Who are the Buyers and Sellers?

Vegas Golden Knights obtained right wing Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals for a 2024 second round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Anthony Mantha has had an injury filled tenure in Washington since coming over from Detroit three years ago. However, this season Mantha has seemed to find his scoring touch and already had nett3d 20 goals in 56 games for the Caps. 

Vegas is holding onto the third spot in the Pacific Division and has struggled to score goals as of late. Their power play has continually faltered at big times and Mantha could help in both aspects. Vegas also hits the salary cap jackpot here as the Capitals agreed to retain 50% of Mantha's salary.

Draft Nation Stats - Anthony Mantha was the 20th overall pick in 2013 draft by the Detroit Red Wings

Florida Panthers acquired right wing Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa for a 2025 third-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder which will upgrade to a 2026 third-round pick if the Panthers win the Stanley Cup. 

Tarasenko joins his fourth team in the past two seasons. Even after taking on Tarasenko’s $2.5MM salary cap hit, Florida still has $3.2MM in cap space left ahead of Friday's trade deadline. With the acquisition of Tarasenko, the Panthers have addressed one of their biggest needs by adding another winger to play with Sam Bennett or Matthew Tkachuk.

Tarasenko is not the pure goal scorer he was early in his career when he topped 30 goals 6 times, but he is still talented enough to be a nice playoff addition to a Panthers lineup and should help score goals. On the season he has 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games for the Senators.

Draft Nation Stats - Vladimir Tarasenko was the first round pick (16th overall) by the St. Louis Blues in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The Edmonton Oilers obtain center’s - Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick for a 2024 first round pick and a conditional 2025 fifth-round selection that can be upgraded to a fourth-round pick if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup. The Ducks are retaining 50% of Henrique’s salary and the Lightning were brought in to retain 25% of the salary, earning a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick from Edmonton.

Adding Adam Henrique to the lineup gives the Oilers some different options on how they may construct their second and third lines. Henrique has the flexibility to line up at wing and can be a talent upgrade to the line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Sam Carrick will upgrade the Oilers fourth line and add to the depth come playoff time. 

On the season, Adam Henrique has 18 goals and 24 assists and was a +3 on a terrible Ducks team. Sam Carrick in 61 games has totaled 8 goals and 3 assists.

Draft Nation Stats

-Adam Henrique was a third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL Draft.

- Sam Carrick was a 5th round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The Colorado Avalanche trade center Ryan Johansen and a 2025 top-10 protected first round pick for right-handed shooting defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick. 

After the trade, the Flyers placed Ryan Johansen on waivers. Sean Walker was one of the top right-handed shooting defensemen on the market. Coupled with the Avalanches' previous trade with Buffalo that sent defensemen 2019 4th overall pick Bowen Byram to the Sabres for center Casey Mittelstadt, Colorado will have a new look in their second defensive pairing.

The Flyers obtained Walker from the Los Angeles Kings last summer and he played well since arriving in Philadelphia.

Draft Nation Stats

-Sean Walker was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Los Angeles Kings in 2018.

-Ryan Johansen was the 4th overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010.

The Colorado Avalanche trade defenseman Bowen Byram to the Buffalo Sabres for center Casey Mittelstadt.

Colorado have been trying to fill their second center spot since Nazem Kadri left two seasons ago. Center’s Ryan Johnansen and Alex Newhook have failed to produce on Colorado’s second line. 

Casey Mittelstadt has been a point producer for a very young Sabres team. This season he has totaled 14 goals and 33 assists in 62 games. He will be given a shot to shore up the second line for the Avalanche.

With Byram, the Sabres will add their third top five draft pick at the defenseman position. He joins Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power along the blue line for their young squad. Adding Byram,, who has struggled at times but is still only 22-years-old, could give Buffalo one of the youngest and strongest defensive cores in hockey. 

Draft Nation Stats

-Bowen Byram was the 4th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.

-Casey Mittelstadt was the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.