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Nashville Predators Acquire Anthony Angello

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The Nashville Predators announced Wednesday afternoon that the team has acquired forward Anthony Angello from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.

NHL deals after the trade deadline are obviously a rarity, but players destined for the minors under NHL contracts can still be moved prior to Friday, March 10. That’s the date of the AHL trade deadline.

It means that “future considerations” are likely assets under AHL contracts with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s affiliate, heading to St. Louis’ affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Angello, 27, will report to Milwaukee. A 2014 fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Angello is amidst a down season with 11 points in 45 games with Springfield.

He does have 31 games of NHL experience, coming as recently as last season with Pittsburgh. Angello is ineligible to play with Nashville down the stretch run, and he would not be eligible to suit up in the unlikely event they clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

St. Louis Blues Sign Anton Malmstrom

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The St. Louis Blues announced Monday that the team signed defenseman Anton Malmstrom to a two-year entry-level contract. The contract will begin in the 2023-24 season, making Malmstrom a restricted free agent in 2025. Per CapFriendly, the deal carries a cap hit of $910K, and the full structure is as follows:

2023-24: $775K base salary, $95K signing bonus, $80K games played bonus
2024-25: $855K base salary, $95K signing bonus

The Blues said Malmstrom, 22, will join the team’s AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, on an amateur tryout for the remainder of 2022-23.

The hulking 6’4″ defenseman from Österhaninge, Sweden, is an undrafted free agent signing out of Bowling Green State University, one of the first college signings of the 2023 season. Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest reported last month that Malmstrom was drawing some NHL interest and named the Blues as the frontrunner to sign him after he attended their development camp in 2022.

This season with Bowling Green, Malmstrom served as an alternate captain and registered three goals and six points in 33 contests, along with a -8 rating. Those both were career-highs for Malmstrom at Bowling Green, and even considering his junior production in Sweden, his point production has never been where you’d expect an NHL-level prospect to be. Even if his defensive game is the appeal behind his signing, Malmstrom must work on his offensive awareness in Springfield for a shot at the NHL.

Armstrong Hoping To Avoid Being Active In Free Agency This Summer

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  • Considering the Blues were selling, it may have come as some surprise that they picked up wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Jakub Vrana before the trade deadline. However, GM Doug Armstrong told reporters including Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (subscription link) that his preference would be to not get involved in the free agent market this summer and would rather have players on shorter-term deals that they can decide on later.  Both Kapanen and Vrana have one year left on their contracts after this one so St. Louis has elected to go with them over handing out multi-year agreements to other players on the open market in July.

Trade Deadline Roundup: Western Conference

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While trade deadline day was largely a dud in itself, that was because so many moves were made in the days leading up to March 3rd.  With that in mind, here is a recap of the trades made in the Western Conference in the ten days leading up to deadline day to show who all moved where in what was a busy trade period overall.  Players and picks that were acquired and then flipped are only noted for their final destination.

Anaheim Ducks

Acquired: F Brock McGinn, F Nikita Nesterenko, D Chase Priskie, F Dylan Sikura, F Josiah Slavin, D Andrej Sustr, 2024 third-round pick (PIT), 2024 third-round pick (SJ), 2025 fifth-round pick (MIN)

Traded: F Hunter Drew, F Max Golod, D John Klingberg, D Dmitry Kulikov, D Austin Strand, D Henry Thrun

Arizona Coyotes

Acquired: D Michael Kesselring, D Connor Mackey, F Brett Ritchie, F Jakub Voracek, Shea Weber, 2023 first-round pick (OTT), 2023 third-round pick (EDM), 2023 sixth-round pick (CBJ), 2024 second-round pick (OTT), 2025 third-round pick (NYR), 2023 fifth-round pick (VGK), 2026 third-round pick (CAR), 2026 sixth-round pick (OTT)

Traded: F Nick Bjugstad, D Jakob Chychrun, D Cam Dineen, G Jon Gillies, D Shayne Gostisbehere, D Dysin Mayo, F Nick Ritchie, D Vili Saarijarvi, D Troy Stecher

