Ranking which 2024 NHL Trade Deadline deals aged the best

Jan 27, 2025

Ranking which 2024 NHL Trade Deadline deals aged the best

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

With less than two months until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, we’re delivering at least one deadline-focused story every day at Daily Faceoff.

Today, we evaluate the best trades from the most recent deadline, with one player even going on to play in the Stanley Cup final in June:

2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 39 days

We’ve had about 11 months to stew over the biggest moves made before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. While there was a good number of players and picks moved, we didn’t see a ton of big names dealt – and often don’t.

For this exercise, we’re looking at the top five deals from the month leading up to the deadline. Many players have already swapped homes since the deal, but in these trades, one – or both teams – came out looking really smart in hindsight:

5. Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils

Full trade: New Jersey Devils acquired Jake Allen (G) from the Montreal Canadiens for a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft

The Devils needed a crease improvement more than anyone last year, and Allen was the first of two major pieces acquired (the other being Jacob Markstrom). Allen’s numbers have been just fine at best, but he has stolen his fair share of victories since getting acquired from Montreal last year. Having a veteran with a proven track record ready to go when Markstrom needs a break is huge – it’s a significant upgrade from what we saw between the pipes last year.

Now, Allen is set to take over the crease for at least the next month due to Markstrom’s injury. The Devils can be a bit hot and cold (and Allen did lose six consecutive games from Nov. 30 – Jan. 18), so this will be his biggest test to date. If all goes wrong, maybe this deal doesn’t look as snazzy and the Devils look to add an extra goaltender to the fray. But at the very least, he was New Jersey’s best goaltender last year and even his play this year is miles better than that of anyone else who tended the team’s crease during that difficult campaign.

4. Adam Henrique to the Edmonton Oilers

Full trade: Edmonton Oilers acquired Adam Henrique (F), Sam Carrick (F), Ty Taylor (G), and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Anaheim Ducks acquired a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from Edmonton. Tampa Bay Lightning received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from Edmonton.

Henrique’s best days are behind him – he had 51 points between Anaheim and Edmonton last year but is on pace for just 24 this season. But Henrique was such a smart acquisition last year, giving the Oilers a legit middle-six veteran presence. He’s more of a role player these days, but he played an excellent two-way game en route to Edmonton’s trip to the Stanley Cup final. The 34-year-old forward had a solid playoff run with seven points in 17 games, including three in the Stanley Cup Final. He did get a little banged up in the postseason, but his overall play – and new contract – made it easier for the Oilers to move on from Ryan McLeod over the summer.

Henrique started the year as a key piece of Anaheim’s attack, but the fact that he transitioned into more of a support player in Edmonton – and looked good enough to earn him a new contract – was valuable to that team. So, while his stats won’t jump off a page, he’s been solid enough for a team that needed some depth.

3. Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche, Bowen Byram to the Buffalo Sabres

Full trade: Colorado Avalanche acquired Casey Mittelstadt (F) from the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Bowen Byram (D).

This was a deal that made sense for both parties. The Avalanche needed a second-line center, and the Sabres needed a puck-moving blueliner. Mittelstadt had 57 points between the two teams last year, and while he’s on pace for a slight decrease at about 50 this year, he’s been valuable for the Avs. Byram, meanwhile, is a pending RFA, and his name has appeared in some trade rumors in recent weeks. He’s second on the Sabres in ice time in what has easily been the best season of his NHL career, both production-wise and performance-wise. If Byram is indeed on the block – he’s set for a nice payday over his $3.85 million cap hit – there should be no shortage of teams interested in the 23-year-old.

2. Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights

Full trade: Vegas Golden Knights acquired Noah Hanifin (D) from the Calgary Flames. Calgary received a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Daniil Miromanov (D), and a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Philadelphia Flyers received a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Golden Knights had a good blueline already, but they still wanted an upgrade. Hanifin was one of the prized pieces on the market and the Golden Knights – arguably – didn’t have to give up too much to make it happen. Hanifin looked great in his short time in Vegas and was even tied for second in team scoring during their seven-game postseason run.

The icing on the cake, though, was signing him to a seven-year contract. He’s averaging around 21:32 a night on Vegas’ top pairing with Alex Pietrangelo – unsurprisingly, they make up one of the NHL’s most dangerous duos. Hanifin is playing some great hockey right now with some excellent help beside him. He isn’t the flashiest defenseman, but he does so much right and was absolutely worth moving the assets they traded.

1. Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights

Full trade: Vegas Golden Knights acquired Tomas Hertl (F), a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks for David Edstrom (F) and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

This is another deal that seemingly worked out for both teams. Hertl was limited to just six regular season games and seven playoff outings last year due to injury, but he has been fantastic for the Golden Knights this year. He’s on pace for 63 points, a total he has either reached or surpassed three times in his career. Injuries have persisted in the Golden Knights’ lineup this year, but he has played well with just about any winger at his side and has been great on the team’s first power-play unit, too. By all accounts, getting Hertl – who was already signed until 2030 before the trade – as a long-term asset was an excellent move by the Golden Knights.

How did the Sharks benefit here? They traded the rights to Edstrom to Nashville, who in turn sent over Yaroslav Askarov. The Sharks lacked a true goalie for the future, so they got arguably the best one available. Askarov has been solid in spot NHL duty this year – at this point, he should be given full-time starting duties. So, while the Sharks didn’t get to utilize Edstrom’s two-way stylings, they instead flipped him to fill a long-term need. Not a bad piece of business for Mike Grier.

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