NHL Trade Deadline: Prospects Dealt in the Lead-Up to March 3

Get the lowdown on Josh Bloom, Zach Dean, Pavel Gogolev, Patrik Puistola and more prospects traded in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline.

The NHL trade deadline often focuses on the big names going to the contenders in hopes of helping them to a deep, long playoff run – and rightfully so.

That doesn’t mean the returns aren’t just as exciting down the line. First-round picks, promising prospects, and good young players often are the trade chips used to acquire the high-impact players that contenders covet.

While projecting draft picks is a fool’s errand, looking into the traded prospects and how they could impact their new squads is worthwhile. There have been many trades in the two weeks leading up to the deadline, so let’s take a peek into what the future could be for many of the young names moved by contending teams.

Acquired from Toronto in the Ryan O’Reilly trade on Feb. 17

The Leafs needed the upgrade at forward, and the blend of leadership, defensive acumen and intelligence that O’Reilly brings were what the doctor ordered. Their 2023 first-round pick was the obvious main piece going back to St. Louis, but the skilled Abramov could also be a sneaky good addition.

Abramov is a silky smooth playmaker who has showcased his puck skill at times during his first two seasons at the AHL level. He has soft touch on his passes, threading the needle through traffic and finding teammates in ideal positions. His inconsistencies at the pro level have been evident, though. He plays on the perimeter too much at the moment. He could be a good middle-six playmaker and power-play weapon at the next level with some refinement and physical maturation.

Acquired from Colorado in exchange for Keith Kinkaid (G) on Feb. 25

In what was ultimately a minor deal, the Bruins add a 23-year-old center who hasn’t quite been able to figure it out at the pro level. He has good defensive habits and understands how to play low-event, low-danger hockey, but he lacks finishing ability. His puck skill and playmaking aren’t anything to write home about. Could the Bruins unearth a good, bottom-six penalty-kill specialist? Maybe.

Acquired from NYR in exchange for Will Lockwood (RW) and 2026 seventh-round pick on Feb. 25

The long-rumored break up between Kravtsov and the Rangers finally came to fruition with the young Russian landing in Vancouver. The highly skilled hulking winger has been trying to find playing time within the top six for a couple of years now. Still, the Rangers hesitated to give it to him, leading to multiple treks back to Russia, where he’s excelled in the KHL.

A further breakdown of the Kravtsov trade can be found here.

Acquired from Vegas for Ivan Barbashev (LW) on Feb. 26

The Blues are looking to retool on the fly, and Dean should fit right in over the next couple of years. Dean plays the Blues brand of hockey to a tee. He’s physical and tenacious, plays quickly and has a big shot. The upside is the biggest question for Dean, but he could fit into a role similar to Barbashev when the Blues are ready to compete again. Certain teams have an identity – the match feels perfect when a player fits that identity. That’s Dean and the St. Louis Blues.

Acquired from New Jersey in the Timo Meier trade on Feb. 26

The Timo Meier trade wasn’t quite as juicy as we all expected, but the Sharks did manage to net two possible first-round picks and three decent prospects. Shakir Mukhamadullin was the 20th-overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft due to his impressive set of raw tools and 6-foot-4 frame. The young Russian blueliner has the mobility and puck skill that teams covet in big defenders, but his lack of processing speed is a concern.

Zetterlund has been a streaky scorer in his rookie season with the Devils, but he’s played primarily bottom-six minutes. He plays with pace and a nonstop motor, but the puck skill and finishing may never be up to the level that would make him a fixture in a team’s top six. Okhotiuk is a strong and bruting defender who plays a defense-first game without much offense to show for it. He could play an NHL role, but he also has a limited upside.

You can dive deeper into the trio of prospects the Sharks netted in the Meier deal here.

Acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for Tanner Jeannot (LW) on Feb. 26

The Jeannot deal shocked everyone. A good goal-scorer and excellent forechecker, Jeannot was set to be a hot commodity when the Predators became sellers. He rode an unsustainably high 19.4-percent shooting percentage to a 24-goal season last year, but his unsustainably low 5.4-percent shooting percentage brought him five goals this season.

