Who says no? Analyzing 5 hypothetical trade deadline deals

The 2025 NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and nothing is more fun than arguing over hypothetical trades this time of year.

Here's how this exercise went down: Each of theScore's NHL news editors (Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman) submitted a trade for the other four to decide which team would say "no" to the scenario. "Both" and "good deal" were options, too.

Let's dive into the trades and analyze which aspects make sense and which don't.

Oilers land Seth Jones

Oilers receive: Seth Jones ($1.5M retained)
Blackhawks receive: Jeff Skinner, Matt Savoie, 2025 2nd-round pick (via Blues)

Submitted by: Wegman

Why it could work: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman clearly covets Jones. During Bowman's tenure in Chicago, he traded for Jones and signed him to an eight-year, $76-million extension. Edmonton's biggest hole is a second-pair defender for the right side. Jones would give the Oilers a formidable top four along with Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, and Darnell Nurse.

Jones, 30, will likely be past his prime by the time the Blackhawks are competitive again. Trading him now, while he's in the midst of a good year, could be a wise move in case his play craters in a couple of years and he becomes untradable because of the big contract. Savoie, the No. 9 pick by Buffalo in 2022, is Edmonton's top prospect. He could be one of Connor Bedard's running mates for years to come.

Why it might not: It just might not be enough value for a defenseman who's capable of logging 25 minutes per night. While Savoie carries plenty of upside, there's no guarantee he becomes an NHL star because of his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame. His numbers in the AHL this season are good, but not great.

Chicago might also be hesitant to retain $1.5 million annually on Jones' contract, considering he's on the books for five additional years. But without the salary retainment, Edmonton can't afford Jones this season.

Boeser heads home

Wild receive: Brock Boeser, Carson Soucy
Canucks receive: Liam Ohgren, conditional 2025 2nd-round pick (becomes 2026 1st-rounder if Wild reach Western Conference Final)

Submitted by: O'Leary

Why it could work: Boeser is a pending unrestricted free agent. If the Canucks, who are hanging on to the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference, can't agree to an extension with the sniper, they could opt to move him or risk losing him for nothing. The Canucks are also reportedly looking to move Soucy, who has an additional year of term.

The Wild have long been tied to Boeser, a Minnesota native. The dead-cap hit from the Zach Parise/Ryan Suter buyouts drops from $14.7 million this season to $1.66 million next season. Combine that with the rising salary cap, and the Wild have money to spend. Boeser, who scored a career-high 40 goals last season, would boost Minnesota's offense significantly.

Why it might not: The Canucks will likely do everything in their power to keep Boeser around - especially after trading J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat in recent years. Dealing away another offensive star would be a gut punch, and leave Elias Pettersson looking something like Will Smith at the end of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" among the team's forwards.

Ohgren was a first-round pick in 2022, but he's managed just two goals and four assists in 23 career games. The draft pick could end up being pretty late in what's considered a weaker class. If the Canucks are going to trade away a key piece of their core such as Boeser, they'll likely want a sure thing coming back. If recent moves are any indication, the Canucks don't plan on rebuilding.

Slumping forwards swapped

Ducks receive: Dylan Cozens
Sabres receive: Trevor Zegras

Submitted by: Gold-Smith

Why it could work: Cozens and Zegras are similar in a lot of ways. They were top-10 picks in 2019 - Cozens seventh and Zegras ninth. They enjoyed career years in 2022-23 - Cozens with 68 points and Zegras with 65. But both could use a change of scenery amid second consecutive down years. Why not swap them, one-for-one?

Why it might not: Cozens is perceived to have more value around the league. Part of it is he's in the second season of a seven-year contract with a $7.1-million cap hit that might seem steep now, but it could age gracefully over time. Zegras will be a restricted free agent in 2026.

Cozens also projects as a higher-floor player. Even if he never recaptures his offensive form from two years ago, he profiles as a strong defender. That hasn't necessarily come to fruition lately, but as a good skater who's 6-foot-3, he has the physical tools to be a matchup, shutdown center.

Zegras' floor is significantly lower considering he might not even be a center. The Ducks have used him a lot on the wing in recent years because of his poor defensive abilities. That positional uncertainty drastically lowers his value.

Kings bolster offense

Kings receive: Rickard Rakell
Penguins receive: Trevor Moore, prospect Jack Hughes, 2025 1st-round pick

Submitted by: Douglas

Why it could work: The Kings are likely headed to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, but their offense leaves much to be desired. If they're to get past Round 1 for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, the offense must be improved.

With 25 goals and 23 assists in 56 games, Rakell would provide a clear upgrade offensively over Moore, who's managed only eight goals and 15 assists through 44 appearances. Both players are signed until 2028: Rakell at $5 million annually, Moore at $4.2 million.

The Penguins, meanwhile, would be happy to continue stockpiling more picks and prospects while getting an immediate replacement for Rakell - one general manager Kyle Dubas is familiar with. Dubas was assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

Why it might not: The Kings could view the upgrade cost as too steep. After all, it was only a year ago that Moore had more than double the amount of goals as Rakell (31-15). They might be hesitant to sell low. Moore, a native of Thousand Oaks, California, is a local product, too, so there's some sentimental attachment.

For Pittsburgh, it has no reason to force a trade for Rakell it doesn't absolutely love considering the term on his contract. It's possible the Pens believe they could get a better offer in the summer with the cap going up and a bigger market of teams interested.

Avalanche make another hockey deal

Utah receives: Casey Mittelstadt
Avalanche receive: Barrett Hayton

Submitted by: Cushman

Why it could work: Colorado acquired Mittelstadt from Buffalo in exchange for Bowen Byram at last year's deadline, but the marriage hasn't been perfect. Mittelstadt is having a decent year with 32 points in 57 games, but his east-west game sometimes clashes with the Avalanche's north-south style. That's reportedly made the 26-year-old available, even though he has two more years left on his contract at $5.75 million annually.

If the Avs are going to trade him, it has to be another pure hockey trade to help them remain competitive. Enter Hayton. He's tallied 29 points in 56 games this season, but he's also two years younger than Mittselstadt and cheaper at $2.65 million annually through next season. He can't be a UFA until 2027.

Utah GM Bill Armstrong has openly talked about making a splash. This is the kind of upgrade that would make sense for the club - with plenty of cap space - at this stage of their build.

Why it might not: It's no sure thing that Hayton would be a fit in Colorado, either. His career has been rather inconsistent after being selected fifth overall in 2018, topping out at 43 points in 2022-23. Is he the type of player Colorado wants to hitch its wagon to as a second-line center behind Nathan MacKinnon? Centers are in high demand around the league. If the Avalanche trade Mittelstadt, they better be sure to hit on the return.

On the flip side, it's possible Utah would be unwilling to part with a homegrown player such as Hayton, who's solid defensive play and penalty-killing ability provide different elements than fellow center Logan Cooley. Like Cooley, Mittelstadt is a playmaking center without much defensive bite. That might be too much duplication for Utah's liking.