The NHL’s trade deadline is March 7, a week from today, and we at The Athletic have you covered with story after story after story covering every possible angle.
Even if the names available aren’t that wild, the next week should still be entertaining. The goal for this week’s edition of the rankings is figuring out just how entertaining each team should be during that time. We’re bringing out the popcorn once again, ranking each team on a scale from one-to-five based on how exciting the next week could be for them. For buyers, we’ve outlined their potential needs going into the deadline while for sellers we’ve listed every player they have available on Chris Johnston’s latest trade board.
From 1-to-32, here’s each team’s popcorn rating.
1. Winnipeg Jets, 42-15-3
Feb. 7 rank: 1
Sean rank: 1
Dom rank: 1
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
Needs: 2C, defensive depth
It’s a deadline tradition like no other: the Winnipeg Jets need a second-line center. Yes, thanks, we’ll have the usual.
The Jets are clearly good enough as is, even with Vladislav Namestnikov as the 2C, but a true upgrade could really put this team over the top. These Jets are good enough to win it all. Some third-pair help that isn’t Logan Stanley could also be useful.
It’s boring because we know Winnipeg’s m.o. — it’s been the same for nearly a decade. But with how good these Jets have been, even a mundane trade would be an exciting one. Who will be this year’s 2C addition?
2. Washington Capitals, 38-13-8
Feb. 7 rank: 2
Sean rank: 2
Dom rank: 2
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿
Needs: Top nine forward
Capitals GM Chris Patrick summed things up on Thursday night: No deals for the sake of making deals.
“I think it’s going to be a balance of, are there ways to improve our team,” Patrick said (via Tarik El-Bashir). “Versus risking over-tinkering with what’s been a pretty good group this year.”
Pretty good group, indeed. One that doesn’t need Brock Nelson, say, but shouldn’t be against acquiring him if the price turns out to be reasonable. Which it almost certainly won’t be. Alas.
3. Dallas Stars, 37-19-2
Feb. 7 rank: 4
Sean rank: 3
Dom rank: 3
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top four defenseman
We keep trying to find ways to get Seth Jones back to the Metroplex, but it’s not easy. Never underestimate the Stars’ ability to add expensive right-shot defensemen, though. They’ve got at least a few million to play with, too, even after the Mikael Granlund/Cody Ceci trade on Feb. 1.
4. Florida Panthers, 36-21-3
Feb. 7 rank: 6
Sean rank: 4
Dom rank: 5
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿
Needs: Offensive top four defenseman
The Panthers have a week to decide whether to send Matthew Tkachuk to LTIR. If they end up making the move, look out; they’re going to have money to burn and would immediately become a threat to reel in the big deadline fish. Erik Karlsson, as a play-driver on the back end and a power-play piece, would be the biggest.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs, 36-20-2
Feb. 7 rank: 5
Sean rank: 5
Dom rank: 4
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top six winger, 3C, defensive depth
In play: Nicholas Robertson
Toronto’s needs have been fairly clear all season. The Leafs need an actual top-six winger to play with John Tavares and William Nylander and they need a 3C that they can trust defensively. After a 6-1-0 stretch that has the team atop the Atlantic by points percentage, this year feels like a good one for the Leafs to go big at the deadline.
The problem is the Leafs don’t have a lot of attractive assets that make sense for both sides. They don’t have a whole lot of space to maneuver with either. That could prohibit the team from being major players next week. With how strong their record has been, maybe they find a way to make it work.
6. Vegas Golden Knights, 35-18-6
Feb. 7 rank: 7
Sean rank: 6
Dom rank: 6
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top six winger
The Golden Knights probably have more available cap space than you think, and that’s even after adding Brandon Saad a few weeks back. Good as Pavel Dorofeyev has been — he’s on pace to score more than 30 goals — Vegas needs another piece in the top six. More generally, though, we know they’re capable of anything; who saw last year’s Tomas Hertl deal coming? That track record alone makes them a five-box team.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning, 34-20-4
Feb. 7 rank: 13
Sean rank: 7
Dom rank: 7
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top six winger, forward depth
The Lightning have a few million in cap space at their disposal. And it’s just sitting there! They don’t have to do anything surprising or weird! They can just trade for someone pretty good! It’s got to be a welcome change of pace for Julien BriseBois.
8. Los Angeles Kings, 31-17-8
Feb. 7 rank:12
Sean rank: 8
Dom rank: 10
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿
Needs: Offensive firepower
The Kings might be the league’s best defensive team and look well positioned to actually make some noise this season because of it. They could still use some offensive help though to make them a more complete team… but given they’re such a deep team they don’t actually have a lot of holes they can fill. Maybe something comes up that makes sense, but it doesn’t seem like the Kings will be a major player.
