With the NHL trade deadline on Friday, Shayna Goldman of The Athletic is providing instant analysis on the major moves as they happen.
Deadline resources: Trade board
Predators make low-risk move for Beauvillier
To Predators: | F Anthony Beauvillier |
To Blackhawks: | Fifth-round draft pick |
The biggest red flag with Anthony Beauvillier has to be a lack of consistency. A change from the Islanders to the Canucks, then to the Blackhawks, hasn’t been enough to spark his game yet. But if anyone knows this player and how to make him click, it’s Barry Trotz, who was his coach on Long Island during his career year. Obviously, Trotz is in a different position now as general manager, but it makes sense if he still sees some potential in the 26-year-old forward.
Nashville is in an interesting position, because the team really shouldn’t be buying despite its current winning streak. But this is a pretty low-risk move considering the cost, and considering how many draft picks the Predators have at their disposal. Maybe Beauvillier can become a reclamation project of sorts to solidify his game as a middle-six winger.
Edmundson boosts Maple Leafs’ depth
To Maple Leafs: | D Joel Edmundson |
To Capitals: | 2024 third-round draft pick |
2025 fifth-round draft pick |
Joel Edmundson brings size and strength to a lineup, which general managers tend to seek for the playoffs. That is one plus for Toronto. His play has somewhat improved in a third-pair capacity with the Capitals, and there may be enough support to continue that in Toronto. The other positive is obviously his cap hit: the Leafs benefit from double retention without having to pay for a third-team broker since the Capitals were only paying for half of his salary in the first place. Washington comes out of this deal pretty well, with two picks for a pending UFA.
But this is the second deal for a depth defender that looks like an overpayment. Since taking over as general manager, Brad Treliving just continues to take missteps when filling out the Maple Leafs’ depth. Now, Toronto has another lefty, more work to finish on the right side, and fewer assets to deal.
Vegas takes another deadline big swing, for Hanifin
To Golden Knights: | D Noah Hanifin |
To Flames: | D Daniil Miromanov |
Vegas’ 2025 first-round draft pick (year conditional) | |
Vegas’ 2025 third-round draft pick (upgrades to second round if Vegas wins a playoff round) | |
(retain 50 percent of Hanifin’s contract) | |
To Flyers: | Vegas’ 2024 fifth-round draft pick |
(retain 25 percent of Hanifin’s contract) |
Yes, the Golden Knights are taking advantage of the LTIR loophole, but Mark Stone is sidelined for some time, so there is cap space to spend. Vegas was never going to stop at acquiring Anthony Mantha, but Noah Hanifin feels like a bit more of a wild card. The Golden Knights were lauded for their strong, deep blue line on their way to a championship last year. So naturally, they take it up a notch this year with the biggest name on the market — the Vegas way!
There isn’t one element of his game that is a total standout, but he is a well-rounded defender who can be counted on to play in any situation, against any caliber of opponent. Hanifin seems like an ideal fit to play across from Alex Pietrangelo, with Alec Martinez injured, especially considering his ability to break the puck out of the zone with control. But he could be an upgrade on Shea Theodore’s left, too. In Vegas, he doesn’t have to be the No. 1 guy. He is an outright standout as a No. 3 (with the potential to move up the ranks). To get that at just 25 percent of his cap hit for the rest of the year is a slam-dunk win for the Golden Knights, which should allow management to keep shopping.
A first-round pick in return is a win for Calgary, but the return as a whole really lacks. It seemed as though the Flames thought Hanifin would be the player to bring back a haul, and maybe that would make up for some…
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