The NHL’s new season has recently started, delighting the population of NHL fans around the world after a long three-month hiatus. The new season began on October 7th, 2025. Last year, the playoffs were fun and had a lot of people sitting on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, the Florida Panthers won the cup against the Edmonton Oilers last season. Many trades over the last season have left many fans sad and a little confused. Let’s run back some of the trades, injuries, and signings that have left many fans sorrowful.
Mitch Marner; Traded
Because he was a Leafs fan since he was very young and always wanted to be on the team, his trade made most of the fans completely heartbroken. Mitch Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mitch Marner was number 16 on the Leafs before he was traded. Many people who were Leafs fans would constantly heckle him whenever he got on the ice because they thought he was “annoying.” Mitch Marner was traded to the Knights on July 1st, 2024. The trade caused Mitch and his best friend, Auston Matthews, to be separated, with Auston being left behind. This caused sadness among Leafs fans who had liked their friendship.
Jack Hughes; Injury
Jack Hughes had suffered a terrible shoulder injury during a game with the Vegas Golden Knights on March 2nd. Hughes had collided with Jack Eichel, sending Hughes into the wall and slamming his shoulder into the side. Hughes was noticeably injured when he finally got up, quickly ending the rest of the 24-25 season for him. As Hughes was on the first line and one of their star players, this really affected the fanbase and the whole team. After Jack was gone, the team seemed to be doing worse. Jack is well-liked around the fanbase (mostly teenage girls), and has made many sad. Jack’s brother, Luke Hughes, is also on the team, and this also really affected him. For the new 25-26 season, Jack is back on the ice, overjoyed.
Luke Hughes; Late signing
Speaking of another Hughes, Jack’s brother Luke is also on the New Jersey Devils and is a good defenseman. Luke’s first signing with the Devils had ended, which left him as a free agent (a player who is currently on no team and has a choice of a team to sign with or receive an offer). Luke had been a free agent for a while. During practices where teams would post the current roster, Luke still hadn’t been re-signed. Luke was finally re-signed on October 1st 2025, with a $63 million contract just three days before the NHL preseason started.
Brad Marchand;
Marchand was probably the trade that shook most people. Marchand was first line on the Boston Bruins and a good player, which made him well-liked. Marchand was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 7th, 2025. No one truly believed he would be traded since he loved Boston and wanted to stay forever. From seeing an interview, Marchand would’ve loved to stay in Boston, but it is pretty easy to tell he is enjoying his time with the Panthers.
I am so excited to see what this season holds, and I’m a little scared for what trades may happen after hearing people say my favorite player might be traded, but that happens with almost every player. There are so many more players who have been in these categories, like Alex Nedeljkovic and Jackson Blake, but I think these players and their moves have had the greatest impact on the fan base. It will be another interesting season in the NHL.