9. Carolina Hurricanes, 34-21-4
Feb. 7 rank: 8
Sean rank: 9
Dom rank: 9
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
Needs: 2C
In play: Mikko Rantanen
The Canes started as a five-popcorn team thanks to the seemingly out-of-nowhere rumors that Rantanen might be flipped at the deadline. That bombshell alone, brought about by early struggles and contract uncertainty, is enough to make Carolina a team to watch.
But perhaps a two-point outing from Rantanen is enough to cool the hysteria. It doesn’t seem at all sensible that Carolina would trade Rantanen after giving up so much to get him — and the Hurricanes don’t usually deal with unsensible. We’re on alert, but we’re going to turn the heat down on this one.
10. Edmonton Oilers, 34-21-4
Feb. 7 rank: 3
Sean rank: 10
Dom rank: 8
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top six winger, top-four defenseman, starting goalie
For one of the best teams in the league, the Oilers sure have a lot of holes to fill… and not a lot of ammo to fill them.
We know exactly why the Oilers are good — an elite core that’s second to none — but the team around that group remains flawed enough to make Edmonton vulnerable. We’re seeing that play out during the team’s current five-game losing streak.
The Oilers probably need another top six winger because Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson aren’t working out as well as the team hoped. The Oilers probably need a right shot top four defenseman to pair with Darnell Nurse. And perhaps most importantly, the Oilers probably need to upgrade on Stuart Skinner — or at the very least take out a sensible insurance policy behind him.
The Oilers will be a major team to watch for that reason. Pulling it all off, though, will be tough.
11. Colorado Avalanche, 34-24-2
Feb. 7 rank: 10
Sean rank: 11
Dom rank: 11
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
Needs: 2C, top four defenseman
In play: Casey Mittelstadt
Last year the Avalanche needed a 2C and got one, trading away a defender with top-four potential. This year the Avalanche need help in the top four… and also still need a 2C. Casey Mittelstadt hasn’t worked out, and that puts Colorado back on the lookout.
A 2C alone won’t be enough to get this team where it needs to go, though. That may solve the non-Nathan MacKinnon minutes, but Colorado would still have an issue with the non-Cale Makar minutes on the backend.
With that electric duo, it might always be worth going for it for the Avalanche. They’re a team to watch for that reason, but going all-in might not be the right idea.
12. Minnesota Wild, 34-21-4
Feb. 7 rank: 9
Sean rank: 12
Dom rank: 12
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿
Needs: Forward depth
Given their team’s financial situation, Wild fans should’ve been ready to snooze their way through deadline day. Joel Eriksson Ek’s knee injury, problematic as it is for the on-ice product, could create a whole bunch of meaningful cap space. It certainly snagged them at least one extra popcorn box. If Eriksson Ek is indeed out for the rest of the regular season, expect to see them linked up to every forward on the market — especially guys with local ties named Brock (Nelson and Boeser).
13. New Jersey Devils, 32-22-6
Feb. 7 rank: 16
Sean rank: 13
Dom rank: 13
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top six winger, 3C
The Devils have a very clear need for a top six winger — Ondrej Palat is not going to cut it. With three second-round picks as ammo (and maybe Dawson Mercer or Simon Nemec), it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Devils make a big splash. It feels like they’ll need to make one to be serious this season. The team has been sputtering since the holiday break and could use the adrenaline injection that a fresh face can bring to the table.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets, 29-22-8
Feb. 7 rank: 18
Sean rank: 14
Dom rank: 14
Popcorn factor: 🍿
In play: Ivan Provorov, Mathieu Olivier
With a big 5-2 win over Detroit, the Blue Jackets continue their unlikely surge to the playoffs. Given their contention trajectory, the unexpected success puts the team in a bit of a pickle. Do they stay sensible with long-term goals in mind and sell, or do they reward the fantastic work the team has done and add a little something for the stretch run? We’re voting for the latter, but it feels more likely that the Blue Jackets don’t make much of a splash in either direction. Whatever happens happens — this season will have been a major success regardless.
15. Detroit Red Wings, 30-23-6
Feb. 7 rank: 11
Sean rank: 15
Dom rank: 16
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Needs: Top four defensemen, 2C, top six winger
The Red Wings are close enough to a playoff spot to taste it. They’ve been surging since hiring Todd McLellan and this team deserves to be rewarded for it. Is that worth sacrificing some of the future, though? That’s a difficult question, especially with Detroit still so far from actually contending. The Red Wings have the assets and cap space to do some damage at the deadline — and they have a lot of holes that need filling, too. Whether they actually bite the bullet and go for it is the question.
