The action for this year's NHL trade deadline got turned up to 11 early on Wednesday, with many of the big fish hooked and moved in a period of about 24 hours.
The impacts for fantasy hockey of which will all be discussed here in this article that will be updated throughout the day Thursday and Friday as more trade news breaks.
There is still all Thursday and most of Friday for NHL general managers to work the phones and upgrade their ranks. We'll have analysis of each of the deals done, but note that later trades could change things as we go, so check the timestamps.
For more on the NHL Trade Deadline, click here: Trade deadline buzz | Trade grades from A+ to F | Deadline tracker | Top 50 available players | Team-by-team trade deadline preview | Fantasy team preview/impact
On-ice impacts
Just checking in on Friday morning, as we look to a board of potential players on the block almost completely crossed out. With the flurry of trades on Wednesday followed by the biggest fish of them all going to the Hurricanes on Thursday, there aren't a plethora of high-impact names left expected to be traded. But deadline day rarely disappoints, so keep your trigger finger ready on your fantasy league's free-agent list.
It feels a bit weird to already have results in hand from some of the "deadline" moves, but more than a couple of new faces debuted on Thursday night.
Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo Sabres (39.5% available): Release the hype train! A goal, assist, 24:58 in ice time, 4:04 on the top power-play unit and 3.8 fantasy points in his Sabres debut suggests Byram is in as good a spot as advertised here. He played as Rasmus Dahlin's defense partner but stayed with him on the power play, too. As suggested already, Byram is a great add for fantasy and available in many leagues.
Vladimir Tarasenko, W, Florida Panthers (19.9% available): Making his debut on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, Tarasenko's landing place is even better than anticipated. Carter Verhaeghe slid down the depth chart to be the replacement for Nick Cousins on the Matthew Tkachuk line, making room for Tarasenko alongside Barkov. The bad news is that the Panthers lost 2-1, the top line didn't score and both goals were given up by the Tkachuk line. The good news, Tarasenko did get to sniff some secondary power-play minutes even in his debut.
Anthony Mantha, W, Vegas Golden Knights (96.1% available): In 15:14 of ice time on the line he was expected to debut on, Mantha's biggest impact was taking a double minor that allowed the Vancouver Canucks to get on the board in a 3-1 loss. Still, this was a good spot with William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson. Plus, Mantha got looks on the second power-play unit and solid play could have him replace either of his linemates on the top unit in the short term.
Noah Hanifin, D, Vegas Golden Knights (16.7% available): Also as expected, Hanifin did partner with Alex Pietrangelo, both at even strength and as part of the second power-play unit. He played 21:33, second only to his D partner on the team. Hanifin blocked one shot and took two, while throwing two hits for 0.9 fantasy points. His value shouldn't change much -- if at all -- in his new home.
Adam Henrique, C/W, Edmonton Oilers (58.4% available): While Henrique technically debuted on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane, the trio barely played together for three minutes before the Oilers approach to the game changed when they were down 3-0 after the first. Henrique spent the next two periods playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins so Draisaitl and Connor McDavid could combine to push for the comeback (which didn't happen). It goes to show the versatility the Oilers get with Henrique though -- and also suggests that, when times are good, he'll be a part of the top six. He did not, however, get any special teams work.
Allen secured to save the day in New Jersey?
Update: New Jersey massaged a complete overhaul of their goaltending corps by also acquiring Kaapo Kahkonen from the Sharks in a deal that sent Vitek Vanecek in San Jose's direction. Thus steering fantasy managers further away from an already precarious situation that bears even greater uncertainty. Unless one of the two successfully runs with the starting gig, which is utterly unpredictable at this point.
Shipped to the Devils in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick, Allen is aspiring to turn his waning fortunes around with a club that still figures it has a shot -- however longish -- at securing a playoff spot. Through the fantasy lens, this deal only merits mentioning since the 33-year-old veteran should be afforded every opportunity to prove he's more capable than either Nico Daws or Akira Schmid. If he does manage to secure some much-needed wins for a more complete squad than the one he left back in Montreal, he'll play. A lot. So while a marginal netminding option for only the most desperate of fantasy managers, Allen should nonetheless be monitored if he manages to rise to the occasion, in a fresh setting. With another year on his current contract, the incentive to make the most of this clean slate is certainly a factor.
Jets go all-in with Toffoli
Captain Trade Deadline himself, Tyler Toffoli, is doing another late-season team change by jumping into the Jets top six. He's a goal scorer that will really pump up the offense for Winnipeg. He's on pace for his third 30-goal season with an outside shot at 40 if he gels with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor on the top line -- which is a distinct option. Toffoli will get every chance here to establish himself as the top winger opposite Connor, which should yield plenty of fantasy returns. Toffoli is rostered in 84.6% of ESPN leagues, but this is a boon for those with him on their roster already -- especially if your league still uses plus/minus.
