Mikko Rantanen went back West — but with the Dallas Stars this time following a brief stint in Carolina. And Bruins captain Brad Marchand is leaving Boston after 16 seasons to join the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Several major names with high-priced contracts, as well as four first-round draft picks, moved around the NHL before the trade deadline struck on Friday.

Central Division teams were the most active, with Dallas, Colorado and Winnipeg all completing significant trades.

The Ottawa Senators made a splash with two major trades, acquiring Dylan Cozens from Buffalo and Fabian Zetterlund from San Jose, to spur their late-season push to snap a seven-year playoff drought.

Meantime, Marchand’s departure in Boston, coupled with Charlie Coyle’s trade to Colorado, signaled the Bruins’ transition toward youth while mired in a 1-6-2 skid that has them in jeopardy off missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Stars paid a big price in both contract and assets to land Rantanen, the deadline’s biggest prize, dealing promising rookie forward Logan Stankoven and two first-round and two third-round picks as part of a blockbuster deal. Dallas also agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with the high-scoring Finn after both the Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche failed in their attempts to sign him to a long-term deal.

“The chance to acquire and extend one of the best forwards in the NHL is an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He demonstrates exceptional skill and vision on the ice and his size, consistency and versatility make him one of the most complete players in the League.

Rantanen was in the final year of a six-year contract and on the move for the second time in two months after Colorado traded him to Carolina, where he played just 13 games.

“Obviously a really good team in Carolina. ... But I think just the fit in Dallas,” Rantanen said on TSN in Canada. “I’ve played against Dallas a lot. I know they have a good team. I know the city well enough and everything there,. So at the end of the day, it was easy.”

The Stars add a proven playoff performer who played a key role in Colorado winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. He has 101 points in 81 postseason games — an average seventh in league history behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Messier.

The Central-leading Jets acquired forward Brandon Tanev by sending a 2027 second-round pick to Seattle. Winnipeg bolstered its blue line by adding Luke Schenn in a trade with Pittsburgh.

Colorado didn’t stand pat, landing Coyle after acquiring veteran center Brock Nelson in a trade with the New York Islanders late Thursday.

Capitals 5, Red Wings 2: Aliaksei Protas had two goals and an assist in the third period to key Washington’s rally at home to beat Detroit, extending its winning streak to three games.

Jets 6, Devils 1: Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the third consecutive game and had two assists, Kyle Connor added his 33rd goal of the season, and Winnipeg won at New Jersey.

Blackhawks 4, Utah 3: Connor Bedard scored 3:10 into overtime to give Chicago the victory over the visiting Utah Hockey Club.