The NHL trade deadline is always a big moment in the season. For some players, it means joining a team with playoff dreams. For others, it can mean missing out on the playoffs—or being traded just when things were starting to look up. Whether teams are buying, selling, or planning for the future, the deadline always changes lives.
Here’s a look at some players who were either lucky, unlucky, or stuck in between during the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Unlucky at the Deadline: Josh Norris
Josh Norris has had a tough few years. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators from the San Jose Sharks in the deal that sent star defenseman Erik Karlsson the other way. Unfortunately for Norris, he arrived in Ottawa just as the team entered a full rebuild.
In his first full season (2020-21), Norris played well and finished second in team points. The next season, he scored 35 goals in just 66 games, earning a big eight-year, $63.6 million contract. But then, injuries hit hard. He only played 8 games in 2022-23 and 50 in 2023-24, missing much of both seasons. Ottawa missed the playoffs both years.
This season, the Senators finally turned things around. With players like Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Tim Stutzle having strong seasons, Ottawa was in playoff contention by the trade deadline. But just as things got better, Norris was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, along with Jacob Bernard-Docker, in exchange for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a second-round pick.
Ottawa has since clinched a playoff spot, ending their seven-year drought, while Buffalo’s has now reached 14 years. To make it worse, Norris got injured again after playing just three games for the Sabres.
Lucky at the Deadline: Seth Jones
When Seth Jones joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021, he signed a $76 million, eight-year deal to lead their defense during the rebuild. But Chicago struggled, missing the playoffs in his first three seasons.
This year, with no sign of improvement, Jones asked to be traded. He got his wish and was dealt to the Florida Panthers, along with a 2026 fourth-round pick. In return, Chicago received goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick.
Now, Jones is playing nearly 25 minutes a night for the reigning Stanley Cup champions and finally has a shot at playoff success. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are once again near the bottom of the league standings.
Unchanged at the Deadline: Mikko Rantanen
Mikko Rantanen has had a rollercoaster of a season. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and scoring over 100 points in each of the past two seasons, Rantanen was due for a new contract. But he and the Avs couldn’t agree on a long-term deal, so Colorado traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal involving Chicago.
Rantanen played just 13 games for the Hurricanes before Carolina also failed to sign him long-term. So they traded him again, this time to the Dallas Stars, to recover some of the assets they lost in the first deal.
Now, Rantanen is back in the Central Division, playing for the Stars—and facing his old Colorado teammates in the first round of the playoffs. The good news? Dallas gave him the contract he wanted: eight years, $96 million. It looks like he can finally settle down.
The NHL trade deadline brings big changes for players and teams alike. For some, like Seth Jones, it means a chance to finally chase the Cup. For others, like Josh Norris, it can feel like bad luck, especially when injuries get in the way.
And for players like Mikko Rantanen, the deadline can turn into a wild ride—one that finally leads to the right destination.
Whether lucky, unlucky, or somewhere in between, these players remind us how unpredictable and emotional hockey can be. That’s what makes the trade deadline such a powerful and unforgettable part of the NHL season.
