PHN Trade Deadline Live Blog & Analysis: Last Minute Trades

LAS VEGAS — The next era of the Pittsburgh Penguins begins today. The pivot that began when the team traded winger Jake Guentzel in advance of the 2024 NHL trade deadline could take a quantum leap forward today as general manager Kyle Dubas maneuvers through a maze of recent missteps and failed attempts to resuscitate the aging Penguins dynasty to reshape the current roster, which is next to last in the Eastern Conference.

Please do not stand up until the ride comes to a full and complete stop. Those with heart conditions, bad backs, or who may be pregnant should not ride this ride.

Michael Bunting has already been traded to Nashville. Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn are en route. However, whether Schenn is still a Penguin after the 3 p.m. deadline is not entirely certain.

Update: Nope, Schenn is not en route. See below.

Pittsburgh Penguins

We’ll put the Penguins trade on top. All trades will be in bold.

This is becoming a running opinion blog.

We’re going to have two sections for the live blog: the Penguins sections and the NHL at large. Unfortunately, the Penguins skate at 2:30 p.m. ET, so we’ll be moving around in the hour before the deadline, but perhaps we’ll get some final comments from someone, too.

I’ve been working the locker room over the last two weeks, preparing for this day. Some guys are wearing the emotion on their sleeves. Rickard Rakell is a sensitive or introspective sort, and he knows full well what he’s facing today. He doesn’t like it, but it is out of his control.

The others, such as Bryan Rust, Kris Letang, and even Erik Karlsson, are in full control. There’s zero chance Rust or Letang are dealt, but Karlsson … we’ll see.

It’s a unique and rather odd situation. However, I didn’t get to shake Marcus Pettersson’s or Drew O’Connor’s hand and say thanks for the help and the conversations. Perhaps I’ll get that chance for someone today. As Kris Letang shrugged last Sunday, “it’s a business,” but we spend so much time around these people that it’s hard not to form a few professional relationships.

We’ll start the Penguins section with our predictions. Who will stay, and who will go? It’s always tease, tease, tease.

Read More: Preds GM Disses New Penguins Forward, Details Trade Negotiations

And if you missed it, last night, Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz did not compliment Novak on his way out the door. In fact, he was rather dismissive of the player. You can read those sharp comments on Tommy Novak here.

As of 10:00 a.m., all is well. Nothing to report.

10:22 a.m.: I’m not sure I understand the J.J. Peterka watch. Of course, the Penguins would love to have him. A player with 51 points, including 19 goals in 59 games, would be a great get. The trade rumors stem from his pending restricted free agency. Buffalo can’t be that dumb as to trade him, can they? He’s not even arbitration-eligible.

Unless Peterka demanded a trade, the Penguins are out of the running on this one. And there shouldn’t even be a running.

10:40 a.m.: Greg Wyshinski put the LA Kings Brandt Clarke on his trade board. I know that name intrigues Penguins fans, but another right-handed defenseman doesn’t fit until … you know. Also, Clarke is not fast. If the Penguins want to be competitive, they need to pick a lane. Colorado’s speed advantage over the Penguins was frightening. Be tough, be fast, but not be middle.

11:09 a.m.: Anthony Beauvillier to Washington, per Elliotte Friedman. Chris Johnston reports the return is a second-rounder. 

11:37 a.m: I can’t help but wonder if Dubas will sell some of this cap space he’s built. PuckPedia.com shows the Penguins over $12 million. Could Dubas help Dallas free enough cap space to sign Rantanen?

11:51 a.m.: It’s quiet. Tooooo quiet. I’m running downstairs for a coffee.

12:22 p.m.: We’re about 2.5 hours from the final gun and nothing else from the Penguins?! Dubas does not NEED to deal away Rakell, but he may never get a better return than today.

12:39 p.m.: PENGUINS TRADE. Dubas did indeed flip Luke Schenn. The Penguins traded the defenseman to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2026 second and 2027 fourth-round pick. Full Story.

It’s a good deal for the Penguins and makes the Bunting trade a success. They essentially traded Bunting for a Novak and a second-rounder with a fourth-round slide. However, I will have to take Dubas’s words with a little salt next time. The move is the right thing for the team, but Dubas could have left the door open when I specifically asked that question.

