Fantasy Hockey Trades: Trent Frederic Adds Physicality to Oilers, Vitek Vanecek Adds Depth to Panthers' Crease, and More

Two more trades have happened since my last trade article on March 1 leading up to the trade deadline. This one is going to just be a catch up so you know who went where, what the fantasy outlook stat breakdowns are, and a brief opinion of each move.

Obviously the trade deadline is fast approaching, and is this Friday, March 7 in the NHL, and there should still be a lot of movement up to and on that day. I will be taking the day off as per tradition, and keeping you up to date with a couple summary articles to ensure you have all the facts at your fingertips.

Again, let's dive right into all the recent action, including a huge three-team trade that sets the tone for what this deadline will bring to the league, and the extent teams are willing to move assets to get better and push. There is a tight race in the Eastern Conference and it is already showing that teams in the race are gathering assets.

The Oilers, Bruins and Devils Trade

To the Edmonton Oilers: Trent Frederic, Max Jones, Petr Hauser

To the Boston Bruins: Maximus Wanner, second-round pick (2025), fourth-round pick (2026), retain 50% of Frederic's contract

To the New Jersey Devils: Shane Lachance, retain 50% of Frederic's contract (after the 50% retention of the Bruin's retention)

Fredric was moved with having his salary retained twice in a three-team trade moving assets around. Obviously the Oilers wanted to add some depth and physicality to their forward group and are making a push for another deep playoff run.

The Bruins show that they are entering their rebuild phase, and would not surprise me if Brad Marchand's future is in a different city next year. And the Devils gain the rights to a prospect for eating some salary.

Fredric is currently on IR and has eight goals, seven assists, 44 penalty minutes and three powerplay points as a forward in 57 games played. He also has 76 shots on goal, 153 hits, and 29 blocked shots.

Jones has has spent the majority of his year playing in the AHL with no goals or assists as a forward in only seven games played. He also has eight penalty minutes, two shots on goal, 14 hits, and 3 blocked shots.

Hauser was a fifth-round draft pick in 2022 by the Devils and has yet to crack the NHL as a forward.

Wanner was a seventh-round draft pick in 2021 by the Oilers and has also yet to crack the NHL as a defenseman. One thing to note on this prospect is he has a right-handed shot.

Continuing the prospect trend, Lachance was a sixth-round pick in 2021 by the Oilers and also has yet to crack the NHL as a forward.

The whole jist of this trade is about moving prospects, retaining salary, and getting Fredric to the Oilers, who desperately need help in the physicality of their game. Connor McDavid continues to get pushed around and muscled, and Fredric is not going to let that happen.

The Oilers are also shopping around Evander Kane, who has been on IR all year, and while he is a definite impact player both on the scoresheet and physically, his future with the team has been questioned more and more as the year goes on.

Kane has a $5M AAV and wants to come back during the regular season, but should that happen the Oilers would be stuck with his salary cap hit this season and it would be unavailable for them to utilize to bring in other talent - this could be the reason they are shopping him around. His health is too much of a risk for a now or never season.

The Panthers and Sharks Trade

To the Florida Panthers: Vitek Vanecek

To the San Jose Sharks: Patrick Giles

After this trade the Panthers called up goaltender Chris Driedger from the AHL. Vanecek was in the final year of his contract with the Panthers and will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He was also making $3.4M in salary, so if the Panthers were not going to, or felt they could not re-sign him, it would make sense to free up some cap space for more moves up to or on the deadline.

Vanecek has only three wins in 17 starts with an .882 save percentage, 3.88 goals against average, and no shutouts. His poor numbers on an expiring contract make sense for the Sharks to move him. 

The Sharks acquired Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood from the Colorado Avalanche earlier this year, and Vanecek and Georgiev might be the gambling tandem the Sharks need. Either one or both of them will find their game again, in which case it's a win for the Sharks. Or neither of them will, and it will help them continue to tank this season for a higher draft position.

Giles has zero goals or assists as a forward in only nine games played this season. He also had four shots on goal, 16 hits, and four blocked shots. He will likely remain in the AHL for the remainder of the season with the Sharks.