NHL Trade deadline special

We bring you a special episode to discuss the biggest deals on trade deadline day in the NHL.

Who were the winners and Losers on Friday?

Transcript

Matt: 0:01

Welcome to TriplePlay UK, the UK's home of the NFL, NHL and MLB. Welcome to triple play UK. We are here today with a NHL trade deadline, special your host Matt with your co host Tom. we are one day removed from the trade deadline on Friday. Me and Tom are bringing this to you early on a Sunday morning. We've spent the last 24 hours digesting all of the trades and having a look what went down. Good morning, Tom. How are you? I knew what

Tom: 0:38

Morning, Matty. Yeah, not too bad, my friend. Not too bad. Like I said, it was a busy, it's a busy Friday evening and then Saturday just kind of digesting it all, getting, kind of picking out sort of the big trades that happened. I mean, to be fair, it wasn't too hard. There was a few that obviously definitely stand out. Not a, an overly busy trade deadline for a change. Usually kind of get it usually kind of ramps up to around sort of the 30 plus deals, but I think we might even have come in below 20 this time round, but I definitely think there was a lot more quality in the deals. There are a lot more thought out and. Sort of articulated Help the team's needs as opposed to just kind of Deals were just being done for the sake of it to try and bolster up the rosters But yeah, it was a it was a busy It was a busy Friday evening and like you say up early on the Sunday to give you guys kind of a full rundown of the biggest trades that happened

Matt: 1:30

I'm going to run through Brad Marsh on trade, the Brandon Carlo trade, and then a trade between the Sabres and the Senators. And Tom's going to go through the Rantanen trade. Yeah, you heard right, the Rantanen trade and the Brock Nelson trade. So, and then we'll discuss sort of like who the winners and losers are. firstly then, Brad Marsh on to the Panthers from the Bruins for a second round conditional draft pick. This is the third captain in four seasons that the the Panthers have picked up. So, some great business from them. Although Marshand is injured he should be sort of back up and running fairly soon. It's an interesting move for me because he's spent 16 years at Boston. It's the only time for a different team. only got a little bit of time left on his contract. He's now 36, so potentially the right time for a move. I don't think they wanted to lose him for free. Maybe a good rental signing for the Panthers. I think they're definitely going after it again this season. He's played 61 games, scored 21 goals, has 26 assists. Personally, I think the winner in this one, Brad Marchand can stay fit is the Panthers. I think the Bruins. Overall in the on deadline day have been massive losers and we'll go into that shortly because I've got another trade from the Bruins. Tom, which one are you going into first? We're going into the Rantanen deal.

