The New York Islanders may have not made any trades at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline (they were active, though), but that does not mean there were no trades as there were over 30, some including prospects that resulted in some league-wide buzz. Let’s take a look at some of the prospects moved at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline.

The “Pre-Deadline Day” section will feature some prospects traded prior to Feb 14, 2022, up until deadline day.

Pre-Deadline Day

Emil Heineman

The Calgary Flames kicked off trade season with an impact move on Feb. 14, 2022, acquiring Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens. In return, they traded Tyler Pitlick, a conditional 2022 1st round and 2024 4th round pick, a 2023 5th round pick, and Emil Heineman. This is already Heineman’s second time getting traded since he was selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers, as he was traded to Calgary last deadline in the deal that sent Sam Bennett to Florida. Currently playing for Leksands IF in the SHL, he has scored 11 goals and added five assists in 38 games. Obviously, the first-round selection is the main part of the return for Toffoli, but the Canadiens definitely got themselves a future middle-six forward in Heineman in this trade.

Drew Helleson

Fast forward to March 14, when the Colorado Avalanche started beefing up their roster for the playoff run, and the Anaheim Ducks started to sell off their pending UFAs. The first of the main three to go was Josh Manson, just hours after scoring against the Islanders. Manson was dealt to the Avalanche (with 50% retained salary) in exchange for a 2023 2nd round pick and Drew Helleson. Helleson was drafted in the second round by Colorado in the 2019 NHL Draft. After three stellar seasons at Boston College, a World Juniors, and an Olympic appearance, Helleson would have been able to become a free agent if he did not sign with Colorado, which seemed to be what it was heading towards. Rather than head that way, he was traded to Anaheim, and subsequently signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks. Helleson has the ability to become an impact player for the Ducks in the coming years.

Ty Smilanic

The Canadiens definitely identified that they were willing to sell, and the next major piece they sold off was defenseman Ben Chiarot. They sent him (at 50% retained salary) to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2022 4th round and 2023 1st round pick and forward prospect Ty Smilanic. Smilanic has been a key cog on a strong Quinnipiac University team this season, scoring 13 goals and 22 points in 39 games. The Habs were set on acquiring Smilanic in the deal, and for good reason as his developmental path will allow for him to be a NHL contributor in the future.

Taylor Raddysh/Boris Katchouk

Let’s package these two together, as they were, in fact, packaged together, with conditional 2023 and 2024 1st round picks from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brandon Hagel, and 2022 and 2024 4th round picks. Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk have been paired together all fans, as they were selected in the same round (second) of the same draft (2016), and their career paths have been symmetric. Both spent time in the lineup for Tampa this year, Raddysh more often, but were strong producers in the bottom-six. Now, in Chicago, they will have a better opportunity to show their skill, and Raddysh has even scored for Chicago in his first two games.

Urho Vaakanainen

Urho Vaakanainen has always been a player that Boston Bruins fans have wanted to see get a chance in the lineup. On March 19, 2022, the Bruins traded him to the Anaheim Ducks in a package with John Moore, a 2022 1st round, and 2023 and 2024 2nd round picks for Hampus Lindholm (50% of his salary retained) and Kodie Curran. The day after, he signed a eight-year, $6.5M AAV contract extension with the Bruins. Going back to Vaakanainen, he spent time going back and forth from the Providence Bruins (AHL) to the NHL, but now will likely get a starting spot on the Ducks’ defense sooner than later.

Owen Tippett

The final pre-trade deadline prospect to look at is definitely the biggest name moved before March 21 in Owen Tippett. The 2017 NHL Draft’s 10th overall selection by the Florida Panthers had a tough time getting significant ice time on Florida, and seemed to be on the outside looking in for the team as they headed towards the trade deadline. The Panthers were obviously buying going towards the deadline, and after already acquiring Chiarot, they became the destination for former Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux. On March 19, the Flyers traded Giroux (50% salary retained), along with German Rubtsov, Connor Bunnaman, and a 2024 5th round pick to Florida for Tippett, a 2023 3rd round pick, and a 2024 1st round pick. Less than 24 hours afterwards, the Flyers had Tippett in the lineup against the Islanders. Hopefully, the trade will allow for Tippett to play the minutes he needs (both on power-play and even-strength) to continue developing to be the player the Panthers expected him to be when they drafted him.

Deadline Day

Jack McBain

The most intriguing of the players moved at the deadline is Jack McBain. McBain was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, and has spent the last four seasons at Boston College. He hasn’t been a scoring slouch, either, as his numbers continued to get better year after year, breaking the point-per-game mark this past year, as he scored 19 goals and totaled 33 points in 24 games. The Wild seemed to be getting ready to sign him at the end of the season, but nearing the trade deadline it seemed like McBain was unwilling to sign with them anymore. The Wild decided to trade him, and moved him to the Arizona Coyotes on deadline day for a 2022 2nd round selection. The Coyotes signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract following the trade, and will get right to work, competing for a spot in the Arizona lineup once he recovers from his minor ankle injury.

Justin Barron

The Montreal Canadiens fire sale continued into deadline day, trading winger Artturi Lehkonen (50% retained) to the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for a 2024 2nd round pick, and Justin Barron. Barron is a high-upside prospect, joining the Avalanche system after he was drafted 25th overall in 2020. After spending four years with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, he played seven games for the Colorado Eagles of the AHL in the regular season last year, scoring a goal and adding three assists, while also scoring a goal and adding two assists in two playoff games. He played two games for the Avalanche this year, but spent the majority of the season with the Eagles, scoring five goals and 20 points in 43 games. That is the type of offensive production that NHL fans, and especially Canadiens fans, should expect to see from Barron, and it would not surprise many if he is on Montreal’s blueline next year full-time.

Morgan Barron

Barron was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the contending New York Rangers, as the Rangers wanted to beef up their forward core going into the playoff push. Along with Barron, the Jets acquired a pair of 2022 conditional 2nd round picks and a 2023 5th round pick, for Andrew Copp and a 2023 6th round pick. Barron has gotten into the Rangers lineup, most recently tallying an assist in 13 games this season, but will look to spend more time in Winnipeg’s lineup as they go through a slight re-tool.

SEF