Evaluating Trade Deadline Acquisitions By Non-Playoff Teams
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, but with half the league looking ahead, and more soon to join them, it’s time to look back at the non-playoff clubs and evaluate their moves. Whether an aggressive swing on a rental, or a more modest “win now, and later” deal, how are their trades looking?
Los Angeles’ blockbuster acquisition of Artemi Panarin didn’t yield a single playoff win, nor did the Warren Foegele trade help Ottawa avoid a sweep at the hands of his former club in Carolina. Yet both the Kings and Senators at least qualified for the postseason. What about those who did not? In order to meet the criteria below, the following March acquisitions had to have clear “win now” intentions. How did each of these players fare with their new clubs up to game 82, and what comes next?
One of the bigger deals of deadline day, Detroit finally supplemented their blue line, trading for St. Louis’ Justin Faulk in exchange for first and third-round picks in 2026, Justin Holl, and unsigned KHL prospect Dmitri Bychelnikov.
In 17 games with Detroit, Faulk’s corsi share at five-on-five actually dipped slightly from his time on the bottom-feeding Blues, to 44.8%. His ice time dropped over two minutes to 20:15, the lowest average for the veteran in six years. A second-pairing option alongside Ben Chiarot, Faulk’s powerplay role dropped to PP2 behind Moritz Seider. All told, the Wings closed out the campaign with a 6-10-3 record after acquiring Faulk, and as is no secret, they missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. The 34-year-old defenseman is signed through next season at $6.5MM, at least not a rental in a trade which didn’t move the needle.
Meanwhile, the Blues will enjoy another first rounder, currently 15th overall. St. Louis did the 34-year-old Holl right and skated him in nine contests, his first NHL action of the campaign. Recording two points, his $3.4MM contract will come off the books this summer, and there’s a strong possibility the veteran of 405 games saw his last NHL duty as a Blue. Regardless, St. Louis likely came out on top based on the strong first rounder alone, a pick which will always be tied to Detroit based on their selection’s eventual development.
Sticking with St. Louis, they netted more assets, sending captain Brayden Schenn to the Islanders for another first and third round pair in 2026, along with Jonathan Drouin and Marcus Gidlöf.
A steep price to pay for a 34-year-old whose days as a top center are long behind, Schenn regained some scoring touch on Long Island, posting six goals and 11 points in 19 games. A Kyle Palmieri replacement of sorts, Schenn got power play time and played on the wing. Still signed through 2027-28 at $6.5MM, the veteran won’t be going anywhere.
After struggling with the Islanders, Drouin got a fresh start with the Blues, recording three points in nine games. His contract runs through next year, at a suboptimal $4MM, but as the franchise turns to the future, he will work to rebuild his stock. On the flip side, a buyout would not be a shock.
Going 8-11 after bringing in Schenn and missing the playoffs, thankfully for New York, St. Louis will take Colorado’s first round selection, originally acquired in the Brock Nelson trade. Somewhat softening the blow, it’s a reasonable price as long as Schenn can maintain top six production for at least one more year.
A player already making the most of his contract year, Bobby McMann’s Seattle tenure leaves his free agent market only more fascinating. The late-blooming undrafted winger was dealt from Toronto, fetching them a conditional second rounder in 2027 along with a fourth round selection in this summer’s draft.
With the Kraken, McMann cemented himself as a true top six scorer, his ice time jumping to just under 18 minutes a night, by far the highest of his career. The power forward notched 10 goals in just 18 games, shooting at a 17.2% clip.
Despite McMann’s hot streak, the Kraken won just one regulation game out of their last 16 games, a brutal stretch which doomed their playoff hopes. A strong fit, they’d be wise to re-sign the 29-year-old, but there’s no telling what McMann will be offered on the open market. As for Toronto, a second rounder is a nice return for a player they were prepared to lose for nothing, however, it won’t be much help for a team desperate to turn things around fast.
