For an NHL general manager, having a stockpile of prospects is akin to a gambler having a huge pile of chips.

The second part of the equation is that the gambler or the house is 100 percent certain of how much each chip is worth. Sure, you want to keep the good prospects for your team. But at the same time, you want to have enough good prospects that you can use some to get players who are good now.

But so many variables go into prospect development that trading a prospect who looks like they might have potential has to feel like throwing a grenade into a room and closing the door.

We're going to open some of those doors and grade the results.

Canadiens Trade Jordan Harris, Second-Round Pick to Blue Jackets for Patrik Laine

When Patrik Laine let the Columbus Blue Jackets know he didn't see a future with the team, general manager Don Waddell was put in a tough spot. Players requesting trades is nothing new, but when that request goes public, any leverage the original team might've had decreases. Fortunately, with Laine's high skill level, it was never going to be impossible to find a suitor—and find that suitor they did in the Montreal Canadiens, receiving defenseman Jordan Harris (and a 2026 second-rounder) in return.

Jordan Harris is in his third full NHL season. Up to this point, he's been more of a depth defenseman, and that seems like a good spot for him. He's not going to put up flashy offensive numbers—Harris' strengths lie in his defensive abilities, where he can shut down opponents, blocking shots and cutting off opportunities. He also has a reputation for strong leadership skills.

A preseason knee injury kept Laine off the ice until he made his season debut against the Islanders this week. Two games into his tenure in Montreal, he has two goals. In other words: he looks like Patrik Laine. Seems like a big win for the Canadiens.

Grade: A for the Canadiens, because they got Patrik Laine.

B+ for the Blue Jackets, because they got a solid, useful player in a situation where they could've gotten dust.

Jets Trade Rutger McGroarty to Penguins for Brayden Yager

Any time a prospect requests a trade, controversy follows him for a good while. This is no truer than with former Winnipeg Jets prospect, and current Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty.

It's worse because McGroarty has been slow to start with the baby Penguins, though things are looking more positive of late—he's up to 6 points in 15 games now. More importantly, through it all his work ethic and attitude have been good, which is usually what leads to a player breaking out of a slump and letting his skill shine. McGroarty contributing to the big club sooner than Yager might have will likely still be accurate.

Heading to the Jets isn't Brayden Yager's only trade this fall. The forward was recently traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (and had to play his first game with the Hurricanes against his former club). He's unsurprisingly scoring at a high level, with 31 points in 22 WHL games so far this season, and he's heading to World Juniors selection camp with Team Canada. But we still haven't seen what kind of professional player he will be.

An important thing to remember is that you can't directly compare their scoring. Yager is playing his fifth season in the WHL, so with his skill level, it would be concerning if he wasn't dominating the league. McGroarty is moving from the college hockey world into professional hockey and it comes with an adjustment period. His decision-making with the Penguins in the preseason looked sound, so his lack of production isn't as worrisome as it might be otherwise—although improving his skating will be key moving forward.

Grade: B for the Penguins, with a pending plus if McGroarty's season continues to get better.

A for the Jets for getting a solid prospect out of a difficult situation.

Sharks Acquire Yaroslav Askarov and Picks From Predators for David Edstrom and Picks

Boy, did this trade have a lot of moving pieces.

The San Jose Sharks ended up with Askarov, forward Nolan Burke and a 2025 third-round pick, The Nashville Predators got forward David Edstrom, a 2025 conditional first-round pick, and goaltender Magnus Chrona. At first glance, this trade is a clear win for the Sharks, even with Askarov currently in the AHL. He's been one of the most popular goaltending prospects in a while, and there were several teams in on the trade chase.

Askarov requested a trade, so the Predators getting any value out of that trade was going to be a plus. A conditional first-round pick isn't ideal, but it does come alongside two players. Chrona probably isn't going to be an NHL starter, but he has solid backup potential and is good goaltending depth regardless. Edstrom has very real offensive skills, but the Predators' recent track record of developing prospects makes me skeptical he will reach his potential with their organization.

Grade: A- for the Sharks

B- for the Predators.

Penguins Acquire Philip Tomasino From Predators for Fourth-Round Pick

I've discussed at length my feelings on the Pittsburgh Penguins' acquisition of Philip Tomasino, but I am more than happy to repeat: this was exactly the right kind of player for them to acquire. They need to go young, skilled, and cheap wherever they can (although that's one of those you-can-only-pick-two Venn diagrams most of the time) and he ticks all those boxes. He's playing on Malkin's wing, though time will tell whether he stays there, and in addition to scoring two goals (3 points total), he's made some really smart defensive plays.

On the other hand: Nashville Predators, baby, what is you doing. Isn't that how the meme goes? The Predators have now traded away most if not all of their first round picks for years into the past, and that's a deeper issue we'll save for another time. But only getting a fourth-round pick, and a future one at that, for a player with clear potential is not a good look.

Grade: D for the Predators, which is not an F solely because Tomasino clearly needed a change of scenery.

A for the Penguins.

Wild Acquire David Jiricek and Fifth-Round Pick From Columbus for Daemon Hunt, Picks

David Jiricek was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. It's a bit early to trade a player of that caliber from such a recent draft class, but the writing has been on the wall about the defenseman's future with the Blue Jackets for a little while now. They weren't playing him at the NHL level and seemed to have no intention to do so. Baffling, but what can you do?

The Minnesota Wild, and particularly general manager Bill Guerin, were thrilled to have him, and given Jiricek's hockey sense, skating, and high skill level, they're right to be. Minnesota also got a fifth-round pick in 2025.

In return, the Blue Jackets got a first round pick in 2025, third and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. They also got defenseman Daemon Hunt, a third-round pick in 2020. Hunt has played 13 NHL games over the past two seasons, including one with the Wild this season, and there's every chance he becomes solid depth for the Blue Jackets. He's an explosive skater with a good problem-solving mind—great things to have in a defenseman. Not the level of Jiricek, but valuable nonetheless.

Grade: A+ for the Wild,

B- for the Blue Jackets. Stop giving up on young talent early, but if you do, get a bunch of assets in return.