This year’s NHL trade deadline was March 3rd. There were some impactful moves presented by teams hoping to either start a rebuild or go all in. This year was an eventful one when it comes to the starpower that got dealt at the deadline.

One of the most talked about trades involves Patrick Kane. Patrick Kane has been a 15 year Chicago Blackhawk. He’s won three Stanley Cups, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Calder Trophy, the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, and more. This year there has been a stir around the NHL about Kane wanting to play for a cup contender. Chicago has had a rough couple of years, and they sit 31st in the NHL as of now. On February 28th, NHL star Patrick Kane was involved in a trade with the New York Rangers. Chicago received a conditional 2023 second-round pick and a 2025 fourth-rounder. 

The St. Louis Blues dealt two of their key franchise faces in Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly, Tarasenko joined Kane on the Rangers, and O’Reilly joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers also received Niko Mikkola, in return, the Blues received conditional 2023 first round and 2024 fourth round picks, along with Sammy Blais and Hunter Skinner. The Maple Leafs received Ryan O’Reilly in exchange for first-round pick in 2023, a second-round pick in 2024, a third-round pick in 2023 that previously belonged to Ottawa, along with forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette.

The Colorado Avalanche are currently having a mediocre year compared to their Stanley Cup run in 2022. Some would say it is because they are missing their captain, Gabriel Landeskog with a lingering injury from their cup run, others would say injury problems, and both are true. The Avs are known for their depth, along with their resilience, after going 9-1 on the road in the playoffs with a 16-4 overall record. The Avs have added to their depth with Stanley Cup champion Lars Eller from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a second round pick in the 2025 NHL draft.

Jonathan Quick, 2 time Stanley cup champion who is the Conn Smythe and Best NHL Player ESPY Award winner in 2012, and William M. Jennings trophy winner in 2014 and 2018, has had a rough past couple of years, falling out of his consistent play, the Kings look to use him as a tool to continue onto their rebuild. They dealt him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a goaltender of their own, Joonas Korpisalo. Just to be dealt again a day later, this time to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Michael Hutchinson. Since then, Jonathan Quick has had a 5-1 to start out his new career in Vegas.

This year will be monumental for teams who made big trades at the deadline, as some major moves were made and some stars were dealt. Only time will tell how these players adapt to the change.