Tom: 3:20

Yeah, I think well, I think there's kind of only one place to start on kind of on the Western Conference side just obviously touching on your on the Brad Marsh and one there as well like It's just an interesting one. I think a lot of people were kind of looking at it going Like Boston giving up their captain sort of 16 years for like a second round conditional pick like people were sort of questioning is that even a bit like sort of an Offensive to Brad Marchand, but I don't think so I think it's one of those where I think both sides will be happy Boston are clearly selling And I sold out like said you're gonna go into the Brandon Carlo deal as well. Obviously they They got, they got the coil to the abs as well. So it looks like Boston have kind of sold out on potentially making the playoffs, which is weird considering where they are in the standings. Only two points off. But Yeah, it's, I think it's a good deal for both sides. Obviously, if he wasn't going to get a deal done, I think they did offer him one, didn't they? I think they offered him like a three million a year contract, which he turned down or wasn't keen on accepting. So I think when it gets to that point, you have to move on and try and get something for him. But yeah, I think it's a good deal for definitely for the Panthers. give him a bit of, again, a bit more grit down the playoffs. And with Chuck kind of being injured for the last part of the season, he just has that grind and grit to the lineup, like we said there. And yeah, I think it's a, I think it's a good deal for them, but yeah, strange, strange what's going on in Boston. Miko Rantanen though, Jesus, where do we start? I mean, I feel like, like we keep saying it, the guy's been Almost at the forefront of every NHL chat we seem to have had for the last three or four weeks. I mean, what a crazy six weeks it's been for the guy. I mean, he's been, I think he, I think that I saw a stat yesterday that was he actually has now broken a record for I think he's broken a record for the most points by a player to have played for three different teams in the season the minute he hit the ice last night for the stars. Fair play scored, scored and assisted, but yeah, to kind of break the trade to you guys. So Miko Rantanen was dealt by the Canes. He has gone to the, to the Dallas Stars. He's been traded for, it was Logan Stankoven. A 2026 and 2028 first round pick and a 2026 and 2027 third round pick. So, Mikko this year, obviously, started brilliantly for the herbs, didn't quite work at the canes, don't know if he quite fit the system, but he's having a good season again, 27 goals, 43 assists, 70 points. But, I think, obviously the big part about whatever Happened with that Miko deal was he had in order for the deal to get done and it kind of stalled a little bit and there Was rumors that it might fall apart was just because it had to be a case that he was gonna sign then the contract extension I don't think teams were kind of willing to move in on him as a rental Potentially or weren't as keen on doing that the stars definitely wanted to get him locked up Miko wanted to go there So not only is he traded to the stars, but he's now Sign that 8 million, sorry, 8 year 12 million extension. Which again, kind of comes in a little bit under what some people were thinking with the AAV. I wouldn't read too much into that because I think a lot of the facts with AAV is also players only really care about what their take home is. Different teams would have offered him more money. I know for a fact that the Leafs came in and were really pushing on him. And they were close to securing it, but they couldn't quite get the extension done. And apparently the canes kind of at the last moment pulled out and we're like, look, we're not, we're not trading him to a rival. Who we could potentially meet in first, second, third round of the playoffs. They weren't, they weren't willing to do it. They weren't going to trade to someone that they, they thought actually Miko Rantanen could come back and haunt us. Which I do get. Apparently the Leafs actually offered slightly more in terms of the prospect pool. And draft picks that they would have offered. So, the Leafs deal was apparently better. Apparently they offered Rantanen more money. But like I said there, like when it comes to take home. See, the tax in Dallas, he's, in order for him to get what he would take home in Dallas, I think the Leafs would have had to have gone north for 13 and a half million, which I'm not sure if they were going to, if they were willing to do. So look, he wanted to, he, and I think another big factor of it is I think he wanted to stay in the West. Obviously there's a sour taste in his mouth for whatever happened with the Avs. What way you look at that? I was watching a video, Elliot Friedman went into it. He took 12. Why did the Abs not going to go to 12? Some people were sort of knocking the Abs. Why did you not just go to 12? I thought Elliot Friedman made a really good point. If the Abs knew that he would have taken 12, I think he did, they'd have offered him 12 because there was no reason for us not to get him and to keep him. So it's a bit of a strange one there. As an Abs fan, it's left a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth, especially knowing that he's now playing for a divisional rival and there's a very, very good chance of the first round of the playoffs. The Stars and the Abs are going to be playing against each other. So, Jesus, what a seven game series that's going to be. That will feed families. That series, that is going to be a bitter, bitter series.

Matt: 8:19

You'd

Tom: 8:19

just kind of to touch on the,

Matt: 8:21

that, though, don't you, mate? You'd love to see

Tom: 8:23

oh mate.

Matt: 8:23

a little bit of needle in them. There's going to be players out to get him and he's going to want to score. You'd love to see games like that in the playoffs, mate.

Tom: 8:31

Mate, it's what makes the playoffs brilliant. And I think Devin Taze came out and said it sort of before the game against the Leafs last night. He, he was asked about facing him potentially in the playoffs and, and, and just in the division matchup. He's like, it's going to be awful. He's like having to defend against such a big body who's got such a good scoring threat. I mean. Like I said, he scored. It was a patented Rantanen goal last night from the right face off dot. Pass comes across, just one timers it, one timers it to the roof of the net. From the Duchesne like, oh God, he's, he's gonna do well there. They're, they're a good side. Just a quick note as well, because we can't neglect on, we can't neglect on sort of the Stankoven side of it. Look, nine goals, 20 assists and 29 points. He's one of the star's better rookies. Sort of in 59 played. And obviously, look. He's a good prospect. He's a good player. It doesn't give the Canes what they need to win a cup, though. I think he fits the line up well, but I think the overall winner, despite giving up a lot, is obviously the Stars. Miko's a top 10 player. He's a big body scoring forwards. And I actually think that this deal makes them my favourites to win the cup. Just quickly as well on their, Their potential line ups. Now looking at a forward line of

Matt: 9:38

also just

Tom: 9:39

Hintz, Rantanen, Marchmont, Duchesne, Granlund, Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnson, who they also just locked up to five year deal.

Matt: 9:46

Steele,

Tom: 9:46

a player Wyatt Johnson is as well. Dudanov,

Matt: 9:49

colleagues.

