Deadline Trade Grades | Breaking Down Winners and Losers of Notable Deals

With the trade deadline now come and gone, let's go over trade grades from some of Thursday and Friday's most notable deals. See the Wednesday Trade Grades posting for info and grades on notable Wednesday deals!

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Nic Dowd to Vegas

Capitals: A+ | Golden Knights: B-

Trades started early Thursday morning, when Nic Dowd was sent to Vegas for a haul of assets, including a second, third, and a goalie prospect. Nic Dowd is a fantastic defensive depth center, and judging by leaguewide deals, we can see that they hold pretty solid value. Regardless, this is just far too much to pay for a 35-year-old bottom-sixer who's owed 6M over the next 2 years. Had there been some retention on the Washington side, the price would make a little more sense, but unfortunately, it just doesn't.

Vegas still gets better, just feels like they didn't need to give up that much to do so. What this trade did tell us is that the Capitals are comfortable selling, which led to a huge surprise move later on.

Full trade details:

Nicolas Roy to Colorado

Leafs: A+ | Avalanche: B+

When you look at it this way, the Leafs got a first and a fifth for Mitch Marner... oh wait, that's still bad. Anyways, the Leafs did get a good return here, regaining a first-round pick after trading away so many of their own in years prior.

Colorado paid a pretty steep price for Roy, and you'd like to think they could've gotten a little more for this package. Either way, they do gain a strong bottom-six center whose size will help them down the stretch come playoff time.

Full trade details:

Foegele to Ottawa

Sens: B+ | Kings: A

Foegele is having a down year offensively, no different from everyone else on the Kings roster. However, at his best, he's a ~40 point speedster who brings strong defence to a middle six.

A second-round pick is a lot considering his play this year, and the Sens' lack of assets overall. Nevertheless, Ottawa gets a do-it-all forward who can help them make a push for the playoffs.

Full trade details:

Bunting to Dallas

Stars: A+ | Predators: C

Just an absolutely perfect add for Dallas, whose biggest need was a gritty forward with scoring touch. Bunting is exactly that, and it only costs them a third-rounder. Judging by the other deals, this is an absolute bargain price for Bunting.

The Predators, on the other hand, just seem like they panicked here. With Bunting being a UFA at the end of this year, you'd like to think they could've retained money on his contract and commanded a better return.

Full trade details:

David Perron to Detroit

Sens: B- | Red Wings: B+

In a pure cap dump for Ottawa, David Perron returns to the Red Wings for just a 4th round pick. Perron is still a very capable third-line producer, but with Ottawa acquiring Foegele, there was really no need to keep him around.

Perron hasn't been as good in Ottawa as he was during his first tenure with Detroit, so he'll hope to regain some of that juice as Detroit is poised for the playoffs.

Full trade details:

Sam Carrick, Logan Stanley, and Luke Schenn to Buffalo

Stanley & Schenn Deal: Jets: A+ | Sabres: A

Carrick Deal: Rangers: A- | Sabres: B+

In two separate moves, the Sabres add depth, grit, and even more size to their already massive core. Carrick is a feisty, physical forward who can bring his veteran experience to the Sabres' bottom six. Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn are both big physical defencemen who make Buffalo's D core even more frightening.

The price on Carrick is fair, but Buffalo probably could've tried to go after someone who provides a little more than him. Nevertheless, depth is depth, can't really complain. The Rangers really have no use for Carrick as they enter a rebuild, so any assets retained for him are a win.

While Stanley and Schenn are fetching that price based on size and size alone, they will be very difficult to play against on the Sabres' bottom pair come playoff time. The Jets are pure sellers after their disappointing year as well, so getting a second-rounder and two other assets for their UFAs is damn good business.

Full details on both trades:

Connor Garland to Columbus

Blue Jackets: A | Canucks: C+

Wow was the first reaction to this. With all the high picks being sent out for bottom-six players, Columbus acquires a top-six forward for around the same price, if not better. For his size, Garland brings grit, a high motor, and strong playmaking, which will greatly benefit the Blue Jackets' top six.

The low price is likely due to the fear of how his 6x$6M extension will age as it kicks in next year when he turns 30 years old. However, Garland's style of play also works in a third-line role, giving some security if he declines later in his deal.

When you look at the other deals, this is a very disappointing return for a player of Garland's caliber. Columbus now adds a ~50 point forward that will be a huge factor in their playoff push, as they find themselves on the outside looking in.

Full trade details:

John Carlson to Anaheim

Ducks: B+ | Capitals: A+

HOLY S#@! was the first reaction to this. What a smash out of left field for the Ducks as they acquire John Carlson for a first and third-round pick. We knew the Capitals were selling, but not to this extent, shipping off a franchise legend.

The Ducks were in the market for a right-handed defenceman, but nobody expected the 36-year-old UFA to be their choice. This is a very steep price to pay for a team that's still likely a few years out from true contention, but it does send the group a message that they're committed to winning and look to make a deep playoff run.

It's sad for Caps fans to see an all-time great moved, but they receive a very good consolation prize, receiving multiple picks that will only help add to their elite prospect pool, as they prepare for life after Alex Ovechkin.