Moving along, the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Conor Garland from Vancouver for a third round choice in 2026 and a second rounder in 2028.
Clearly with no Canucks players to analyze yet, it falls entirely on Garland and his production with the Jackets. The 30-year-old netted five goals in 21 games with Columbus, nearly matching his seven in 50 contests as a Canuck, although his usage dropped nearly six whole minutes. Still signed until 2029-30 at $6MM, it’s a deal which raises serious question marks for the Jackets. He and Mathieu Olivier share the distinction of the longest signed forwards on a group composed of mostly younger players, and for better or for worse, they’re banking on his 50-point production moving ahead.
Back to Detroit, they brought back a familiar face, David Perron from the Senators for a conditional fourth round pick. The 37-year-old’s usage was relatively the same, but he tallied just three points (all goals) in 16 games. Perron will hit the market this offseason, with the chance that he played his 1,239th and final NHL game. With no conditions to worry about on Detroit’s side, they’ll be lacking a fourth rounder in June, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over after a reunion with a respected veteran.
Rounding out the group, the Washington Capitals dealt for Timothy Liljegren from San Jose for a 2026 fourth round selection. A team so often known for their reclamation projects, it wasn’t the cleanest turnaround for GM Mike Grier, who gave up a third round pick to Toronto for the former top prospect. Still, it was a fine return for a player not in future plans after a worthwhile flyer taken.
The 26-year-old made just four appearances in Washington, not recording any stats. If that is it for his Caps tenure, there could still be a market for the righty as a bottom pairing option, still offering some untapped potential, although time is wearing thin. Either way, there was little to lose, as at the time Washington was still intent on making the playoffs, with a John Carlson-sized gap on their blue line.
With none of the trades above made the difference in their buyers making the postseason, Faulk, Schenn, and Garland will try to prove their organizations right in 2026-27, while their fans will hope no draft steals in Buffalo will lead to scrutiny in years to come. McMann and Liljegren could depart for nothing in return, leaving short tenures. Finally, Perron missed an opportunity to add to his 110 playoff games, which would have happened should he have stayed in Ottawa, but he may have put the final touches on an impressive 19-year-career back with an Original Six franchise.
Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images (Schenn)
Image Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images (McMann)
Snapshots: Ehlers, Nikishin, Hintz, O’Rourke
The Carolina Hurricanes are trending toward a much-needed health surge. Following their first-round sweep, signs are pointing toward a return of both Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is hopeful that both will be available for the beginning of Round Two.
Nikishin is currently in the concussion protocol following a heavy hit in the series clincher. The week-long layoff between rounds is expected to provide ample time for him to clear the NHL’s mandatory steps.
Ehlers was sidelined recently with a lower-body ailment and is reportedly making significant progress to rejoin the top-six for Game 1 against either the Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins. Ehlers registered one assist in three games in the opening round series against the Ottawa Senators.
Additional snapshots:
- The Dallas Stars’ postseason hopes have hit a significant snag. Forward Roope Hintz is reportedly unlikely to suit up for the remainder of the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Hintz has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since early March, and despite hopes for a playoff return, head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed the top-line center has resumed skating. His absence leaves a massive void for the Stars’ offensive transition and penalty kill as the series intensifies.
- Prospect defenseman Kade O’Rourke has officially been denied exceptional status by Hockey Canada (via Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff). Despite a dominant 42-point campaign with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, the 15-year-old defenseman will not be eligible for this summer’s OHL Priority Selection. He is now projected to be the consensus first overall pick for the 2027 OHL Draft. He would have been the first player granted exceptional status since Landon DuPont in 2024.
Linus Omark Announces Retirement
The NHL Alumni Association has announced that Linus Omark has officially retired from professional hockey. Omark last played in the NHL during the 2013-14 season with the Buffalo Sabres.
Omark, 39, began his professional career in 2007 when he was selected with the 97th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers. Despite being a fourth-round selection, Omark’s prospect status began to rise after a pair of quality seasons with the Elitserien’s (SHL) Luleå HF.
