Post-Holiday NHL Trades: Fantasy Hockey Breakdowns

Hey folks. The holidays are over, Team Sweden has won the gold medal at the World Junior Championship, and we're fully back into NHL action while waiting for the Olympic break.

Now is the time for us to catch up, and we're rounding up all the NHL trades that have happened since the holiday break. 

From depth forward swaps and draft pick deals to goalie and defensive moves, these transactions are already shaking up rosters and fantasy hockey outlooks. We'll break down each trade, highlight how the players fit into their new situations, and give you the key takeaways to help manage your fantasy lineups.

Let's not wait any longer and break down these trades, catching us up to current from around the league!

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Wild and Lightning Trade

To the Minnesota Wild: Boris Katchouk

To the Tampa Bay Lightning: Michael Milne

Wild Trade Impact: Depth-for-Depth Swap

The Wild added Katchouk from the Lightning in exchange for Milne, a straightforward depth for depth move that won't shift lineups dramatically. At 27 years old, Katchouk is a veteran depth piece who has only appeared in three NHL games this season, while Milne hasn't played and is currently on injured reserve. Both players bring organizational depth rather than immediate fantasy impact, making this a quiet post-holiday roster tweak.

For fantasy managers, this trade doesn't alter the landscape in the short term. Katchouk is worth monitoring in deeper leagues or dynasty formats, but his role is likely to remain limited unless injuries or other roster moves give him an extended opportunity.

Katchouk has zero goals, zero assists, and zero powerplay points in just three games played as a forward. He also has zero shots on goal, five hits, and two blocked shots.

Penguins and Blue Jackets Trade

To the Pittsburgh Penguins: Yegor Chinakhov

To the Columbus Blue Jackets: Danton Heinen, second-round draft pick (2026), third-round draft pick (2027)

Penguins Boost Depth and Scoring Potential

Pittsburgh added Chinakhov from Columbus in a move that immediately strengthens the Penguins' wing depth and secondary scoring. Chinakhov had been sliding down the Blue Jackets' lineup and wasn't seeing the ice time he hoped for, making a fresh start a logical choice for both the player and the team. General manager Kyle Dubas has a history of targeting unique, skilled players who can fill specific roles, and Chinakhov fits that mold perfectly.

For Pittsburgh, this is a clear win. Kyle Dubas has done it again with an obscure trade involving unique underappreciated players. 

Chinakhov provides scoring potential in the middle six, can contribute on special teams, and gives the Penguins another option to rotate in as injuries or rest days impact the lineup. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues or those using multi-category formats should keep a close eye - he could quickly become a source of secondary points, particularly if his ice time stabilizes.

Columbus, meanwhile, receives Heinen along with future second- and third-round picks. While this trade has long-term value for the Blue Jackets, the immediate fantasy impact lies squarely with Pittsburgh, making this one of the more notable moves post holiday.

Chinakhov has five goals, four assists, and zero powerplay points in 34 games played as a forward. He also has 44 shots on goal, 33 hits, and 10 blocked shots.

Heinen has one goal, one assist, and eight penalty minutes in 17 games played as a forward. He also has 18 shots on goal, 23 hits, and 12 blocked shots.

Flyers and Penguins Trade

To the Philadelphia Flyers: Philip Tomasino

To the Pittsburgh Penguins: Egor Zamula

Flyers Trade Impact: Another Depth-for-Depth Swap

The Flyers and Penguins exchanged Tomasino and Zamula in a straightforward depth for depth move that won't dramatically change fantasy lineups.

Tomasino heads to Philadelphia hoping to find a more consistent role, while Zamula provides Pittsburgh with an additional defensive option in their bottom four. Both players are still working to carve out regular minutes, and this trade is largely about organizational flexibility rather than immediate scoring or fantasy output.

For fantasy managers, this isn't a trade that requires immediate action. Tomasino and Zamula are worth monitoring in deeper leagues or dynasty formats, but at this point, neither is expected to make a significant impact on standard lineups, and are both unlikely to even see full-time NHL deployment. This is another post holiday adjustment that keeps rosters balanced and teams prepared for the rest of the season.

Tomasino has zero goals, one assist, and zero powerplay points in nine games played as a forward. He also has nine shots on goal, 11 hits, and seven blocked shots.

Zamula has zero goals, one assist, and four penalty minutes in 15 games played as a defensemen. He also has nine shots on goal, two hits, and 20 blocked shots.

Sharks and Blackhawks Trade

To the San Jose Sharks: Laurent Brossoit, Nolan Allan, seventh-round draft pick (2028)

To the Chicago Blackhawks: Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong, fourth-round draft pick (2028)

Sharks Trade Impact: Goalie and Depth Shakeup

This four-player swap between the Sharks and Blackhawks is another post-holiday depth centric deal, with San Jose adding a veteran netminder and a young defense prospect in exchange for a pair of organizational pieces and a draft pick. 

Brossoit hasn't played an NHL game this season but has a track record of solid stretches at the NHL level, making him an intriguing reclamation project for San Jose. Allan joins him - a young blueliner with limited NHL experience but some upside - while San Jose parts with a mid-round pick.

Chicago receives Ellis, largely included as a salary move, along with defenseman Furlong and a higher draft pick. Both Ellis and Furlong are pieces that are not going to be in the lineup this season, and with Ellis, potentially ever, pending his injury. This trade doesn't drastically change either club's fantasy landscape right away.

For fantasy managers, this trade is largely noise rather than signal. Brossoit's upside is tied to health and opportunity, and until he earns a regular role in San Jose, he's more of a long shot stash in deep leagues. Allan and Furlong remain prospects/depth options with limited immediate fantasy appeal, and Ellis' inclusion is almost entirely technical.