NHL trade deadline predictions

The NHL trade deadline is approaching.

Here are some things that you could see from Friday’s deadline.

Flyers Grab a Top Center

The Flyers aren’t exactly in a buying position at this exact moment, but general manager Daniel Briere has made it known that if the opportunity presents itself, they want to get their guy.

The Flyers still see themselves in a spot to battle for a playoff spot, only four standings points out of a playoff spot as of the writing of this article. Their talent speaks for itself. The Flyers just need a top-line center.

Travis Konecny is easily the best player on the Flyers, with the potential for thirty or forty goals out of Owen Tippett, and with how good Matvei Michkov looks, they look good. All those players are wingers, though.

The Flyers have seven picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft and are willing to part ways with some of them, but only if they can get the right price.

Don’t be surprised if they find a way to get a center in Philadelphia.

Rantanen Traded… Again??

The Hurricanes made the trade of the year with an out-of-the-blue blockbuster trade that sent Martin Necas to the Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes.

However, Rantanen hasn’t panned out the way they thought it would. Rantanen only has six points in the 11 games he spent with Carolina; only two are goals.

The goal-scoring potential is there, and the NHL has seen it, but could he have just been a product of being with Nathan MacKinnon?

The Canes could look to deal him again if they don’t see a future with him. If they don’t see him being in Carolina in the future, they should try to get something for him, at the very least.

Pettersson leaves Vancouver

This may be the biggest question mark of the trade deadline. However, it would not be shocking if Elias Pettersson was dealt out of Vancouver.

Pettersson and J.T. Miller’s names have been mentioned in league trade rumors since the start of the season, yet Vancouver is still in a prime position to make the playoffs. The team is tied for the last wild card spot in the West.

The issue with Pettersson is that he is in just the second year of an eight-year contract. He is only 26 years old, though, and just entering the prime of his career. He lacks the size to be a true first-line center, but his hands are as good as anyone in the league.

His time in Vancouver has gone gone stale. It would be another blockbuster if Pettersson were to leave because of his talent and term. He could make a fringe team a playoff team, though.

Rakell out of Pittsburgh

Rickard Rakell has been one of the single bright spots of Pittsburgh’s season. They are in no spot to buy and need all the assets they can get.

Pittsburgh has one of the oldest rosters in the league, and Rakell could demand a nice return to start the turnover of the roster, along with allowing former first-round pick Rutger McGroarty to see NHL time.

Rakell is having one of his best seasons since he was traded to the Penguins, with 52 points in 62 games, nine points from his high with Pittsburgh, and 17 from a career high.

Ducks Wholesale

The Ducks might be one of the poorest-run organizations in the league behind Buffalo with how many first-round picks and how much talent they have had, but they still can’t get to the postseason.

There have been names like Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras, and John Gibson thrown around as potential assets to leave.

Zegras has shown potential, hitting the 60-point mark twice in his career, but has been derailed by injury his past two seasons. He is only posting 16 points in 34 games this season, but a change of scenery could be just what the doctor orders for the young center.

McTavish finds himself in a similar situation. He’s a young center who had too much responsibility thrown on him at too young of an age. He’s producing at a decent clip but could see himself excelling in a lesser role.

Gibson was an all-star once upon a time, but he is still only 31 when he seemingly feels like he’s been in the league forever.

Gibson is having a sneakingly decent season with a .911 save percentage, but with a shaky defensive structure in front of him, he has a 9-10-2 record and a 2.81 goals against average.

Gibson has seen his role decrease with the young Lukas Dostal taking on most of the load, but he could be a helpful piece to a goalie-needy team.

With such a tight battle in the east, you may see more buyers than expected. It’s going to be an interesting deadline to see.

The deadline is Friday, March 7, at 3 p.m. EST.

Tristan Kunec is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email tqk5432@psu.edu.