Tom: 9:49

then back, Steele, and Bork. Like I said, there's not many forward cores that are going to be better than that in the NHL, and I think it makes Dallas hard to stop.

Matt: 9:57

Yeah, I agree, mate. I think we spoke about a few weeks ago. We said Dallas sort of like started to really performing at the right time and now adding Rantanen to their lineup. Scary prospect for the other teams, mate. So Brandon Carlo then has gone to the Leafs from the Bruins for a fourth round pick in 25, a first round pick in 2026 and Fraser Minton, a 20 year old centre who has only played 15 games for the Leafs this season and 26 games for the Marlies in the AHL. Carlos played all of his 617 career games with the Bruins and on this one, the Bruins are retaining 15 percent of his contract for the next two years, which equates to about 600, 000. I think he goes into the the Leafs second line and he'll pair it with Morgan Rielly. And to be honest, the Leafs needed this. They need the defensive depth. You know, they've got themselves a big right shot blue line guy two years left on his current contract. And obviously it'll be lighter on the cap thanks to that 15 percent retention over in Boston. He's played 63 games this season. And as a defensive man with one goal, eight assists decent, decent trade this one for the Leafs. Again, you've got to question what the Bruins are doing. You know, I think they've got a fair few picks. It looks like they're, they're aiming for the future. But when you're only two points out from the wild card, the season isn't over. It's a very strange, sort of been, it's been a very strange deadline for me.

Tom: 11:40

Yeah, it is a bit odd. I, I just think, I know the Bruins have struggled a bit this year, but I think, I don't know whether there was, it's more a case of they were just unrest in a sense of getting players re signed and again, like you said, maybe they just wanted to retool. And just go, do you know what? Let's focus on the future. Let's get the picks in. Let's get some younger players in the line up. Ship out some of the older core, like we mentioned. See, Marshan's gone. Charlie Coyle to the abs, who was obviously, I think, in his thirties now. Sort of the second, third line centre. So, they're kind of getting rid of some of that core. I think this will be the first time in, sort of, sixteen odd years that the Bruins haven't lined up. Potentially even more than that. Haven't lined up with, like, Chara, Bergeron. and Marsh and at least one of them being in the lineup. So I think the Bruins have just kind of decided to go. Yeah, look, it's time to rebuild and retool if they make the playoffs this year anyway. then fair enough. If they don't, then, yeah, it's one of those where they can retool and get the pigs in.

Matt: 12:43

Yes, I think on this one, the Leafs are the definite winners in that trade. Even though, you know, Boston have got stuff for the future, the here and now, the right now yeah, the Leafs have won that one.

Tom: 12:59

look, my boys, the Avs, were always gonna be big players at the deadline. The Avs really went in. Sort of into the here and now it's it was definitely a win now sort of trade deadline for the abs. So the biggest deal that we made was obviously taking the best second line center that was available at the deadline. So Brock Nelson has gone to the abs. A lot of teams were in on him. I was really happy when I saw this come up because he, like I said, he was the best second line center that was available at the deadline. I know the Jets were in on him. So that's again kind of taking him away from a division rival. And I think it fills the hole that we've had since Nazem Kadri left. So Brock Nelson and Willem Dafoe come over from the Islanders. The Avs sent back Cal Ritchie, who is their number one prospect from the minors. Oliver Kylington, a 2026 first round pick and a 2028 third round pick. So the Avs do not have a first round pick now for the next couple of years, but Brock Nelson gives you, I mean, already this year, 20 goals, 23 assists. He picked up an assist on his debut last night as well, so that puts him up to 24 now. So Over 900 games with the Islanders. His hit career highs of sort of 75 points. Like I said, he could be the new Kadri. The abs have been missing. That second line sent us since Kadri left when we won the cup. He they tried Casey Middlestat. It didn't work. Obviously he goes away in the deal with with with Charlie Coyle. And I think this just gives you someone who is a proven player. He can play on the wing. And it gives the Avs that centre depth now that we've been lacking for a number of years. He's obviously a very versatile player. I think, if I'm kind of looking at it from the negative side, because I don't just want to be all positive about it, despite the fact that I am really happy about the deal. He is 33. So how many more years he's got left in him at the top? Probably, he's probably got another three, four good years left in him at the NHL level. But it's a lot to give up for someone who could potentially either not re sign if it doesn't quite happen. Or, yeah, like I said, only has those kind of few good years left in him. And to give up Cal Ritchie was the best prospect. Is it is a good win for the Islanders looking at it from that side of things, but they aren't probably going to make the playoffs now. I think they're not out of contention because it is tight in there. But I think if you're looking at teams that probably weren't going to make it, they are one of them. You've picked up some draft picks. You picked up a brilliant young player in Cal Richie. See, I know they shipped Carlington sort of off straight away to the Ducks in a separate deal. But yeah, I think I actually think in terms of the deal for me, the winner kind of just depends on how the ABS next two seasons go. I think. If we can win the cup in the next two seasons, which we've obviously tooled up and loaded up to try and do, then I think it's, I'd say it's an abs win because you've got what you wanted out of the deal, which was to go all out and win the cup. If we don't win it in the next couple of years, then I think, and as of right now, I probably would slightly edge it to the Islanders, just purely because of the fact that you've picked up draft picks, you've picked up a brilliant young player in Kyle Ritchie. Who a lot of people think will be a stud at the NHL level. So, yeah, in terms of the winner for this one, like I said, I'm very happy about it. But I think it's I think at the moment it's kind of up in the air who the winner of that deal is. I think I'd slightly edge Islanders right now. But, if the Avs do, do, like I said, win the Stanley Cup, then I think, yeah, I'd probably swing it back in the favour of the Avalanche.

