A two-time Stanley Cup champion has been added at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. Defenceman Luke Schenn, now formerly of the Nashville Predators, is involved in a trade to the Winnipeg Jets to help bolster his new team’s defensive depth. Adding a player of his physicality is only going to benefit your team throughout the playoff grind.
Luke Schenn Trade Could Be an Underrated Pickup
Second-rounder and a fourth-rounder to Penguins https://t.co/JAnmgrv2CI
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025
Schenn debuted for the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2008. Some nearly 17 years later, he’s still playing at the highest level of competitive hockey. He may not be at the level he once was, but should be a great addition as a six or seven guy on your defensive depth charts. Furthermore, this season for Nashville he was still playing over 15 minutes a game. It is worth considering that he doesn’t get a lot of specialty team ice time, so his ice time is representative of being in regular rotation at 5-on-5. Moreover, he does kill penalties occasionally but hadn’t been among Nashville’s top choices this year.
How Does this Shift the Balance of Power?
As Luke Schenn gets rewarded with a trade, he has remained consistent this year with his physical play. He has recorded 200-plus hits in each of his past four campaigns, including this one. Furthermore, a main intangible Schenn provides is his playoff experience. He has 47 career games played over six different playoff appearances, most notably his two Stanley Cups as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Schenn is reliable and ramps it up when it is all on the line. He has been credited with an impressive 167 hits in the playoffs.
For the Nashville Predators, the 2024-25 started with a ton of optimism after some big signings. Adding the likes of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault is sure to raise expectations. Luke Schenn himself signed last year with similar aspirations before this trade. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, for both sides. One thing is nice, that Schenn gets a crack at a playoff run once again.
Pens Get Assets
In exchange for Schenn, the Penguins are acquiring a second and fourth-round pick for the upcoming draft.
It will be interesting to see if the Penguins are done for this deadline, or if another move (or more) is coming.
Main Photo Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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