Ennis is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st after signing a one-year deal with the Senators in the off-season. He’s managed to rack up 14 goals and 19 assists in 61 games this year despite playing just 14:42 a game. Ennis is another productive addition to Edmonton’s top-nine as they continue to strengthen their depth up front.
Edmonton is also retaining 10% of Gagner's salary. Gagner performed admirably when called upon this season, compiling five goals and seven assists in 36 games. A potential top-six role in Detroit could help Gagner get back to double-digit goals, a mark he's reached 10 times in his 13-year career.
Athanasiou has had a disappointing 2019-20 season after his 30-goal breakout campaign a year ago. The 25-year-old has just ten goals and 24 assists in 46 games this season, but don’t be surprised if the change of scenery reignites his production. After spending most of the season on the wing of Valtteri Filppula, Athanasiou will now almost certainly get a shot at playing alongside Connor McDavid. He is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st.
Originally a seventh-round pick of the Lightning in 2011, Peca has 17 points in 64 career NHL games, spread across four different seasons. The 26-year-old failed to register a point in the five games he played for the Habs this season and had just four goals and nine assists in 34 games with Laval (AHL).
It's the third time Luchuk's been traded within the last calendar year. He was originally sent to Toronto from Ottawa in the Nikita Zaitsev/Cody Ceci in July, before the Maple Leafs flipped him back to Ottawa last week for Max Veronneau. Luchuk has played almost exclusively with Newfoundland in the ECHL this season, racking up 50 points in 45 games.
Ritchie was selected tenth overall by the Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. His production has been somewhat underwhelming through his first five seasons, never topping more than 31 points in a season. The 24-year-old has eight goals and 11 assists in 41 games on the year.
Heinen's production continues to trend downward after his 47-point campaign in 2017-18. He has just seven goals and 15 assists through 58 games this season.The 24-year-old carries a $2.8M cap hit through the 2020-21 season.
New Jersey also retained 50% of Simmonds' salary. Simmonds was set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1 after signing a one-year deal with Devils in the off-season. He registered just eight goals and 16 assists in 61 games as a Devil.
Criscuolo's only NHL experience came in a nine-game stint with the Sabres during the 2017-18 season. The 27-year-old forward had eight goals and 16 assists through 40 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL) this season.
The 29-year-old Grant is enjoying somewhat of a breakout year in 2019-20, already scoring a career-high 14 goals in 49 games. Grant played predominantly on Anaheim's fourth-line this season, but he had been seeing some time with the first power-play unit. He should slot into the Flyers' bottom-six as they continue to load up on depth for their playoff run.
Hutchinson provides the Avalanche with some goaltending depth after Philipp Grubauer went down with a lower-body injury. Hutchinson was waived by the Maple Leafs earlier this month after the team acquired Jack Campbell. Hutchinson owns an ugly 4-9-1 record on the season to go along with an .886 SV% and 3.66 GAA.
Rosen returns to the Leafs after the Avalanche acquired him along with Nazem Kadri in the off-season. Rosen played eight games with Colorado this season, registering zero goals and two assists. He has three goals and 12 assists in 35 AHL games this season.
The third-round pick will become a second-rounder if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. The 40-year-old Marleau has 10 goals and 10 assists in 58 games since re-joining the Sharks earlier this season.
Philadelphia will be the eighth different team Thompson has played for across his 13-year career. He registered four goals and 10 assists in 63 games with Montreal this season, playing almost exclusively on the fourth-line. He's expected to see similar usage with the Flyers.
The Hurricanes selected Luostarinen with the 42nd overall pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft. The 21-year-old forward played eight games with the Hurricanes earlier this season, registering one assist and a -2 rating. He has eight goals and 17 assists in 44 AHL games this season.
Priskie was a sixth-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman is enjoying a productive rookie season in the AHL, registering six goals and 25 assists through 52 games with the Charlotte Checkers.
A fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Wallmark established himself as an effective two-way forward over the last two seasons. The 24-year-old has 11 goals and 12 assists through 60 games this season despite playing less than 13 minutes a game. Wallmark is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1.
Haula performed admirably in his third-line role for the Hurricanes after being acquired from Vegas in the off-season. Injuries limited him to just 41 games in a Carolina uniform, but he was able to register 12 goals and 10 assists while playing less than 16 minutes a night. He should play more of a top-six role now with the Panthers. Haula is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1.
Carolina will hope Trocheck can regain some of the elite form he flashed in the 2017-18 season, when he racked up a career high 75 points (31G/44A). Trocheck hasn't quite looked like himself since suffering a fractured ankle in November 2018. The 26-year-old has 10 goals and 26 assists through 55 games this season.
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.
