TradeCentre Live Blog: Follow the latest from the NHL trade deadline

The NHL trade deadline is today at 3pm ET and TSN.ca has you covered with all the latest news and notes from around the league.

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Canes having fun with Rantanen speculation

The Carolina Hurricanes social media team is having some fun with the Mikko Rantanen speculation.

They tweeted out an invitation for an AMA with the caveat that they won’t be taking any questions.

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Latest on Rantanen 

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston has broken down what took place between the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars in Mikko Rantanen trade talks.

Johnston explains that the Hurricanes and Stars worked out the frame work for a deal, but it was contingent on Dallas reaching an extension, which has not happened.

“It sounds like other avenues are now being explored on the Rantanen front,” Johnston adds. 

 

Marchand trade watch continues

The Brad Marchand trade watch is well underway on trade deadline day.

“We’ll see where it goes on Brad Marchand, I think it can still go either way (signed or traded),” TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun wrote on X “but I don’t think Colorado is a likely landing spot now mostly based on the assets spent last last night for Brock Nelson.”

Marchand, who is currently out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, has been unable as of yet to reach an extension with the Bruins. He vaulted to No. 2 on the TSN Trade Bait board on Thursday, with the Bruins not turning away potential suitors. 

 

Oilers looking for more forward help?

TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports the Edmonton Oilers may not be done just yet after adding Jake Walman, Trent Frederic and Max Jones so far this week. 

“I’d expect Oilers to be hunting around for some top 6 forward help, but given the cap scenario will be tricky,” Rishaug wrote on X. “Need to move some players out to make it happen and that’s tough with all the NMC’s. Don’t believe we’ll see anything on the goaltending front and D is likely set.”

 

Will the Blue Jackets stand pat?

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the Columbus Blue Jackets would like to add a top-nine forward, but prices are still too high on the market.

Portzline notes the Blue Jackets could stand pat if prices don’t drop before 3pm ET. 

Columbus has been the NHL’s biggest surprise team this season, sitting in the top wild-card spot on deadline day, but the race remains tight. The New York Rangers, who are outside the playoff picture, are just one point back, with the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens two points back. The Ottawa Senators hold the second wild-card spot, one point behind the Blue Jackets with a game in hand. 

 

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Flyers staying patient on Laughton, big ask for Ristolainen

The Philadelphia Flyers are staying patient on centre Scott Laughton, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun. 

LeBrun reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets are among the teams in the mix, but Philadelphia does not have to move the 30-year-old, who is under contract through next season at a cap hit of $3 million.

The Oakville, Ont., native has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 60 games so far this season, his 12th with the team.

Also in Philadelphia, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports there’s a big ask for defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen, with the Flyers seeking a first-round pick, a prospect and an NHL player. 

Ristolainen is signed through the 2026-27 season at a cap hit of $5.1 million. He has four goals and 19 points in 60 games this season after being limited to just 31 games last season.

 

Could Donato stay put?

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Chicago Blackhawks are holding contract talks with pending UFA Ryan Donato.

LeBrun reports the Blackhawks have been telling teams they will need to be “blown away” to move him. 

The 28-year-old is enjoying a career year with 23 goals and 46 points in 60 games. He carries a cap hit of $2 million on his expiring deal.

 

No Rantanen deal in place

There is no deal between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports.

“It appears Carolina may have to go back to the drawing board,” Dreger wrote on X. “Doesn’t mean a deal/extension with Dallas can’t materialize, but it’s not there as of now.”

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports there is no extension in place between Rantanen and the Stars, but more talks are expected today. The Hurricanes first gave permission for the two sides to speak late last night. 

Rantanen has informed the Hurricanes he will not sign an extension with the team prior to the deadline, which vaulted him to atop the TSN Trade Bait board. 

The 28-year-old went without a point for the fourth straight game in Carolina’s 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins Thursday night as his output continues to sit well below where it was before the trade from the Colorado Avalanche in January.

Rantanen has two goals and six points in 13 games with Carolina after posting 25 goals and 64 points in 49 games with the Avalanche prior to the trade. 

The Hurricanes spent big to add Rantanen in January, sending Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to the  Avalanche. The Hurricanes, who also received Nils Juntorp from Colorado, sent a third-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the trade in exchange for them eating half of Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit and forward Taylor Hall. 

In the last year of a six-year, $55.5 million deal, Rantanen is carrying a cap hit of $4.625 million in Carolina and that could be halved again if a team eats salary if he is traded for a second time. 

 

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Recapping a flurry of late deals

Deadline day kicked off early with a flurry of trades late Thursday night and into the early hours Friday. 

The New York Islanders sent Brock Nelson and forward William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche in the biggest deal of the night, acquiring prospect Cal Ritchie, a 2026 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 third-round pick and defenceman Oliver Kylington from the Avalanche. Kylington was flipped to the Anaheim Ducks a short time later.

The Edmonton Oilers also made their second significant trade ahead of the deadline, bringing in blueliner Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and forward Carl Berglund. 

 The Boston Bruins moved Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild for centre Jakub Lauko, forward Marat Khusnutdinov and a 2026 first-round pick. 

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Marchand up to No. 2 on Trade Bait

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is up to No. 2 on the deadline day edition of the TSN Trade Bait board, with a move appearing more and more likely before the deadline.

“This isn’t just a normal trade,” TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston explained Thursday on Insider Trading. “You’re talking about someone who was drafted by the organization as a second rounder in 2006, he was part of their 2011 Stanley Cup winning team. There are some emotions in this one.

“Marchand has wanted to stay in Boston, which is something he’s voiced publicly and privately and has been consistent with the negotiations.

“It’s just at this point they haven’t been able to get across the finish line, which is why it’s going towards a trade.

“I should mention, he’s got an eight-team no-trade clause in his contract. So, he has a limited control over where he can end up.

“The Bruins have a lot of say of where to trade him and there are probably certain cities they wouldn’t want to see him play, even if you want him there.”

The veteran centre is in the final year of an eight-year, $49 million contract that carries a $6.13 million cap hit. 

Marchand is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, head coach Joe Sacco announced earlier this week. Marchand was injured in Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing just 2:18 in the win. He did not dress as the Bruins suffered a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday and missed Tuesday’s gameday skate before the update was announced. 

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said late last month he had received calls on a number of veterans and pending UFAs, Marchand among them. However, Sweeney also said the ultimate goal was to keep Marchand in a Bruins uniform. 

The veteran winger agreed, saying he still believes in the organization’s path forward.

“I’ve always planned on playing here my entire career. That hasn’t changed,” Marchand said on Feb. 24, per The Athletic. “They’re aware of that. I think everyone’s aware of that. It’s a gift to play for this team. I take a tremendous pride in it. So yeah, that’s the goal.”

He has 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 61 games this season, his 16th with the organization. Marchand has 422 goals and 554 assists for 976 points in 1,090 NHL regular season games.