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2026-06-08As we head into the silly season that is the MRFHL Off-Season, we thought we’d take a peek at the history of Panthers trades just to get a glimpse at who they might connect with on a blockbuster this summer. So we will break it down into categories to see from lowest to highest.
THE “MAYBE THEY HATE ME” CATEGORY (0 TRADES)
GMs: Jerrald Oltean (CAR), Jeremy Hiemstra (COL), Justin Cohen (SJS)
This category is fascinating to look at, so let’s start with the Sharks. This one is a little more forgivable than the others as Justin is a fairly recent GM added to the group, so might not be completely surprising he is among this list, though not for lack of trying. Our sources say the Panthers were targeting a Sharks forward at the 2025 deadline, but lack of budging from the price scuttled any deal (that player ended up leaving in free agency that summer). In Carolina, we’re up to 5 years without a trade between the two teams. There have been some discussions on trades but nothing ever close to materialising between the two teams.
Now for the most preposterous name on the list, Jeremy out of Colorado. He has not only been at the helm of the Avalanche for a decade, he was also a GM of another team briefly beforehand and still there wasn’t a deal to be found. There was a Subban blockbuster years ago that never quite could cross the line, but as far as we’ve heard nothing has quite come close between the two teams since. Maybe this off-season will finally be the year.
THE “ONE NIGHT STANDS” CATEGORY (1 TRADE)
GMs: Jason Behm (ANA), Rory Bloechl (CBJ), Mitchell Dronfield (NSH), Darren Males (NYR), Andrew Coursol (PIT)
Now we can break this category down in a few different ways. One is the new guys in Pittsburgh, Nashville and Columbus, where you know maybe just haven’t had a chance to fully develop that relationship, but you have at least tried something. Whether it’s the 3rd party in a 3-way trade or sending out UFA rights, it’s just testing the waters to see if something is there.
Then there’s Beamer in Anaheim. The last time the Panthers connected on a trade with him was way back in…..2009! Yes, he gets to sneak on the list based on a trade back when he was with the Penguins those many years ago. Thank you Marc Savard.
And then there’s that perfect one-nighter. Back in 2022 the Panthers and Rangers connected on a massive blockbuster, Sorokin for Marner, and sometimes that’s all you need. No need to dwell on it and try to see if you can repeat that magic, maybe it’s just best left at that.
THE “SEE YOU AT THE DRAFT” CATEGORY (2 TRADES)
GMs: Luc Belanger (PHI), Derek Hart (SEA)
This category is left reserved for just when you need to find a way to trade up or down at the draft and nothing more. You both have some picks and need to just make those numbers work. No players, no cap, no concerns. Easy peasy.
THE “MAYBE THERE’S SOMETHING MORE HERE” CATEGORY (2-4 TRADES)
GMs: Nicolas Gruner (BOS), Cory Parcels (LAK), Ian Henderson (NJD) Bill Colburn (OTT), Stu LaP (STL), Clayton Hansler (TOR), Gary Brown (UTA), Dan Hubacher (VGK), Kirk Slocum (WSH)
There’s a few different sub-categories going on here. There’s the new-ish GMs where there’s been a few connections that might just continue to build over the years. That includes the likes of Boston and Toronto. Then there’s teams like Los Angeles, Ottawa, Vegas and Washington that have been here for some time now that maybe they fall behind and get forgotten as a trading partner or they race up the list. It’s been two years since the last trade with the Kings, and about a year and a half since Vegas has completed a trade with the Panthers.
And I know what you’re thinking, both New Jersey and Utah are new to this league, how come they weren’t looped in with the new-ish GMs? Well both Ian and Gary had a long history in the league with previous teams and even in those long years in the league, they barely connected with the Panthers with a trade. Ian has already matched his output with the Devils as he did when he was the Wild GM with one trade with each, the first one being a Matt Stajan trade. And this time around, Gary has proven to be a more frequent trading partner with the Panthers, as the two have already processed two trades against the only one trade they made when he was running the Penguins.
THE “FREQUENT FRIENDS” CATEGORY (6-10 TRADES)
GMs: Ron Dubin (BUF), Austin Evans (DET), Martin Grech (TBL)
This category is reserved for that mushy middle, where they’re not at the top of the list but have at least consistently come together to get something done. Detroit has recently shot up the list in the last year, with a handful of trades to get him to 7 total since he started running the Wings back in 2014. Martin is a fairly new GM, the Florida state rivals haven’t let that stop them from getting 6 trades done between them. Then there’s Ron in Buffalo, and formerly Toronto. Since he joined the league in 2011, they have completed 10 trades between them…..but then, something odd has happened. There hasn't been a trade between Ron and Dylan since 2021. Now curious, why is that? Is it because there’s been a lack of talent in Buffalo? Maybe. Is it because he’s grown a hard edge since moving south of the border? Also maybe. Maybe this will be the year the hiatus is broken.
