Trade Deadline Recap: Western Conference
After a month of lead up, a sprinkling of trades over the last week or so, and a wild deadline day today, NHL teams are done with transactions for the 2017-18 NHL season. Here are the deals that improved contenders in the Western Conference:
Deadline Day
Winnipeg Jets receive:
F Paul Stastny
St. Louis Blues receive:
F Erik Foley
2018 first-round pick
Conditional 2020 fourth-round pick
Vegas Golden Knights receive:
F Tomas Tatar
Detroit Red Wings receive:
2018 first-round pick
2019 second-round pick
2021 third-round pick
Nashville Predators receive:
F Ryan Hartman
2018 fifth-round pick
Chicago Blackhawks receive:
F Victor Ejdsell
2018 first-round pick
2018 fourth-round pick
San Jose Sharks receive:
F Evander Kane
Buffalo Sabres receive:
F Danny O’Regan
Conditional 2019 first-round pick
Conditional 2020 fourth-round pick
Anaheim Ducks receive:
F Jason Chimera
New York Islanders receive:
F Chris Wagner
Vegas Golden Knights receive:
D Philip Holm
Vancouver Canucks receive:
F Brendan Leipsic
Winnipeg Jets receive:
D Joe Morrow
Montreal Canadiens receive:
2018 fourth-round pick
Calgary Flames receive:
F Nick Shore
Ottawa Senators receive:
2019 seventh-round pick
Trade Deadline Recap: Eastern Conference
After a month of lead up, a sprinkling of trades over the last week or so, and a wild deadline day today, NHL teams are done with transactions for the 2017-18 NHL season. Here are the deals that improved contenders in the Eastern Conference:
Deadline Day
Tampa Bay Lightning receive:
D Ryan McDonagh
F J.T. Miller
New York Rangers receive:
F Vladislav Namestnikov
F Brett Howden
D Libor Hajek
2018 first-round pick
Conditional 2019 second-round pick
Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
F Thomas Vanek
Vancouver Canucks receive:
F Tyler Motte
F Jussi Jokinen
Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
D Ian Cole
Ottawa Senators receive:
F Nick Moutrey
2020 third-round pick
New Jersey Devils receive:
F Patrick Maroon
Edmonton Oilers receive:
F J.D. Dudek
2019 third-round pick
New York Islanders receive:
F Chris Wagner
Anaheim Ducks receive:
F Jason Chimera
Boston Bruins receive:
F Tommy Wingels
Chicago Blackhawks receive:
Conditional 2019 fifth-round pick
Pittsburgh Penguins receive:
F Josh Jooris
Carolina Hurricanes receive:
F Greg McKegg
Nashville, Arizona Make Four-Player Minor League Deal
Another late trade has come through, as the Arizona Coyotes continue to focus on strengthening their farm team, the Tuscon Roadrunners, who currently sit atop their division with an eye on the Calder Cup this season. The Tennessean’s Adam Vignan relays that the Nashville Predators have sent Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Trevor Murphy to Arizona for Tyler Gaudet and John Ramage.
The deal appears to suit both teams well, as Murphy appears to be the prize for Arizona, enjoying a great year with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, while Gaudet and Ramage have NHL experience that could prove useful to Nashville the rest of the way if injuries occur.
Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers Swap Minor Leaguers
In an unusually late announcement, the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to send defenseman Chris Bigras to the New York Rangers for defenseman Ryan Graves, per BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater. Both players will remain at the AHL level for now.
Bigras, 23, has actually played in 46 NHL games, including 15 this season. However, the 2013 second-round pick has not shown enough ability and upside to warrant keeping him at the top level in a regular role. The former OHL standout is still very raw and needs some seasoning before the Rangers could expect to hand him a full-time job.
Graves, also a 2013 draft pick, is in his third pro season but has yet to make his NHL debut. The massive 6’5″ defender needed a change of scenery and may get the opportunity to display both his physical ability and modest possession game in Colorado.
Edmonton Oilers Trade Patrick Maroon To New Jersey
The New Jersey Devils have added another impact forward. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Devils have acquired Patrick Maroon from the Edmonton Oilers. The return is a 2019 third-round pick and a prospect. Edmonton beat writer Jim Matheson adds that the prospect is Boston College center J.D. Dudek.
New Jersey adds even more firepower after adding Michael Grabner last week. Maroon, 29, has 30 points on the year for a struggling Oilers squad, but finished with 42 in 2016-17 in a much more cohesive offensive unit. Jumping into a talented Devils forward corps, Maroon’s size and ability to crash the net will add another dimension and should mesh well with the group.
In a tough Metropolitan Division, the Devils have done enough to stay relevant and challenge for a divisional berth and a postseason run. Without having to give up a first-round pick or top prospect, GM Ray Shero has added two of the top forwards on the trade market in what was a skilled manipulation of the deadline.
