There was a frenzy of trade activity around the NHL on Wednesday as several Stanley Cup contenders began loading up for the playoffs.
Here is a look at the potential impact of some of those deals:
COLORADO AVALANCHE
In: Casey Mittelstadt, Sean Walker
Out: Bowen Byram, Ryan Johansen
The Avalanche did not mess around Wednesday, trading a 2025 first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a package for Walker. They also shipped Byram, the fourth overall pick in 2019, to the Buffalo Sabres for Mittelstadt.
The speedy Walker should fit right in on the Avalanche, who rank second in the league in rush-scoring chances. His 24 rush chances are tied for second-most among defencemen, behind only new teammate Cale Makar (28). Coincidentally, Walker’s five rush goals are tied with Byram for the most at the position.
In addition, Walker is excellent at disrupting plays with his stick, averaging 5.3 blocked passes per 20 minutes — fifth most out of 265 defencemen with at least 100 minutes of ice time.
Colorado hopes that Mittelstadt, who was Buffalo’s leading scorer with 47 points in 62 games, can hold down the second-line centre position after Johansen and Ross Colton struggled to do so. Mittelstadt ranks 17th out of 473 qualified forwards with 2.4 completed slot passes per 20. He is a dynamic skater, averaging 3.51 open-ice dekes (21st) and 4.91 offensive-zone carry-ins (37th) per 20.
EDMONTON OILERS
In: Sam Carrick, Adam Henrique
The Oilers fortified their forward depth by bringing in Henrique and Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks. With help from the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Oilers acquired Henrique at a quarter of the cost and Carrick at half price.
“What I like about the deal is we’re adding two players,” Oilers general manager Ken Holland told reporters Wednesday. “Both are versatile. (Carrick) shoots right and can play right wing (and) centre. Both (kill penalties). (Henrique) shoots left and can play left wing or centre.”
Henrique is a defensive presence, ranking 20th among all forwards with 319 defensive plays, which include blocked passes and shots as well as stick and body checks. His 73 shorthanded defensive plays are fourth most.
Carrick’s best attribute is his doggedness on the puck. He averages 8.93 loose-puck recoveries per 20 in the defensive zone — seventh most among 473 qualified forwards. Carrick often makes the safe play, successfully dumping out the puck 2.54 times per 20 (34th).
Henrique (52.9 per cent) and Carrick (51 per cent) are both reliable in the faceoff circle.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Tarasenko, who netted the Ottawa Senators two draft picks, cannot take over a game like he once did, but the Panthers do not need him to do that. The 32-year-old forward still has an impressive shot, scoring on 7.7 per cent of his attempts (including those that missed or were blocked). That ranks 110th out of 321 forwards who have attempted at least 100 shots.
It is easy to envision Tarasenko scoring big goals on a line with Matthew Tkachuk, a high-level playmaker, and Sam Bennett. At the very least, Tarasenko will be an improvement over Nick Cousins, who recently has been playing on the left side of that line.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
In: Noah Hanifin, Anthony Mantha
Out: Daniil Miromanov
Leave it to the Golden Knights to make a blockbuster trade. Vegas nabbed Hanifin on Wednesday night, strengthening a championship-winning defence corps. Hanifin joins workhorses Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the back end.
As a team, the Golden Knights have slipped defensively this season, allowing 3.01 expected goals per game — up from 2.65 per game last season. Hanifin should help there.
The Golden Knights acquired Mantha from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, and he is expected to line up alongside William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson. Mantha was in the middle of a bounce-back year with the Capitals, scoring 20 goals for the first time since 2018-19. He has scored on 13.1 per cent of his shot attempts, sixth best out of 321 forwards who have taken at least 100 shots. Thirteen of his goals have come from the inner slot, which has helped prop up his shooting percentage.
All stats via Sportlogiq
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