It's not at the same level as the day Taylor Hall and Adam Larsson were traded for each other, but trades involving Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jacob Markstrom kicked off the frenzy.
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Adam LarssonThe phrase, "trade is one for one," is locked into NHL history.
It happened on June 29, 2016, when longtime TSN insider and former editor in chief at The Hockey News, Bob McKenzie, used those words to set up the trade that sent No. 1 overall pick Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson.
No strings attached, no added picks and no salary retention – just a hockey trade by two teams taking big swings in hopes it will lead to better times.
In their first full, healthy season from Connor McDavid and with Larsson on board, the Oilers jumped up from last in the Pacific Division to second and made it to the second round of the playoffs. The Devils finished fourth-last and won the first-overall pick to select Nico Hischier, but Hall won the Hart Trophy the year afterward.
On Wednesday, McKenzie took notice when his colleague, Pierre LeBrun, knew the best way to describe another surprising deal.
The Los Angeles Kings kept Pierre-Luc Dubois for one year into his eight-year contract after acquiring him from the Winnipeg Jets before trading him to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
It's another deal without any sweeteners or retained salary, as both teams looked for positional needs.
Dubois' no move clause kicks in on July 1, so the Kings decided to move him after a 40-point season to get a starting netminder and accomplish one of their priorities this off-season.
Meanwhile, the Capitals saw Kuemper turn into a backup for them with a $5.25-million cap hit, and they decided to move him after two seasons. They got Dubois in an attempt to find a No. 1 center for the long term and remain a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.
"This acquisition brings in a talented 25-year-old with immense potential to become a top-tier center in the NHL," Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a press release on Wednesday. "With his size, exceptional skating, and high hockey IQ, we are confident he will thrive in our organization with increased responsibility and opportunity."
But that was far from all, just like that memorable day in 2016.
That was the day the Montreal Canadiens traded P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber – another 1-for-1 blockbuster. It was also when Steven Stamkos decided he would not enter unrestricted free agency and signed an eight-year contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
At the other end of his deal, there's still no certainty on whether Stamkos and the Lightning will pull it off again before July 1. But Wednesday still featured other big moves in the NHL that serve as a reminder of 2016, even if it's not at that same level.
The New Jersey Devils acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames is one of them. Markstrom waived his no move clause to join his new team in hopes his ability to bail out his teammates at times while often playing well enough could boost the Devils back into the playoffs. The Flames, meanwhile, brought in a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2025 and defenseman Kevin Bahl in a retool type of move.
Then, the New York Rangers saw about $3.641 million of savings free up as the San Jose Sharks claimed forward Barclay Goodrow off waivers. Goodrow has three years to go on a six-year deal the Rangers signed him to in July 2021. That gives them about $13.695 million in cap space to fill six roster spots while the Sharks bring back a familiar face. Goodrow played his first six NHL seasons with San Jose.
The Sharks also made a trade, sending a fourth-round pick in 2025 to the Dallas Stars for 23-year-old forward Ty Dellandrea. The 2018 13th-overall pick took a step back this season with nine points in 42 games from 28 points in 82 games in 2022-23. But he led Stars forwards in hits per 60 minutes, with 7.10, and he should get more opportunities on a rebuilding Sharks squad.
The Stanley Cup final isn't even over yet, either. The Hall, Weber and Stamkos deals came two-and-a-half weeks after the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Sharks in six games to win the Cup. If the Panthers win in Game 6 on Friday, that would only be a week before June 29. It's no wonder, then, why GMs across the NHL have already gotten started on the off-season frenzy.
Which deal from Wednesday do you think will have the biggest effect eight years down the line? Let us know your thoughts at our forum.
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