Once again, NHL trade deadline day arrived with a whole bunch of deals completed in the days beforehand.
The Florida Panthers have acquired forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Ben Chiarot. The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenseman Josh Manson and forward Nico Sturm. The Boston Bruins beefed up their defense by acquiring Hampus Lindholm, then signed him to a six-year, $52 million contract. The Toronto Maple Leafs countered by making a deal for defenseman Mark Giordano.
But there was plenty of activity on Monday, including goalie Marc-Andre Fleury going to the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers making moves at the buzzer.
Here are deals and analysis from deadline day. Deals from earlier can be found here.
Ducks, Golden Knights pull off trade
Anaheim gets winger Evgenii Dadonov and a 2023 or 2024 second-round pick and Vegas gets injured defenseman John Moore and the contract of injured forward Ryan Kesler. This is likely all about clearing cap space to accommodate the acquisition of Jack Eichel in the fall. The Golden Knights didn’t have the flexibility to make any additions at the deadline.
Hurricanes add forward Max Domi
General manager Don Waddell says Domi is a good fit for the top nine forwards. He plays with an edge and is a playmaker. The Blue Jackets and Hurricanes had to get the Panthers involved (they retained part of Domi’s salary, as did the Blue Jacke) to make the money work (see details below). The Hurricanes also gave Jesperi Kotkaniemi an eight-year extension averaging $4.82 million a year.
Oilers add defenseman Brett Kulak, forward Derick Brassard
No goaltending move. The Canadiens receive a conditional 2022 second-round pick, a 2024 seventh-round pick and defenseman William Lagesson for Kulak. The Flyers get back a 2023 fourth-round pick for Brassard. Fifty percent of both players’ salaries are retained by the trading teams.
Islanders re-sign two players
Cal Clutterbuck gets two years and Zach Parise gets one year. The Islanders stayed pat at the deadline. This season could have been a fluke because of the long season-opening road trip and a COVID-19 outbreak.
Terms for the Andrew Copp deal
The Rangers will give the Jets forward Morgan Barron, two 2023 second-round picks and a 2023 fifth-round pick for Copp and a 2023 sixth-round pick. One of the second-round picks could become a first-rounder if the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference final.
Rickard Rakell to Penguins
The former 30-goal scorer’s numbers dropped off with the emergence of the Ducks’ younger players. That should pick up in Pittsburgh if he plays with Evgeni Malkin. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek ended up trading four of his unrestricted free agents. The Ducks will get forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon, goaltender Calle Clang and a 2022 second-round draft pick for Rakell.
Tyler Motte goes to the Rangers
A busy few minutes for the Rangers, who send a 2023 fourth-round pick to the Canucks for the forward. Motte is a high-energy player who will provide utility in their bottom-six forward group. Motte has seven goals and 15 points in 49 games this season.
Rangers acquire Andrew Copp from Jets
Rangers GM Chris Drury waited until almost the last minute to get one of the top trade candidates available, according to reports. Copp is a versatile forward who can play center or wing and help drive play for a team lacking those types of players. New York also has needed middle-six forward help and Copp should fit in nicely there. Copp has 13 goals and 35 points this season in 56 games. No word yet on the return.
Maple Leafs lose goalie to waivers
The Maple Leafs had signed Finnish Olympic gold medal goalie Harri Sateri during the weekend, but he had to go through waivers first and was claimed by the Coyotes. Maple Leafs goalie Petr Mrazek, who has struggled recently, cleared waivers.
Avalanche acquire Artturi Lehkonen from Canadiens
He’ll fit in well on the Avalanche’s forward group and he’s a restricted free agent. He also kills penalties, one of the areas where Colorado needs to improve. The Canadiens get back defenseman Justin Barron, one of the Avalanche’s top prospects, and a 2024 second-round pick.
Nick Leddy to the Blues
Leddy’s -33 rating with the Red Wings is a little unwieldly but he’s mobile and can help a power play, plus has 121 games of playoff experience. That includes a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks and back-to-back trips to the semifinals the past two seasons with the Islanders.
Bruins acquire Senators defenseman Josh Brown
A depth move. Brown is 6-5, 221, and averaged about 14 minutes a game with the Senators. Ottawa gets winger Zach Senyshyn, a former first-round pick who has played only 14 NHL games. The teams also traded lower-round picks.
Marc-Andre Fleury trade to Wild officially announced
The Wild posted this and the Blackhawks tweeted about Fleury: “A special player. Thank you for everything.” The return is a conditional first-round pick.
