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NHL trade grades for the 2018-19 season

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

We grade all the big trades for the 2018-19 season, beginning with the summer moves sending Jeff Skinner, Max Pacioretty and Erik Karlsson to new homes, right up until the Feb. 25 deadline.


Feb. 25

Mark Stone to the Golden Knights

The deal:

Golden Knights get: RW Mark Stone
Panthers get: D Erik Brannstrom, F Oscar Lindberg, Dallas' 2020 second-round pick

The Golden Knights score a dynamic two-way winger in Mark Stone, and ink him long term. But it cost them key young defenseman Erik Brannstrom. Grades

Wayne Simmonds to the Predators

The deal:

Predators get: RW Wayne Simmonds
Flyers get: LW Ryan Hartman, 2020 fourth-round pick that becomes a third-rounder if Nashville wins a playoff series

The Nashville Predators swooped in and won Wayne Simmonds right ahead of the deadline, parting ways with 2018 deadline addition Ryan Hartman and a pick. Grades

Marcus Johansson to the Bruins

The deal:

Bruins get: LW Marcus Johansson
Devils get: 2019 second-round pick, 2020 fourth-round pick

The New Jersey Devils trade Marcus Johansson to the Boston Bruins, home to Brad Marchand, who concussed Johansson last season. Grades

Mikael Granlund to the Predators

The deal:

Predators get: C Mikael Granlund
Wild get: LW Kevin Fiala

The Nashville Predators keep up in the Western Conference arms race by adding versatile Mikael Granlund, giving up 2014 first-rounder Kevin Fiala. Grades

Erik Gudbranson to the Penguins

The deal:

Penguins get: D Erik Gudbranson
Canucks get: F Tanner Pearson

In Erik Gudbranson and Jack Johnson, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has now added two of the NHL's most underwhelming defensemen in less than one year. Grades

Derick Brassard to the Avalanche

The deal:

Avalanche get: C Derick Brassard, conditional 2020 sixth-round pick (if Avalanche re-sign Brassard, they do not get the pick)
Panthers get: 2020 third-round pick

The Colorado Avalanche boost their secondary scoring as Derick Brassard gets traded ... again. Grades

Kevin Hayes to the Jets

The deal:

Jets get: C Kevin Hayes
Rangers get: 2019 first-round pick, F Brendan Lemieux, conditional 2022 fourth-round pick (pick is traded if Jets win the 2019 Stanley Cup, otherwise no pick is traded)

The Winnipeg Jets make a big move for a second-line center for the second consecutive year, while the New York Rangers' rebuild gets a boost. Grades

Keith Kinkaid to the Devils

The deal:

Blue Jackets get: G Keith Kinkaid
Devils get: 2022 fifth-round pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets gave themselves another option in net by acquiring Keith Kinkaid, and paid a wildly low price to do so, sending a 2022 fifth-rounder back to the New Jersey Devils. Grades


Feb. 24

Gustav Nyquist to the Sharks

The deal:

Sharks get: F Gustav Nyquist
Red Wings get: Conditional second-round pick in 2019 (the lower of Florida's or San Jose's selections), conditional 2020 third-round pick (becomes San Jose's 2020 second-round pick if the Sharks reach 2019 Stanley Cup Final or re-signs Nyquist)

Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist waives his no-trade clause to join the offensive arsenal of the San Jose Sharks. Grades

Brandon Montour to the Sabres

The deal:

Sabres get: D Brandon Montour
Ducks get: D Brendan Guhle, conditional 2019 first-round pick (San Jose's pick, or Ducks have option to take St. Louis' pick if it's between No. 20 and No. 31)

The Buffalo Sabres deal from a cache of surplus first-round picks to add 24-year-old blueliner Brandon Montour. Did the Anaheim Ducks give up too soon on another talented young defenseman? Grades


Feb. 23

Mats Zuccarello to the Stars

The deal:

Stars get: F Mats Zuccarello
Rangers get: 2019 second-round pick (becomes a first if the Stars win two playoff rounds and Zuccarello plays in 50 percent of Dallas' games) and 2020 third-round pick (becomes a first if Stars re-sign Zuccarello)

The Dallas Stars added skilled winger Mats Zuccarello for their playoff push, while the New York Rangers add more futures to their war chest. Grades

