The trade deadline is one of the most popular events in the NHL season. Like the Draft or the opening of free agency, fans eagerly await the moves each team makes as the final stretch of the season winds down.
This season, the official date for the NHL trade deadline is Friday, Mar. 7, 2025 at 3 p.m. EST. As such, teams have till 3 p.m. on trade deadline day to submit the final transactions before players become ineligible for the postseason.
That’s the whole point of the trade deadline. It’s not that teams cannot make trades past the deadline. It’s that players acquired after the trade deadline become ineligible to play for their new team in the postseason.
For teams looking to get into the postseason, it’s a big deal. Think about it. If the Edmonton Oilers pull off a major deal after the 3 p.m. deadline on Mar. 7, that player can join the team for the rest of the season. However, that player cannot be included in the playoff roster.
Now, there’s another key element to the trade deadline: buyers and sellers. Buyers are teams looking to play in the postseason. So, they acquire players to help them get into the playoffs and contribute once qualified for the postseason.
In contrast, sellers are teams that likely won’t make the playoffs. So, they trade away players in exchange for prospects and draft picks most of the time.
It’s worth pointing out that players on expiring contracts, that is, set to become free agents, are popular trade deadline targets. Meanwhile, buyers typically exchange draft picks and prospects to get veteran players who can fill specific positional needs. Those needs become evident as the calendar gets closer to January.
The Edmonton Oilers expected to be buyers at trade deadline
The Edmonton Oilers look in a solid position to make the playoffs this season. As a result, they are expected to be buyers. This situation means the Oilers will be looking to add key players to support the team and make key contributions during the playoffs.
The biggest positional need for the Oilers at this point is on the blue line. They have been linked to a number of defencemen this season. Moreover, the Oilers could be looking for additional scoring on the wing and depth, bottom-six forwards.
The Oilers are surely keeping an eye on teams with impending fire sales like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Anaheim Ducks.
However, the Edmonton Oilers must be careful to avoid overpaying for deadline acquisitions. Sending first-round draft picks or up-and-coming prospects could be a significant mistake. In other words, mortgaging the future for a short-term solution is not the best way to do business.
We’ll be sure to keep tabs on the rumoured deals in the pipeline. If there’s one thing that makes the trade deadline so exciting, it’s the anticipation building up to it. Stay tuned, because there’s lots to talk about leading up to Mar. 7, 2025.