NHL commerce deadline: Fantasy hockey affect, response and evaluation

The 2026 NHL trade deadline has passed, with a variety of teams looking to gear up for a playoff run, or others who are looking to the future. Some players, such as Quinn Hughes with the Minnesota Wild, have already settled nicely into their new homes, while others will be heading to their new home arenas shortly.

As one door closes, others open — especially for players stepping up to fill the ice time. To understand every side of the fantasy hockey impact, ESPN Fantasy analysts Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash break down every trade in the short term, long term, and the opportunities to be had in lineups everywhere.

More: Trade tracker | Trade grades | Rankings

Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche

The last time Kadri suited up for the Avalanche, he potted 87 points in 71 contests, and another 15 in 16 postseason games on route to winning a Cup. Anticipating similar numbers from the now 35-year-old center is much too big an ask this round. But he’s going to average more than the 0.67 points/game banged out this season in Calgary.

If coach Jared Bednar keeps Brock Nelson on the second scoring unit, Kadri can be expected to slide into the third-line role, which should net him a tidy sum of goals and assists before Colorado wraps up the regular campaign. However, the center’s projected special teams’ role is far more tantalizing through the fantasy lens. With Artturi Lehkonen out week-to-week, the worst power play — a mind-boggling concept considering the personnel and where the team sits in the standings — could use a boost. That’s where we could see Kadri really flourish.

If you’ve held onto the center to this point, you’d might as well see what he makes of joining a legitimate (again) Stanley Cup contender. Or grab him, if somehow available as a free agent. If nothing else, the veteran forward is good for about three shots/game. Just make sure you’re aware of any potential work visa issues that could delay his 2025-26 debut in Colorado.

Back in Alberta, Morgan Frost could replace Kadri on the Flames’ second scoring line with Connor Zary and Joel Farabee, while captain Mikael Backlund should garner turns on the club’s No. 1 power play. But neither situation merits much fantasy attention. Not this year. — Matiash

Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings

Justin Faulk has been having a tidy comeback season for fantasy managers. After a dip to non-roster-worthy status in 2024-25 with 1.6 fantasy points per game, he’s rocking 1.9 FPPG across 61 games this season – less than one fantasy point shy of his total from all of last year. But there is an elephant in the room in Detroit.

Moritz Seider takes up a lot of space, no doubt. But the good news is that Faulk should be just fine playing second fiddle. Because he’s oscillated with Cam Fowler for the Blues’ quarterback work, he only has 130 power-play minutes this season. Axel Sandin-Pellikka — whom Faulk will replace on the second unit at worst — has 107 power-play minutes. That’s at least in the ballpark for Faulk to retain similar access to the advantage.

Even better: Faulk does plenty of his fantasy work away from the puck. He currently ranks 40th in the NHL in fantasy points from only his hits and blocked shots. If you trim that list down to just players averaging at least 1.7 FPPG overall, he ranks 19th. — Allen

Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders

Rostered in only 28% of ESPN leagues, Schenn leaves behind his worst fantasy season in more than a decade for much greener pastures. After cobbling together only 12 goals and 16 assists through 61 games — partly due to losing regular linemates to injury — the 34-year-old veteran joins an Islanders team that’s averaging 0.3 more goals/game than the Blues. Not an outstanding gap, but the digits add up.

There’s also little question the former St. Louis captain will earn turns on Patrick Roy’s top power play with Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, and Matthew Schaefer — which currently ranks 31st in the league — likely replacing Calum Ritchie. That power-play tally won’t remain stagnant at six points for long. He’s also pegged to bump Ritchie from the center position on the Isles’ second scoring line. The fact that Schenn boasts C/LW positional eligibility, and bangs his body around consistently, only adds to his fantasy charm. Managers in deeper leagues across the ESPN spectrum should consider grabbing the veteran forward before his production quickly spools up. Especially in competition that rewards physical play. — Matiash

John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks

In hindsight, maybe the signs were there, but lifelong Washington Capitals blueliner John Carlson was not on most trade-bait bingo cards.

The Ducks get an immediate upgrade to the top of their defense with the always-dangerous Carlson’s offensive instincts and power-play acumen. Carlson was behind Jakob Chychrun this season on the Capitals’ depth chart, but that was more about Chychrun’s ascension rather than Carlson losing a step at 36 — he still sits in the top 25 among blueliners for fantasy points this season, even while playing second chair to Chychrun.