1:42 p.m: Matt Grzelcyk, Noel Acciari, and the rest are still Pittsburgh Penguins. If they don’t trade Grzelcyk, I’d expect them to sign him. He’s been a nice fit.

1:47 p.m.: Walking over the rink for the morning skate now. Talk to you in 10.

2:25 p.m.: Cody Glass to New Jersey. Third-round pick. Minor Leagues (not yet named).

LeBrun: “Devils getting Cody Glass from the Penguins for a 3rd RD pick, and some minor league players are also involved.”

Glass is a great guy. His house was a hub for young players like Philip Tomasino and Owen Pickering. The return will be interesting. Glass’s numbers weren’t great (or good), but he made the team better and was important in the locker room.

New Jersey gave up a third-rounder for Glass, as well as some minor leaguers. Awaiting full details.

3:42 p.m.: The Penguins are acquiring right-shot defenseman Conor Timmins from the Toronto Maple Leafs, per Chris Johnston. The deal also includes light-scoring 25-year-old fourth-liner Connor Dewar. 

The Penguins dealt away Schenn earlier, so they added another bonafide NHL defenseman, even if Timmins isn’t the teeth-rattler, reliable type like Schenn. Timmins is 26 years old and has overcome significant concussion issues early in his career with the Colorado Avalanche.

Read More: Last Second Trade: Penguins Acquire RHD Timmins, 4th Line Center

Toronto acquired Brandon Carlo just before the deadline, which made Timmins very expendable as Toronto needed to clear cap space.

Dewar’s inclusion is somewhat surprising. He has just three points (0-3-3) in 31 games this season. He provides center depth to the organization, but his value would seem to be quite limited. His inclusion was likely a move to add warm bodies for the stretch run without pilfering the prospects from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Johnston reports the Penguins gave up a late-round pick for the pair.

NHL Trade Chatter, Rumors, & Moves Section

It is a SELLER’S market.

9:46 a.m.: There are two big hold-ups Friday. The first is Mikko Rantanen, soon to be late of the Carolina Hurricanes. Late Thursday, into the wee hours Friday, he was given permission to speak with the Dallas Stars about a new contract. The trade is pending that new contract.

TSN’s Chris Johnston is all over it.

Here’s the Mikko Rantanen situation as it stands now:

Step 1 was DAL and CAR agreeing to the framework of a trade, which happened.

Step 2 is DAL reaching a contract extension with Mikko Rantanen, which hasn’t happened.

There’s no trade without Step 2 being satisfied.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 7, 2025

The other hold-up is Brad Marchand. Will the Bruins captain become trade fodder, or will he re-sign? Seriously, Boston, RE-SIGN, RE-SIGN, RE-SIGN. The pendulum has swung violently in each direction over the last 18 hours. Obviously, teams are looking at Marchand as if he could be a missing piece for a Stanley Cup run.

The Penguins’ Rakell is probably the third in line.

So, here we go…the blog is LIVE!

9:57 a.m.: The other big names to watch on the NHL trade market today are Scott Laughton and Brock Boeser. There are teams frantically fishing for centers and impact forwards, but the Philadelphia Flyers have played coy with Laughton, affixing a high price tag. Laughton has one more year at a very affordable $3 million salary cap hit.

The Vancouver Canucks have been the running NHL soap opera this season. First, it was J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson then Boeser took center stage in the president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford-driven drama. Vancouver should be much better than they are, but Boeser and the Canucks are not close to a new contract, so it’s likely bon voyage, Brock.

10:06 a.m.: Adding three hours to each post is messing me up. Other teams to keep a close eye on are the Winnipeg Jets, who are thought to be interested in Rakell, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Florida Panthers. It seems there is an arms race in the West, and Florida is preparing to meet them on the ice in the Stanley Cup Final.

Brandon Tanev and Ryan Donato are still out there, too. Seattle reportedly offered to eat 50% of Tanev’s salary to facilitate a deal, but nothing is cooking yet. Donato is a poor man’s second-liner, one of those players who puts up bigger numbers on a bad team. News is breaking this morning that Donato may re-sign in Chicago.

