NHL post-deadline roundtable: Central power shift, best trade fits

With the trade deadline behind us, theScore's NHL editors share their insight on some of the biggest topics from an action-packed day.

Who's best in Central after Jets, Avalanche, and Stars loaded up?

Avalanche. Colorado has coveted center depth behind Nathan MacKinnon - who is still the best player in the division no matter who Dallas added - for years, and the club doubled down with a pair of impact moves by adding Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. Nelson was always seen as a fit, but Coyle was a cherry on top to solidify what could be the best center trio in the Western Conference. The newcomers are defensively responsible, capable of chipping in offense, and have a wealth of playoff experience. Insulating the Avalanche's core of stars with such reliable players will make Colorado a difficult out come playoff time. It's important to remember the Avalanche are the only group in this gauntlet with Stanley Cup pedigree. - Sean O'Leary

Stars. It's going to be difficult for me to not pick the Stars after that. Injecting Mikko Rantanen into a team that already ranks fourth in goals per game (3.40) this season is a scary thought for any other squad hoping to be the last one standing out of the conference. Oh, and Dallas expects to have one of the NHL's best defensemen in Miro Heiskanen back for the playoffs. The Stars were already my preseason pick to rule the West, so why would I turn on them now? - Kayla Douglas

Avalanche: Colorado is deeper down the middle than Dallas and Winnipeg. Its defense is also superior. Even at full health, the right side of Dallas' blue line featuring Ilya Lyubushkin, Cody Ceci, and Matt Dumba is full of question marks. The Avalanche's under-the-radar addition of Ryan Lindgren - a certified playoff warrior - completes their defense nicely. Give me the team with more high-end talent that has been there and done that. - Josh Wegman

Stars. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston are scoring at 100-point paces since the turn of the calendar, and that's before the injection of Rantanen into the lineup. Dallas' depth up front is absurd and offers a blend of multiple different styles. You can't take any shifts off against this Stars group. Heiskanen's status is a major concern, and he remains the most important player on the roster. I don't love a handful of the pieces on the back end, but the offensive depth is just too enticing to ignore. The Jets' lack of a notable addition, particularly at center, prevents them from pushing into this conversation for me. - Kyle Cushman

Who will be the best fit on their new team?

Scott Laughton, Maple Leafs. He wasn't the most talented player moved, but he checks a ton of boxes for Toronto. The entire hockey world knew the club was chasing a third-line center, and Laughton is a significant upgrade over its incumbent options as Toronto faces a difficult playoff path in the Atlantic Division. The 30-year-old is tough defensively, physical, strong in the faceoff dot, and an effective penalty killer. He has a history with head coach Craig Berube and is under contract through 2026 at $1.5 million thanks to retention by the Flyers. What's not to like? - O'Leary

Brad Marchand, Panthers: All my answer really has to say is this: Marchand-Sam Bennett-Matthew Tkachuk. As a line. In the playoffs. That sounds like an absolutely dreadful experience, doesn't it? Unfortunately for other Eastern Conference hopefuls (and their fans), it's real now because the Florida Panthers stunned the hockey world when they landed Marchand at the buzzer Friday. The ex-Boston Bruins captain is annoying as all hell to play against, and he's bringing a wealth of postseason experience (138 points in 157 games) to the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Look out. - Douglas

Brandon Carlo, Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs desperately needed a stay-at-home, right-handed defenseman who can bring size and physicality to the top four. That's Carlo to a tee. The best hockey of Carlo's career came alongside Torey Krug - an offensive, puck-moving defenseman. Though bigger, Morgan Rielly is not unlike prime Krug in a lot of ways. Carlo's strengths should perfectly complement Rielly, and vice versa. - Wegman

Brock Nelson, Avalanche. Colorado gave up a haul to add the top rental on the market, but it's easy to see why general manager Chris MacFarland thought Nelson was worth the price. The Avalanche have been desperate to find a solution at second-line center since Nazem Kadri's departure. Nelson, a consistent 30-goal scorer with lesser talent on Long Island - clearly fits on the depth chart behind MacKinnon. At 33, Nelson remains a strong chance creator at five-on-five and fills a position of need the Avalanche haven't truly addressed since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. - Cushman

Which trade made the least sense?

Jake Walman to Oilers. Walman is a good defenseman, and the Oilers are a good team, but this being Edmonton's primary move of trade season was a head-scratcher. Walman has experience playing both sides of the ice, but he is a left-handed shot. Behind Evan Bouchard, Edmonton's right-handed defenseman are Ty Emberson, John Klingberg, and Troy Stecher. In other words, not championship caliber. Walman has a career-high in points this season but got a big boost from running San Jose's top power play - a role that won't be available in Edmonton with Bouchard running point. This might sound like I'm dumping on Walman, but the blame is on Oilers management for bringing in a debatable fit on the blue line while not addressing the glaring needs at forward. - O'Leary

Rantanen to Stars. OK, I get that the Carolina Hurricanes had their feelings hurt when Jake Guentzel didn't re-sign with them last year, but trading Rantanen like this is ... not it. Effectively, they lost Jack Drury and Martin Necas for 13 games of Rantanen (and Taylor Hall). They then dumped Rantanen for a package headlined by Logan Stankoven and two first-round picks. Oh, cool, who did Carolina get with those picks to help it now? No one. That's an interesting choice for a team with Cup aspirations this season. The kicker is the Hurricanes sent Rantanen to Dallas, a team they could meet in the Stanley Cup Final, but it's highly unlikely Carolina makes it that far now. - Douglas

Rantanen to Stars: This entire saga was a debacle by the Hurricanes. Rookie general manager Eric Tulsky's inexperience was on full display. But I think the part that isn't being talked about enough is the negative impact this could have on Hurricanes players in the dressing room. With all due respect to Stankoven, Carolina is undoubtedly a much worse team now than it was with Rantanen or Necas. That has to be demoralizing for a team that was viewed as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. - Wegman

Fabian Zetterlund to Senators. This one got done at the buzzer and is a shrewd pickup for Ottawa. Zetterlund is only 25, has a lethal shot, and is a physical freak at 220 pounds. So why did the Sharks move him for a mid-second-round pick and a prospect in Zack Ostapchuk, who has four points in 50 NHL games? The Sharks need some talent to stick around and help out Macklin Celebrini and Co. Zetterlund seemed to be an obvious fit to do that. Maybe San Jose was worried about Zetterlund's arbitration case this summer, but it's not like the Sharks lack cap space. - Cushman