We Asked A.I. to Predict the Biggest 2025 NHL Deadline Trades

As a fun exercise to explore what kind of wild response I might get from posing a general trade deadline question to A.I., I decided to give it a try. Today, I asked ChatGPT: “What will be the biggest NHL trade at the 2025 trade deadline?”

The answers we got varied from reasonable to what might be among the more bizarre predictions any NHL fan has ever seen. Remember, this is based on an A.I. response, so it’s not true or even speculation—just a guess from a machine. It’s also important to note that ChatGPT is not exactly up to speed on the NHL standings or the rumors floating around.

Connor Hellebuyck to a Contender:

Chances Of It Happening: Impossible

• Could the Jets fall out of playoff contention?
• Why would Winnipeg consider trading such a valued contract?

ChatGPT highlighted the fact that plenty of contenders would love to have Connor Hellebuyck and that if the Jets fall out of contention, he could be on the move. This isn’t likely based on his contract and the fact the Jets are in the thick of it.

Granted, the Jets did start the season as the hottest team in the NHL and have come back down to earth, but they’re playoff contenders. And the reason they’re so good is, in large part, because of Hellebuyck. There’s no chance the Jets are trading him and his contract, especially given that Igor Shesterkin reset the market on goaltenders, and it won’t take long for Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million per season to be seen as a steal (if it isn’t already).

Mitch Marner Becomes the Maple Leafs’ Trade Chip

Chances of It Happening: Possible, But Maple Leafs and Marner Want to Make it Work.

• Marner and the Maple Leafs want to figure out an extension
• If things fall apart of Marner wants more money, could he be traded?

ChatGPT claimed that the Toronto Maple Leafs are juggling their salary cap and Mitch Marner could become a surprising trade candidate. Both of those things are true. They also say that moving Marner could address several roster needs and if Toronto underperforms, a shakeup might be needed. That is also true.

What we do know, however, is that the Maple Leafs and Marner want to get a deal done. They’ve been keeping talks out of the public eye, but Marner wants to stay, and the Leafs want to keep him, if the right deal is there.

John Tavares Returns to the Islanders

Chances Of It Happening: Almost Impossible

• Tavares is willing to sign a team-friendly deal to stay
• He’s not going back to the team that drafted him

It would be one thing to argue the Maple Leafs might trade John Tavares if they fall out of playoff contention. As a pending UFA with an uncertain contract situation looming, he could be dealt if things go south. But, for ChatGPT to suggest he might go back to the New York Islanders? That’s a stretch.

It’s important to remember how scorned Islanders fans felt when Tavares left. It’s not likely half of that fan base would open up their arms to welcome him back. It’s also not likely Tavares would be up for the challenge of trying to win people over again at the end of his career.

Blockbuster: Connor Bedard on the Move?

Chances of It Happening: Next To Impossible

• Bedard isn’t going anywhere unless he asks to be traded
• He’s not likely to ask for a trade at this stage in his career and the Blackhawks rebuild

Yes, that’s right. Chat GPT really predicted that Bedard could be traded at the 2025 deadline. But here’s the thing: Bedard is hands down the only untouchable player on the Blackhawks, regardless of how the season plays out. There are definitely players in Chicago who could be moved, but Bedard won’t be one of them.

It’s honestly wild to think about Bedard being traded just one year after being drafted. He’s been hailed as one of the greatest draft-eligible prospects in a generation. Trading him so soon would be an absurd move for the Blackhawks.

The only way Bedard would leave Chicago is if he requested a trade. And let’s be real—there’s almost no chance he does that this early in his career.

The one thing Chat GPT did get right is that if Bedard were traded, teams would line up, offering top prospects, multiple first-round picks, and roster players. It would be a blockbuster, for sure.

The Bedard Trade: A Gretzky-Like Shock?

Remember when the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky? That was one of the biggest shockers in hockey history. While the NHL has changed since then. Trades are more about cap space than financial necessity; a Bedard trade would still send shockwaves through the league.

But here’s the thing: Bedard will do great things in the NHL—and those things will happen as a member of the Blackhawks. There’s no doubt that he’ll be there for the foreseeable future. Heck, he could even stay in Chicago for his entire career, much like Sidney Crosby has up to this point with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If Bedard were a pending free agent and unhappy with his situation, maybe Vancouver would be a possibility. But that’s not the case here. Once the Blackhawks finish their rebuild, Bedard will likely be a fixture in Chicago for years to come.

Platforms like Chat GPT can be great for asking questions and getting answers. However, it lacks the logic that human thinking brings to the table. While it’s cool to use with a machine. When you get answers like “Bedard traded at the 2025 deadline.”, it makes you question the logic of relying too heavily on it for insights.

If nothing else, it’s entertaining.

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