The 2025 National Hockey League trade deadline took place on Friday. There were three Canadian defensemen who switched teams. Let’s take a look who they were.
Dennis Cholowski
Cholowski, a native of Langley, British Columbia, was traded from the New York Islanders to the New Jersey Devils for forward Adam Beckman of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Thursday. The Devils are Cholowski’s fifth NHL team. He was previously with the Detroit Red Wings from 2018 to 2021, the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken in 2021-22, and New York Islanders from 2022 to 2025.
In 33 games this season, Cholowski had three goals and seven assists for 10 points with the Islanders. He was a +1 with 10 penalty minutes, two power-play points, 26 shots on goal, 30 blocked shots, five hits, eight takeaways, and 33 giveaways.
Carson Soucy
Soucy, a native of Viking, Alberta, was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers for a third round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Rangers are Soucy’s fifth NHL franchise. He was previously with the Minnesota Wild from 2017 to 2021, the Kraken from 2021 to 2023, and the Vancouver Canucks from 2023 to 2025.
In 59 games with the Canucks this season, Soucy has three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 59 games. He is a -13 with 42 penalty minutes, two game-winning goals, 62 shots on goal, 92 blocked shots, 86 hits, 15 takeaways, and 65 giveaways.
Soucy’s first game-winning goal of the season came on December 12 in a 4-0 Canucks win over the Florida Panthers. Soucy scored from Max Sasson and Teddy Blueger at 2:23 of the first period to open the scoring. Soucy’s second game-winning goal of the season came on March 5 in a 3-2 Canucks win over the Anaheim Ducks. Soucy scored from Nils Hoglander and Kiefer Sherwood with one minute and nine seconds left in the second period and put the Canucks up 3-1 at the time.
Jake Walman
Walman, a native of Toronto, Ontario, was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Edmonton Oilers for Carl Berglund and a first round pick in 2026. The Oilers are Walman’s fourth NHL team after three seasons with the St. Louis Blues from 2019 to 2022, three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 2022 to 2024, and one season with the San Jose Sharks.
In 50 games this season with the Sharks, Waleman had six goals and 26 assists for 32 points. He was a -1 with 36 penalty minutes, seven power-play points, one game-winning goal, 125 shots on goal, 111 blocked shots, 48 hits, 23 takeaways, and 63 giveaways. Waleman’s game-winning goal came on December 12 in a 4-3 Sharks win over the St. Louis Blues. Walman scored from Nikolai Kovalenko and Nico Sturm at 6:01 of the third period to put the Sharks up 4-2.
