiens on Wednesday in exchange for defenceman Alexandre Carrier.

Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Barron leaves Montreal after registering 13 goals and 18 assists in just 109 career games spread out across parts of four seasons. He scored just one goal and did not register an assist in 17 games with the Habs this season.

Justin Barron
The Penguins reacquired Joseph from the Blues on Wednesday in exchange for future considerations.

Joseph returns to Pittsburgh where he spent the first four seasons of his career after just 23 games in St. Louis. Joseph failed to score as a Blue and has just two assists to his name on the season. He should see more consistent playing time for the Penguins after struggling to maintain a spot in the Blues lineup.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph
The Rangers acquired Borgen from the Kraken on Wednesday along with a 2025 third-round draft pick and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for Kaapo Kakko.

Borgen had reportedly been a trade target for the Rangers for quite some time but they had to pay a steep price to acquire his services, parting ways with the former second-overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Kakko. Borgen has just one goal and one assist in 33 games this season with the Kraken but is expected to be able to provide a lot of valuable minutes on a thin Rangers blue-line.

Will Borgen
The Kraken acquired Kakko from the Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for defenceman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick.

The second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was never able to live up to those lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.

Kaapo Kakko
San Jose has acquired Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick from Colorado for Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 5th round pick.

In his first season with the Avalanche, Kovalenko has shown glimpses of the talent that made him an offensive standout with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo (KHL), but limited deployment has likely stunted the opportunity for true success. In 28 games, Kovalenko is averaging 12:00 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A). The 25-year-old Kovalenko will likely get an opportunity for better deployment in his new home with the Sharks.

Nikolai Kovalenko
San Jose has acquired Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick from Colorado for Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 5th round pick.

Colorado's goaltending troubles have been well-documented this season, highlighted by Georgiev's ugly 3.38 GAA and .874 SV% in 18 appearances (8-7-0). As a result, Georgiev has been traded, along with Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick, to the San Jose Sharks in return for Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Georgiev will likely have the opportunity to reestablish himself as a reliable starter in San Jose. That said, given San Jose's sluggish defense, Georgiev will likely fall out of fantasy hockey relevance.

Alexandar Georgiev
Colorado has acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 5th round pick from San Jose for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick.

Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.

Givani Smith
Colorado has acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 5th round pick from San Jose for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick.

Colorado has addressed their goaltending issues this season by acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been solid for a defensively troubled Sharks team this season, posting a 3.00 GAA and .909 SV% in 19 games (6-9-3). Blackwood will likely have the opportunity to control Colorado's crease for the remainder of the season, with Scott Wedgewood serving as his backup. Colorado also received Givani Smith and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Sharks, with Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick going the other way.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Anaheim has acquired Jacob Trouba from New York for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Trade talks have surrounded Trouba since the offseason and a deal has finally landed, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Trouba was the captain of the Rangers, averaging 20:00 time-on-ice, and recording six points (0G / 6A), 68 blocks, and 39 hits in 24 games. Trouba will have one year remaining in his contract after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

Jacob Trouba
New York has acquired Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick from Anaheim for Jacob Trouba.

Vaakanainen was limited to only five games with the Ducks this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and will get a fresh start with the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen was the 18th overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He played a career-high 68 games with the Ducks last season, tallying 14 points (1G / 13A).

Urho Vaakanainen
Edmonton has acquired Jacob Perreault from Montreal for Noel Hoefenmayer.

Perreault was the 27th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season, playing one game with the Ducks, but has not played since. He has five points (1G / 4A) in five games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions (ECHL) this season.

Jacob Perreault

NHL Trade Tracker

Are you looking for all the latest NHL trade news from around the league? Then you’ve come to the right spot! Daily Faceoff’s NHL trade tracker provides up-to-the-minute updates on the latest personnel moves and trade rumours from all 32 franchises. When your favourite player gets dealt for future considerations, you’ll be the first to know!

Along with our NHL trade tracker, we also provide information on how hockey trades work, the strategy behind these moves, and how the latest NHL trades could impact your sports betting strategy.

It’s important for fans, sports bettors, and fantasy managers to stay informed on the latest NHL transactions. If you can keep tabs on the latest moves in the NHL, this can assist you in making intelligent pickups or trades in fantasy hockey and help shape your bets based on the new personnel added to a team.