For now, Dawson Mercer or Erik Haula probably slide up to the Devils top six -- but keep an eye on Alexander Holtz getting another opportunity to jump onto Jack Hughes' line. But the real positive fantasy news is for those with Timo Meier. He's been off the top power-play unit all season when the Devils have a healthy depth chart, but Toffoli's absence opens up full-time duty for Meier on what is a very good power play. See his hat-trick with a power-play goal on Thursday as reference.
Canes take a chance on Kuznetsov
After adding Sidney Crosby's linemate, the Hurricanes are taking a chance on one of Alex Ovechkin's teammates to add more to their forward mix. Kuznetsov is two seasons removed from being a fantasy relevant NHLer -- and had two bad years prior to 2021-22 as well. But he's a veteran center with a Stanley Cup and has dished 50 assists in a season on four prior occasions. Throwing one guaranteed top-six asset in Jake Guentzel and one potential one in Kuznetsov really opens up the depth chart possibilities, so it's hard to speculate. But there is potential here. If you are looking for an early, available addition to your fantasy bench to speculate on from trade deadline day, this is a good one. Kuznetsov is available in 96.8% of ESPN leagues.
Guentzel blows into Carolina
Considered the most sought-after forward on this year's pre-deadline market, Jake Guentzel is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Once fully recovered from his upper-body injury - reportedly in the next few days - the now former Penguin is projected to join center Sebastian Aho on the club's top line and power play. Linking up with another one of the league's top playmaking centers after competing with Sidney Crosby, the scoring winger should continue to contribute at the point/game (or better) pace to which we've become accustomed over the past few years. If you've had Guentzel stashed on IR of late, prepare to reap some rich fantasy rewards once more. Another point in Guentzel's fresh fantasy flavor is that Carolina's power play ranks fourth in the league while the Penguins languish in 28th spot.
Depending on how coach Rod Briand-Amour decides to rearrange his lineup otherwise, Andrei Svechnikov could drop to the Hurricanes' second line alongside Martin Necas and center Jack Drury. Playing in his first full NHL season, Drury might stand to benefit from Svechnikov's penchant for production, at least in the short term. But, realistically, the 24-year-old's current assignment doesn't feel altogether permanent. Keep a view of how matters shuffle about in the coming days.
It's also worth noting that the addition of Guentzel makes the 'Canes better. Which further bolsters netminder Frederik Andersen as a fantasy asset. In his much-anticipated return, Andersen - rostered in only 41% of ESPN Fantasy leagues - looked his best self (.960 SV%) in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canadiens.
Heading Pittsburgh's way in exchange for Guentzel, in addition to three prospects and a pair of conditional picks, feisty forward Michael Bunting is likely to earn the opportunity to refresh this season alongside Sidney Crosby. It didn't work out as hoped in Carolina. Playing with Crosby - which feels like a nice fit - could help Bunting wrap up 2023-24 in a more positive manner. Food for thought in deeper fantasy leagues.
Duclair returns to Florida
Mind you, not back to the same organization he left in Sunrise only a few months ago, but as the newest member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The only fantasy-related drawback here is that Anthony Duclair is due to experience an inevitable dip in ice-time after filling a prominent position on the top line and power play in San Jose. But that's it.
On the upside, the versatile winger will be surrounded by stronger castmates at even-strength - possibly on a second line with Anthony Cirelli - and with the extra skater. The Lightning need a jolt, rather desperately, and Duclair is a proven entity in providing as much. Plus, the historically streaky producer is in a groove at present, with five goals and three assists in four games. He could definitely be worth a flier in deeper fantasy leagues.
Back in San Jose, young AHL call-up Thomas Bordeleau is first to ascend to the Sharks' top line alongside Mikael Granlund in Duclair's absence. While he scored his second NHL goal from that spot against the Islanders on Thursday, there's no cause to jump to any fantasy-related conclusions quite yet. Give it a minute.
Golden Knights add Mantha, Hanifin
In separate deals on Tuesday and Wednesday, the defending Stanley Cup champs picked up a former power forward having a decent rebound season in Anthony Mantha and the top all-around defender on the market in Noah Hanifin.
No current fantasy assets went out the door on these deals, with Daniil Miromanov more of a future potential contributor now on the Calgary Flames blue line.
