Rivals get stronger at trade deadline
Team’s jockey to unseat B’s
The Bruins weren’t silent on NHL trade deadline day, shipping Danton Heinen to the Ducks for Nick Ritchie, but they were far from the most active.
The expected buyers made moves to get better as well, including some of the Bruins’ biggest rivals in the East, who all made improvements.
Kovalchuk to Caps
Long-rumored Bruins target Ilya Kovalchuk was shipped from Montreal to Washington late on Sunday, and supposedly he had the choice from the Habs of where to go, Washington or Boston. The Russian chose the Caps, where he joins an already loaded team that’s chasing the Bruins for the best record in the East.
Washington also added Ducks forward Daniel Sprong in return for defenseman Christian Djoos.
Hurricanes active
Carolina is going for it. If trading for Sami Vatanen of the Devils wasn’t enough, they also went out and traded a first round pick to add Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei.
For Vatanen, who is currently injured, the Hurricanes had to give up just a conditional fifth rounder and prospects Janne Kuokkanen and Fredrik Claesson. Vatanen will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Carolina also added Florida forward Vincent Trocheck, as the Panthers had an odd deadline themselves. The Canes had to give up Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, and prospects Eetu Luostarinen and Chase Priskie to get the 26-year-old forward, who has 10 goals and 26 assists in 55 games.
Trocheck also has two years left on his deal with a $4.75 million cap hit.
Interestingly, the Hurricanes did not make a move for a goalie, with the most high-profile goaltender on the market, Robin Lehner, going from the Blackhawks to Vegas.
Penguins reload
Pittsburgh was already on a winning track with the addition of Jason Zucker earlier in the season, and they added even more on deadline day to assist in their push in the Metro.
They added Sharks veteran Patrick Marleau, who wanted a shot to win a Cup and wasn’t going to get it with the abysmal Sharks. The Pens surrendered a third-round pick.
Pittsburgh also added forwards Conor Sheary — formerly a Penguins forward — and Evan Rodrigues. Rodrigues, a Boston University alum, has struggled to get going in any way for the hapless Sabres this season.
Going to Buffalo for the duo is Dominik Kahun, who has 10 goals and 17 assists this season for the Pens.
Lightning strike
Tampa Bay already shook things up, adding Blake Coleman last week, and they added another dynamic scorer to their lineup on
Monday.
The Bolts sent a firstround pick and a prospect to San Jose for 26-year-old forward Barclay Goodrow, a physical forward with eight goals and 16 assists. He has one year left on his contract with a cap hit of less than $1 million.
Other moves
Toronto sent backup goalie Michael Hutchison to Colorado for defenseman Calle Rosen, after they had added a new goalie, Jack Campbell, earlier in the month.
Detroit shipped forward Andreas Athanasiou to the Oilers for Sam Gagner. Edmonton also acquired Tyler Ennis from the Senators.
Lehner went to the Golden Knights and former Bruins goalie Malcom Subban went to Chicago in the deal, along with defenseman Slava Demin and a second round pick.