That said, five draft picks and a decent young defender were costly. Foote hasn’t quite found his footing in the NHL yet, but he has shown some promise when he’s been healthy. Injuries have hindered Foote’s development, but the Preds hope he can find his game in a new location.

Acquired from Toronto in the Jake McCabe/Sam Lafferty trade on Feb. 27

Chicago has been a busy team as the deadline approaches. McCabe and Lafferty were two of their most valuable assets because both have term, and Chicago could retain on McCabe’s contract to facilitate a deal. The first and second-round picks in 2025 and 2026, respectively, are the valuable assets in this trade, but don’t overlook Anderson and Gogolev.

Anderson joined the Hawks lineup immediately. He can provide some energy, pace and secondary scoring. He has driven good results with the Leafs and has gained fans for doing the right thing at the right time. At 24 years old and with 74 NHL games under his belt, some may consider him more of a depth player than a prospect. However, he could be the perfect player to help the Hawks through a rebuild by playing good, stable minutes in the team’s middle six.

Gogolev has been an ECHL stud this season, putting up 48 points in 33 games. In junior, the former OHLer was known for his puck-carrying ability and offensive creativity. But he never found those traits as a pro until this year in the ECHL. Some still think there is a depth NHLer in Gogolev, but he may just be a decent AHL depth piece.

Acquired from Buffalo in exchange for Riley Stillman (D) on Feb. 27

The Sabres were looking to make a minor move that showed the team they were being rewarded for their impressive efforts this season but not a major move that would signify they are rushing the rebuild. Adding depth defender Riley Stillman was a solid move in that regard. It cost them Josh Bloom, a quality prospect.

The Canucks' newest prospect was the captain of the Saginaw Spirit to start the season before he was traded to the North Bay Battalion to boost their roster for a long playoff run. Bloom is an intelligent forward who can do a bit of everything. His NHL future likely lands him as a quality third-line player who can chip in as a scorer and provide some defensive value as well. Bloom isn’t a stud by any means, but it won’t be shocking if he provides more value for the Canucks than Stillman ever did.

Acquired from Carolina in exchange for Jesse Puljujarvi (W) on Feb. 28

The Oilers have finally moved on from Puljujarvi after years of tense relations with the former fourth-overall pick. They acquired a young Finn in Puistola who has had a good season in the Liiga and recently signed an extension with Jukurit. His NHL future is a bit uncertain, but with a potentially clearer path to playing in Edmonton, Puistola could move to North America and sign with the Oilers. If so, they have until June 1, or his rights will expire.

Puistola is a crafty player who has good hands and elusive puck skills. His offensive strength lies in his shooting ability, and he could be an ideal linemate down the road for one of the Oilers’ dynamic centers. In many ways, Puistola could eventually fill the role Puljujarvi has with the Oilers without the pressure and expectations of being a high pick who was perceived to have flamed out.

Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks for a 2024 third-round pick on Feb. 28

After informing the Ducks he did not intend to sign in Anaheim, the Harvard captain was dealt to San Jose. Thrun is a defensive blueliner who has put up nearly a point per game in the NCAA the last two seasons. Thrun has good size, solid four-way mobility and a sound defensive mind that should make him a solid bottom-four defenseman at the next level.

The hurdle to get through at this time is getting him to sign. There is still a good chance the 2019 fourth-round pick goes to free agency on Aug. 15 as originally intended. This is a clear sign that GM Mike Grier and the Sharks brass are not happy with their blueline pipeline as it stands, though.

Acquired from Edmonton in the Mattias Ekholm trade on Feb. 28

The Oilers have needed blueline help for years, and making a move for Ekholm certainly fills that need. The cost was high as Edmonton sent a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick and their most recent first-round pick, Schaefer.

The initial reaction to Schaefer’s selection in Round 1 last summer drew some criticism for being a reach. Schaefer is a big winger who has a good shot and plays a physical game. He projects as a solid third-line forward who can help as a secondary scorer. He can play at the net front with a high degree of success as well. Nashville could get a solid physical presence with some scoring touch in the middle six.