The power play will define the fantasy fallout in Anaheim. Jackson LaCombe ranks eighth in the NHL in power-play ice time this season, but ranks 32nd in power-play points per 60 minutes (3.91), making him one of the more inefficient power-play quarterbacks in the league. On a team ranked 23rd in power-play percentage, they should make the switch. While Carlson hasn’t been showcasing it this season (again, Chychrun has been the lead), Carlson knows how to run a power play with the best of them.

LaCombe could still get a net fantasy boost from an improved defense partner at even strength if he pairs with Carlson, and he doesn’t take too much of a hit from losing that power-play time. His 13 power-play points are solid, but not value-defining for fantasy.

Jacob Trouba takes a hit if he moves down the depth chart. His minutes on the top pair with LaCombe do a lot of the work keeping his counting stats fantasy relevant. If he drops down the depth chart, potentially falling behind the second pair of Radko Gudas and Olen Zellweger, Trouba may not get the minutes to stay deployable – depending on your league depth.

But we’ll need to see a game or two for the pairings to crystallize. There’s a chance Trouba’s connection with LaCombe is enough to keep them together. Maybe Carlson slots onto the second pair with Gudas and everyone wins from a fantasy perspective. –Allen

MacKenzie Weegar to Utah Mammoth

Aside from one off-ice factor, Weegar’s managers should feel altogether pleased about seeing the well-rounded fantasy performer join a superior team in Utah. Enduring a mediocre season production-wise — by his standards — the now-former Calgary defender will see a boost in that department by bumping Sean Durzi off the Mammoth’s top pair alongside Mikhail Sergachev, or joining Nate Schmidt in place of John Marino on the second. Post-trade, GM Bill Armstrong is already making it clear he expects the 32-year-old to move the puck and help create offense.

The projected dip in special teams opportunities isn’t a concern either. Despite potentially dropping from the Flames’ top unit to Utah’s second, Weegar should still add to his meager pull of five power-play points to date. Dead last in the league with 2.45 goals/game total, the Flames rank third from the bottom with a 16.1 power-play percentage. All the while, we can anticipate that the ESPN standard-league gem will regularly block shots and bang his body about as usual.

So what’s the issue then? According to Utah’s management, it could take four to 10 days for Weegar to join the Mammoth while his work visa issues are sorted out. Four days doesn’t amount to much of a big deal, but 10? With many leagues entering the fantasy postseason as early as next week — if not the following — losing such a prominent performer could significantly hurt. It’s up to individual managers to determine whether they can weather the storm with or without help from another blue-line substitute. The number of injured reserve spots available obviously plays into account in this case.

Back in Calgary, Zayne Parekh stands to inherit Weegar’s role on the No. 1 power play and see significantly more minutes all around. Why not? Restricted to limited NHL action to date, the rookie can only benefit from all opportunities available as the Flames focus on the future. Down the stretch, the 20-year-old could serve as a sneaky fantasy performer in exceptionally deep leagues. — Matiash

Other deadline deals

• The Columbus Blue Jackets have a stable top six, so Conor Garland seems like insurance to play down the lineup. He has some offensive instincts, which show well on the power play, so an injury could push him into the fringe fantasy relevance he showed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2020-21 or the Canucks last season. –Allen

• Hopefully Corey Perry isn’t the harbinger he’s been for five of the past six Cup runners-up, returning to the Tampa Bay Lightning for another potential run to the final. He doesn’t have fantasy value. Even in a sometimes-specialist role on the Bolts power play in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Perry never eclipsed 1.2 fantasy points per game. –Allen

• The Minnesota Wild have loaded up on depth players, but none of Bobby Brink, Nick Foligno or Jeff Petry are lineup locks when everyone is healthy. The only scenario for fantasy value for any of them this season is a Quinn Hughes injury forcing Petry into a specialist role as the quarterback. Even then, they’ll probably just use Brock Faber. Brink has some longer-term intrigue if he re-signs in his hometown and thrives with some top-six opportunity down the line. –-Allen

• Is Ryan Strome the Calgary Flames’ top center now? The answer is no, but you had to at least think about it after the Flames picked up the veteran from the Ducks and, later, dealt away Nazem Kadri to the Avalanche. The last time Strome was on fantasy radars was the shortened 2020-21 season, with his time with the Anaheim Ducks going down as a fantasy flop. There isn’t much to work with in Calgary anymore, so don’t expect a Strome renaissance. –– Allen