The NHL trade deadline is usually something everyone builds up in their heads to be this crazy day, but in the end, falls well short of everyone’s expectations. However, this time, that wasn’t the case.
The 2025 NHL trade deadline was one for the ages with all the madness that took place, and Elliotte Friedman surely wasn’t the only one with 21 hours of screen time.
With one blockbuster after another, including Dylan Cozens heading to the Ottawa Senators and Mikko Rantanen being traded for the second time in 42 days to the Dallas Stars, everyone thought that would be the end of the massive deals.
But at 3:01 p.m., everyone except Florida Panthers fans had the same reaction as Paul Bissonette when Friedman dropped the bomb that Brad Marchand was headed to Florida. NHL social media immediately compared it to John Cena turning heel.
Especially Toronto Maple Leafs fans, who were disappointed for a whole 10 minutes before finding out the jaw-dropping, all-in move to get Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins and possibly form the best defensive pairs the Maple Leafs have ever had.
Throughout the week leading up to the trade deadline and the day itself, it felt like teams (especially in the Central and Atlantic) were saying, “that’s cute, but watch this,” and following it by adding another massive piece.
So here are some of the deals that left us stunned:
Marchand (the Rat) joins the defending Stanley Cup Champions (also the rats)
Florida Panthers acquire: Brad Marchand (LW)
Boston Bruins acquire: Conditional 2027 second-round pick, retain 50 per cent of Marchand’s contract
Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins actually did it.
As we approached the 3 p.m. ET deadline, it didn’t look like Marchand was going to be moved.
*The Vegas Golden Knights have entered the chat*
After making several big-time moves in the last couple years at the trade deadline, including Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl, the Vegas — one of the teams rumoured to be in on Marchand — social media team had everyone fooled when they struck again by posting “hi” on X at 2:48 p.m.
So, when Elliotte Friedman came on air and said, “Brad Marchand could become a…” everyone was expecting the Golden Knights to be the next words out of his mouth.
Instead, we got a shock that still hasn’t left anyone’s body.
Maple Leafs load up backend with Brandon Carlo
Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Brandon Carlo (D)
Boston Bruins acquire: Fraser Minten (C), conditional 2026 first-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, retain 15 per cent of Carlo’s contract
Before 1 p.m. on deadline day, Maple Leafs fans couldn’t understand why their general manager Brad Treliving hadn’t made any moves while everyone was getting better around them. Turns out he had a plan, a good one I might add.
After being in on the Mikko Rantanen sweepstakes, it seems Treliving had an internal deadline time, and once it hit, he moved on to the next best thing.
After acquiring Scott Laughton earlier in the afternoon, it appeared that would be the lone big move for the Maple Leafs. It looked like a great plan until the Panthers acquired Marchand.
While the exact moment fans were trying to wrap their head around hearing the news, Conor Timmins was summoned off the ice at practice, leading everyone to believe the Leafs had made a deal.
Nobody, not even Friedman, expected what would come next, though: Brandon Carlo being dealt to the Maple Leafs, leaving everyone on the outside in shock, while the Maple Leafs front office said, “checkmate.”
Oilers surprisingly add another offensive defenceman in Jake Walman
Edmonton Oilers acquire: Jake Walman (D)
San Jose Sharks: Carl Berglund (C), conditional 2026 first-round pick
Is it shocking the Edmonton Oilers traded for a defenceman? No, but what is surprising is who they traded for.
The Oilers desperately needed an upgrade on defence before gearing up for another run at the Stanley Cup. All season long, the problem with the Oilers has been their lack of defence, led by Evan Bouchard, who seems to be on the bad end of every highlight against the Oilers.
So, when the deal for Jake Walman was officially announced early Friday morning, it was indeed a shock considering the offensive-defenceman style of game Walman was playing on the Sharks.
Steady Staios gets the ‘workhorse from Whitehorse‘
Ottawa Senators acquire: Dylan Cozens (C), Dennis Gilbert (D), 2026 second-round pick
Buffalo Sabres acquire: Josh Norris (C), Jacob Bernard-Docker (D)
Outside of stars Elias Pettersson and Rantanen, Dylan Cozens might have been the most talked about trade target heading into the deadline, with teams like the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Canucks and Red Wings all in the mix for him.
But out of nowhere, the Senators become the team to land him, sending shock throughout the dressing room after realizing Josh Norris was the man to leave.
Moving for Cozens sends a message to the fans and other teams that Ottawa is not only talking about the next step, but taking action by making a blockbuster trade the team will look back on in years to come.
The Moose finally has a new permanent home in Dallas
Dallas Stars acquire: Mikko Rantanen (RW)
Carolina Hurricanes acquire: Logan Stankoven (C), conditional 2026 first-round pick, conditional 2028 first-round pick, 2026 third-round pick, 2027 third-round pick
Do you think the Colorado Avalanche front office thought when they traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes he would end up back in their division not even two months later, signed to a deal that comes in with a lower AAV than Nathan MacKinnon?
I would reckon not.
While it was expected for the Hurricanes to look to move Mikko Rantanen, it’s still a shock considering the magnitude of the player and what has happened since Jan. 24 when he was first traded to Carolina from Colorado.
The Dallas Stars pulled off what nobody thought would be done and now are the betting odds favourite to win the Stanley Cup.
Zetterlund goes to Ottawa in a sneaky good deal
Ottawa Senators acquire: Fabian Zetterlund (LW), Tristen Robins (C), 2025 fourth-round pick
San Jose Sharks acquire: Noah Gregor (LW), Zack Ostapchuk (C), 2025 second-round pick
The Sharks surprisingly traded away Fabian Zetterlund, who looked like a core piece of their future. At just 25 years old, Zetterlund now joins the Senators in a top-six role that will help improve their five-on-five scoring, which currently ranks second last in the league.
This was a player nobody expected to move, but it might be the best one when we look back on it.
Panthers add yet another former top draft pick in Seth Jones
Florida Panthers acquire: Seth Jones (D), 2026 fourth-round pick
Chicago Blackhawks acquire: Spencer Knight (G), 2026 or 2027 first-round pick, retain 26 per cent of Jones’ contract
When Seth Jones spoke after the game against the Utah Hockey Club, everyone knew he would be traded, it was just a matter of where.
The Panthers answered that for us, trading for him in what was the first big deal of deadline week. The surprise came from the fact that it was the defending Stanley Cup champions who pulled the trigger on Jones.
Kyle Dubas loves to make trades
Pittsburgh Penguins acquire: Luke Schenn (D), Tommy Novak (C)
Nashville Predators acquire: Michael Bunting (LW), 2026 fourth-round pick
This one was way out of left field. Not because Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators traded Tommy Novak or Luke Schenn, but because the team receiving them was the Penguins. In a year where Dubas was looking to do a “fire sale,” he ended up making trades to instead bring more players into the fold.
Johnson goes home to Colorado in the feel-good surprise of the day
Colorado Avalanche acquire: Erik Johnson (D)
Philadelphia Flyers acquire: Givani Smith (RW)
Honestly, this deal will probably have no impact on the rest of the season for either team in terms of product on the ice, but the Flyers did something special. They traded Erik Johnson back to the Avalanche, where he spent 12-and-a-half seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Johnson probably won’t play a lot for the Avalanche during this attempt to go deep in the playoffs, but one thing is for sure: The vibes in the locker room just got 10 times better.
