The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

It was a stunner when Mikko Rantanen got dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season, and there’s still a chance he finds another new home by Friday afternoon.

The Hurricanes are proactively gauging the market on the 28-year-old winger with less than 48 hours to go until the NHL trade deadline and have received interest from the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, among others.

After initially making a pitch to sign Rantanen to a nine-figure extension during the 4 Nations break and being told there would be no immediate decision on a contract, Carolina is closely examining its options for the pending unrestricted free agent.

Now, can they drum up a return for Rantanen that actually compels them to pull the trigger?

That will be answered by 3 p.m. Eastern on Friday.

In the meantime, Rantanen moves atop the Big Board. Players are listed by how closely they demand watching, based on their potential impact and the current amount of buzz around them.

Note: Net Ratings and market values are via Dom Luszczyszyn’s model and are projected for the full season based on statistics through March 4. Goals saved above expected (GSAx) are via Evolving-Hockey, also through March 4. Contract info is via PuckPedia.

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The goals and points haven’t been coming at his usual rate since joining Carolina, but everything under the hood looks really good for Rantanen. It’s no mystery why other teams would be intrigued here. The Hurricanes have the ability to lower Rantanen’s cap hit below $2.5 million with double retention, and he’s produced 1.25 points per playoff game across his career. Placed in the right environment, he could be a big-time difference-maker. Of course, there’s still a chance that ends up being in Raleigh.

With no extension in sight for the longest-tenured Canuck, the team is gauging the market on what he might bring back via trade. One complication is the fact that fellow goal-scoring wingers Mikko Rantanen and Rickard Rakell are also available. That muddies the waters somewhat. Boeser has experienced a decline following a 40-goal campaign — not only in production, but also in the number of shots and shot attempts he’s generating. Still, he’s got good puck skills and a strong history as a power-play contributor.

No one on the Big Board has scored more than Rakell’s 29 goals (and counting) this season. That offensive explosion from a reliable play-driver may be enough to ease concerns about his age and remaining term. The right-shot winger is an above-average finisher who has a history of holding his own when playing with highly skilled linemates. There’s plenty of interest in him. What the Penguins need to determine in a rising cap environment is whether it’s more prudent to move him now or at a later date.

Proven offensive contributor

At least the veteran Flyers center hasn’t lost his sense of humor amid another season of having his name churn through the rumor mill: Laughton recreated “The Last Supper” in a photo he shared over the weekend during a team meal in Winnipeg. There’s a good reason for the speculation. The Flyers have received a fair amount of interest in Laughton and are seeking a first-round pick (or equivalent) in exchange for a player with one season beyond this one remaining on his contract. Not only is Laughton producing at a 40-point pace, but he’s also a glue guy who kills penalties and plays with an edge to his game.

A relentless high-motor player who is enjoying a career season in Chicago, Donato is attracting serious attention on the trade market. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he profiles as a rental who can add to a team’s depth while playing basically anywhere in the lineup. Donato appears to have made some strides with his skating this season and has the hands to bury offensive chances when he gets them. Of his career-best 22 goals through Tuesday, an impressive 19 were scored at even strength.

A high-energy player who brings it on the forecheck and recklessly throws himself in front of pucks on the penalty kill, Tanev has a lot of the qualities contenders are looking for. Known for playing a grindy game that wears on opponents, he leads all Seattle forwards in short-handed ice time. He certainly doesn’t back down when faced with a contested piece of ice. As a bonus, he also comes with 46 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience and the Kraken are willing to retain up to 50 percent of his remaining contract.

Grindy penalty-killing forward

The veteran right-shot winger remains a serious scoring threat into his 15th NHL season. He hit 30 goals in 2023-24 and has 20 this season. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Palmieri is an attractive rental option, especially with his willingness to battle his way to the hard areas of the ice. Not unlike the situation with teammate Brock Nelson, the only real question is if general manager Lou Lamoriello will willingly part with a valued member of his team while it’s still hanging around the playoff race.

The Sabres certainly aren’t shopping the 23-year-old defenseman, but they’ve found interest in him. Byram is an elite skater who can log big minutes and should still have his best and most productive seasons ahead. He’s also due for a new contract after the season as a pending restricted free agent. The Sabres control his rights, but it’s important to note that they’ve got a lot of money and years already tied up in their blue line.

John Tortorella said it best recently when he pointed out that the Flyers would be looking for a big right-shot defenseman the moment they traded Ristolainen. There are good arguments on both sides of the equation here. Ristolainen plays a rugged style best suited for third-pairing duty and has taken some meaningful steps forward over the past 18 months in becoming a more reliable defender in his own zone. With a contract that stretches two seasons beyond this one, there’s no harm in holding onto him. But the Flyers are listening because it’s a relatively thin D market.