16. Vancouver Canucks. 27-21-11
Feb. 7 rank: 17
Sean rank: 16
Dom rank: 15
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Brock Boeser, Carson Soucy
Never count out ol’ Jimmy Rutherford to make the deadline interesting. That man shoots from the hip and we have nothing but respect for that.
What does that mean for the Canucks? We’ve got no idea. Maybe it means a firesale. Maybe it means they’re surprise buyers. Maybe it means Elias Pettersson (the forward) is gone, and maybe Boeser too. Maybe it means a Boeser extension and some reinforcements for the playoff push. Whatever happens, we can’t wait to watch ol’ Jim do his thing.
17. New York Rangers, 29-25-4
Feb. 7 rank: 19
Sean rank: 18
Dom rank: 17
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿
Needs: Top four defensemen
In play: Ryan Lindgren
The Rangers are in a tough spot, especially with Adam Fox on the shelf for an undetermined amount of time. This is a win-now team that’s certainly not in a win-now position — can they really justify buying? Probably not, but this is the Rangers after-all and we have to at least be mindful that they may still do something to salvage this season. At the very least, they can still salvage whatever’s left of Ryan Lindgren’s value, but they probably won’t be big players in the coming week.
18. Ottawa Senators, 29-25-4
Feb. 7 rank: 15
Sean rank: 17
Dom rank: 20
Popcorn factor: 🍿
Needs: Top six winger, defensive depth
The Senators picked a bad time to start slumping. At one point they were in the thick of the Atlantic Division battle with some folks saying they were “just” four points behind the Leafs. After five straight losses, they’re back outside the playoff picture entirely. Woof. Now what?
Ottawa could use some middle-six winger help and that could be what boosts the Senators’ fortunes. But being on the outside isn’t a great position to add from. The next week could be big to change fortunes, but this may end up being a quiet deadline.
19. Utah HC, 27-24-9
Feb. 7 rank: 23
Sean rank: 20
Dom rank: 18
Popcorn factor: 🍿
In play: Nick Bjugstad
On one hand, we get why the future-Mammoths aren’t all that interested in sending players out; they’re on the periphery of a playoff race with a bunch of other mediocre teams, and one of them has to make it. Might as well roll the dice. Still, they’ve got enough draft capital and interesting mid-level pieces to try something interesting. Nothing suggests that they will, but still … they should.
20. Calgary Flames, 28-22-8
Feb. 7 rank: 20
Sean rank: 12
Dom rank: 19
Popcorn factor: 🍿
We thought about recalibrating the scale solely so we could give the Flames a zero. They’re too close to a wild-card spot to trade anyone, and they’re too mediocre to add anyone. The middle stays mushy, in other words. Hope the possibility of a few games’ worth of playoff revenue is worth it.
21. St. Louis Blues, 28-26-6
Feb. 7 rank: 24
Sean rank: 21
Dom rank: 21
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
In play: Brayden Schenn
Credit to the Blues, they might pull off this deadline’s savviest heist: Getting a first (and possibly more?!) for Brayden Schenn in the year 2025. It’s like GMs snooping around Schenn forgot that contracts can still be bad, even with a rising cap. Schenn is fine, but he’s 33 and is owed $6.5 million per season for three more years. It only takes one sucker for the Blues to win big.
22. New York Islanders, 26-25-7
Feb. 7 rank:: 14
Sean rank: 22
Dom rank: 22
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri
In each of the last three seasons, the Islanders found themselves on the outside looking in just before the deadline. This time around, the team feels a little too far gone to bring in reinforcements. The team looks like they’re going to do the actual sensible thing and sell. Nelson is one of the biggest fish out there and Palmieri might be one of the better wingers available. The Islanders have some seriously coveted assets — who’s going to take them home?
GO DEEPER
NHL trade deadline: Analyzing the numbers behind the top forwards available
23. Boston Bruins, 27-25-8
Feb. 7 rank: 21
Sean rank: 23
Dom rank: 24
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau
Would the Bruins really trade their captain? That’s the question that has all eyes on the Bruins. Marchand still has game and is the exact type of player that teams want on their side come playoff time. If he’s traded — and that’s a big if — it’s a game-changer. A Marchand move is the kind of deal that stops you in your tracks, and he’s the lone reason that Boston has one of the biggest popcorn ratings going into deadline day.
GO DEEPER
Brad Marchand trade destinations: What he brings and 5 teams that should be interested
24. Montreal Canadiens, 28-26-5
Feb. 7 rank: 22
Sean rank: 24
Dom rank: 23
Popcorn factor: 🍿
In play: Jake Evans, Joel Armia, David Savard
Montreal can be a one-stop shop for any team looking for fourth-line or third-pair help. For our purposes, the Canadiens are the trade alert that gets you riled up before you see it’s just David Savard for a fourth. Boring!
