Top five prospects dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline in the past 10 years

Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

With less than two months until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline March 8, we’re delivering at least one deadline-focused story every day at Daily Faceoff.

Today, we examine which prospects of note changed teams over the past 10 trade deadlines, dating back to 20214.

NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 56 days

If you’re a Stanley Cup contender with a deep prospect pool, that can prove to be so valuable come trade deadline time.

When you’re in win-now mode, the future doesn’t matter. And that means doing whatever it takes to bring in a big name before the deadline to help solidify your NHL roster, prospects be damned.

Last year, we saw the Vancouver Canucks bring over Aatu Raty from the New York Islanders in the Bo Horvat deal; the Los Angeles Kings acquired Erik Portillo from Buffalo; Henry Thrun was moved from Anaheim to San Jose; and the Sharks brought over Shakir Mukhamadullin in the Timo Meier trade.

But perhaps the most important deal was when Vegas acquired Ivan Barbashev for Zach Dean, a first-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2021. Barbashev was a key part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup run, while Dean is still a few years away from being an effective NHLer. But with the Blues thinking about what’s next, having Dean in the pipeline could be critical – and much more valuable than just losing Barbashev to free agency.

Today’s we’re going to look at some of the best moves involving prospects from the past decade. A few boundaries: we’re not counting draft picks, because those are traded all the time. We’re talking real, drafted prospects waiting to sign their first deals or still eligible for the Calder Trophy. We’re also only including trades after Jan. 1, when the trade deadline push begins. There are no summer deals, either, and nothing from 2023, given most of the players are still just trying to find their way.

With that out of the way, let’s get started:

Ryan Lindgren to New York Rangers: Feb. 25, 2018

Boston Bruins acquire: Rick Nash ($3.9 million retained)
New York Rangers acquire: Matt Beleskey ($1.9 million retained), Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, 2018 first-round pick (Jacob Bernard-Docker), 2019 seventh-round pick (Massimo Rizzo)

The Bruins were looking to go the distance, and adding a veteran goal-scorer in Nash looked to be the answer. Nash’s best days were well behind him, but he still managed to get five points in 12 playoff games before calling it quits during the summer.

The big piece here, though, was Lindgren. At the time, he was set to finish up after his second year with the University of Minnesota and would go on to turn pro later that spring. It didn’t take long for Lindgren to pair up with Adam Fox to make up one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL, a combo that’s still together today.

Bernard-Docker and Rizzo have both established themselves as solid youngsters, but the Rangers ended up moving both of those picks. No matter what, though, the Rangers got the most important piece of all by keeping Lindgren, who is set to get a raise at the end of his three-year deal worth $3 million this summer.

Ryan Graves to Colorado Avalanche: Feb. 26, 2018

Colorado Avalanche acquire: Ryan Graves
New York Rangers acquire: Chris Bigras

Graves was gone from Colorado by the time the team won the Cup, but it was still a major win by GM Joe Sakic. Bigras never played a game with the Rangers, falling well flat of expectations after going 32nd overall to Colorado in 2015.

Graves, meanwhile, became a big piece of Colorado’s lineup. The 6-foot-5 defenseman averaged 19 minutes a night over two full seasons with the club, scoring a career-high nine goals and 26 points in 69 games in 2019-20. He went on to sign a three-year deal worth $3.16 million annually, which ultimately resulted in him being a cap casuality in 2021.

The Avs capitalized on his value in 2021, sending him to New Jersey for Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round pick, which later became Sean Behrens. Behrens is now one of Colorado’s top prospects, so it worked out. Graves now makes more than $5 million a season with Pittsburgh while averaging 19:53 minutes a night.

Sean Durzi to Los Angeles Kings: Jan. 28, 2019

Los Angeles Kings acquire: Sean Durzi, Carl Grundstrom, 2019 first-round pick (Tobias Bjornfot)
Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Jake Muzzin

At the time, this looked like a huge win for the Leafs. Muzzin gave the Leafs some size and pedigree on the back end, and they only had to trade two mid-pack prospects and a first-rounder – who ultimately didn’t become a big piece of the Kings in the end.

But injuries prevented Muzzin from ever playing a full season with Toronto, with the expectation that he’ll never play again due to neck issues. It’s a shame, because Muzzin was playing some solid hockey when the Leafs acquired him, coming off his third 40-plus point season of his career.

Fast forward to 2024, and Durzi has become the most valuable piece from this deal. An overage draft pick in 2018, Durzi was an underrated piece of L.A.’s blueline during his two NHL seasons, which capped off with him putting up 38 points in 72 games as he took a bigger role with the club. Now in Arizona, Durzi could break the 50-point barrier for the first time in his career, and doing so as a pending RFA chasing a solid increase from his $1.7 million AAV contract.

Mason Marchment to Florida Panthers: Feb. 19, 2020

Florida Panthers acquire: Mason Marchment
Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Denis Malgin

An undrafted free agent signing by the Leafs in 2018, it was hard to believe Marchment would become a coveted NHLer later on. He made his debut with the Leafs in 2019-20, registering an assist in a four-game stint. The Leafs traded him to Florida at the deadline for Denis Malgin, who’d play eight games near the end of the season before heading back home to Switzerland. Malgin would eventually return in 2022 before getting shipped to Colorado early last season, but he’d head back to the ZSC Lions this past summer and likely won’t return to the NHL.

Marchment, though, really seemed to find his game in Florida. In 2021-22, he had a career-high 18 goals and 47 points in 54 games, earning him a nice raise at $4.5 million per season until 2026 with Dallas. Florida couldn’t afford to keep him around, but Marchment’s value for just the one year alone was well worth the move. He struggled last year, but he’s on pace for 66 points this year in his best hockey to date. Not too shabby.

Justin Barron to Montreal Canadiens: March 21, 2022

Montreal Canadiens acquire: Justin Barron, 2024 second-round pick
Colorado Avalanche acquire: Artturi Lehkonen ($1.15 million retained)

The Avalanche needed some extra scoring depth back in 2022, and they got it. Lehkonen didn’t disappoint, giving his team another veteran scoring presence for the team’s Cup run. Injuries have knocked him out of most of this season to date, but he went on to score a career-best 21 goals and 51 points in 64 games last year, showing it wasn’t just a fluke.

But Montreal got a key piece of the future in Barron, who, 22, has established himself as a top-four defenseman with the rebuilding franchise. He’s a solid two-way player who can use his quick footwork to get himself out of trouble, and he’s starting to really show his value in his first full NHL season. It’s not totally clear how high of a ceiling he has, but he’s off to an excellent start.

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