Playing on loan with the KHL’s Dynamo Moskva in 2009-10, Omark scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. The next season, the Oilers felt Omark was ready for North American hockey. He played in 28 games for the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, scoring 17 goals and 31 points with a +7 rating. That was enough for Omark to earn his NHL debut with Edmonton, finishing the season with five goals and 27 points in 51 games.
It was at this point that Omark was viewed as a true diamond in the rough as the Oilers continued to build an up-and-coming team. This era of hockey in Edmonton coincided with the team adding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Nail Yakupov with first overall picks, and adding other youngsters such as Magnus Paajarvi and Jordan Eberle.
Unfortunately, that was the last quality season Omark had in North America. Although he had a strong introduction during his rookie season, he struggled to establish himself with the Oilers, frequently being shuffled between the NHL and AHL for several years.
During the shortened 2012-13 season, Omark enjoyed a successful year with the NLA’s EV Zug, scoring 17 and 69 points in 48 games. It was after this successful campaign overseas and continued lack of opportunity in Edmonton that Omark was traded to the Sabres for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Since then, it’s been all overseas for Omark. He finishes his career with eight goals and 32 points in 79 career NHL games, 95 goals and 257 points in 365 games in the SHL, and 106 and 353 points in 401 KHL contests. We at PHR congratulate Omark on his career, particularly in Europe, and wish him the best in his next chapter.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid Made Game-Time Decision For Game 5
According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid has been made a game-time decision for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Additional reports indicate McDavid has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but has not missed a game in the postseason up to this point. McDavid currently sits tied for third on the Oilers in points this postseason with one goal and four points through four games, with a minus-six rating.
After taking Game 1 in the series, Edmonton has lost three straight, being outscored 17-11, including a Game 4 overtime loss to Anaheim by a final score of 4-3. McDavid has received his fair share of scrutiny for his lack of game-changing offense in the series, going scoreless in the first two contests. The Ducks have done well at limiting the Oilers’ superstar thus far.
McDavid, the Oilers’ 2015 first overall pick, racked up 48 goals and 138 points in 82 games during the 2025-26 regular season and would be a massive hole in the lineup for the Oilers to fill. To date, he has produced 45 goals and 154 points in 100 career playoff games. The Oilers will look to continue their playoff series against the Ducks tonight, currently down three games to one in a best-of-seven series.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also stated that forward Jason Dickinson is a game-time decision for Game 5 of the series. Dickinson has missed the last two games due to a lower-body injury. The trade deadline acquisition registered two goals in Game 1.
Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid Named Ted Lindsay Award Finalists
The NHL kicked off award season today, announcing that Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers have been named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Although the Hart Memorial Trophy has more name recognition, there’s a concrete argument that the Ted Lindsay Award carries more weight for the players. It’s awarded annually to the most outstanding player of the regular season as voted on by members of the NHL Players Association. Instead of being judged by writers, the winning player receives the award as judged by their peers.
Even if he doesn’t win, Celebrini’s finish as a finalist is a testament to the year he had. The 19-year-old had an outstanding season, scoring 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games, almost single-handedly leading the Sharks to the postseason. It wasn’t enough to crack the top-three in scoring leaders for the NHL, but he led the under-25 group by a long shot. The next closest was Wyatt Johnston (22) of the Dallas Stars, who scored 45 goals and 86 points in 82 games.
It would be a disservice to write about Celebrini’s regular season with the Sharks without also mentioning his performance with Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite falling to the United States in the Gold Medal game, Celebrini was unstoppable, scoring five goals and 10 points in six contests throughout the international tournament.
Meanwhile, Kucherov’s spot as a finalist for the award is par for the course. The high-scoring Russian is the defending winner of the award, also winning it in the 2018-19 season after leading the league in scoring. Unfortunately, unlike the past two seasons, Kucherov didn’t lead the league in scoring or the assist category, which has become a common occurrence for him. Regardless, with the amount of injuries the Lightning sustained this season, it’s hard to argue that Kucherov’s play provided the stability the team needed to remain competitive.
