What happened: ESPN has published trade grades evaluating the most significant deals of the 2026 NHL offseason. The report cards weigh what each side gave up against what it gained as front offices reshape their rosters for the coming season.

Why it matters: Offseason trades set the competitive landscape before training camps open, and grading them frames how well each front office maximized its window. Deals made now ripple into cap structure, line combinations, and contention timelines for the teams involved.

What to watch: Whether the graded moves hold up once games begin, and which clubs still have business left to finish before the season starts.