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NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canucks, Rangers, Flames, Oilers, Maple Leafs

NHL Trade Talk Recap Jan. 31: Canucks trade Miller, Flames Kuzmenko trade grade, Oilers Salary Cap Space, Maple Leafs Matthews Team USA

by
Old Prof
January 31, 2025

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (Jan. 31), the New York Rangers made a huge move by acquiring J.T. Miller in a multi-player trade from the Vancouver Canucks. The deal looks like a big win for the Rangers as they bolster their lineup. The Canucks get some youth and flexibility in return.

For Edmonton Oilers fans, key news revolves around John Klingberg, Mattias Ekholm, and Jeff Skinner, with the team dealing with injuries and potential lineup changes. Meanwhile, the latest salary cap projections for the coming years could significantly impact the Oilers’ decisions, especially with the impending contract talks for Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard.

Veteran winger Brandon Saad signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre Fleury delivered an emotional shutout in what could have been his final game in Montreal, and Auston Matthews was named Team USA captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Top NHL Trade Talk Recap Story

Miller Waives No-Trade Clause: Returns to Rangers

Today, in a trade that had been rumored for some time, the Canucks dealt J.T. Miller. He went to the New York Rangers, accompanied by two blue liners, Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington. Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick came back to the Canucks. It was a tough trade for the Canucks, who gave away a top-tier offensive player without much promise of a return. Can the Canucks rebound after the trade? They lost 5-3 to the Dallas Stars tonight.

Read More About the Trade Here:

Flames and Flyers Make Major Trade for Future Talent

The Flames made a trade with the Flyers yesterday. The Flames get Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost for Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and two draft picks. Calgary added some young talent and are betting on Farabee and Frost’s growth. The Flyers cleared cap space and got Kuzmenko, Pelletier, and the draft picks. Can Kuzmenko rebound to help the Flyers improve their scoring?

Read the Trade Recap Here:

What Do the NHL Salary Cap Projections Mean for Teams?

It’s projected that the NHL’s salary cap will jump to $95.5M in 2025 and to $113.5M by 2027. That’s a giant leap, and it will impact NHL teams. Teams with cap space, like the Edmonton Oilers and the Chicago Blackhawks, could be poised for big moves. Free agents will likely be able to negotiate from positions of strength. Watch for the salary cap boost to impact contracts for players like Mikko Rantanen, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, and others.

NHL Trade Talk Daily News: Saad Signs with Vegas, Fleury Shines in Montreal

In our NHL Trade Talk Daily News, we reported that Brandon Saad signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury earned a shutout in what was likely his final game in Montreal. Finally, Auston Matthews was named Team USA captain for the 4-Nations Face-Off. What news will be part of our report tomorrow?

Read This Morning’s News Here: