Buckle in, folks — it’s trade deadline season in the NHL.
We have reached the point in the campaign where it’s decision time for hockey clubs. Either they are well in playoff contention and are looking to bolster their group for a postseason run, or the playoffs are slipping out of sight and general managers are looking to sell instead. In rare cases, certain clubs are selling as contenders and buying as pretenders for the future.
The 2024 trade deadline is shaping up to be a bit of a dud. There are not a ton of notable names that have been swirling in trade rumors, and a couple of the big fish already have been moved. The Flames elected to send star center Elias Lindholm to the Canucks at the end of January, then traded defenseman Christopher Tanev to the Stars the week ahead of the deadline.
In addition, names like Marc-Andre Fleury and Elias Pettersson have been taken off the potential trade block. The Wild are electing to keep Fleury on their roster for the rest of the season, as was reported in late February. In addition, the Canucks inked their star center to a lucrative eight-year extension after a potential deal with the Hurricanes fell through.
While it might not be as chaotic in years past, the deadline is always a frenzy, even if it lacks prominent figures.
Here’s what to know about the 2024 trade deadline, including some of the top candidates that could be moved.
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When is the NHL trade deadline?
- Date: Friday, March 8
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
The deadline for teams to make a trade during the 2023-24 NHL season is Friday, March 8. Calls of the trade must be sent to the league office by 3 p.m. ET.
Clubs are free to make trades at any time before that date.
Can NHL teams make a deal after the trade deadline?
While there is a specific deadline for trades, teams can still acquire players from other clubs after March 8. The caveat is that any player traded after the deadline is not eligible to play in any regular season or playoff games for their new teams.
If any deals are done post-deadline, they typically involve AHL players.
Top NHL trade deadline candidates
Jake Guentzel, LW, Penguins
The Penguins are in a free fall, and all signs are pointing to a Jake Guentzel trade at the deadline. After re-signing a plethora of the team’s veteran forwards over the past two offseasons, the American winger appears to be the odd man out, as Guentzel is set to hit free agency this summer.
He hasn’t played since Feb. 14 due to an upper-body injury, so his value isn’t as high as it once was, but when healthy, Guentzel is a proven top-line winger with a knack for performing in the playoffs. He has 52 points in 50 games this season, scoring 22 goals in that span. Does he benefit from playing with Sidney Crosby? Absolutely, but Guentzel can still create offense on his own, and he should be one of the most sought-after wingers at the deadline.
Noah Hanifin, LD, Flames
The Flames already traded Elias Lindholm and Christopher Tanev. Hanifin is next. The left-handed 27-year-old is undoubtedly the top defenseman on the trade market. The pending free agent is looking to land somewhere else and sign an extension, so he’s not purely a rental.
Hanifin is a puck-moving offensive defenseman who bolsters any group’s top-four on the blue line. He is up to a career-high 11 goals this season, and his 35 points are on track to set a new career high (45). While he could assist a contender, the long-term addition he presents makes him an intriguing candidate for several clubs, including those not necessarily in contention this year.
Adam Henrique, C, Ducks
Another year, another deadline where the Ducks are selling. While the future is bright in Anaheim, the team still is super young, and there are a couple of veteran forwards who make sense to be on the trade block. Henrique is one of those players.
The 34-year-old center has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence this year, with his 42 points in 60 games currently on pace to contend with his career-high of 51 he set back in 2011-12. Henrique may be getting top-line minutes in Anaheim, but for a contender, he would be a strong third-line option. He could be an under-the-radar acquisition who gives a team an edge in the postseason.
Sean Walker, D, Flyers
The Flyers are in a weird spot, but they have multiple pending free agents on the roster. Philadelphia has undoubtedly overachieved this season, with head coach John Tortorella rallying a group viewed as a lottery team heading into the year, and has transformed them into a hard-nosed team that’s a tough out for anyone.
