NHL Trade Deadline Shakeup: Star Players Change Teams in Record-Breaking Day

The National Hockey League experienced its most dramatic trade deadline day in recent memory on February 12, 2026, with eight major deals completed in just six hours. The flurry of activity saw three former All-Stars change jerseys, including veteran center Marcus Johansson moving from the Detroit Red Wings to the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster four-player trade.\n\nThe Avalanche, currently sitting third in the Central Division, acquired Johansson along with defenseman Kyle Morrison in exchange for prospects Tommy Chen and draft picks. Colorado's general manager Chris MacFarland described the move as "essential for our playoff push" during a press conference that followed the 3 PM ET deadline. Johansson, 29, brings 45 points in 58 games this season and crucial playoff experience to a team seeking its second Stanley Cup in five years.\n\nNot to be outdone, the Edmonton Oilers completed a surprising three-team trade that sent goaltender Ryan Blackwood to the Nashville Predators while acquiring defenseman Alex Petrov from the Boston Bruins. The complex deal involved Nashville sending forward Jake Williams to Boston, creating a domino effect that reshaped all three teams' rosters. Oilers coach Dave Tippett praised the organization's "commitment to building a championship-caliber defense" following the announcement.\n\nThe Toronto Maple Leafs made waves by trading away veteran winger David Thompson, their leading goal scorer, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a package of young talent and future considerations. Thompson's departure marks the end of an era in Toronto, where he spent six seasons and became a fan favorite. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois called Thompson "exactly the type of proven scorer we need for another Cup run."\n\nAnalysts noted that this year's trade deadline reflected teams' increasing willingness to mortgage future assets for immediate playoff success. ESPN's hockey analyst Barry Melrose commented that "the parity in today's NHL means every team believes they're one or two players away from contention, leading to more aggressive deadline moves." The activity level surpassed last year's total trades by 40%, setting a new modern-era record.\n\nAs teams prepare for the final stretch of the regular season, the impact of these deadline deals will become apparent over the coming weeks. With playoff positioning still fluid across both conferences, the newly reshuffled rosters could significantly alter the Stanley Cup landscape heading into April's postseason tournament.