Three 2025 NHL Trade Deadline acquisitions who need to step it up

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Mar 27, 2025, 12:00 EDT
Three 2025 NHL Trade Deadline acquisitions who need to step it up
Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

We’re nearing the 10-game mark for most players since the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline – and with about as many games left on the schedule, that’s a decent enough sample size to start evaluating their play.

Since the deadline, Brock Nelson, Dylan Cozens, and Jake Walman have played some solid hockey. Even on a lesser scale, Cody Glass and Luke Schenn have looked rejuvenated in their new homes.

But what about the players who just aren’t living up to expectations for one reason or another? Let’s look at three players who need to step it up sooner rather than later:

Michael Bunting, LW (Nashville Predators)

Bunting has been around the block in recent years. After leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023, he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes to give the team some scoring depth. He was then swapped over to Pittsburgh in the Jake Guentzel trade and performed well with 19 points in 21 games.

But Kyle Dubas’ favorite son seemed to fall out of favor with the Penguins and was shipped out to Nashville just two days before the deadline. Bunting just hasn’t looked impactful for the bottom-feeding team, scoring just two goals and no assists in seven games. Of course, it came against the Leafs – and it was easily the best game of his short tenure in Nashville. But Bunting holds a 42.24 expected goals-for percentage at 5-on-5 – the lowest of anyone on the Predators.

Bunting had 63 points in his first full NHL season in 2021-22 and 55 a year ago. He’s someone you can throw on a line with star players and make things happen. Right now, nothing seems to be clicking for the Scarborough, Ontario native.

Scott Laughton, C (Toronto Maple Leafs)

It was seen as a perfect fit. The Maple Leafs needed someone who could serve as a bottom-six center, and Laughton was born not far away in Oakville. By all accounts, it was an exciting homecoming for everyone involved.

Granted, most people understood that Laughton wasn’t going to be a needle-mover offensively. He had just 27 points in 60 games this year, and never had more than 43 in a single season. But the former Oshawa Generals star has yet to register a single point in nine games, with a highlight being a fight against the Ottawa Senators in his fourth game with the club. His ice time even dipped below the 10-minute mark on Saturday against Nashville.

Laughton’s job is to provide toughness and hockey sense while showing versatility in a variety of situations. The two-way forward just hasn’t looked like himself, though, and that’s what’s causing some concern in Leafs Nation. That said, Laughton showed flashes Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first revenge game of his career. He delivered five hits, was singled out by teammate Max Domi and coach Craig Berube for his effort after the game and carried a 57.80 expected goal percentage at 5-on-5. Maybe it was the start of something.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, LW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Bjorkstrand went over to Tampa Bay alongside fellow Seattle Kraken castaway Yanni Gourde, and Bjorkstrand wasted no time making an impact with a goal in his TBL debut. But Bjorkstrand hasn’t scored since, with just two secondary assists since. The Danish forward has had a more difficult season overall compared to his impressive 59-point campaign a year ago. His role in Tampa is more tempered compared to what he had in Seattle, which is to be expected on a more competitive, playoff-bound team.

But still, it feels like Bjorkstrand is missing something. He hasn’t been taking many shots and his offensive impact has nearly dried up completely. Prior to the trade, he was tracking for well over 50 points – but it’s looking like he’s going to miss the mark by quite a bit.

There’s been a bit of an unlucky streak, too. Doesn’t it feel like he’s hitting a lot of posts right now? He can be a matchup nightmare because he’s a top-line caliber player who’s skating on the third line. But compared to Gourde, who has six assists already, it’s been an underwhelming tenure for Bjorkstrand so far in the Sunshine State.

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