Winners and losers of the 2026 NHL trade deadline - ESPN

The 2026 NHL trade deadline had an unusual cadence. There was a week of interesting deals and genuine surprises; a deadline day where nothing of consequence happened; and then absolutely chaos as a flurry of trades was completed before the timer ticked down to zero.

Overall, NHL teams made 20 trades involving 33 players on Friday. Some teams and players did quite well for themselves. Others did not.

Here are some winners and losers of a peculiar NHL trade deadline, from ESPN reporters Ryan C. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.

The Avalanche might be the best team in the NHL, and they are the odds-on favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Part of the reason is their addition of Brock Nelson at last season's trade deadline. He is a proven second-line center behind Nathan MacKinnon, the kind of player they'd sought since Nazem Kadri left in 2022 after winning the Stanley Cup.

Adding Nicolas Roy on Thursday gave the Avs another proven two-way option down the middle, and someone who can provide secondary offense. Then they got Kadri back in a trade Friday, giving them the most dangerous center group in the NHL.

Obviously, MacKinnon will remain at first-line center, and Kadri and Nelson will split up second- and third-line duties. That then leaves Roy as Colorado's fourth-line center. The Avs are now in a stronger position to win the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. If they do, March 6 could be the day that changed everything.

And if not, they can run it back again in 2026-27 because all four will still be under contract. — Clark

Imagine growing up playing mini sticks with your brother, both of you dreaming that one day you'll be suiting up for real in the NHL. Well, Marcus and Nick Foligno both achieved that goal —