Ryan Dzingel to the Blue Jackets

The deal:

Blue Jackets get: F Ryan Dzingel, 2019 seventh-round pick (Calgary)
Senators get: F Anthony Duclair, 2020 second-round pick, 2021 second-round pick

Former Ohio State standout Ryan Dzingel is headed back to Columbus, with Anthony Duclair and picks headed to the Ottawa Senators. Grades


Feb. 22

Matt Duchene to the Blue Jackets

The deal:

Blue Jackets get: C Matt Duchene, D Julius Bergman
Senators get: F Vitaly Abramov, F Jonathan Davidsson, 2019 first-round pick (top-3 protected), conditional 2020 first-round pick (if Duchene re-signs with Columbus)

The Columbus Blue Jackets made the biggest trade of deadline season to date, adding Matt Duchene for their playoff push. And Jarmo Kekalainen did it without giving up top prospect Emil Bemstrom in return to the Ottawa Senators. Grades

Nick Jensen to the Capitals

The deal:

Capitals get: D Nick Jensen, 2019 fifth-round pick (BUF)
Red Wings get: D Madison Bowey, 2020 second-round pick

The Washington Capitals landed perhaps the best rental defensemen on the market in Nick Jensen, but Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland looks good after this one too, landing a young blueliner in return as well as a second-round pick in 2020. Grades


Feb. 20

Charlie Coyle to the Bruins

The deal:

Bruins get: C/W Charlie Coyle
Wild get: C/W Ryan Donato, 2019 fifth-round pick

Boston added a versatile forward, but paid a stiff price. Grades


Feb. 1

Nick Bjugstad to the Penguins

The deal:

Penguins get: C Nick Bjugstad, C Jared McCann
Panthers get: C Derick Brassard, C Riley Sheahan, 2019 second-round pick, two 2019 fourth-round picks (Pittsburgh's and Minnesota's)

The Penguins landed two useful forwards and moved Derick Brassard off the books. Grades


Jan. 28

Jake Muzzin to the Maple Leafs

The deal:

Maple Leafs get: D Jake Muzzin
Kings get: W Carl Grundstrom, D Sean Durzi, 2019 first-round pick

Toronto landed a first-pairing defenseman, but it cost the Maple Leafs two prospects and a first-rounder. Grades


Jan. 17

Nino Niederreiter-Victor Rask

The deal:

Hurricanes get: LW Nino Niederreiter
Wild get: C Victor Rask

The Hurricanes and Wild pulled off a one-for-one trade. Grades


Nov. 26

Dylan Strome, Brendan Perlini to Chicago

The deal:

Blackhawks get: C Dylan Strome, LW Brendan Perlini
Coyotes get: C Nick Schmaltz

The Blackhawks swapped one first-rounder for two from the Coyotes. Grades


Nov. 14

Tanner Pearson to the Penguins

The deal:

Penguins get: LW Tanner Pearson
Kings get: LW Carl Hagelin

The struggling Los Angeles Kings swapped wingers with the Pittsburgh Penguins in a one-for-one deal on Wednesday. Grades


Sept. 13

Erik Karlsson to the Sharks

The deal:

Sharks get: D Erik Karlsson, LW Francis Perron
Senators get: C Chris Tierney, D Dylan DeMelo, LW Rudolfs Balcers, C Josh Norris, conditional 2019 second-round pick, conditional 2019/2020 first-round pick, conditional 2021 second-round pick

An all-world defenseman changes teams, with a somewhat underwhelming package heading the other way. Grades


Sept. 10

Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights

The deal:

Golden Knights get: LW Max Pacioretty
Canadiens get: LW Tomas Tatar, C/W Nick Suzuki, Columbus' 2019 second-round pick

The Habs dealt their captain to the desert in a deal that will have long-term implications for both clubs. Grades


Aug. 2

Jeff Skinner to the Sabres

The deal:

Sabres get: LW Jeff Skinner
Hurricanes get: RW/C Cliff Pu, 2019 second-round pick, 2020 third-round pick, 2020 sixth-round pick

The Sabres landed a scorer to play with Jack Eichel and didn't have to give up a first-round pick to do it. Grades