4 Biggest Trade Deadline Day Winners: Contenders

It was a big trade deadline day in the NHL and there were definitely some clear cut winners based on who was added to the contenders in the race for the Stanley Cup this season. Among the teams looking to win who made additions and moves only made on March 7, these are the four biggest winners.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars landed the prize of the trade deadline and signed him for eight years at a fair price. Mikko Rantanen cost a decent haul, but the Stars are in win now mode and have the best top-9 in the league now. Rantanen is a top-4 scorer in the NHL over the past number of years. On top of adding Rantanen, the Stars also signed Wyatt Johnston to a five-year deal. These two are going to do some damage together for a long time. From the roster, it only cost Logan Stankoven.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators aren't considered Stanley Cup contenders this season, but they do hold a playoff spot and could make it. Anything can happen in the playoffs and the Senators not only added Dylan Cozens, but also Fabian Zetterlund. Ottawa got a second round pick from a bottom of the league team on top of it too. Cozens is having a down year, but he's signed for a number of years and not injury prone like Josh Norris who went the other way. The Senators also traded Jacob Bernard-Docker in the Cozens deal and included Noah Gregor in the trade for Zetterlund. This shook things up and added the right pieces to make the team more consistent and competitive once they reach the playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs were a little bit behind the eight ball in terms of adding pieces within their division. The Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Senators had all already made additions on deadline day or prior to it. Toronto came back with two strong additions late by bringing in Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo to address two big needs. Both are under contract through next season and Carlo has an extra year after that. It cost Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, and a future first round pick. It's win now mode for the Maple Leafs.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers had already added a big piece on the back-end by trading for Seth Jones ahead of time, but brought in Nico Sturm and then Brad Marchand late. Not only is the fourth line shored up, Marchand is a serious addition to the top-6, especially with his winning pedigree and style of play. The Panthers are looking like favourites to go back-to-back.