Calgary Flames

Acquired: F Dryden Hunt, F Nick Ritchie, D Troy Stecher

Traded: D Connor Mackey, F Brett Ritchie, F Radim Zohorna

Chicago Blackhawks

Acquired: F Joey Anderson, F Anders Bjork, F Hunter Drew, D Andreas Englund, G Anton Khudobin, F Pavel Gogolev, F Max Golod, D Vili Saarijarvi, F Austin Wagner, D Andy Welinski, D Nikita Zaitsev, 2023 second-round pick (NYR), 2023 second-round pick (OTT), 2025 first-round pick (TOR), 2025 second-round pick (DAL), 2025 fourth-round pick (NYR), 2026 second-round pick (TOR), 2026 fourth-round pick (OTT)

Traded: F Max Domi, D Jack Johnson, F Patrick Kane, F Sam Lafferty, D Jake McCabe, F Dylan Sikura, F Josiah Slavin, G Dylan Wells, D Cooper Zech, 2024 fifth-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick

Colorado Avalanche

Acquired: F Lars Eller, D Jack Johnson, G Keith Kinkaid, F Gustav Rydahl

Traded: F Anton Blidh, F Shane Bowers, D Andreas Englund, 2025 second-round pick

Dallas Stars

Acquired: F Evgenii Dadonov, F Max Domi, F Scott Reedy, G Dylan Wells

Traded: F Denis Gurianov, G Anton Khudobin, F Jacob Peterson, 2025 second-round pick

Edmonton Oilers

Acquired: F Nick Bjugstad, D Cam Dineen, D Mattias Ekholm, F Patrik Puistola, 2024 sixth-round pick (NSH)

Traded: D Tyson Barrie, D Michael Kesselring, F Jesse Puljujarvi, F Reid Schaefer, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick

Los Angeles Kings

Acquired: D Vladislav Gavrikov, G Joonas Korpisalo, F Zack MacEwen, G Erik Portillo, F Nate Schnarr

Traded: D Frederic Allard, F Brendan Lemieux, G Jonathan Quick, F Austin Wagner, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, 2024 third-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

Minnesota Wild

Acquired: D John Klingberg, F Marcus Johansson, F Gustav Nyquist, F Oskar Sundqvist, 2023 second-round pick (VGK), 2024 fifth-round pick (BUF)

Traded: F Jordan Greenway, F Nikita Nesterenko, D Andrej Sustr, F Andrei Svetlakov, 2023 fourth-round pick, 2024 third-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick

Nashville Predators

Acquired: F Rasmus Asplund, D Tyson Barrie, D Cal Foote, F Isaac Ratcliffe, F Austin Rueschhoff, F Reid Schaefer, 2023 first-round pick (EDM), 2023 second-round pick (PIT), 2023 third-round pick (TB), 2023 fourth-round pick (TB), 2023 fifth-round pick (TB), 2024 second-round pick (TB), 2024 second-round pick (WPG), 2024 fourth-round pick (EDM), 2025 first-round pick (TB)

Traded: D Mattias Ekholm, F Mikael Granlund, F Tanner Jeannot, F Nino Niederreiter, 2024 sixth-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick

San Jose Sharks

Acquired: D Arvid Henrikson, F Andreas Johnsson, D Shakir Mukhamadullin, D Nikita Okhotyuk, D Henry Thrun, F Fabian Zetterlund, 2023 first-round pick (NJ), 2023 seventh-round pick (PIT), 2024 second-round pick (NJ), 2024 fourth-round pick (PIT), 2024 seventh-round pick (NJ), 2025 fourth-round pick (WPG),

Traded: F Nick Bonino, G Zacharie Emond, F Michael Eyssimont, D Scott Harrington, D Santeri Hatakka, F Timur Ibragimov, F Timo Meier, D Tony Sund, 2024 third-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick (COL), 2024 fifth-round pick

Seattle Kraken

No trades made

St. Louis Blues

Acquired: F Zach Dean, F Jakub Vrana

Traded: F Ivan Barbashev, F Dylan McLaughlin, 2025 seventh-round pick

Vancouver Canucks

Acquired: F Josh Bloom, D Filip Hronek, F Vitali Kravtsov, 2023 third-round pick (TOR) 2023 fourth-round pick (DET), 2024 fourth-round pick (NJ)

