NHL trade deadline 2023 tracker: Analyzing moves made before March 3

The NHL trade season is getting interesting, especially if you live in New York.

The New York Islanders and New York Rangers have pulled off the biggest deals in what, up to then, had been a boring trade season.

First, the Vancouver Canucks did their initial piece of “major surgery” on the disappointing team’s roster by trading captain Bo Horvat, an All-Star, to the Islanders on Jan. 30.

The New York Rangers made their move on Feb. 9 by acquiring winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues. 

Here is analysis on the bigger deals or other moves that have taken place leading up to the March 3 NHL trade deadline. There will be a live blog on deadline day. 

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When is the NHL trade deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 3.

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Who are some of the bigger names who could be moved before the deadline?

Chicago’s Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Max Domi. San Jose’s Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier. St. Louis’ Ryan O’Reilly. Vancouver’s Brock Boeser and Luke Schenn. Anaheim’s John Klingberg. Arizona’s Jakob Chychrun, Shayne Gostisbehere and Nick Bjugstad. Columbus’ Vladislav Gavrikov. Philadelphia’s James van Riemsdyk. Montreal’s Joel Edmundson and Sean Monahan. Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi.

What trades, transactions or other news occurred before the March 3 deadline?

Feb. 11: The Arizona Coyotes announced that defenseman Jakob Chychrun was a healthy scratch for trade related reasons. Chychrun can give the Coyotes their greatest return in their rebuild. He’s skilled and has two seasons beyond this one for a reasonable $4.6 million salary cap hit. Considering defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere recently got hurt, the Coyotes need to protect their assets. And if a trade doesn’t happen immediately, not having Chychrun on the ice will help them get better draft lottery odds for Connor Bedard.  

Feb. 9: The New York Rangers acquire forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, forward Sammy Blais and defenseman Hunter Skinner. Tarasenko, an All-Star this season even with reduced numbers as he missed time with an injury, boosts the Rangers’ top six and they didn’t have to give up one of their top youngsters to get him. He’s a six-time 30-goal scorer who puts up good playoff numbers. The Rangers also hold the Dallas Stars’ first-round pick and they’ll give up the lower pick, helping them in this year’s deep draft. Mikkola is a 6-4 shutdown defenseman who kills penalties and is an upgrade on defenseman Libor Hajek, who was placed on waivers. Blais used to play for the Blues and put up better numbers there. He had no goals with New York. Both he, Mikkola and Tarasenko are pending unrestricted free agents. The Blues will retain 50% of Tarasenko’s salary.

Feb. 6: Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane addresses his future. The pending unrestricted free agent has a no-movement clause and told reporters he’s “not really at that point” about deciding whether to waive it. He did say agent Pat Brisson has told him “a few” teams have reached out. “We’re probably taking it up to the deadline before making a decision,” he said. Meanwhile, captain Jonathan Toews has missed the past two practices because of a non-COVID illness, coach Luke Richardson said. Toews also has a no-movement clause.

Feb. 5: The Seattle Kraken acquire defenseman Jaycob Megna from the San Jose Sharks for a 2023 fourth-round draft pick. He 6-6, 220, adding size to a defense that also has 6-7, 255 Jamie Oleksiak. He averages 19 minutes a game and was a plus player on a Sharks team that was full of minuses. He’s signed through 2024. The Kraken have until June 15 to decide whether the pick they give up is theirs or the one that belonged to the Colorado Avalanche.

Feb. 5: New York Islanders sign Bo Horvat for eight years.  Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, as usual, didn’t reveal terms, joking, “All I can tell you it’s too long and too much money.” But Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the cap hit is $8.5 million, which puts Horvat second on the team behind Mathew Barzal ($9.15 million). Knowing that Horvat is more than a rental makes this deal even better. He and Barzal, the Islanders’ most skilled offensive players, are signed through 2030-31. ​​​​​​

Jan. 25: The Colorado Avalanche acquire forward Matt Nieto and defenseman Ryan Merkley from the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Jacob MacDonald and forward Martin Kaut. The banged-up Avalanche need depth players, and Nieto played for them previously. Merkley, a former first-round pick, never found a place with San Jose. Sharks general manager Mike Grier ends up getting some assets for Nieto, a pending unrestricted free agent. His better test will be the return if he deals Karlsson or Meier.

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