5 trades we'd love to see before the deadline

The NHL's trade season is underway and has already seen some significant names dealt ahead of the March 7 deadline. But there are still some notable players available.

Here are five trades that would spice things up before the deadline.

Brayden Schenn ➡️ Golden Knights

The Golden Knights love to make a splash, and Vegas has significant ties to Schenn.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon was team owner, general manager, and head coach of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings during Schenn's junior career. Schenn was a star with the Wheat Kings and captained the team in 2009-10.

The Golden Knights don't need another center, so Vegas could elect to target a winger at a cheaper price. Schenn is locked in at $6.5 million until 2028, but adding him would allow head coach Bruce Cassidy to play either Tomas Hertl or Schenn on the wing while maintaining a strong trio down the middle.

Seth Jones ➡️ Stars

Overpaid doesn't mean bad. That's something to remember about Jones, who's been in a very difficult situation the past couple of years in Chicago. He hasn't lived up to his $9.5-million cap hit, but he's still a good defenseman whose athleticism and size make him a top-pairing option.

The Stars have three quality left-handed defensemen in Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Esa Lindell. Add a legitimate right-shot option in Jones, and Dallas' defense transforms into a seriously well-rounded unit.

It would require flexibility from the Blackhawks regarding salary retention, and a player such as Matt Dumba would have to be included to make the money work, but this one isn't impossible.

Ryan O'Reilly ➡️ Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs need a solution at third-line center, and O'Reilly won a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy with Toronto's new head coach Craig Berube. It's a perfect fit on paper.

There are two major hurdles to overcome for this move to become a reality. Nashville has to be convinced to move O'Reilly, who is signed for another two seasons at a very reasonable $4.5-million cap hit, and O'Reilly himself has to be interested in relocating.

Of course, O'Reilly elected to sign with the Predators in 2023 instead of re-upping with the Leafs after being acquired by Toronto at the deadline that year. It's fair to question whether he would want a second go with the Leafs, even with Berube now in town.

If Toronto was able to land O'Reilly, he would provide much-needed center depth and lineup versatility, as he did when the Leafs won the only playoff round they've won with the current core.

Ryan Strome ➡️ Capitals

Who doesn't love to see brothers playing together? The Capitals would be reuniting Ryan and Dylan Strome in this deal and giving them the opportunity to feature on the same team for the first time. The youngest Strome brother, Matthew, plays for the Capitals' AHL affiliate, too.

Ryan isn't much of a goal-scorer - he only eclipsed 20 goals once in the 11 previous seasons - but he's a quality playmaker who would bring more offense to Washington's third line. He can play down the middle or on the wing and would give head coach Spencer Carbery a few lineup options.

Strome is signed for another two years after this season at a $5-million cap hit, but the rising cap could alleviate some of the worry about taking on his contract.

Erik Karlsson ➡️ Panthers

Let's end with a bang. The 4 Nations was the first time we saw Karlsson in a playoff environment since 2019. It would be a shame if we didn't get to see him in the postseason at least once more.

The Panthers need an impact player on the backend. Dmitry Kulikov, who was good on the third pairing last season, is playing up the lineup in the top four. Karlsson would bump Kulikov back down and replace Aaron Ekblad on the top power-play unit.

Florida would need help to make the salary work. Karlsson is under contract for another two seasons after this year at a $10-million cap hit. The Penguins are currently retaining two players, but both contracts expire at the end of the season. Pittsburgh could retain some on Karlsson if the price was worth it.

Karlsson to the Panthers is the longest shot on this list, but it's the most fun trade to imagine.