Trading a first-round pick at the NHL trade deadline used to be uncommon. Not anymore.
The Tampa Bay Lightning changed all of that, sending three first-round picks away in the last two trade deadlines which has resulted in two Stanley Cups. While it's a risky move for a team's future, there's evidence that it pays off when the reward is a championship win.
The March 21 trade deadline is still three weeks away, but a first-round pick has already been moved. The Calgary Flames acquired Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens for a package that included a 2022 conditional first-round pick.
To get a sense of who else could garner a first-round pick in a trade this season by the deadline, Sporting News takes a look back at players who have cost that price at past deadlines.
2021 trades
- The Detroit Red Wings traded Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals for Richard Panik, Jakub Vrana, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets traded Nick Foligno to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 fourth-round pick.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets traded David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 third-round pick.
The New Jersey Devils traded Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to the New York Islanders for AJ Greer, Mason Jobst, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 conditional fourth-round pick.
2020 trades
- The New York Rangers traded Brady Skjei to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2020 first-round pick.
- San Jose Sharks traded Barclay Goodrow and a 2020 third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2020 first-round pick and Anthony Greco
- The Ottawa Senators traded Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the New York Islanders for a 2020 conditional first-round pick, 2020 second-round pick and a 2022 conditional third-round pick.
- The Anaheim Ducks traded Ondrej Kase to the Boston Bruins for David Backes, Axel Andersson and a 2020 first-round pick.
- The New Jersey Devils traded Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2020 first-round pick and Nolan Foote.
- The Minnesota Wild traded Jason Zucker to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Alex Galchenyuk, Calen Addison and a 2020 conditional first-round pick.
2019 trades
- The New York Rangers traded Kevin Hayes to the Winnipeg Jets for Brendan Lemieux, a 2019 first-round pick and a 2022 conditional fourth-round pick.
2018 trades
- The Chicago Blackhawks traded Ryan Hartman and a 2018 fifth-round pick to the Nashville Predators for Victor Ejdsell, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
- The St. Louis Blues traded Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2018 first-round pick and the rights to Erik Foley.
- The Buffalo Sabres traded Evander Kane to the San Jose Sharks for a 2019 conditional first-round pick, a 2019 fourth-round pick and Dan O'Regan.
- The Detroit Red Wings traded Tomas Tatar to the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2018 first-round pick, a 2019 second-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick.
- The New York Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 conditional first-round pick.
2017 trades
- The St. Louis Blues traded Kevin Shattenkirk and Pheonix Copley to the Washington Capitals for a 2017 first-round pick, 2019 conditional second-round pick, Zach Sanford and Brad Malone.
- The Arizona Coyotes traded Martin Hanzal, Ryan White and a 2017 fourth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild for a 2017 first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick, a 2019 conditional pick and Grayson Downing.
2016 trades
- The Chicago Blackhawks traded Andrew Ladd, Jay Harrison and Matt Fraser to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2016 first-round pick, Marko Dano and a 2018 conditional third-round pick.
2015 trades
- The Philadelphia Flyers traded Braydon Coburn to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2015 first-round pick, Radko Gudas and a 2015 conditional third-round pick
2014 trades
- The Tampa Bay Lightning traded Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers for a 2015 first-round pick, Ryan Callahan and a 2014 conditional second-round pick
- The Buffalo Sabres traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues for a 2015 first-round pick, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier and a 2016 conditional third-round pick.
- The Buffalo Sabres traded Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders for a 2014 first-round pick, Matt Moulson and a 2015 second-round pick.
2013 trades
- The Calgary Flames traded Jay Bouwmeester to the St. Louis Blues for a 2013 or 2014 first-round pick, Reto Berra, Mark Cudari and a 2013 conditional fourth-round pick.
- The Calgary Flames traded Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2013 first-round pick, and the rights to Kenneth Agostino and Ben Hanowski.
2012 trades
- The Buffalo Sabres traded Paul Gaustad and a fourth-round pick to the Nashville Predators for a 2012 first-round pick.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets traded Jeff Carter to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional first-round pick and Jack Johnson.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning traded Kyle Quincey to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2012 first-round pick and Sebastien Piche.
2011 trades
- The Edmonton Oilers traded Dustin Penner to the Los Angeles Kings for a 2011 first-round pick, a 2012 third-round pick and Colton Teubert.
- The Colorado Avalanche traded Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and a 2011 or 2012 second-round pick to the St. Louis Blues for a 2011 or 2012 first-round pick, Erik Johnson and Jay McClement.
- The Boston Bruins traded Tomas Kaberle to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2011 first-round pick, a conditional 2012 second-round pick and Joe Colborne.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2011 first-round pick and a 2011 third-round pick.
- The Ottawa Senators traded Mike Fisher to the Nashville Predators for a 2011 first-round pick and a conditional 2012 pick.
2010 trades
- The Atlanta Thrashers traded Ilya Kovalchuk and Anssi Salmela to the New Jersey Devils for a 2010 first-round pick, Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier.
2009 trades
- The Arizona Coyotes trade Olli Jokinen and a third-round pick to the Calgary Flames for a 2009 or 2010 first-round pick, Matthew Lombardi and Brandon Prust.
- The New York Islanders trade Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli to the Ottawa Senators for a 2009 first-round pick and Dean McAmmond.
2008 trades
- The Atlanta Thrashers trade Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2008 first-round pick, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and Angelo Esposito.
- The Buffalo Sabres trade Brian Campbell and a 2008 seventh-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for a 2008 first-round pick and Steve Bernier.
2007 trades
- The Phoenix Coyotes trade Ladislav Nagy to the Dallas Stars for a 2007 first-round pick and Mathias Tjarnqvist.
- The Philadelphia Flyers trade Peter Forsberg to the Nashville Predators a 2007 first-round pick, Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and a 2007 third-round pick.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning trade Shane O'Brien and a 2007 third-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2007 first-round pick and Gerald Coleman.
- The St. Louis Blues trade Keith Tkachuk to the Atlanta Thrashers for a 2007 first-round pick, a 2007 third-round pick, a 2008 second-round pick and a conditional 2008 first-round pick.
- The Montreal Canadiens trade Craig Rivet and a 2007 fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for a 2007 first-round pick (Max Pacioretty) and Josh Gorges.
- The St. Louis Blues trade Bill Guerin to the San Jose Sharks for a 2007 first-round pick, Villie Nieminen and Jay Barriball
- The Washington Capitals trade Dainius Zubrus and Timo Helbling to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2007 first-round pick and Jiri Novotny
- The Los Angeles Kings trade Mattias Norstrom, Konstantin Pushkarev and a 2007 third-round pick to the Dallas Stars for a 2008 first-round pick, Jaroslav Modry, Johan Fransson and a 2007 third-round pick.
- The Edmonton Oilers trade Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders for a 2007 first-round pick, Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marr.