THE “BLOCKBUSTER” CATEGORY (9 TRADES)
GMs: Ryan Schurman (WPG)
Now I know what you’re thinking, 9 is coming after the category with 10? We just felt like it was worth separating out Winnipeg. There’s only been 9 trades between the two since he reappeared with the Jets, but it almost feels like every time it’s something of consequence. Some star studded players and prospects have seem to be thrown both ways in trades over the years including; Tyler Toffoli, Roman Josi, Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, Leon Draisaitl, David Backes, and more recently potentially Roman Kantserov. Again we’re operating on a less than a trade a year average, but if you see a Jets/Panthers trade across the timeline, you better stop what you are doing.
THE “VETERANS OF THE LEAGUE” CATEGORY (11-14 TRADES)
GMs: Todd Semonick (CHI), Mark O’Byrne (DAL), Tanner Braithwaite (EDM), Stephane Boudreau (MTL)
Unsurprisingly some the double digit category has a few day one-ers and then long term GMs. It doesn’t mean they’re always making a trade, but they’ve all been around long enough that there’s at least a consistent track record. It’s been two years since the Oilers or Blackhawks have made a trade with the Panthers, but they have completed some major trades over the years including ones that were critical to two Panthers cup wins (2022 - Stone from CHI, 2019 - Bobrovsky from EDM).
Dallas has periodically been a trading partner, but usually never anything too major to shake up the landscape, most recently sending Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the Panthers at the 2025 trade deadline.
Montreal could have been put in the last category with Winnipeg, but I didn’t want to confuse the counting too much. Even despite being divisional rivals, there’s usually a blockbuster to be found between the two teams. Last summer it was the massive deal that saw Mitch Marner head to bleu, blanc et rouge. There was the trade that saw the swap of Jamie Benn for Jaccob Slavin, and also another that saw Tyler Toffoli for Josh Morrissey. Could another blockbuster be in the cards for the two this summer?
THE “SIXTEEN CLUB” CATEGORY (16 TRADES)
GMs: Jesse Brouillette (MIN), Robert Jacklin (NYI), Rino Di Antonio (VAN)
It’s a three-way tie for 2nd place among Panthers trading partners, all tied at 16 trades. It’s an interesting mix of teams. There’s a guy who has been here since the start with Rino in Vancouver. There’s been some seismic shifting trades between the two over the years, including potentially the recent Lafreniere for Barzal trade, but also the shocking Toews for Malkin swap long ago. There’s also been times for regret on both sides, like when the Panthers traded Jesper Bratt for Jakob Silfverberg or when the Canucks traded Jamie Benn, Grabovski and a 1st for Travis Zajac.
Then there’s Robby on Long Island, who now has over a decade on his resume in the MRFHL. Not quite the blockbuster filled resume as some others on the list, but just a consistent trading partner. Not to say it’s completely devoid of big names, as they completed a Guentzel blockbuster a few years ago and long ago saw a Landeskog for Giroux swap.
Then there’s no fuss Jesse out in Minnesota. Now this also combines trades when he was with San Jose and Arizona, but these are just workman like trades. No massive names trading hands, just some good hockey trades from both sides to get us to that number 16.
THE “COUSIN” CATEGORY (50 TRADES)
GM: Derek Loftus (CGY)
Now we get to the apex, the record that feels impossible to beat. Now let’s get it out of the way, this is a list built on a lot of small little trades over the years with a few blockbusters sprinkled in. Having that built in relationship has made it easy to send X farm players in the off-season for nothing in return, or trading some depth players, as usually the Flames are the first call when that kind of trade needs to happen. Will we see another trade between the two teams this off-season? Probably.
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Perfect Partners
A History of Trading Partners with GM Dylan Wilson
Yeah you got me on that Benn deal. But Zajac was so good lol
Perfect Partners
A History of Trading Partners with GM Dylan Wilson
Sweet 16 with more potentially on the horizon! Always fun to chat trades boss man.
Perfect Partners
A History of Trading Partners with GM Dylan Wilson