Kuzmin was a third-round pick, 82nd overall, of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has four points (1G / 3A) in 21 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.

Phillips played 33 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring six points (0G / 6A), but has been limited to only three games with them this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A). The 23-year-old Phillips was a fifth-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying eight points (1G / 7A) in 28 games with the Rockford IceHogs.

MacArthur is an undrafted 23-year-old forward that has yet to play an NHL game. He has spent most of the past three seasons in the ECHL, including scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games with the Wheeling Nailers this season.

Joshua is an undrafted 25-year-old out of Michigan State University. He has spent the past three seasons in the AHL, including scoring one point (0G / 1A) in four games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.

Poolman is a product of the University of North Dakota and has yet to play an NHL game. The undrafted 29-year-old defenseman has spent the past five season in the AHL. He has one point (0G / 1A) in five games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) this season.

Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Barron leaves Montreal after registering 13 goals and 18 assists in just 109 career games spread out across parts of four seasons. He scored just one goal and did not register an assist in 17 games with the Habs this season.

Carrier has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on December 7th but has reportedly been cleared to play. Carrier comes to the Habs after putting up 11 goals and 58 assists in 245 career games with the Predators.

Joseph returns to Pittsburgh where he spent the first four seasons of his career after just 23 games in St. Louis. Joseph failed to score as a Blue and has just two assists to his name on the season. He should see more consistent playing time for the Penguins after struggling to maintain a spot in the Blues lineup.

Borgen had reportedly been a trade target for the Rangers for quite some time but they had to pay a steep price to acquire his services, parting ways with the former second-overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Kakko. Borgen has just one goal and one assist in 33 games this season with the Kraken but is expected to be able to provide a lot of valuable minutes on a thin Rangers blue-line.

The second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was never able to live up to those lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.

In his first season with the Avalanche, Kovalenko has shown glimpses of the talent that made him an offensive standout with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo (KHL), but limited deployment has likely stunted the opportunity for true success. In 28 games, Kovalenko is averaging 12:00 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A). The 25-year-old Kovalenko will likely get an opportunity for better deployment in his new home with the Sharks.

Colorado's goaltending troubles have been well-documented this season, highlighted by Georgiev's ugly 3.38 GAA and .874 SV% in 18 appearances (8-7-0). As a result, Georgiev has been traded, along with Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick, to the San Jose Sharks in return for Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Georgiev will likely have the opportunity to reestablish himself as a reliable starter in San Jose. That said, given San Jose's sluggish defense, Georgiev will likely fall out of fantasy hockey relevance.

Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.

Colorado has addressed their goaltending issues this season by acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been solid for a defensively troubled Sharks team this season, posting a 3.00 GAA and .909 SV% in 19 games (6-9-3). Blackwood will likely have the opportunity to control Colorado's crease for the remainder of the season, with Scott Wedgewood serving as his backup. Colorado also received Givani Smith and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Sharks, with Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick going the other way.

Trade talks have surrounded Trouba since the offseason and a deal has finally landed, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Trouba was the captain of the Rangers, averaging 20:00 time-on-ice, and recording six points (0G / 6A), 68 blocks, and 39 hits in 24 games. Trouba will have one year remaining in his contract after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

Vaakanainen was limited to only five games with the Ducks this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and will get a fresh start with the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen was the 18th overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He played a career-high 68 games with the Ducks last season, tallying 14 points (1G / 13A).