NHL Trade Deadline: Colorado makes two massive moves as Vladimir Tarasenko heads to Florida and Adam Henrique departs for Edmonton

With just two days remaining until the NHL trade deadline, Wednesday saw a flurry of moves taking place in the late morning and early afternoon.

To start, the Florida Panthers acquired Russian winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for two draft picks.

Then, the Edmonton Oilers got in on the action - receiving forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick as well as a seventh-round pick from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick.

But both those moves pale in comparison to the trade binge Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic went on - with two huge moves announced in the span of about 20 minutes.

It's just another part in what should be a topsy-turvy final 48-hours before the deadline arrives on Friday at 3:00pm.

Vladimir Tarasenko's time in Ottawa was short, now he moves to the Florida Panthers

Ottawa Senators RW Vladimir Tarasenko to Florida for two picks

With Ottawa's season already over, forward Vladimir Tarasenko weaponized his no-trade clause into a move to the top team in the NHL.

He'll hit the free agent market in the summer, but for the Panthers' Stanley Cup ambitions, this is a perfect move.

The return going back to the Senators is a 2024 fourth-round pick that becomes a third-rounder in 2026 if the Panthers win the Cup. 

In addition, Ottawa gets a third-round pick in 2025 and the team is retaining half of Tarasenko's salary. This season, Tarasenko has 17 goals and 41 points.

For Florida, this is a fantastic move that gives the team a top-six winger capable of providing key playoff experience and scoring. 

It's the second straight deadline-adjacent move for Tarasenko - who went from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers last season. 

Adam Henrique finally has a move away from the Ducks - with a new home in Edmonton

Anaheim Ducks F Adam Henrique and F Sam Carrick to Edmonton for a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick

The Edmonton Oilers and adding scoring depth at the trade deadline has become commonplace.

This time, they get a quality playmaker in veteran Adam Henrique and his 18 goals and 42 points from the Anaheim Ducks. Henrique has been looking for a move away from Anaheim for at least two seasons at this rate.

He'll likely slot into the third-line center spot that is currently occupied by Ryan McLeod.

Anaheim is retaining half of Henrique's salary as well in this deal. Further salary retention efforts involved Edmonton sending a conditional fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As for the rest of the pieces in this deal, Carrick is an effective checking forward who would play as a fourth-liner if at all for Edmonton.

Edmonton's first round pick for this upcoming draft, while the fifth-rounder kicks in for the 2025 season. Like with Florida, that pick is conditional and becomes a fourth-rounder if Edmonton wins the Stanley Cup. 

Defenseman Sean Walker is going to Colorado in exchange for Ryan Johansen 

Flyers D Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick to Colorado for F Ryan Johansen and a conditional first-round pick

The first of two shock moves by the Colorado Avalanche saw them move on from an expensive contract in Ryan Johansen in exchange for an impressive defenseman.

Walker takes his elite two-way capabilities to the Mile High City and would slot in on the Avalanche's second pairing.

The first round pick that the Flyers are receiving is for 2025 and is conditional. That pick is top-ten protected, meaning if Colorado's pick is in the first ten choices, the Avalanche will instead send their 2026 first-rounder to Philadelphia.

But the equally intriguing part of the deal is moving on from Johansen and his $8m AAV contract - which the Flyers have already waived.

Johansen has had a slow season by his standard - only scoring 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games played.

That gives Colorado some real cap relief and allows them to make other moves. Like, for example, going out and acquiring a center.

Casey Mittelstadt is heading to Colorado as Bowen Byram will move to Buffalo

Buffalo Sabres F Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for D Bowen Byram

Well, what do you know. With their newfound cap space, the Avalanche decided to pull off a shocker of a trade and plucked Casey Mittelstadt out of Buffalo.

In a one-for-one deal, the Avs sent young defenseman Bowen Byram to western New York in exchange for Mittelstadt.

Mittelstadt was the top scorer on the Buffalo Sabres - with 14 goals and 47 points in the midst of a sub-par season, even by that team's standards.

He'll likely take over the second-line center spot that Johansen had, but he'll actually have the numbers to back up that position.

As for Byram, he brings some much needed physicality and two-way ability that could turn Buffalo's already promising young defensive core more deadly for years to come.

But there's also some concern. After lighting up the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs - especially in that year's final, which Colorado won - he's been struggling with on-ice performance as well as injuries.

If Byram can stay healthy, this will likely be a trade that sees both sides benefit. But the lack of low-end draft pieces in this could land the Sabres in infamy - similar to a previous one-for-one deal in 2016. 

Alex Wennberg is on the move to New York and the Rangers after spending time in Seattle

Seattle Kraken F Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick

Later in the afternoon, Rangers GM Chris Drury decided to get in on the action and snagged Seattle center Alex Wennberg.

Wennberg's two-way playmaking ability will be a welcome addition to the Blueshirts' offense at a time where they'll look to lock up the top seed in the Metropolitan Division.

But his production has been slightly off from years past. He only has nine goals and 25 points in total across 60 games of action.

However, considering the Rangers were able to get Seattle to swallow half Wennberg's salary, this could be a positive move for New York.