Then there’s McDavid. If he hasn’t done so already, the 29-year-old may want to invest in another trophy closet relatively soon. He’s already claimed the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, something he has already done five additional times. Furthermore, regarding the Ted Lindsay Award, McDavid has already had that honor on four occasions.
Given their seasons, it’s hard to argue against any of the finalists. Still, although it’s difficult to remove any of the finalists, it’s surprising that Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche didn’t finish in the top three of votes. MacKinnon was the most dominant player on the most dominant team, scoring 53 goals and 127 points in 80 games with a +57 rating.
East Notes: Sabres, Heineman, Holmstrom, Schaefer
The Buffalo Sabres will look to eliminate the Boston Bruins tonight with a mostly healthy roster. According to Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report, the Sabres will have Joshua Norris, Jason Zucker, and Tyson Kozak available to play tonight.
Zucker, 34, is the only one of the group who hasn’t missed any games in Round One against Boston. Still, he was banged up in Game 4 and didn’t return. There was concern that he might be unavailable for Game 5. However, Buffalo justified keeping him out due to the game’s lopsided score, which reduced the urgency to rush him back for the contest.
Norris and Kozak have replaced each other in the lineup halfway through the series. Norris hasn’t played since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury. Like Zucker, Kozak was banged up in Game 4 after replacing Norris in the lineup, though he likely won’t play tonight unless the Sabres make an additional lineup change.
Additional notes from the Eastern Conference:
- According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, the New York Islanders will send Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom to Team Sweden for the 2026 IIHF World Championships. It’ll be the first appearance in the international tournament for Holmstrom. Heineman, on the other hand, played for Team Sweden last summer, scoring one goal and three points in 10 games with a +2 rating.
- Unfortunately, Team Canada will not get the same boost as Team Sweden from the Islanders. In a separate report from Rosner, he shared that rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer won’t be participating in the international competition. Still, after finishing his rookie season, it’s more important for Schaefer to rest, recover, and build up for next season to avoid a dreaded sophomore slump.
John Garrett Passes Away At 74
In an unfortunate announcement, Sportsnet shared that John Garrett, 74, has passed away. Garrett enjoyed a six-year career in the NHL as a netminder, though most will know him as a color commentator with Sportsnet Pacific.
His professional career began in 1971, when he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Draft. Instead of making his way through the Blues’ affiliates to NHL playing time, Garrett signed with the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints ahead of the 1973-74 season. He spent two and a half years with Minnesota, managing a 77-63-6 record in 150 games with a 3.38 GAA. Unfortunately, the franchise folded toward the end of the 1975-76 season, and Garrett finished the season with the Toronto Toros.
The Toros didn’t stay much longer. Garrett remained with the organization even after they relocated to Birmingham despite the team having several difficult seasons. In an act of mercy, Birmingham traded Garrett to the New England Whalers and remained with the team through the 1979 WHA/NHL merger.
Finally, in the NHL, nearly a decade after being drafted by the Blues, Garrett hopped around a few times, playing for the Whalers, Quebec City Nordiques, and Vancouver Canucks. Throughout his six-year NHL career, Garrett earned a 68-91-37 record in 207 games with a .866 SV% and 4.28 GAA. Although he didn’t receive credit for years, largely because the NHL didn’t track netminder assists for many decades, Garrett was given an assist to Gordie Howe‘s last goal in his illustrious career.
Garrett retired after the 1984-85 season and was immediately offered the role of Assistant General Manager with the Canucks. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen management changes, the offer was withdrawn relatively quickly. Needing to pivot, Garrett began his broadcasting career with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
During that time, he covered many games for the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames before joining Sportsnet in 1998. Beginning in the 2002-03 season, Garrett became the lead commentator for the Canucks organization, a role he held until his retirement in 2023.