Bobby Brink for David Jiricek

Flyers: B | Wild: A-

This one's a little weird, as the value of David Jiricek is yet to truly be determined. The 22-year-old now finds himself on his third team in four years since being drafted sixth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6'4 defenceman with all the tools to be an elite two-way threat has yet to find consistency at the pro level, even struggling in the AHL.

The Wild gain a small, smart, skilled winger who is still only 24 years old, and already has a 40-point season under his belt at the NHL level. Brink will bring some youthful juice to the Wild's middle six.

Full trade details:

Nick Foligno to Minnesota

Wild: A+ | Blackhawks: A+

Classy move by the Blackhawks, as they trade their captain, Nick Folign, to to the cup-contending Wild to give him one last shot to win a cup alongside his brother, Marcus Foligno.

The Blackhawks didn't need to shed his cap, they are simply doing right by their captain, who has passed on much wisdom to their young core during his tenure. Full trade details:

Corey Perry to Tampa Bay

Lightning: A | Kings: B+

Confusing one here, as the Kings were believed to be buyers after the blockbuster trade that saw them acquire Artemi Panarin. Injuries to Fiala and Kuzmenko, however, have derailed the Kings' plans, as they remain three points out of a playoff spot.

Regardless, this is good value for Perry, who is a UFA at the end of this year. Tampa was also heavily rumoured for many bottom-six grinders, and Perry is one of the best bottom-six grinders in the whole league, bringing a ton of playoff experience.

Unfortunately, as we all know, the Lightning are now guaranteed to lose in the Stanley Cup Final...

Full trade details:

Brayden Schenn to New York (Islanders)

Islanders: D- | Blues: A++

In by far the biggest fleece of the deadline, Blues sent aging forward Brayden Schenn to New York for an absolute haul. The need to dump Jonathan Drouin's contract is understandable, but giving up a first, third AND a prospect on top of it makes no sense at all.

The Islanders also take on the entirety of Braydenn Schenn's $6.5M AAV cap hit, which he carries till 2028 at the age of 36. Even if Braydenn Schenn works out in Long Island, this was far too much to pay, and it doesn't even fit their biggest need, which was more scoring. Just an all-time head scratcher from Mathieu Darche.

Full trade details:

Elmer Soderblom to Pittsburgh

Penguins: B+| Red Wings: B+

More underrated move here, as the Penguins acquire 6'8 behemoth Elmer Soderblom for a third-rounder. Soderblom, like many of the NHL's giants, isn't exactly the most prolific scorer. However, the Penguins could use his size, forechecking, and puck protection in their bottom-six as they push toward the playoffs.

For Detroit, Soderblom was mainly a healthy scratch with no room for him on the roster, so getting a third-rounder out of him is fair value. Solid deal for both sides.

Full trade details:

Bobby McMann to Seattle

Leafs: B+ | Kraken: B

While this is a good price for Bobby McMann...why did Seattle do this exactly? The Kraken were desperately searching for a top-six winger because all they had were a bunch of middle-nine forwards. So why would they trade for another middle-nine forward?

Just a really strange fit overall, but the Leafs do get a solid return for the UFA, as they continue to build towards the future after a disappointing season.

Full trade details:

Justin Faulk to Detroit

Blues: A++| Red Wings: B-

It's easy to understand why the Wings made this move, given their need for a right-handed defenceman...but this was way too much for Justin Faulk. Another great piece of business by Doug Armstrong as the Blues receive a first, third, and a prospect.

The Blues do take on the contract of pending UFA Justin Holl, however, they retain $0 of Justin Faulk's $6.5M AAV contract, which carries through the end of next season. Detroit adresses their biggest need, but Faulk isn't enough of a needle mover to propel them into contention.

Full trade details:

Scott Laughton to Los Angeles

Leafs: C- | Kings: B+

The Leafs traded a first and Nikita Grebenkin to acquire Scott Laughton at last year's deadline, and he is now sent to LA for only a third. This is brutal asset management from Brad Treveling. Regardless, the Leafs acquire some value on the UFA, but for this price, it may have been more valuable to extend him.

The Kings, on the other hand, continue to confuse people as they are both buying and selling on pending UFAs. Selling Perry earlier, now acquiring Laughton, just doesn't make much sense.

Full trade details:

Nazem Kadri to Colorado

Flames: A | Colorado: A++

Nearly an hour after the deadline closed, the biggest move of the afternoon drops, as Nazem Kadri returns to the Avalanche. Kadri won a cup with the Avs in 2022, and now they acquire him as they sit first in the NHL standings, poised to make another cup run.

Kadri is dealt for a haul, including a first, second, prospect and player but it doesn't matter. They're all in, as they have their sights set on Lord Stanley. Colorado now posseses the best Center depth in the league with: MacKinnon, Nelson, Kadri, and Roy down the middle.

Kadri is 35 and carried a $7M cap hit till he's 38, but Calgary has retained $1.4M (20%) of his deal, making it very manageable for Colorado.

Full trade details:

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Other less notable deals include:

-Brennan Othmann to Calgary

-Timothy Liljegren to Washington

-Ryan Strome to Calgary

-David Kampf to Washington

-Nicolas Deslauriers to Carolina

-Jeff Petry to Minnesota

-Lukas Reichel to Boston

-Tanner Pearson to Winnipeg

-David Kampf to Washington