The trade deadline is said and done. Blockbuster trades rocked the hockey world, from Seth Jones going to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Spencer Knight, to Mikko Rantanen going to the Dallas Stars in exchange for draft picks and Logan Stankhoven, to the biggest trade, with Brad Marchand exchanging the Boston cold for the South Florida heat in exchange for a conditional 2027 second-round pick. While the deadline may have passed, here are some predictions that were close to happening, but did not.
Mikko Rantanen to the Golden Knights
One of the biggest rumors to come out of the trade deadline was Mikko Rantanen (Carolina) potentially going to the Vegas Golden Knights (he instead went to Dallas). Earlier in the season, Rantanen went from Colorado to Carolina, with Chicago taking half of his salary cap hit.
Rumors speculated that the Kings and Golden Knights were the top two contenders for Rantanen, with insider Elliote Friedman believing he would be traded just before the deadline. According to Frank Seravalli, Sebastian Aho said playing with Rantanen can be “exhausting” due to his “must-win” mentality and the trade rumors.
Elliotte Friedman speculated that the Golden Knights would be all in on Rantanen, which would have added another big name to the elite roster.
What would the Golden Knights have sent to Carolina? Known for sending future prospects to their trading partners, the Knights had cap space with Theodore on injury reserve. However, according to Bleacher Report, the best trade assets they had were draft picks, and with the potential in available Silver Knights players, the Golden Knights could have added to their armory, and another Fin to the roster.
What actually happened: Due to cap space and another trade up their sleeve, the Golden Knights did not pick up the biggest name of the trade deadline. Instead, Rantanen went to the Dallas Stars, signing a contract with Dallas for $96 million for eight years. In exchange, the Hurricanes received two conditional first-round draft picks in the 2026 and 2028 drafts, two third-round draft picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, and Logan Stankoven.
Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers
After the Tkachuk brothers became an almost unstoppable duo during the Four Nations Face-Off, American fans loved their chemistry, sparking rumors among NHL insiders and fans alike.
NHL Insider Andy Strickland said on The Cam and Strick Podcast that Florida could have been a likely destination for the Ottawa captain. Brady’s contract ends after the 2027-28 season, which could catch the interest of the Panthers for a long-term plan. The Panthers are at the top of their game, coming off of a Stanley Cup win and are at the top of the conference. With the performance of the “bash brothers” in the Four Nations Face-Off, adding Brady could have been beneficial and crucial to another Stanley Cup run in the future.
What actually happened: Ottawa acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Zack Ostapchuck, Noah Gregor, and a second-round pick. In a deal with the Buffalo Sabres, the Senators acquired Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker.
The Panthers, on the other hand, acquired Seth Jones and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft from the Blackhawks in exchange for Spencer Knight and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft. The Panthers also added Vitek Vanecek as a replacement for Knight, giving San Jose forward Patrick Giles in exchange. The next day, Florida gave San Jose their fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft, and got forward Nico Sturm and 2027 seventh-round pick in return.
The biggest trade for the reigning Stanley Cup champions surrounded Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins. Instead of Marchand finishing his contract in Boston, he was traded to Florida for a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 draft.
It’s safe to say that Brady Tkachuk will be staying in Canada’s capital for the foreseeable future.
Ryan Donato to the Ottawa Senators
Ryan Donato has made a huge impact in his two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Within 64 games, Donato racked up 61 points and 29 goals. He’s played a solid role as a veteran guiding this young Blackhawks team, with Frank Nazar, Connor Bedard, and other younger players praising him. However, his two-year contract is up at the end of the season, and the Blackhawks could have gotten a big return for the 28-year-old.
Ottawa seemed to have been one of the top contenders for Donato. At the deadline, Senators were fifth in the Atlantic division, pushing for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Donato’s experience and $2 million cap hit would have benefited the Senators, considering his offensive production.
According to Bleacher Report, the best assets the Senators could have traded would have been draft picks. With a young Chicago Blackhawks core, and Kyle Davidson working towards the future, adding another draft pick could have been key to the future success of Chicago.
What actually happened: Donato is staying in Chicago for the rest of the season, playing a key leadership role this season. Currently, the Blackhawks are in talks with extending his contract.
The trade deadline either brought hope to fan-favorite teams, or utterly destroyed them emotionally. Notifications from the NHL app spiked heart rates, as favorite players were at the mercy of the general managers. However, work in the front office is not done. While the trade deadline may be over, the offseason is just a short period away. Who knows what kind of chaos will ensue, and what trades will happen!
Edited by Megan Wines
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