Traded: D Wyatt Kalynuk, F Curtis Lazar, F William Lockwood, D Luke Schenn, D Riley Stillman, 2023 first-round pick (NYI), 2023 second-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick

Vegas Golden Knights

Acquired: F Ivan Barbashev, F Teddy Blueger, D Dysin Mayo, G Jonathan Quick

Traded: F Zach Dean, F Peter DiLiberatore, G Michael Hutchinson, D Shea Weber, 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 third-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick

Winnipeg Jets

Acquired: F Nino Niederreiter, F Vladislav Namestnikov

Traded: 2024 second-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick

St. Louis Blues Acquire Jakub Vrana

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The first official trade of deadline day has come across the wire. As made official by the team this morning, the St. Louis Blues have acquired forward Jakub Vrana from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Per Chris Johnston on TSN’s TradeCentre program, the Red Wings retain 50% of Vrana’s $5.25MM cap hit.

Of note, McLaughlin won’t actually be leaving the Blues organization. After announcing the trade, the Red Wings immediately loaned McLaughlin back to the Blues AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Vrana’s acquisition continues a newfound trend of reclamation projects in St. Louis as the team enters a new era without Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko. He’s had an incredibly difficult 2022-23, entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program just a few weeks into the season. After more than a two-month absence, he was waived and sent to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to extend his stay in the minors after a conditioning stint. He posted six goals and 11 points in 17 games there and didn’t record a point in three outings after his recent recall to Detroit.

It’s a season that’s made many forget Vrana scored 20-plus goals in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2020, and had 13 goals in just 26 games in 2021-22. The 27-year-old may be on a steep cap hit with a concerning injury history, but he has obvious scoring potential if he can string some games together with an increased role in St. Louis.

While the return for Detroit is minimal, especially after parting with Anthony Mantha to acquire him, the trade provides the Red Wings with some salary cap benefits. Elite Prospects’ Sean Shapiro reports that the Red Wings and Vrana were likely headed for a buyout had he not been traded, leaving Detroit with a shorter cap penalty in a retained salary transaction. It’s a good solution for both sides, with a 2025 seventh-round pick just a hair above “future considerations” in terms of value.

St. Louis Blues Extend Sammy Blais

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After re-acquiring Sammy Blais earlier this year, the St. Louis Blues have already reached a contract extension with him. The team announced a one-year, $1MM deal for the 2023-24 season.

While he never fit with the New York Rangers, Blais, and the Blues have always been a perfect match. One of the most physical forwards in the NHL, his return to St. Louis has gone exactly as expected, with 34 hits in just nine games. The fact that he’s chipped in two goals after failing to score a single one through 49 games in New York is just even more evidence that he belonged in St. Louis the whole time.

A one-year deal for less money than he is currently making was likely always going to be the outcome after his ACL injury and disappointing campaign, and the Blues will give him a chance to bounce back next season.

While he’ll never be a top-line contributor, head coach Craig Berube is adamant about getting back to the hard-working, lunchpail style that brought the Blues so much success in the past.

St. Louis Blues Sign Michael Buchinger

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The St. Louis Blues have inked Michael Buchinger to a three-year entry-level contract, rewarding the young defenseman after an excellent OHL season. Buchinger plays for the Guelph Storm, where he will remain through the end of the year.

It’s been a pretty good day for Buchinger, who scored two goals, including the overtime winner in Guelph’s afternoon matchup against the Mississauga Steelheads. The 18-year-old now has 13 goals and 56 points through 51 games, after being the 88th overall pick last summer.

A smooth skater that loves to jump into the rush or lead it himself, he has 163 shots on goal this year, fifth in the league among defensemen. He leads everyone with 28 powerplay assists, and should only improve on those numbers next season when he returns to junior.

While there is still work to be done polishing out his game, there’s plenty for Blues fans to get excited about as they watch Buchinger rack up the points.

St. Louis Blues Recall Nikita Alexandrov From AHL

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The St. Louis Blues have recalled forward Nikita Alexandrov from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, the team announced in a press release Monday.

Alexandrov, 22, has suited up in 20 games with St. Louis this season, scoring three goals and adding two assists in his first NHL action. He has also recorded 23 points in 29 AHL games with Springfield. With the Blues making the transition to younger, less-proven players, Alexandrov could be given a chance to stick with the team for the remainder of the season.

Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Ivan Barbashev

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The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired forward Ivan Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues. The Blues will receive prospect Zach Dean in return. Barbashev is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $2.25MM cap hit.

This move takes another quality name off the trade board in advance of Friday’s deadline and is the third trade the Blues have made this month, following the departures of Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly.

Worth noting is that this deal is not expected to take to the Golden Knights out of the running for San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier, whose trade saga was reported today to be down to just two teams: Vegas and the New Jersey Devils.

Adding Barbashev gives Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy a talented, versatile option to plug into his forward corps. Injuries have forced Vegas to play Michael Amadio as a top-six winger as of late, and has forced top scorer Chandler Stephenson into the third-line center role in between Phil Kessel and William Carrier.

Barbashev can play center and the wing, so Cassidy could choose to play him in Amadio’s spot or even shift him to third-line center, allowing Stephenson to return to a role as a top-six winger. Barbashev has had success in both roles, scoring 26 goals and 60 points last season playing quite often as a winger alongside other scoring forwards.

He’s also had success playing as a two-way center, and is able to play on both special teams units. While Barbashev’s production is down from last season (he has 10 goals and 29 points in 59 games this year) he remains a valuable, versatile two-way player who can help fill needs as they pop up in Vegas’ lineup.

His jack-of-all-trades abilities should help Vegas as they seek to return to the playoffs, and as they get healthier, his value to their team will only grow.

For St. Louis, nabbing Dean for an expiring contract is a nice cherry on top of what was already a successful trade season. The 20-year-old forward was selected 30th overall in 2021, and was recently showcased as a member of the Canadian World Junior team. He ended up with 33 penalty minutes in the short tournament because of an illegal check to the head as he played his signature brand of physical, high-energy hockey. Dean has recorded 49 points in 38 games for the Gatineau Olympiques this season.

Vegas continues to trade away top prospects for players they believe can get them closer to a Stanley Cup in the short term. Dean joins Peyton Krebs, Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, and Erik Brannstrom as first-round selections that have been traded since the team’s expansion. Only Brendan Brisson remains from the six players they’ve selected in the first round, and one would expect he is likely involved in any Meier talks.

TSN’s Darren Dreger first broke the trade on Twitter.

Blues Claim Kasperi Kapanen Off Waivers From Penguins

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Kasperi Kapanen is on the move as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports (Twitter link) that the Blues have claimed the winger off waivers from the Penguins.

The 26-year-old is in the midst of a tough season that has seen him record just seven goals and 13 assists in 43 games while being a healthy scratch on multiple occasions.  When he has been in the lineup, Kapanen is averaging just over 12 minutes a night which is a career low.  However, prior to this season, he has been a capable middle-six winger, ranging between 11 and 20 goals over the last four seasons between Pittsburgh and Toronto while he is one of the faster players in the league as well.

With that track record, it’s understandable that St. Louis would want to take a flyer on Kapanen to try to restore some value.  However, it does come with a somewhat notable salary commitment as the winger is in the first season of a two-year contract that carries a $3.2MM cap hit.  As a result of that claim, the Blues will take the entirety of that contract on.  Prior to the claim, they had nearly $71MM of commitments on the books for next season per CapFriendly with this claim pushing that number up to nearly $74MM for 16 players.  That won’t leave them with a lot of wiggle room to add to the back of their roster.

To make room for Kapanen (who won’t play today against his now-former team) on their roster, the Blues announced (Twitter link) that forward Nikita Alexandrov has been sent down to AHL Springfield.  The 22-year-old has five points in 20 games with St. Louis in his first taste of NHL action while he has done well in the minors, picking up 12 goals and 10 helpers in 28 contests with the Thunderbirds.

Meanwhile, it’s a disappointing end to Kapanen’s tenure with Pittsburgh with the team moving a first-round pick to reacquire him from Toronto less than two and a half years ago.  However, the move gives them some much-needed financial flexibility.  Being claimed allowed the Penguins to activate Jan Rutta from LTIR without needing to make any other roster moves while they will now have a bit more space to try to add another piece before the trade deadline.

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