While it might not make sense on the surface to sell, the Flyers very well could, and Walker is a prime candidate. The 29-year-old is a right-handed defenseman — a rarity these days — who has been on contenders’ radars. He’s a strong puck mover and is the kind of gritty blue-liner that teams need to win Stanley Cups.
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Jacob Markstrom, G, Flames
To trade or not to trade Markstrom. It feels like the Flames goaltender has been in trade rumors for over a year now, and it’s still not clear whether he will be in Calgary post-deadline. The Flames reportedly have plans to keep him through the deadline and gear up for a potential move this summer, but if the right deal comes along, they might pull the trigger early.
The 35-year-old Swede has bounced back after a rough 2022-23 campaign, looking more like the Vezina finalist from two years ago. Markstrom also has another year on his contract, so he could boost a team’s net not just for this season, but also next. The Devils have been tied to him for months, and if a deal isn’t done at the deadline, it feels like he could be heading to New Jersey this summer with the team in desperate need of a No. 1 goalie.
Linus Ullmark, G, Bruins
Speaking of goaltenders, would the Bruins actually break up the two-headed monster in net that is Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman? It may seem far-fetched, but Boston has to eventually commit to one, and the younger Swayman makes a lot more sense to keep around than Ullmark.
The Swedish netminder is still getting a share of starts in the crease with Swayman; however, Ullmark’s numbers have taken a step back after his historic 2022-23 campaign. The Bruins need depth scoring and help on the blue line. With a lack of picks/prospects available to trade, Boston may have no choice but to move the talented goaltender in order to upgrade for a playoff run. With another year left on his deal, Ullmark could be a short-term answer for a team in need of a No. 1 goalie.
Frank Vatrano, RW, Ducks
Like Henrique, Vatrano is a veteran forward on the Ducks who is a trade deadline candidate. The 29-year-old is having an exceptional season in Anaheim, already setting career-highs in goals (29) and points (48) through 61 games. He has been a dangerous scorer the past two seasons, and he would be a strong add to a contending team.
The beauty of Vatrano is he has shown an ability to play up and down a lineup in his career. He can be a complimentary winger on a top line with two stars, or take on a third-line role and drive offense that way. He is also signed for one more year after this, carrying a team-friendly cap hit of $ 3.65 million.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Senators
Tarasenko was one of the biggest names moved at last year’s deadline when the Russian winger went from the Blues to the Rangers. Could he be sporting another team’s jersey yet again this deadline? It’s certainly possible.
The veteran forward signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Senators. It’s safe to say the season in Ottawa has not gone as expected, with the team failing yet again to take the necessary step out of the rebuild. The Senators aren’t sniffing the postseason, so it makes sense to try to move the sniper to a contender rather than let him walk this summer for nothing. Tarasenko’s 17 goals this season are less than stellar, but he could be a strong depth add.
Scott Laughton, C, Flyers
Laughton has been in trade rumors for over a year now. He was almost a part of the deal that sent Kevin Hayes from the Flyers to the Blues this offseason, but he ultimately was not included in the trade. Now, his name is swirling yet again as teams have expressed interest in the 29-year-old, middle-six center.
The major caveat is that Laughton doesn’t want to leave the Flyers, according to multiple reports. He has been vocal about how much he enjoys the team, wanting to stick it out in Philadelphia and see the entire transformation through. However, from a business standpoint, he is a valuable deadline piece as a cheaper player with terms that the Flyers most certainly could gain multiple assets for.
Pavel Buchnevich, LW/RW, Blues
Buchnevich was a steal for the Blues when they acquired him in the 2021 offseason from the Rangers. However, he could be on his way out of St. Louis due to the Blues not contending for playoffs this year.
The appeal with Buchnevich — outside of the fact that he is a yearly 20-goal scorer — is that he comes with term. He has one year left on his deal after this season, and he carries a very reasonable cap hit of $ 5.8 million. The 28-year-old Russian could be enticing for contenders to try and nab, but the Blues may be hesitant to move Buchnevich if they want him as a part of their future.