NHL Trade Rules

NHL trades can be quite lucrative, with players, prospects, and draft capital moved to complete a deal. While there are a variety of ways to finalize trades, they all need to abide by the trade rules and regulations set by the league. Even the San Jose Sharks can’t take on everyone’s bad contracts.

Learn more about the rules around trades below so you can better understand how trades work, and the transactions made in our NHL trade tracker.

Salary Cap

In order for any NHL trade to be processed successfully, all parties involved must abide by the league’s salary cap rules. The current NHL salary cap is $88M, meaning that each team’s total payroll must fall within the budgetary restriction.

The salary cap in the NHL is considered a “hard cap,” meaning that no team can exceed it. While the limitations around roster construction can be strict, there are still ways for teams to legally exceed the set limit that won’t cost teams a first-round pick.

In the playoffs, teams are technically able to exceed their cap space through the long-term injured reserve (LTIR). The LTIR allows teams to place injured players on extended leave (24+ calendar days or 10 NHL Games) and fill their roster spots based on their cap space heading into the regular season.

If a player is on the LTIR heading into the postseason, they can be activated regardless of if their re-addition to the team puts them over the salary cap.

Roster Limit

For any active NHL roster, they can only dress 23 skaters. While they’re able to move players up and down through their farm system (AHL/ECHL/International Players), they must abide by this player limit when it comes to active players dressed in each game.

This plays a big factor in determining trades, as teams will need to make salaries work to make the move official and fit the current team’s available roster spots.

Depth is an incredibly important part of any successful NHL team, so filling out their roster with talented players is pivotal to their success. Each roster spot holds immense value.

NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL trade deadline is the last opportunity for teams to make moves between each other during the regular season. The trade deadline generally falls after the All-Star break so teams can make their last-ditch efforts before the playoffs begin. Players must be on the team’s roster by the deadline at 3 PM to be eligible for the NHL playoffs.

Technically, teams can still make trades after this point if they don’t qualify or have been eliminated from the postseason. These trades will not take effect until the next season, but the transactions can still go through.

The deadline can make or break a team’s playoff hopes, making it a dramatic and hectic period for hockey fans and managers alike. Be sure to regularly check back with our NHL trade tracker around the deadline so you don’t miss any latest moves from across the league.

Understanding the Strategy Behind NHL Trades

NHL teams may want to make a trade for a number of reasons. Often, teams make trades when they are looking to head in a certain direction, whether this means trying to improve and compete for the Stanley Cup or tank and enter a rebuild.

A team that feels it has a strong enough unit to make a deep run into the postseason will likely forgo some of its draft capital to acquire proven talent and enhance its winning capabilities.

Conversely, a team that has hit a wall in terms of success and doesn’t feel they have what it takes to compete in the playoffs may opt to trade away valuable assets in favour of draft picks or promising prospects.

Other NHL trade strategies may involve team culture/personnel fits. If a player doesn’t fit within a coach’s game plan or doesn’t have chemistry with his line mates, teams may opt to deal him to find a better fit.

For daily fantasy sports players or hockey bettors, understanding the logic behind NHL trades can play a big part in your success. If you have a solid understanding of a team’s needs and the value brought by particular players, you can use this to gain an edge on your roster moves and bets.

Check out the most recent roster moves from around the league with our NHL trade tracker, and be sure to analyze the strategy used by each team when making their next move.

How NHL Trades Impact Sports Betting

NHL trades can have a major impact on sports betting, both in terms of daily games and futures. Players moving from team to team can alter a squad’s potential success and on-ice production.

For example, if a team decides to trade their leading goal-scorer, you can rightfully assume that their overall scoring numbers may drop as a result. This means a team you once would’ve taken the Over on may be better suited for the Under due to their new lineup.

Acquiring an all-star player for futures bets can dramatically influence the betting lines, increasing one team’s value while dropping another. If you’ve already placed a futures bet and the team you wagered on makes a trade, this could possibly increase or lower the value of your original ticket, depending on the result of the roster change.
Daily fantasy hockey players can also be impacted by NHL trades as you will need to see how a player fits into their new setting before including them in your drafted lineup.
Be sure to watch for any of the latest transactions by using our NHL trade tracker to stay informed on all the roster changes occurring throughout the league.

NHL Trades FAQs

Who decides NHL trades?

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.

When can players be traded in the NHL?

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.

Why do they trade players in hockey?

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.

How often are NHL players traded?

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.

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