We at PHR offer our condolences to the teammates, colleagues, organizations, and fans who have grown close to Garrett throughout his playing and broadcasting career.
Vladislav Kolyachonok Connected To KHL’s Dinamo Minsk
According to a report from Belarus, defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, currently of the AHL’s Texas Stars, is considering a return to the KHL next season. The KHL’s Dinamo Minsk currently holds his contractual rights, and he must rejoin them unless his rights are traded.
That’s something the Minsk attempted to do at this year’s trade deadline. Dinamo reportedly attempted to bring Kolyachonok back last summer and began assessing interest around the league after a contract did not materialize. CSKA Moscow and Traktor Chelyabinsk were known to have interest, though no trade took place.
It wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Kolyachonok headed back to the KHL this summer. The 24-year-old blueliner has played for four different teams over the past two years, jumping from the then Utah Hockey Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars, mostly changing hands on the waiver wire.
Despite being a second-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2019, Kolyachonok has never quite lived up to his draft billing. He has never been known as an offensive threat, usually earning his value as a mean-spirited defender who played with intense physicality.
He’s been a quality performer in the AHL, scoring 14 goals and 57 points in 184 games with a +14 rating and 90 PIMs. Still, despite having multiple opportunities, he hasn’t made such an impact in the NHL. Since debuting in the 2021-22 season with the Coyotes, Kolyachonok has scored five goals and 17 points in 84 career games with a -5 rating, averaging just below 14 minutes of ice time per night.
Additionally, he hasn’t demonstrated sufficient physicality to maintain his position for long. Over his 84 career NHL contests, he’s blocked 88 shots and delivered 77 hits. Additionally, his career 47.0% CorsiFor at even strength, and -6.5 Expected +/- show he’s typically been a net negative when on the ice.
It’s been a while since he played in the KHL, but Dinamo wouldn’t be an unfamiliar environment. He spent the 2020-21 season there on loan from Arizona, scoring one goal and six points in 46 games with a -3 rating.
Metropolitan Notes: Aitcheson, Rangers, Blue Jackets
New York Islanders top prospect Kashawn Aitcheson took home OHL Defenseman of the Year honors, shared by the league today. The 19-year-old joins fellow Barrie Colts Aaron Ekblad (2014) and Erik Reitz (2002) to earn the distinguished award.
Aitcheson has yet to make his professional debut, but he’s looking like a fantastic selection at 17th overall in last year’s draft. As part of their first round haul which brought Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund, the class has transformed New York’s outlook on the future.
Chosen with the pick acquired as part of the Noah Dobson trade to Montreal, Aitcheson took another step in the right direction with 70 points in 56 games. OHL scoring numbers sometimes not painting the whole picture, the lefty is a true #1 defenseman, standing out on both ends and showcasing a physical edge as a complete package.
The Toronto native inked his entry-level deal last month, but will have to wait to enter the professional circuit. New York’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport would have loved to infuse their lineup with the lefty, but he is not eligible, turning 20 this summer. Even then, the 6’2” prospect has all the tools to jump right into the NHL next fall.