Rugged veteran defenseman

Acquired by the Penguins in a trade from Nashville on Wednesday, the well-liked defenseman shouldn’t get too comfortable in Pittsburgh just yet. With the Penguins engaged in an aggressive rebuild, they’re planning to test the market to see if it makes sense to flip him. Schenn is a right shot who effectively protects the area around his net and consistently puts his body on the line as a shot blocker. He’s under contract through next season and is best suited for a third-pairing role.

Rugged veteran defenseman

There remains interest in Schenn, but the Blues have established a high price in trade talks involving their captain. They’ve also started winning games, which reduces the chances he’s moved. It’s worth noting that Schenn possesses a full no-trade clause and has considerable control of the situation as a result. Still, it’s little wonder why his presence on the trade market has caused a stir. The veteran center is having a good season and brings value at both ends of the ice, plus all kinds of playoff experience. Toronto is still among the teams with significant interest.

Two-way vet with Cup experience

Mittelstadt’s name started surfacing in trade discussions after the Avalanche dealt away Mikko Rantanen in a late-January blockbuster. Colorado is willing to get creative in an effort to upgrade its top-six forward group. Mittelstadt has good hands and is known as a puck distributor and playmaker rather than a goal scorer. While still young enough at age 26 to carry some upside, his play on the defensive side of the puck can leave something to be desired.

The well-traveled winger is having another sneaky effective season, which is why Buffalo has shown interest in getting his signature on a contract extension. If that doesn’t happen, he’s likely on the move for the second straight trade deadline. Two years removed from a 27-goal season in Pittsburgh, Zucker has 18 this season. He’s a strong skater who can help a power play and boost a middle-six group at even strength.

A minute-munching, shot-blocking defenseman who has drawn trade interest in the past, Ferraro is a valuable commodity. Signed through the end of next season at a $3.25 million cap hit, the 26-year-old is a strong puck-mover and penalty killer with a competitive streak to match. With the Sharks still in the painful part of a rebuild, they’re willing to give him a new start.

Minute-munching shot-blocker

The Blackhawks have a crowded crease after acquiring Spencer Knight in the Seth Jones trade over the weekend, which has made the veteran Mrazek available. He’s seen some regression in his performance playing behind a porous defensive team this season but brings over 400 games of NHL experience. Mrazek carries a $4.25 million cap hit through next season but is only owed $3.65 million in actual compensation in Year 2 of that deal.

Veteran having a down year

There is an abundance of outside interest in Cozens. Two-thirds of NHL teams have at least checked in on his availability at some point this season. Even amid a down year, the 6-foot-3 center holds plenty of appeal because of his speed, skill, size and a 30-goal campaign already on his resume. Here’s the rub, though: It’s going to take a meaningful offer to pry him out of Buffalo — something built around an established player, not just prospects — and so far that hasn’t materialized.

Speedy young blue-chip asset

A nice all-around center who can kill penalties, man the flank on the power play and contribute some even-strength offense, Suter is in the midst of a career season. His 16 goals through 60 games is the best total of his five-year NHL career. The Canucks are gauging the trade market on the 28-year-old Swiss pending unrestricted free agent.

A pending unrestricted free agent in Pittsburgh who has contributed some offense this season, Beauvillier could be on the move yet again. He’s bounced from Long Island to Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville to the Penguins in the past three seasons. Still, Beauvillier is a skilled winger with decent puck-handling skills. He’s a pretty good skater, too, and teams looking for a value buy will note that 12 of his 13 goals this season have been scored at even strength.

Somewhat undersized at 5-foot-10, Grzelcyk has carved out a nice career by putting his smarts to good use. An excellent skater, the left-shot defenseman can be relied upon to make a strong breakout pass. He’s racked up 29 assists this season with the Penguins. Grzelcyk is a rental on a reasonable contract in an undersaturated market for defensemen.

Smart undersized defenseman

With Murphy having returned to Chicago’s lineup after a recurring groin injury a couple of weeks back, teams will want some assurances about his medical file before proceeding with a trade. Still, a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman is a pretty appealing asset. Murphy has also posted strong defensive results under less-than-favorable conditions with a Blackhawks team on its way to yet another lottery pick.

A big, strong winger who skates well and kills penalties, Tuch’s appeal to contending teams is no mystery. He’s signed through next season, too, which is a bonus since anyone trading for him now could count on two playoff runs. Buffalo will need to be compelled to part ways with one of the big pieces it received back from Vegas in the Jack Eichel trade, though.

Big, strong do-it-all winger

One of the largest men in the league at 6-foot-7 and nearly 260 pounds, Oleksiak represents the kind of depth contenders crave. While he’s seen a small decline in his minutes this season in Seattle, he’s shown he can handle second-pairing deployment at even strength while logging big minutes on the penalty kill. He can also line up on either side of the ice. The Kraken have a decision here since Oleksiak is signed through next season, but they may be able to maximize his value by trading him now.

