Sizing up NHL deals before the Feb. 25 trade deadline
Analyzing the notable deals and other happenings in the month leading up to the Feb. 25 NHL trade deadline:
Feb. 25. The San Jose Sharks acquire Gustav Nyquist from the Detroit Red Wingsfor two draft picks (a second in 2019 and a third in 2020). The third becomes a second if the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup.
Analysis: There were rumblings that Red Wings GM Ken Holland would only move Nyquist if he could land a first-round pick, but it seems like he did the prudent thing in accumulating draft picks for a team that is at the beginning of a rebuild. Nyquist, a pending unrestricted free agent, continues a trend for the Sharks in fueling up for a Cup run; in the past year, they have added Erik Karlsson and Evander Kane. Nyquist, who has 49 points, will give the Sharks, third in scoring, another added offensive element.
Feb. 24: The Buffalo Sabres acquire defenseman Brandon Montour from the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Brendan Guhle and a first-round pick.
Analysis: Montour, 24, plays an up-tempo game and is on pace for a second consecutive 30-point season. Guhle, 21, has limited NHL experience, but the Ducks believe he's ready to take the next step.
Feb. 23: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Ryan Dzingel and a seventh-round draft pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for left wing Anthony Duclair and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021.
Analysis: The Blue Jackets pick up their second Senators player in two days, after getting Matt Duchene earlier. Dzingel, who has back-to-back 20-goal seasons is an upgrade over Duclair, who didn't get a lot of ice time in Columbus. Dzingel is a pending unrestricted free agent, as are Duchene and Blue Jackets player Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.
Feb. 23: The Dallas acquire forward Mats Zuccarello from the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2019 and a conditional third-round pick in 2020.
Analysis: The Stars, trying to hang on to a wild-card spot, need scoring and Zuccarello (37 points in 46 games) becomes Dallas' No. 4 scorer. But he broke his hand in his Stars debut and will be out four weeks. The Rangers didn't seem to get much back, but both picks can turn into first-rounders. How: In 2019, if the Stars reach the third round of the playoffs and Zuccarello plays in at least 50% of the team's games over the first two rounds. In 2020, if Dallas re-signs Zuccarello in the offseason.
Feb. 23: The Dallas Stars acquire defenseman Ben Lovejoy from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Connor Carrick and a third-round pick.
Analysis: The Stars earlier lost defenseman Marc Methot to injury, and Lovejoy is an experienced defensive specialist. The Devils will be the fourth NHL team for Carrick, 24.
Feb. 22: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire Matt Duchene from the Ottawa Senators for prospects Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson, a first-round pick in 2019 and a 2020 first-round pick if Duchene re-signs in Columbus. The Blue Jackets also got prospect Julius Bergman.
Analysis: Might this end up as the biggest deal this trade season? Duchene, who has 27 goals and 58 points, is a bona fide top-line center who will give the Blue Jackets two strong scoring lines. The bigger takeaway, though, is that this signals that the Blue Jackets are all-in on a playoff run and potentially take two trade candidates off the market. Forward Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, both unrestricted free agents this offseason, have indicated they are unlikely to re-sign in Columbus. Those two players were atop all trade boards. The Senators, meanwhile, look to keep the "for sale" sign open by next trading forwards Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel.
Feb. 22: The Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Nick Jensen and a fifth-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings for defenseman Madison Bowey and a second-round 2020 pick.
Analysis: After acquiring Jensen, 28, the Capitals signed him a four-year, $10 million extension. He's a slick skater who kills penalties, and the Capitals rank 22nd in that category. He has tied his career best of 15 points and averages nearly 21 minutes a game. Bowey is 23 and has two years left on his contract. Though he hasn't scored at the NHL level, he did in junior hockey.
Feb. 21: The Washington Capitals acquire forward Carl Hagelin for a third-round pick and a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick.
Analysis: This is Hagelin's second trade this season. He has slumped this season, but he is speedy and he kills penalties. The Capitals created room for him by waiving playoff hero Devante Smith-Pelly and sending him to the American Hockey League once he cleared.
Feb. 20: The Boston Bruins acquire forward Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Ryan Donato and a conditional fifth-round pick.
Analysis: Coyle, a Massachusetts native and former Boston University player, can slot in on the Bruins' second or third line as a center or winger. Though he's not a major scorer, he has size and speed and can help a team that relies heavily on its top line and is missing injured David Pastrnak. The Wild are hoping they get the Donato who scored nine points in 12 games last season after leaving Harvard rather than the one who struggled this season and spent two stints in the American Hockey League. Coyle has another year left on his contract. The fifth-round pick becomes a fourth-rounder if the Bruins reach the second round of the playoffs.
Feb. 20: The Anaheim Ducks reach agreement with forward Jacob Silfverberg on a five-year extension.
Analysis: The extension takes him off the trade market. The Orange County Register reports that it's worth a little more than $5 million a year. Silfverberg had has four goals in four games since general manager Bob Murray went behind the bench. The Register says the Ducks might have to deal someone by Monday to get under the cap.
Feb. 15: Philadelphia Flyers acquire goalie Cam Talbot from the Edmonton Oilers for goalie Anthony Stolarz.
Analysis: Talbot is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, while Stolarz is a restricted free agent. Thus, it appears the Flyers will aim to rebuild his value (.893 SV%) as he serves as a veteran mentor for Carter Hart. For the Oilers, it's a cost-cutting move.
Feb. 6: Nashville Predators acquire forward Brian Boyle from the New Jersey Devils for a 2019 second-round pick.
Analysis: Boyle, 34, gives the Predators an experienced, playoff-tested bottom-six center who can kill penalties. He provides a big body who can weather the physical nature of a Western Conference playoff series. The big worry with him is he isn't a great skater.
Feb. 1: Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann from the Florida Panthers for forwards Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, plus a second-round pick and two fourth-rounders.
Analysis: Brassard was the Penguins' big acquisition last year as they tried for a three-peat, but he didn't turn out. Both Brassard and Sheahan will be unrestricted free agents after this season while Bjugstad (two years) and McCann (one years) still have term. Bjugstad has struggled on offense this season, but he did have 19 goals and 49 points last season. The Panthers could choose to trade Brassard again before the
Jan. 28: Toronto Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to unsigned defenseman Sean Durzi and a first-round pick.
Analysis: The versatile Muzzin will assume a top-four role on the Maple Leafs defense, which had been an area of weakness. He averages more than 21 minutes a night and can kill penalties and play on the power play. An added bonus: He has a year left on his contract. The older Kings need an infusion of youth. Durzi has offensive potential and is averaging more than a point a game in the Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons.
Jan. 28: Artemi Panarin's agent says the star forward won't discuss a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets until after the season.
Analysis: His stand hasn't changed since before the season. This just reinforces it. The Blue Jackets could end up losing him for nothing in the offseason, but they really can't trade him either. Their best bet is to persuade him to stay by having a big postseason run.
Jan. 28: Dallas Stars acquire defenseman Jamie Oleksiak for a fourth-round pick.
Analysis: The Stars needed a defenseman with Marc Methot having season-ending surgery. They know Oleksiak from his time with them before he was dealt to the Penguins in December 2017 for a fourth-round pick.
