The NHL Trade Deadline: Everything You Need to Know

The NHL trade deadline is upon us and it’s time to get caught up on everything you need to know! We’ll go over the key dates, teams to watch, and players that could be on the move.

Introduction

The NHL trade deadline is one of the most exciting times of the year for hockey fans. All 30 teams are trying to improve their rosters for a playoff push, and there are often major deals that involve some of the league’s biggest stars. This year’s deadline is on February 24th, and it should be another exciting day of action. Here is everything you need to know about the NHL trade deadline.

What is the NHL Trade Deadline?

The NHL Trade Deadline is the last day of the NHL regular season during which teams can trade players with each other. After the deadline, teams are not allowed to make any more trades until the following season. This year, the deadline is on February 25th.

History of the NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline is the date by which all NHL teams must finalize their rosters for the remainder of the season. No trades involving players or other assets are allowed after this date. The deadline usually falls on the last Wednesday of February, but it can be later if the league schedule dictates.

The deadline was introduced in 1980, and since then it has undergone a few changes. In 1985, the deadline was moved from March 15 to March 10. In 1995, it was moved again, this time to April 1. And finally, in 2013, it was moved to its current date of the last Wednesday in February.

The purpose of the trade deadline is to ensure that all teams are on a level playing field for the stretch run of the season and the playoffs. By ensuring that rosters are set, no team can make a last-minute addition that gives them an unfair advantage over their opponents.

In recent years, the trade deadline has become one of the most anticipated days on the NHL calendar. As fans anxiously await news of trades involving their favorite players and teams, social media and television channels are abuzz with rumors and speculation. The trade deadline has also become must-see TV for hockey fans, as many tune in to see which players will be on the move and where they end up going.

So whether you’re a casual fan or a diehard hockey follower, make sure you clear your schedules for next month’s NHL Trade Deadline!

What Happens at the NHL Trade Deadline?

Each year at the NHL trade deadline, teams make a push for the playoffs or unload players for draft picks and prospects. The trade deadline usually falls on the last Wednesday in February, and it’s the last day that teams can make trades until the summer.

At the trade deadline, some teams will be looking to add pieces for a playoff run while others will be trying to unload veterans and rebuild for the future. Often, it’s a mix of both as teams jockey for position in the standings.

Players who are on expiring contracts or who will become free agents at the end of the season are often prime targets at the trade deadline. Teams that are out of playoff contention may trade these players away in order to get something in return rather than lose them for nothing in free agency.

Contending teams may be willing to part with young players or draft picks in order to get an impact player who can help them win now. It’s not uncommon for trades at the deadline to involve multiple players and/or draft picks going both ways.

The NHL trade deadline is always an eventful day, and it’s one that hockey fans keep an eye on closely each year.

Who Can Be Traded at the NHL Trade Deadline?

Any player who is on an NHL roster as of 3 p.m. ET on the day of the deadline is eligible to be traded. That includes everyone from the big-name superstars to the bottom-of-the-roster types.

There are, however, a few exceptions and caveats. First, any player who is on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) cannot be traded. That’s because teams can temporarily go over the salary cap by the amount of a player’s annual salary while he’s on LTIR, so trading that player would give the acquiring team an unfair cap advantage.

Second, players who have signed a contract within the past year cannot be traded until Jan. 1 of the following season, unless they’re dealt along with another player or draft picks. So a team that signs a free agent to a five-year deal on July 1 wouldn’t be able to trade him before Jan. 1 of the following year.

Finally, any player who has been claimed off waivers within the past 30 days cannot be traded until after he has played in at least one game for his new team. So if Player X is claimed off waivers by Team A on Feb. 1, he would have to play in at least one game for Team A before he could be dealt to Team B at the deadline (assuming he’s not placed back on waivers in the meantime).

Why Do Trades Happen at the NHL Trade Deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is the last day of the regular season where teams can make trades with each other. This year, the NHL trade deadline is on Monday, February 24th at 3pm EST. Trades happen for a variety of reasons. One reason is that a team may be out of playoff contention and they want to unload some players for future assets.

To Improve a Team’s Chances of Winning the Stanley Cup

The NHL’s trade deadline is one of the most important dates on the hockey calendar. Every year, contending teams try to bolster their rosters with acquisitions in an effort to improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

In recent years, the trade deadline has fallen on or around April 3. This year, it will be on Monday, April 12.

The deadline is set at a time when most teams have played about 75 games and there are only about two months left in the regular season. By this point in the season, it is usually clear which teams are playoff contenders and which ones are not.

Contending teams will often give up assets such as draft picks and young players in order to acquire established veterans who can help them win now. On the other hand, non-contending teams will often trade away veterans for picks and prospects who can help them in the future.

The trade deadline is an exciting time for hockey fans because it can radically change the landscape of the playoffs. A team that makes a big splash at the deadline can suddenly become a favorite to win the Stanley Cup, while a team that stands pat may find itself at a disadvantage come playoff time.

To Shed Salary

One of the most common reasons teams make trades at the NHL trade deadline is to shed salary. If a team is up against the salary cap and needs to free up some money, they may look to trade away some of their higher-paid players. Often, these players are also older veterans who are no longer playing at an All-Star level. Shedding salary can also help a team stay under the salary cap so that they don’t have to pay any penalties.

To Acquire Future Assets

NHL teams that are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline will often look to unload some of their veteran players in order to acquire draft picks or young prospects that can help the team in future seasons. For example, at the 2018 NHL trade deadline, the Ottawa Senators traded star defenseman Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a package that included two draft picks and three young prospects.

Sometimes, a team will also trade away a player who is about to become a free agent (an unrestricted free agent or “UFA”) in order to get something in return rather than losing that player for nothing. For example, at the 2019 NHL trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets traded forward Kevin Hayes to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2019 draft pick. The Jets knew that they were not going to be able to sign Hayes to a new contract before he became a UFA, so they traded him away in order to get something in return.

Notable NHL Trade Deadline Trades

The NHL trade deadline is a date during the NHL season when teams are not permitted to trade or sign players from other teams. It is typically set at 3 p.m. ET on the last day of February. This year, the deadline falls on Monday, February 24.

Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings

On August 9, 1988, the greatest player in NHL history was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers were forced to trade Gretzky due to financial difficulties, and they received $15 million and three players in return: Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and three first-round draft picks. The Kings also received $3 million from Bruce McNall, the owner of the Kings at the time. The trade had a massive impact on both the Oilers and the Kings. The Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup without Gretzky in 1990, but they never won another Stanley Cup while he was with the team. The Kings, on the other hand, made the playoffs in each of Gretzky’s eight seasons with the team but never won a Stanley Cup.

Marian Hossa to the Chicago Blackhawks

On February 26, 2008, the Thrashers dealt nine-time All-Star winger Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a first-round draft pick.

It was a shocking trade at the time, as Hossa was in the midst of a career year with 29 goals and 60 points in 62 games played. He would go on to record 12 goals and 22 points in 24 playoff games as the Penguins made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Detroit Red Wings.

Ryan Miller to the St. Louis Blues

In 2014, the St. Louis Blues were looking to make a Stanley Cup run and fortify their goalie position. They did just that by acquiring Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William carrier, and two draft picks.

The Blues gave up a lot in this trade, but it paid off as they made it to the Western Conference Final that year. Ryan Miller was solid in net for the Blues and helped them make a deep playoff run.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NHL trade deadline is a very exciting time for fans of the sport. It is a time when teams can make a push for the playoffs or for the Stanley Cup. It is also a time when players can be traded for other players or for draft picks. If you are a fan of the sport, it is definitely worth checking out.