Wed Mar 05 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## NHL Trade Deadline: Do Big Moves Pay Off? Recent Stanley Cup Winners Offer Clues
**Toronto, ON** – With the NHL trade deadline looming on March 7th, teams are scrambling to bolster their rosters for a playoff push. But do last-minute acquisitions truly impact Stanley Cup contention? Sportsnet analyzed the recent championship runs of the past five Stanley Cup winners to assess the effectiveness of deadline deals.
The study revealed a mixed bag. While some teams, like the Tampa Bay Lightning, made shrewd, smaller moves adding depth and grit (Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow in 2020, David Savard in 2021), others made more significant splashes. The Colorado Avalanche’s acquisition of Artturi Lehkonen proved pivotal, contributing key goals in their championship run. Similarly, the Vegas Golden Knights’ trade for Ivan Barbashev provided a significant offensive boost, complementing their top line effectively.
However, not all big moves guarantee success. While the Florida Panthers added scoring with Vladimir Tarasenko, their aggressive approach didn’t result in a championship.
The analysis suggests that while impactful players can be game-changers (Lehkonen, Barbashev), simply making big moves isn’t a guaranteed path to victory. A team’s existing core remains paramount, with deadline acquisitions often serving to fill specific needs or add depth to an already strong foundation.
Sportsnet will provide comprehensive coverage of the trade deadline on March 7th, beginning at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, offering insights and analysis from hockey experts on all the potential blockbuster deals.
First Piper 