Not for nothing, but Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston is already reporting that Maroon has said he would like to return to Edmonton when he hits free agency this summer.
Minnesota Trades Mike Reilly To Montreal Canadiens
2:20pm: Reilly has been traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick.
12:40pm: The Minnesota Wild don’t have a ton of financial flexibility for the trade deadline, but moving a body out could give them a bit more. That body might be Mike Reilly, who according to Michael Russo of The Athletic has already generated a “couple offers.” One of those teams is the Buffalo Sabres, who are looking for any upgrades on the back end as they struggle through another disappointing season.
Reilly looked like a key part of the Wild defense corps, but with the emergence of Nick Seeler in the last few weeks might have made him expendable. The team needs to free up some cash for a potential signing of Jordan Greenway and recall of Luke Kunin down the stretch, but would be weakening their NHL group by moving Reilly at this point. While that might be possible, it is still risky.
It’s not surprising that several teams would have interest in the 24-year old defenseman, who comes with another year at a reasonable $725K cap hit before becoming a restricted free agent. In 84 career NHL games, Reilly has 18 points but is a mobile versatile defenseman that could provide decent depth for any playoff team, or a potential growth option for a rebuilding squad.
Boston Bruins Add Tommy Wingels From Blackhawks
The Boston Bruins have added another depth piece. The Boston Sports Journal’s Joe McDonald reports that Tommy Wingels of the Chicago Blackhawks is headed to the Bruins in a deal that got done just before the deadline. Boston has confirmed that the return to Chicago is a conditional 2019 fifth-round pick. If the Bruins re-sign Wingels or advance through the first round of the playoffs, it becomes a 2019 fourth-rounder.
Wingels, 29, is a gritty bottom-six forward who provided a nice edge to the Blackhawks’ forward corps this season after signing as a free agent last summer. Wingels is also a former 30-point scored during his time with the San Jose Sharks and can be an effective power forward in the right situation.
The Bruins were known to be looking for forward depth heading into the deadline, but after the loss of Anders Bjork to season-ending injury and the trade of Frank Vatrano, that interest ramped up. Rick Nash was obviously the major addition up front in Boston, but as far as depth options, Wingels joins free agent signing Brian Gionta and expected rookie signing Ryan Donato as the Bruins’ new understudies for the postseason run.
Montreal Canadiens Trade Joe Morrow To Winnipeg Jets
The Montreal Canadiens have traded Joe Morrow to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round pick. The Jets add another depth option on the blue line in the form of Morrow, 25, who had finally been given a real NHL role in Montreal after many seasons as an under-utilized extra man with the Boston Bruins.
In Morrow, Winnipeg rounds out a solid defensive corps as they march toward the postseason. While he may only contribute sparingly, Morrow can provide good puck movement and offensive instincts.
Montreal moves on from the 2018 deadline having replaced two young defenseman, Morrow and Jakub Jerabek, with two others, Mike Reilly and Rinat Valiev. The team also netted some draft picks along the way in a solid albeit unspectacular series of moves.
Nick Shore Traded To Calgary Flames
Nick Shore has been traded to the Calgary Flames according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, after spending just a few weeks with the Ottawa Senators. Shore was part of the Dion Phaneuf–Marian Gaborik trade earlier this month, coming over from the Los Angeles Kings, but will now head west again in exchange for a 2019 seventh-round pick.
Shore, the younger brother of former Flame Drew Shore, has 16 points on the year split between two teams and is on pace for a career-high in scoring once he joins his third. The 25-year-old is also an impending restricted free agent, so Calgary does retain some control over the young forward.
Although to a lesser extent, the deal closely resembles a trade last year that saw Ottawa send 21-year-old Curtis Lazar to the Flames for a second-round pick. Lazar has been largely ineffective in Calgary, so the Flames hope for a better result from Shore.
Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Detroit’s Tomas Tatar
The NHL’s biggest surprise, the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, have made a major splash at the deadline, acquiring Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar. TSN’s Brennan Klak reports the Knights gave up a first-, second-, and third-round pick for Tatar. Wings beat writer Ted Kulfan adds that it’s a 2018 first, 2019 second, and 2021 third.
The Knights are banking on continued success in the postseason, giving up their first-rounder in the franchise’s second draft ever. It’s quite a return for Detroit, though they give up a talented forward in his prime and is signed long-term. Tatar has routinely put up 40+ points in the past few seasons and plays the up-tempo style that should pair well with the Vegas system.
The Knights get their prize of the deadline, though they came close to making the biggest move of them all. TSN’s Bob McKenzie indicated that Vegas was the final team in on Ottawa Senators defensive superstar Erik Karlsson, but their push to complete the deal ran out of time. When it became clear that Karlsson (and likely Bobby Ryan) weren’t coming, GM George McPhee set his sights on Tatar.