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With just two days left until the NHL trade deadline, Wednesday saw a flurry of moves in the late morning and early afternoon.
To start, the Florida Panthers acquired Russian winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for two draft picks.
Then the Edmonton Oilers got in on the action, receiving forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, as well as a seventh-round pick from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick.
But both moves pale in comparison to the trading frenzy that followed Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic with two big moves announced in the span of about 20 minutes.
It’s just another part of what should be a jumbled finale of 48 hours before the deadline arrives on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
Vladimir Tarasenko’s time in Ottawa was short, now he moves to the Florida Panthers
Ottawa Senators RW Vladimir Tarasenko to Florida for two picks
With Ottawa’s season now over, forward Vladimir Tarasenko used his no-trade clause as a weapon to move to the NHL’s best team.
He will hit the free agent market in the summer, but for the Panthers’ Stanley Cup ambitions, this is a perfect move.
Returning to the Senators is a 2024 fourth-round pick that becomes a third-round pick in 2026 if the Panthers win the Cup.
Additionally, Ottawa gets a third-round pick in 2025 and the team keeps half of Tarasenko’s salary. This season, Tarasenko has 17 goals and 41 points.
For Florida, this is a fantastic move that gives the team a top-six winger capable of providing key playoff experience and scoring.
It’s the second straight move for Tarasenko, who went from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers last season.
Adam Henrique finally leaves the Ducks, with a new home in Edmonton
Anaheim Ducks F Adam Henrique and F Sam Carrick to Edmonton for a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick
The Edmonton Oilers adding scoring depth at the trade deadline has become commonplace.
This time, they get a quality playmaker in veteran Adam Henrique and his 18 goals and 42 points for the Anaheim Ducks. Henrique has been looking to move away from Anaheim at this rate for at least two seasons.
He will likely fill the third-line center spot currently occupied by Ryan McLeod.
Anaheim will also retain half of Henrique’s salary in this deal. Other salary retention efforts involved Edmonton sending a conditional fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As for the rest of the pieces in this deal, Carrick is an effective checking forward who would play fourth line, if anything, for Edmonton.
Edmonton’s first-round pick for this upcoming draft, while the fifth round begins for the 2025 season. As with Florida, that pick is conditional and becomes a fourth-rounder if Edmonton wins the Stanley Cup.
Defender Sean Walker leaves for Colorado in exchange for Ryan Johansen
Flyers D Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick to Colorado for F Ryan Johansen and a conditional first-round pick
The first of two shocking moves by the Colorado Avalanche saw them give up an expensive contract with Ryan Johansen in exchange for an impressive defenseman.
Walker brings his elite two-way capabilities to the Mile High City and would slot into the Avalanche’s second pairing.
The first-round pick the Flyers receive is for 2025 and is conditional. That pick is top-ten protected, meaning if Colorado’s pick is in the top ten options, the Avalanche will send their 2026 first-round pick to Philadelphia.
But the equally intriguing part of the deal is moving on from Johansen and his $8 million AAV contract, which the Flyers have already renounced.
Johansen has had a slow season by his standards: he only scored 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games played.
That gives Colorado some real cap relief and allows them to make other moves. Like, for example, going out and acquiring a center.
Casey Mittelstadt Heads to Colorado While Bowen Byram Moves to Buffalo
Buffalo Sabers F Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for D Bowen Byram
Well, what do you know. With their new cap space, the Avalanche decided to make a surprising trade and plucked Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo.
In a one-for-one deal, the Avs sent young defenseman Bowen Byram to Western New York in exchange for Mittelstadt.
Mittelstadt was the Buffalo Sabres’ leading scorer, with 14 goals and 47 points amid a poor season, even by that team’s standards.
He’ll likely fill the second-line center spot that Johansen had, but he’ll actually have the numbers to back up that position.
As for Byram, he brings some much-needed physicality and two-way ability that could make Buffalo’s already promising young defensive core more lethal in the years to come.
But there is also some concern. After lighting up the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, especially in that year’s final, which Colorado won, he has been struggling with on-ice performance and injuries.
If Byram can stay healthy, this will likely be a mutually beneficial trade. But the lack of low-level draft pieces in this could lead the Sabers to infamy. similar to a previous one-for-one deal in 2016.
Alex Wennberg moves to New York and the Rangers after spending time in Seattle
Seattle Kraken F Alex Wennberg to New York Rangers for second and fifth round picks
Later that afternoon, Rangers general manager Chris Drury decided to get in on the action and nabbed Seattle center Alex Wennberg.
Wennberg’s two-way playmaking ability will be a welcome addition to the Blueshirts’ offense as they look to secure first place in the Metropolitan Division.
But its production has been slightly different from previous years. He only has nine goals and 25 total points in 60 games of action.
However, considering the Rangers managed to get Seattle to swallow half of Wennberg’s salary, this could be a positive move for New York.