25. Anaheim Ducks, 26-25-7
Feb. 7 rank: 25
Sean rank: 25
Dom rank: 25
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
In play: John Gibson, Trevor Zegras, Brian Dumoulin
There’s only one goalie on CJ’s trade board and there’s one team specifically that seems to need one. That’s enough reason to up Anaheim’s popcorn factor, especially with the season that Gibson is having.
In past years, a Zegras trade would push this bad boy to four-to-five buckets. With another poor season in progress, though, it’s hard to even get that excited about a Zegras trade.
26. Philadelphia Flyers, 26-26-8
Feb. 7 rank: 26
Sean rank: 26
Dom rank: 26
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
In play: Scott Laughton, Rasmus Ristolainen, Andrei Kuzmenko
The Flyers: Quite nearly a four-box team. We live in a world where Ristolainen is an effective, appropriately used defenseman who’s clearly capable of helping a playoff-caliber team. Wild times. Laughton, meanwhile, seems set to have a starring role on Canadian TV coverage of the deadline, and Kuzmenko was on the receiving end of an all-time great backhanded compliment from John Tortorella.
“I just want him to meet us halfway in his effort and accountability toward the other side of the puck. … I just want him trying as hard as he can.”
John Tortorella is pleased with Andrei Kuzmenko so far, in the winger’s “audition” with the club:
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) February 25, 2025
27. Buffalo Sabres, 24-28-5
Feb. 7 rank: 27
Sean rank: 27
Dom rank: 27
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, Jordan Greenway
It feels like the tipping point on a Cozens trade came and went, but he’s still a brand-name, 24-year-old center with a monster two-way season under his belt. We pretend those guys are typically moved at the deadline, but … are they really? Whatever. Check back in the offseason. Also, don’t ask Cozens to fight anyone.
Wow. Cozens and Kotkaniemi drop the gloves off the opening faceoff. pic.twitter.com/GOUhC3tPbX
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) February 28, 2025
28. Pittsburgh Penguins, 24-28-9
Feb. 7 rank: 28
Sean rank: 28
Dom rank: 28
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, Anthony Beauvillier
Rakell might not be an earth-mover on his own — the Sidney Crosby Effect remains considerable, even after 20 years. He may also still be the best winger (not named Mikko Rantanen) who could realistically change teams. That alone makes Pittsburgh worth watching closely.
Karlson, though, is the wild card. Anyone who watched the 4 Nations Tournament got a glimpse of how great he can still be under the right circumstances. The Penguins, if they ever were a fit, are no longer. Other teams, though — ones where Karlsson is insulated a bit more — should kick the tires. The NHL is better when he’s at his best.
29. Seattle Kraken. 25-31-4
Feb. 7 rank: 29
Sean rank: 29
Dom rank: 29
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿
In play: Yanni Gourde, Jamie Oleksiak, Brandon Tanev
The Kraken got three popcorn boxes based on quantity, not quality. Take the players we singled out; they’re all decent. They’re all relevant. They all can help. They’re also all firmly in the category of “Hey, it’s getting close to 3 p.m., we’d better do something.”
30. Nashville Predators, 21-30-7
Feb. 7 rank: 30
Sean rank: 30
Dom rank: 30
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist, Michael McCarron
Say what you will about the GM Barry Trotz Era; it hasn’t been boring. In less than two calendar years, the man has bought out Matt Duchene, built a playoff team, signed Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and watched the whole thing fall apart. We simply must account for the possibility that Trotz goes into wild-boy mode.
31. Chicago Blackhawks, 17-35-7
Feb. 7 rank: 31
Sean rank: 31
Dom rank: 31
Popcorn factor: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
In play: Seth Jones, Ryan Donato, Connor Murphy
Jones did us all a favor on Wednesday night with one of the most diplomatic, even-keeled “get me the hell out of here” requests on record. Easier said than done for a second-pair defenseman who makes $9.5 million against the cap until 2030. He’s a big name with a game that GMs appreciate, though, and the mere possibility that he changes teams adds something to the discourse.
32. San Jose Sharks, 15-36-9
Feb. 7 rank: 32
Sean rank: 32
Dom rank: 32
Popcorn factor: 🍿
In play: Mario Ferraro, Luke Kunin
The Sharks, like all rebuilding teams, are short on tradeable assets; they’ve got a few untouchable pieces at the top, then a whole bunch of roster flotsam. No shame there. Mike Grier has a plan, and he’s executing it. His big moment, though, came way back on Feb. 1, when he sent Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to Dallas. It’s tough to imagine him doing any more than adding a couple mid-round picks.
(Top photo of the Dallas Stars: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