Matt: 16:23

I agree, mate. I think the Islanders getting that first round pick and Cal Ritchie. I think they've done really well out of that deal. Obviously, you guys needed a center. but I think the for me, the Islanders probably have got the better end of the deal there. I'm going to go into the trade then that happened between the Sabres and the Senators. It's a weird one

Tom: 16:49

It was a weird one, wasn't it? Yeah, it was. I love how we said that at the same time. That's the first thing everyone said. It was a bit of a weird trade, wasn't it? A big trade, but, like, a weird trade.

Matt: 17:00

Yeah, I think the Sabres have got centre Joss Norris and defenceman Jacob Bernard Docker and the Senators have got centre Dylan Cousins and defenceman Dennis Gilbert plus second round pick in 2026. Norris is the better goal scorer and led the Senators in power play goals this season, 16 games played, 53 goals, 20 assists, 13 when you compare him to Cousins games played 62 goals, 11 assists, 21 it's, they're kind of swaps, but Norris is the better goal scorer ever so slightly. But he has, he has got injuries. And then when you compare Bernard Docker, games played one goal, three assists, but as a defenseman, you expect that and Gil six games played no goals, five assists, sort of like, like almost like for like players cousins as a big right shot center. I dunno, man, it's just, it's just a very odd trade. I don't think anybody's really gaining anything to be honest.

Tom: 18:14

Yeah, it is a bit of a weird one. I mean, so, it was a big deal. I think, I don't know whether it was a case that the Sens were trying to move Josh Norris on like you mentioned the injury issues that he had there might potentially have been a factor in that and whether that was just one of those things where they wanted to kind of move that on and kind of maybe freshen the team up a little bit. Look, Dylan Cousins is a good player. He's a good young player and a lot of people in that Buffalo organisation would talk about him as being one of the most skilled players that they've had for a while. So maybe it would be a case that like a change of scenery will sort of unleash that talent and get more experience. Obviously the Sens are definitely in the running

Matt: 18:54

experience.

Tom: 18:54

a wild card spot. So

Matt: 18:56

think,

Tom: 18:56

it is a bit of a weird one. I can't get my head around that one. As to sort of why

Matt: 19:01

I

Tom: 19:02

the deal happened, I Sens just because of the fact that

Matt: 19:06

think,

Tom: 19:06

is a bit younger. and has that kind of, maybe a slightly higher ceiling with Norris's injuries, but it's just, it is a bit of a weird, it was a weird deal.

Matt: 19:16

Yeah, I think for me, the the Sen's edge it just based on the fact that they've got cousins who has the potential an unreal player.

Tom: 19:27

Yeah I'd agree, I'd agree, but Matty, I mean, look, we predicted a couple of trades in the last episode that we did. It doesn't look like we got a lot of them right. I mean, we, we did, to be, to be fair, Nico Rantan and to the Kings didn't quite, didn't quite go to plan.

