3 NHL free agency predictions after trade deadline: Bruins re-sign Brad Marchand, another star refuses to sign with Avalanche | Sporting News

The 2025 NHL trade deadline delivered in spades.

Several household names changed teams, and the offseason still looks like a question mark given the strong pool of contenders with legitimate Stanley Cup ambitions.

Mikko Rantanen got clarity with the Stars, agreeing to a trade and an eight-year, $96 million extension , after giving no such courtesy to the Avalanche and Hurricanes over the past year.

Seth Jones finally got his wish and ended up on a contending Panthers team following five straight losing seasons with the Blackhawks.

Other situations werent made clear at the deadline.

Theres plenty of room for more moves this summer.

Here are three that could take place based on the activity up to and on March 7: Bruins bring Brad Marchand back after deadline deal to Panthers Brad Marchand, unlike Jones, didnt want a trade .

Marchand liked playing in Massachussett.

He wanted to retire with the Bruins after winning a Stanley Cup Finals his second season in Boston.

He got one, though, ending up dealt to the defending champions.

Florida has no guarantee hell re-sign, though.

Theres reason to believe a reunion could be brewing between the Bruins and Marchand.

Of course, the Panthers successfully defending their title, with or without the currently injured Matthew Tcachuk, would nullify this possibility.

Floridas front office being aggressive would also make this a non-starter.

Anything short of that, though, and Boston could realistically bring Marchand back.

A gap in salary expectations caused the initial split , but Marchand realizing the market may not be what he expected it to be could bring him back to the city he never wanted to leave.

Brock Nelson spurns Avalanche to sign with Wild After watching Rantanen take a deal with Dallas similar to what he refused from Colorado, the Avalanche may see another prolific goal-scorer turn them down.

Brock Nelson, who Chris MacFarland gave up Oliver Kylington, forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round draft pick in 2026 or 2027, and a conditional third-round pick in 2028 to land from the Islanders, could choose a return to his home state.

Nelson has strong ties to his hometown of Warroad, Minnesota.

The Wild connection is a natural one since theyll have cap space and are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs hunt but are far from the Western Conferences cream of the crop.

The Athletics Michael Russo reported Minnesota kept tabs on Nelson ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Expect more noise as the offseason approaches.

Islanders re-sign Kyle Palmieri to a two-year extension After dealing Nelson late on Thursday night, New York surprisingly held on to Kyle Palmieri.

Newsdays Andrew Gross reported that Palmieri is likely due for a two-year extension worth roughly $9 million this offseason.

The Islanders werent a total seller.

Theres room for Palmieri to earn even more than that with a patented late-season run to the postseason..

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