Elsewhere across the division:
- As the New York Rangers look to move on from a majorly disappointing 2025-26, questions were raised by Vince Z. Mergogliano of The Athletic on Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom’s future with the team. Currently with a logjam in their bottom six, the emergence of Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora could push out Rempe and/or Edstrom, neither of which have waiver eligibility remaining. Edstrom, 25, had an injury riddled campaign where he recorded just five points in 35 games. At 6’7”, he could benefit from a fresh start after three years with the Rangers and limited production. Meanwhile, Rempe’s stats are no real improvement, but the 6’9” winger could have a trade market this summer thanks to his age (23) and mean streak, an asset to any young team with playoff aspirations. San Jose, for example, stands out as a club who values such a role, and could be looking for a Ryan Reaves replacement. Similar to enforcer trades in the past, Rempe could fetch a meaningful return for New York.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets might form a succession plan behind the bench with Trent Vogelhuber, written by The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. After cleaning house last week, head coach Rick Bowness will assemble his own staff. The 71-year-old, who got started in the NHL with the first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets back in the 1980s, earned the opportunity to stick around in Ohio but still is not a long-term solution on age alone. Instead he figures to be more of a “culture changer”, fully evident by such harsh comments on his team closing the season. With this in mind, Portzline reports that Vogelhuber, head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, could make the jump to assistant on Bowness’ staff on his way to taking over in the future. Just 37, Vogelhuber is a native of Dublin, Ohio, and a former draft pick by the team (211th overall, 2007). Joining the Monsters in 2018 as an assistant, Vogelhuber has quickly risen up the ranks, becoming head coach in 2022 where he’s led the Monsters to another playoff berth in 2025-26. Whatever the case, with 12 head coaches in their 26 years of existence, Columbus would benefit from stability of a young home-grown coach.
Lineup Notes: Michkov, Juulsen, Karlsson
A notable storyline has emerged this evening as the Philadelphia Flyers have scratched Matvei Michkov in Game 5 against the Penguins, noted by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Alex Bump will take his place, jumping in on the third line.
The news confirms yesterday’s suspicions that the polarizing young star would sit. In last Saturday’s loss, where the Flyers failed to complete the sweep, only Luke Glendening and Garnet Hathaway played less than Michkov’s 11:18 among forwards, the pair of veterans being pure fourth line role players.
In his place comes Bump, aged 22. Often such lineup decisions have playoff grit in mind, but the 6’0″ winger has scoring touch in his own right, burying five goals and adding four helpers across 17 games in his first NHL action this year. It’ll be the first taste of playoff hockey for the fifth round pick (2022), and he’ll be eager to hold down his seat at the table.
Obviously, immediate questions are raised on the 21-year-old Michkov’s future in Philadelphia, still signed for another season at $950k before restricted free agent status in 2027. Despite a disappointing season, he still skated in 81 games, making it only more glaring for his absence now. In that time, the Russian posted 51 points, a drop from his rookie campaign’s 63. His ice time was also cut down nearly two minutes, 14:50 under head coach Rick Tocchet.
Hardly focused on any trade talk just yet however, tonight presents a historic opportunity for the Flyers. They have the chance to complete a resounding defeat of their in-state rivals, with an uncertain future regarding their legendary trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Depending on how things go, Michkov could continue to find himself the odd man out.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Also in Philadelphia, although a bit less eyebrow-raising, defenseman Noah Juulsen will join Michkov as a healthy scratch, replaced by Emil Andrae, reported by Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports. The 29-year-old played in each of the Flyers’ last three games, making an impact with two assists in Game 3, but he played just 8:55 last Saturday, fewest of any skater on the team by a clear margin. The rotation between both defenders is hardly new this year, as they’ve posted similar stats, the differentiator being that they’re opposite handed. The right-handed Juulsen has a 45.6% corsi for at five-on-five this year, starting nearly 58% of his shifts on the attack, by far a career high. It’s much the same for Andrae, who could again have a shorter leash in such a consequential game.
- Golden Knights forward William Karlsson practiced today, observed by SinBin.vegas, donning a red no-contact jersey. The center hasn’t played since November as a result of a lower-body injury, and it is thought that his Golden Knights must advance at least to the second round for any chance at a return. His high scoring “Wild Bill” days largely in the past, Karlsson was still productive in his just 14 games this season, posting four goals and seven points. Currently operating with Tomáš Hertl at third line center, Vegas has fared well without their original misfit, whose team has changed greatly since his last time on the ice, primarily with John Tortorella now behind the bench. Now, down in the series to the electric Utah Mammoth, there’s work to be done for the 33-year-old to add to his impressive 111 career playoff games (74 points), all but five of which games as a Golden Knight.