More Fantasy Hockey Trade Breakdowns: Mitch Marner, Nicolas Hague and More

These trades will catch us up to the free agent frenzy. There has been an unreal amount of action that has transpired over the last week. 

This article will catch us up on all of the trades that have happened around the league, so strap in again; because we've got some blockbusters in this one.

Let's dive right in, folks!

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Golden Knights and Predators Trade

To the Vegas Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon, Colton Sissons

To the Nashville Predators: Nicolas Hague, third-round draft pick (2027), retain 50% of Sissons' contract

This one is a swing and a miss for the Preds, I think. They have retained half of Sissons' contract, and picked up a third and Hague. On the flipside, Vegas got rid of a defenseman they likely could not afford come July 1, and got a return for him and picked up two roster players with salary retention going the other way.

Hague signed a $5.5M AAV four-year contract in Nashville right after the deal. He was set to hit the open market and with the top free agent (mentioned later) coming into Vegas, coupled with the salary retained Sissons coming in, this is likely a cap space move for Vegas, as well as a rejig to both rosters.

Don't get me wrong, Hague is a good defensive-minded defenseman. While his contributions don't always make the scoresheet, and certainly don't reflect in most fantasy leagues, he is still a good defenseman. And let's be honest, who knows what Smashville is doing, but whatever it is, they need all the help they can get. While this might be a start, they are still on the losing end of this deal, in my opinion.

Lauzon had zero goals, four assists, and 37 penalty minutes as a defenseman in 28 games played. He also had 25 shots on goal, 125 hits, and 34 blocked shots.

Sissons had seven goals, 14 assists, and one powerplay point as a forward in 72 games played. He also had 80 shots on goal, 99 hits, and 67 blocked shots.

Hague had five goals, seven assists, and 40 penalty minutes as a defenseman in 68 games played. He also had 74 shots on goal, 81 hits, and 74 blocked shots.

Red Wings and Wild Trade

To the Detroit Red Wings: Future considerations

To the Minnesota Wild: Vladimir Tarasenko

From the cover of NHL 17, to a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, to a second Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024, to getting traded for future considerations. Again, this may as well be a trade for a bag of pucks, or an old dryer.

This move hurts my soul. Another player who is no longer in grace and absolutely fallen off of a cliff. An older superstar can either have this happen, or continue to be relevant like a Patrick Kane or a Corey Perry.

Sadly, if this move doesn't work out for Tarasenko, it might be the end of his NHL career. This will be his sixth NHL team since 2023.

Tarasenko had 11 goals, 22 assists and eight powerplay points as a forward in 80 games played. He also had 133 shots on goal, 63 hits, and 35 blocked shots.

Maple Leafs and Mammoth Trade

To the Toronto Maple Leafs: Matias Maccelli

To the Utah Mammoth: Conditional third-round draft pick (2027)

This trade may not be what it seems. Hear me out.

Maccelli had eight goals, 10 assists, and three powerplay points as a forward in 55 games played. He also had 86 shots on goal, six hits, and 10 blocked shots.

Terrible stats for a third, right? Wrong... Maybe.

The season before, he had 57 points in 80 games, and the season before that he had 49 points in 64 games with the Arizona Coyotes before they moved to the Utah Hockey Club, which are now the Mammoth (are you still with me?). What happened?

Chemistry with coaching staff. While Maccelli's numbers may slot him into a bottom six role on the Maple Leafs, who will have some holes to fill this year, if Maccelli can work with Craig Berube's systems, he may earn himself a top six role.

Maccelli has potential, and his growth while in a Yotes' sweater was exponential, before his numbers and ice time plummeted. If he can pick up where he left off, this might be a steal. If not, the Maple Leafs paying a third was a gamble well placed.

Golden Knights and Maple Leafs Trade

To the Vegas Golden Knights: Mitch Marner (contract rights)

To the Toronto Maple Leafs: Nicolas Roy

The blockbuster we have all been waiting for. Finally we have an answer on Marner, and the end of the Marner saga in Toronto took some unexpected twists before it got done.

We'll start by saying Marner was by far the biggest name poised to hit free agency on July 1, and Vegas did not want to let that happen. So much in fact, there were alleged rumors of tampering, and according to Elliot Friedman, the Maple Leafs were considering filing a complaint against the Golden Knights.

The alleged tampering included Vegas discussing signing a contract before July 1, and a report by insider Frank Seravalli cited Marner and his wife being caught house shopping in the Vegas area last week. With both of these combined reports, it could end both Vegas and Marner in hot water with the league. Fines, draft picks taken away, or even suspensions could have been the result of an investigation with findings by the league.

What does that mean? It means that this gave the Maple Leafs a bit of leverage in brokering this deal to ensure they could both get Marner without him going to market, but also offer him an eighth year before it is removed from the CBA.

The Maple Leafs likely told the Golden Knights that if they did not get a decent return on Marner's “contract rights”, they would consider filing a tampering complaint with the NHL. Out of this brokerage, the Maple Leafs ended up getting a third line centre which they needed, instead of seeing Marner walk for nothing. All in all, a great return on investment.

Maple Leafs fans had turned on Marner after another postseason flop, and this is not the first time fans have lost faith in the elite winger. Years of contract talks, not performing in the postseason, and a too expensive of a contract for a winger has made Marner public enemy number one year after a year in Toronto. 

I think I speak for everyone when I say this departure is what is best for everyone. Maple Leafs fans, the organization (who desperately needed to break up the “core four”), and even for Marner, who will be getting a fresh start.

Marner had 27 goals, 75 assists, and 33 powerplay points as a forward in 81 games played. He also had 173 shots on goal, 49 hits, and 40 blocked shots.

Roy had 15 goals, 14 assists, and 43 penalty minutes as a forward in 71 games played. He also had 107 shots on goal, 71 hits, and 47 blocked shots.

Canadiens and Hurricanes Trade

To the Montreal Canadiens: Seventh-round draft pick (2026)

To the Carolina Hurricanes: Cayden Primeau

Ending with a kind of nothing burger trade here. Primeau got jumped in the pecking order in Montreal by Jakub Dobes, who is poised to be backing up Sam Montembeault next year, and Primeau will also still be behind starter Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov.

Primeau will likely spend the majority of his season in the AHL pending some sort of injury, which to be fair Andersen is quite injury prone. Let's see what happens with the Canes in the blue paint this year. This move did only cost them a seventh, so this is essentially risk free.

Pimeau had two wins in seven starts as a goaltender. He also had a .836 save percentage, an abysmal 4.7 goals against average, and obviously zero shutouts.