Matt: 19:43

I

Tom: 19:43

I don't know if they were ever actually. I don't think they were ever actually in the running from the looks of it. But another one that didn't quite materialize, and again, Leafs fans, look, you did well with the Carlo trade, but sort of cover your ears, because I think a lot of Leafs fans I saw on social media were, were not very happy to learn that they, they actually gave the better offer for Miko Rantanen, and the Canes basically just went, no, we're not. We're pulling out. We're not trading to you guys, but see, they went in for Ryan O'Reilly as well. And apparently Ryan O'Reilly was not keen on a re, a lot of reuniting with the Leafs. So that was another deal that just didn't get done for them. So it, it was a weird one. There was obviously some, some, I saw rumors as well that potentially Mitch Marner might have been on the block as well. Because I, and I think that's what apparently the Canes asked for. Apparently initially they asked if Mitch Marner could be included and apparently the Leafs straight up just said no, which I think to me shows that he's definitely going to get paid in the offseason. But yeah, like we said at the start, it was more quality deals over quantity deals, I think with this deadline. So yeah, it'd be interesting to see what plays out for the rest of the season. Like I said, I think my big winners. are the Dallas Stars from the trade deadline. He was the best player on the market, they got him. I think it makes them, for me anyway, it makes them favourites for the cup.

Matt: 21:04

Yeah, definitely, mate. I think the Dallas stars are definitely the overall winners of trade deadline day. And your loser, mate. I know who mine is straight away. I'd be interested to see if you've got the biggest pick the biggest loser too.

Tom: 21:19

Well, I just think the biggest loser is the Hurricanes. I, I mean, I, it would, I mean, look, the Bruins, obviously, you, I don't want to call them losers because I don't think they've necessarily lost, I think they've just obviously decided that they're giving in on the season, which is a weird decision to make, but I can't put them as losers because it's a move they obviously wanted to make. The Hurricanes, you traded for a player that according to some reports, you could have offered him 20 million dollars on an average annual salary and he would have never signed for you. So I think it was almost like a blind arrogance going in for that deal with Diabs when they initially got him and with a thought that he would sign. He was never signing with Carolina, so they've lost out on Natius this year now. Last year it happened with Getzel. They got him in a trade, thought they'd be able to sign him. He had no interest in signing. It's happened again with Rantanen. You've now lost Natius in a trade, so it's left the Canes in a bit of a predicament where yes, they're going to make the playoffs, but you've lost out on a big scoring forward and you've not really got much in return. Stankhoven's a good young player, but like I mentioned earlier I don't think he's going to be watching. What the canes need to kind of get them over that hump and into the Stanley Cup and potentially winning it. So yeah for me The hurricanes, you, they are the big losers at a deadline and I, like I said, I think something seriously needs to be looked at in that head office because, yeah, I think if I'm the board and I'm the GM walking into that dressing room going, right, well, we've lost NHS, but we got Rantanen back, but now we've lost Rantanen. And we've got Stankoven

Matt: 22:56

but

Tom: 22:56

probably going

Matt: 22:57

we've got

Tom: 22:57

where on earth are we meant to be heading? What direction are we meant to be going in? Because we clearly can't re sign these players or

Matt: 23:03

direction.

Tom: 23:03

these players to long term deals.

Matt: 23:05

some serious bad business there by the canes. It'll be interesting to see if there's many changes made in the the back office after this one. that wraps up the very quick episode, mate. looking forward to the next one. I think we're going to put a big focus on now the business end of the hockey season, aren't we? So make

Tom: 23:25

Yeah,

Matt: 23:26

check in for that one.

Tom: 23:28

100%. Like we said, business end of the season in the NHL now. Last 20 games to go. So big races in the playoffs. Obviously the scoring races and just seeing kind of where things play out for the playoff picture. Obviously guys, next week we will bring NFL and MLB back into it as well. But this was just a pure quick wrap up on the deadline. If you want to see all the deals that unfolded head, obviously head over to NHL. com and you can kind of get a full rundown of all the deals that went down sort of on deadline day. It is the most exciting day bar the playoffs in the NHL season. So check out that. And we'll be back with you guys next week to kind of give you a review of everything that's been going on since the deadline and where it's kind of left the teams looking in terms of the playoff hunt.

Matt: 24:09

And just a very quick one, we're now on Instagram guys. So if you search TriplePlayUK on Instagram, be news on the show on there as well. Tom, have a great week. I'll catch you in a few days when we're ready to go again.

Tom: 24:23

You too, Matty. All the best.

Matt: 24:27

That does it for another episode of triple play UK. I've been your host, Matt, along with co host Tom. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to follow us on X and subscribe on whatever listing platform you're on. And we will catch you again next week. Cheers guys.