Mantha is expected to debut on Thursday as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Vancouver Canucks. With Jack Eichel back in the fold to hold down his usual top line, Mantha is likely getting a top-six role alongside William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson. If he performs as well as he has in his limited minutes with the Washington Capitals this season, there could even be some top unit power-play time on offer in the short term. Mantha has 20 goals and actually ranks among the top 100 skaters for fantasy points per 60 minutes -- ahead of players like Mark Scheifele, Nick Suzuki and Anze Kopitar, for example.
Hanifin has some room to breathe on what might have been a crowded blue line before Alec Martinez hit the injured reserve again. He may get to slide right into Martinez's spot next to Alex Pietrangelo, but second pairing is fine, too. Hanifin was third on the Flames pecking order all season and still managed to earn himself a respectable (and startable) 1.8 fantasy points per game.
The departure of Hanifin and Chris Tanev, as mentioned in this space, will mean more ice time and some potential for Oliver Kylington with the Flames, but Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar are still around and suck up a lot of air, so it's muted hope at best for fantasy potential.
Avalanche beef up with Walker, Mittelstadt -- but Byram may be fantasy winner
The Colorado Avalanche made a pair of deals Wednesday, swapping an up-and-coming defender blocked by talent in front of him to the Buffalo Sabres for an up-and-coming forward blocked by talent in front of him. And, while acquiring Casey Mittelstadt from the Sabres in exchange for Bowen Byram, they shipped off their previous attempt at solving their second-line center problem by sending Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers for stalwart defender Sean Walker.
Mittelstadt is having a solid, if unspectacular campaign from a fantasy perspective. He is assist-heavy and play-driving, which doesn't always translate to fantasy glory. His 1.42 fantasy points per game is not at a roster-worthy level so far, but, as the saying goes, there's always potential in the Avalanche. Valeri Nichushkin is due back potentially this week from the player assistance program, which, with the addition of Mittelstadt, gives some extra juice to the top six. It's unlikely -- and unfortunate -- that Mittelstadt won't see much power-play time, as he was actually getting heaps of it with the Sabres. Bottom line, there isn't too much to get excited about here as Mittelstadt, as a center, will have a hard time finding ice time with Nathan MacKinnon.
Walker isn't a fantasy relevant defender, as solid as he is defensively. And it's unlikely Johansen can do something with the Flyers he wasn't able to do with the Avs -- as it's not as though they didn't give him every opportunity to be the anchor on the second line.
But Byram is very interesting here. He has shown high offensive upside throughout his tenure with the Avs -- with a giant asterisk that says "when healthy." The problem has been that he played behind the best young defender on the planet and was never going to get a true chance to shine. He is still not the No. 1 and maybe not even the No. 2 on the Sabres, but Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power and flashy, borderline forwards like Cale Makar. There is a chance for Byram to partner with one of them to the benefit of both thanks to his offensive chops. With Mattias Samuelsson, Dahlin's partner, done for the season, here's betting Byram gets a chance to partner with Dahlin. It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Oilers win Henrique sweepstakes
It's almost a touch cruel that a team with too many centers already took the best one left on the trade market. But Adam Henrique is a Swiss-Army knife for the depth chart and can play anywhere and in any situation for Edmonton. Of course we need to jump all over him in fantasy leagues. Anyone with the chance to form a bond with Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl is worth stashing (I don't regret trying it with Connor Brown; it had a chance... ). But Henrique's versatility could be his downfall for fantasy, as he might just be used to solidify the third line rather than get a top-six role with the superstars. This is a wait and see, but get him on your roster. It's unlikely he'll continue as a fringe asset and will either be your favorite pickup or droppable in two weeks, but not in between those extremes.
Back with the Ducks, who also sent Sam Carrick in the deal to Edmonton to play on the fourth line, there is more room for Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish to grow as leaders, but that was happening anyway. Not much should change, but watch for even more room to maybe open up by Friday.
Tarasenko trades one Tkachuk for another
The main spot for the Panthers to improve heading into the deadline was adding a winger that can finish to play with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Nick Cousins has been holding down the wing on their line all season, but isn't an offensive juggernaut by any stretch. To be fair, neither is Tarasenko at this stage of his career, but he knows the motions -- and maybe playing with one of the best players at making room on the ice for his teammates can warm up those scoring muscles.
It's a cheap roll of the dice for the Panthers and, frankly, a cheap roll of the dice in fantasy, too. Plus, hey, Tarasenko spent this season learning to speak Tkachuk with Brady, so the transition won't be so bad (not really, they only played 145 minutes together at five-on-five in Ottawa).
With Josh Norris injured and Tarasenko now gone, this locks Drake Batherson into a top-six role for Ottawa, but he's had that for long stretches this season already and has been largely disappointing.