10:30 a.m: UH OH. From Darren Dreger: “See where it goes, but I’m confident the Dallas Stars are/were willing to go to upwards of $12 million per to extend Rantanen. A big number for the Stars, given contract challenges moving forward. Unless something changes, that’s well short.”

10:51 a.m.: Jason Zucker has re-signed in Buffalo, a two-year deal, $4.75 million per season. Dreger first to report.

10:53 a.m.: Kevin Weeks is getting specific this time. No more city pictures. His tweet: “I’m told the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres are working a potential trade which may include F’s Norris and Bernard-Docker.”

11:10: To further to what Kevin Weekes reported here, Dylan Cozens part of this trade both teams are working on.

Deal is done? Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilhert, and a second to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Norris is better than Cozens, for now, but geez, that shoulder is a constant LTIR in waiting. I think Buffalo could have done better elsewhere. This looks like a safe play, or lateral move rather than a big trade.

11:30 a.m.: Friedman reporting “a stalemate” in contract talks between Dallas and Rantanen.

12:o8 p.m.: The LA Kings are sending a 2027 third-round pick to Philadelphia for Andrei Kuzmenko. Philly is retaining 50%. 

12:30 p.m.: RANTANEN! Closing in–per multiple reports–on an eight-year, $96 million deal (that’s $8 million AAV for those of you who grew up in Herminie). 

Rantanen is settling. His performance in Carolina cost him about $5 million, perhaps $10 million.

12:48 p.m.: Brandon Tanev to Jets for a 2nd in 2027. 

That’s a huge overpay, but today is the day for it.

12:52 p.m.: The big one–Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Laughton carries a $3 million salary cap hit through next season, but that’s a bargain. 

The deal is this: Philadelphia sent Laughton, a fourth, and a sixth-rounder to Philly for a conditional 2027 first-rounder (top-10 protected) and prospect Nikita Grebenkin.

Grebenkin, 21, is a success story attributable to the current Penguins vice president of player personnel. Grebenkin was a 2022 fifth-rounder but has already played seven NHL games this season.

1:22 p.m.: Here’s the Rantanen Trade, per Pierre LeBrun: Logan Stankovan and two first-round picks, plus some smaller pieces in the deal as well.

1:36 p.m.: It seems we’re winding down. No Marchand talk in hours. The Penguins are holding Rakell tightly.

2:04 p.m.: Columbus Blue Jackers are acquiring Luke Kunin from San Jose Sharks, per Pierre LeBrun. 

2:06 p.m.: The Colorado Avalanche have cut bait with Casey Mittelstadt. They’ve traded him to Boston for Charlie Coyle, but reporters indicate there’s more to the deal. Awaiting pieces. 

2:21 p.m.: The Detroit Red Wings acquire goalie Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith for Joe Veleno.

Detroit is sad. That’s a worthless trade that doesn’t help a team fighting for a playoff spot. Steve Yzerman is being FAR too conservative.

3:10 p.m: what the ever loving? The Florida Panthers have acquired Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins.

The return almost doesn’t matter. Marchand to the Panthers. Even a dispassionate observer isn’t cool with that one.

I suppose a place famous for rats is a humorous destination, but the heated rivalry between Florida and Boston makes this a double wow. According to the national reporters, the trade is pending a league call.

3:12 p.m.: Last-minute deals are being confirmed; Brandon Carlo is headed to Toronto. Erik Johnson, the Stanley Cup stalwart of the Colorado Avalanche, is heading back there.

The walls are coming down in Boston, with the cornerstone of the #NHLBruins heading out the door. | @BOSHockeyNowhttps://t.co/fL6b8IyMkp

— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) March 7, 2025

3:30 p.m. Boston also traded Brandon Carlo to Toronto for good young player Fraser Minton. More pieces are involved.

4:00 p.m. Per Elliotte Friedman: To Ottawa: Zetterlund, Robins and a 4th To San Jose: Ostapchuk, Gregor and OTT’s 2025 2nd

Johnston: The Sabres are acquiring Erik Brannstrom from the Rangers for Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

Chicago offloaded dead salary, trading Shea Weber to Utah. Chicago also traded Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty in the deal, which netted them a sixth-rounder.