The biggest question is whether Montreal receives an offer compelling enough to part ways with the well-liked veteran. Savard’s game is slowing down with age, but the right-shot defenseman could still have a specific use for teams in need of a third-pairing specialist for limited minutes. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he carries the experience of a Stanley Cup win with Tampa Bay in 2021 after being acquired midway through that season. But Montreal may elect to hang on to him for its own playoff push.

Veteran defensive defenseman

A mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 232 pounds, McCarron may be the next man out of the revolving door in Nashville. He’s playing on an affordable cap hit for one more season and is a right shot who can kill penalties and win some draws. Even if he’s limited offensively, there’s value to be found in a fourth-liner who plays his style of game.

Mountainous depth forward

The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has two more seasons remaining on his contract and has already indicated a desire to stay in Nashville. However, it might not ultimately be his call. The organization wants to do right by O’Reilly, but general manager Barry Trotz will be forced to make a decision if he gets a strong trade offer amid a disappointing season for the team. O’Reilly is an excellent two-way center who can be counted on to chip in offensively and has the ability to be a true difference-maker for a contender. As an added bonus, he’s a menace in the faceoff circle.

An effective skater for a man of his size, Armia is known for his defensive instincts and consistent 200-foot play. He’s also a solid penalty killer who has chipped in with three short-handed goals for Montreal this season — third most among all NHL players through early March. The pending unrestricted free agent is available, but a team is likely going to need to offer a second-round pick to get him out of Montreal.

Bottom-six defensive help

A bottom-six forward option who plays hard at both ends of the ice, what you see is what you get from Kunin. He can chip in a bit offensively and has plenty of experience as a penalty killer. The right shot has made strides in the faceoff dot this season as well.

High-energy bottom-six forward

It’s not clear how deep the Bruins are prepared to cut, but they could certainly attract a nice return of futures by moving Carlo now. He’s still under contract for two more seasons, which could help an acquiring team justify paying a big price to get him. Carlo is a 6-foot-5 right-shot defenseman who is a trusted defender and penalty killer. He’s got plenty of big-game experience, too.

Injuries have kept Zegras from building any positive momentum the past two seasons. A fresh start could help that along. The Ducks are demanding more attention to detail from the offensive specialist and getting it, but Zegras is still searching for a way to hang on to the parts of his game that once separated him. Remember that he already has two 60-point campaigns under his belt at age 23. The production has dried up, as has some of the player’s enthusiasm.

Robertson seems to have reversed course on his summer trade request, but that doesn’t mean he won’t still be moved in the coming days. The Leafs are in need of cap space to make other upgrades and Robertson’s stock is trending in the right direction with a recent stretch of good play. He’s produced 11 goals this season while seeing fairly limited minutes. His release continues to be a serious weapon.

Diminutive winger who can score

A contract throw-in as part of the Flames-Flyers deal at the end of January, it would not be a surprise to see Kuzmenko flipped. The talented scorer has seen the goals disappear entirely this season and is on an expiring contract. But he remains a threat on the power play and could be due for a bounce-back if deployed in the right way.

The oldest skater in the entire NHL, Suter remains remarkably durable — with his last missed game coming during the 2017-18 season. While it’s no certainty he’s traded, St. Louis may give him the option to chase an elusive Stanley Cup after back-to-back runs to the conference finals with Dallas the past two years. Suter has always been a graceful skater, and he’s still logging more than 20 minutes per night.

A veteran of 275 career NHL games who has yet to appear in one at that level so far this season, Bear is a buy-low candidate. The right-shot defenseman is having a strong year with Hershey in the AHL but has found his path back to the NHL blocked by a deep Capitals roster. They’re open to finding him a new home as a result. Bear is a mobile puck-mover and still only 27, so he may be taking a flier on.

Marchand says he wants to spend his entire career in Boston, and the Bruins say they’re trying to sign their captain to an extension. But … talk is cheap. Marchand remains a pending UFA. Can a retooling franchise risk walking him to free agency? Fresh off helping Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, Marchand remains a high-end winger who can contribute offensively, kill penalties and, yes, get under an opponent’s skin. He was injured over the weekend, but it’s not believed to be too serious.

Veteran leader, scorer and agitator

Updates

March 3, 12:20 p.m. Eastern: Removed Brian Dumoulin, who was traded from the Ducks to the Devils; and Nick Bjugstad, who Utah intends to keep.

March 3, 1:37 p.m. Eastern: Removed Nico Sturm, who was traded from the Sharks to the Panthers.

March 3, 2:41 p.m. Eastern: Removed Reilly Smith, who was traded from the Rangers to the Golden Knights.

March 3, 6:45 p.m. Eastern: Removed Cason Soucy, who was traded from the Canucks to the Rangers.

March 4, 12:10 a.m. Eastern: Removed Justin Brazeau, who was traded from the Bruins to the Wild; and Brock Nelson, who was traded from the Islanders to the Avalanche.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos by Grant Halverson, Chris Tanouye and Jeanine Leech / Getty Images)