The 2024 NHL commerce deadline was a wild one, and there have been a handful of massive names on the transfer. Whereas these offers get a lot of the headlines, there are all the time some under-the-radar trades that make an enormous distinction within the playoffs.
A handful of groups made some low-key trades that would repay in spades as soon as the puck drops on the postseason. The Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs had been in a position so as to add some protection and tenacity to their bottom-six, making their lineups somewhat more durable to attain towards.
In the meantime, the Vegas Golden Knights added some scoring on the wing within the type of a participant not named Tomas Hertl. The Florida Panthers, the NHL’s first-place group, additionally bought a veteran presence and stable fourth-line participant for virtually nothing on deadline day.
Listed here are the perfect under-the-radar acquisitions of the 2024 NHL Commerce deadline.
To Avalanche: F Yakov Trenin
To Predators: 2025 third spherical choose
The Colorado Avalanche made some larger strikes by buying defenseman Sean Walker and middle Casey Mittelstadt, however additionally they made some tweaks to the underside of their lineup. A type of strikes was sending a third-round choose to the Nashville Predators in trade for Yakov Trenin.
A 27-year-old pending free agent, Trenin is sort of sturdy in his personal finish. On prime of that, Trenin is a tenacious forechecker and might present a slight scoring contact across the internet. This season, Trenin was probably the greatest defensive forwards on Nashville’s roster, and he added 10 targets. Trenin netted 17 targets two seasons in the past.
Trenin will give Colorado somewhat extra chunk in its bottom-six, and the group bought him at a comparatively modest value. If Trenin can add somewhat extra offense on a extra expert roster, that may be gravy for the Avs.
To Golden Knights: F Anthony Mantha
To Capitals: 2024 2nd spherical choose; 2026 4th spherical choose
You could possibly be forgiven for not remembering that the Vegas Golden Knights picked up Anthony Mantha earlier than making main splashes with Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl. The Mantha deal wasn’t as flashy as the opposite two, however he may nonetheless be a significant component within the playoffs for Vegas.
Mantha was within the midst of a resurgent season with the Washington Capitals when the Golden Knights added him to their roster. After two seasons through which Mantha struggled to remain on the ice, Mantha is again to full well being, and it has proven on the scoresheet. Mantha has already hit the 20-goal mark, and he has had an extremely constructive affect at five-on-five.
Final season, Vegas made an underrated transfer to get Ivan Barbashev, and he wound up taking part in an enormous position within the group’s Stanley Cup run. Mantha is not fairly the identical participant as Barbashev, however he does deliver some dimension and ability to the Golden Knights’ lineup.
To Panthers: F Kyle Okposo
To Sabres: D Calle Sjalin; Conditional seventh spherical choose
The Florida Panthers are a extremely engaging vacation spot for gamers across the league, and that labored of their favor on this deal. The Buffalo Sabres wished to provide captain Kyle Okposo not less than yet another shot at a Stanley Cup, and that made the Panthers a really perfect touchdown spot.
Okposo hasn’t been to the playoffs because the 2015-16 season, his final with the New York Islanders, however that’s about to alter. The 35-year-old veteran brings 17 years of NHL expertise to the Florida lineup, and Okposo nonetheless has somewhat little bit of depth scoring contact. He has 10 targets this season, and he notched 21 solely two years in the past.
Florida made a extra high-profile addition by getting Vladimir Tarasenko forward of the commerce deadline, however Okposo ought to slot in properly on the group’s fourth line. Plus, it will be nice to see Okposo again within the postseason after an extended absence from the NHL’s greatest stage.
To Maple Leafs: F Connor Dewar
To Wild: 2026 4th spherical choose
With a lot of the group’s salary-cap area going to the highest 4 or 5 gamers, the Toronto Maple Leafs are all the time looking out for high quality depth at a low value. Discovering these gamers is simpler stated than finished, however I do suppose the Leafs achieved that with this addition of Connor Dewar.
Dewar, a 24-year-old pending restricted free agent, has taken his sport to a different stage this season. In 57 video games with the Wild, Dewar has already set a brand new profession excessive with 10 targets, however he actually will get the job finished within the defensive zone. Dewar has been wonderful at limiting anticipated targets towards, and that is a trait the Maple Leafs will worth within the postseason.
Dewar in all probability will not blow anybody away along with his offensive ability, however that is simply wonderful on a Toronto group loaded with it on the prime of the lineup. His job shall be to close down the opponent when these prime guys are on the bench, and Dewar has already proven a capability to just do that.