Justin Braun to the Rangers
Justin Braun is a right-shot defenseman on an expiring deal. New York seemingly is set on the right side with Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and Braden Schneider, so it will be interesting to see how Braun fits in and whether that means Schneider is out of the lineup or someone plays on his off side or another trade is coming.
Wild, Sharks make trade
As a follow to the Wild acquiring Marc-Andre Fleury, the Wild are dealing backup goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to the Sharks for rugged defenseman Jacob Middleton, according to Sportsnet. Kahkonen is a restricted free agent, which could free up the Sharks to trade goalie James Reimer. Middleton is the second gritty player added by the Wild after an earlier acquisition of Nicolas Deslauriers.
Reports: Marc-Andre Fleury heading to Wild
The Wild went through a stretch of goaltending woes this season, and Fleury has three Stanley Cup rings and two other trips to the Final, plus won the Vezina Trophy last season. He had a say in where he went, so he must have a lot of faith in the Wild and the vision of general manager Bill Guerin, his former teammate with the Penguins. The Athletic reported that backup goalie Kaapo Kahkonen will be traded in a separate deal.
Coyotes, Jets make trade
The Coyotes are acquiring the rights to Minnesota State and U.S. Olympic forward Nathan Smith from the Jets. He is a Hobey Baker finalist with 49 points in 34 games. Also heading to Arizona is the contract of Brian Little (two years left at about $5.3 million a year). Little hasn’t played since the 2019-20 season because of a head injury. The Jets get a 2022 fourth-round pick.
Capitals acquire Marcus Johansson
Johansson, who played for the Capitals from 2010-17, was acquired from the Kraken, according to the Associated Press. He provides help for the Capitals, who have had a series of injuries in their forward ranks this season. The Kraken get back forward Daniel Sprong, a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023 sixth-rounder. The Kraken are retaining 50 percent of Johansson’s salary. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Coyotes trade for Jack McBain
The Coyotes gave up a 2022 second-round pick for the rights to unsigned Boston College center, who has 33 points in 24 games. He also played for Canada in the Beijing Olympics. The Wild had taken him in the third round of the 2018 draft.
Senators re-sign goalie Anton Forsberg
Anton Forsberg gets a three-year, $8.25 million contract, which takes him off the trade market.
Bruins re-sign forward Jake DeBrusk
Boston announced it has re-signed Jake DeBrusk to a two-year, $8 million extension. He has asked to be trade, so could this signing be a precursor to a deal?
Flyers could be quiet
Philadelphia got its main business done by trading Claude Giroux to the Panthers on Saturday. Defenseman Justin Braun is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Also among the pending UFAs: forward Derick Brassard and defenseman Keith Yandle, both of whom who could be useful rentals.
Coyotes to extend goalie Karel Vejmelka
In what has been a dismal season in Arizona, Karel Vejmelka has been a rare bright spot. He has posted a .905 save percentage across 36 games, but his performance since March 3 has been stellar with a save percentage over .923 in four of his past five starts. TSN’s Darren Dreger says the pending restricted free agent will be signing a three-year extension with an average annual value $2.725 million.
What’s next for Winnipeg Jets?
The Jets, sixth in the Central Division, have been a disappointment this season. But they have several players who could be savvy additions for playoff contenders. Forwards Andrew Copp and Paul Stastny are on top of that list; both are on expiring deals.
What are some needs?
The Bruins have been in need of a second-line center since David Krejci returned to the Czech Republic, but their decision to split up their top line has brought good results.
The Washington Capitals have to decide whether goalies Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov can take them far in the playoffs. Plus, they’re dealing with injury issues.
The Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending also is a question mark. Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot has turned around his game, but backup Kaapo Kahkonen has lost six in a row.
The St. Louis Blues could use help on the blue line.
The New York Rangers have plenty of cap space if they want to add to their offensive depth beyond their acquisition of Frank Vatrano.
Who’s still left?
-Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is a pending unrestricted free agent, but he has a big say in whether he’s dealt.
-Arizona Coyotes forward Phil Kessel has two Stanley Cup rings.
-Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun could bring a big return if dealt because he’s 23 and is signed through 2024-25 at a $4.6 million cap hit.
-Chicago’s Calvin de Haan would add defensive depth. So would the Red Wings’ Nick Leddy and Flyers’ Justin Braun, who have been held out of the lineup.
-Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk has requested a trade.
-Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck and defenseman Andy Greene were held out of the lineup Sunday, though coach Barry Trotz said it really was for maintenance.
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