NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×NHL Trade Deadline Deals
The NHL trade deadline saw major moves across the league. The Penguins espn.com received a five-game suspension for Evgeni Malkin after his slash on Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin. The Avalanche espn.com re-acquired Nazem Kadri from the Flames, reuniting with the forward who helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2022. The Panthers espn.com decided to keep Sergei Bobrovsky and focus on contract negotiations instead of trading the veteran goalie.
Several teams bolstered their rosters for playoff pushes. The Red Wings espn.com acquired Justin Faulk from the rebuilding Blues, adding 15 years of NHL experience to their defense. The Maple Leafs espn.com made multiple moves, sending Bobby McMann to the Kraken and Scott Laughton to the Kings. The Lightning espn.com brought back Stanley Cup champion Corey Perry in a trade with the Kings.
Contract Extensions & Long-term Moves
Teams secured key players for the future. The Kraken espn.com signed captain Jordan Eberle to a two-year, $5.5 million extension. The Sharks espn.com locked up goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic with a two-year deal. The Ducks espn.com extended Ryan Poehling for four years at $15 million. The Capitals espn.com signed Ethen Frank to a two-year, $4 million extension, while the Sharks espn.com gave Kiefer Sherwood a five-year, $5.75 million annual cap hit extension.
Western Conference Shakeups
The West saw significant activity as teams positioned for playoff runs. The Islanders espn.com acquired Brayden Schenn, sending Jonathan Drouin, picks and a prospect to the Blues. The Wild espn.com traded for Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, giving him a chance to play alongside his brother Marcus. The Stars espn.com added Michael Bunting from the Predators for a 2026 third-round pick. The Golden Knights espn.com placed captain Mark Stone on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Surprising Developments
Some deadline moves caught the hockey world off guard. The Capitals espn.com traded veteran defenseman John Carlson to the Ducks in a surprising deadline deal. The Blues espn.com saw Colton Parayko invoke his no-movement clause to block a trade to the Sabres. The Sabres espn.com pivoted to acquire Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Jets after missing out on Parayko. The Blue Jackets espn.com traded for Canucks forward Conor Garland as they chase their first playoff berth since 2020.
Eastern Conference Activity
The East remained busy with several notable transactions. The Panthers espn.com traded Jeff Petry to the Wild for a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick. The Oilers espn.com acquired Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Blackhawks in their second trade of the week. The Mammoth espn.com bolstered their blueline by acquiring Flames defenseman Mac Kenzie Weegar.
Draft Picks & Future Assets
Teams balanced present needs with future assets. The Maple Leafs espn.com traded Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche for a conditional 2027 first-round pick and 2026 fifth-round pick. The Canucks espn.com sent Tyler Myers to the Stars, receiving 2027 and 2029 draft picks in return. The Golden Knights espn.com acquired Nic Dowd from the Capitals, sending back prospect Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick and 2029 second-round pick.
League Notes
Beyond trades, the NHL saw other developments. The PWHL espn.com announced a sellout at Madison Square Garden for their April 4 game between the Sirens and Torrent, expected to set a U.S. attendance record for women's professional hockey. The Capitals-Rangers espn.com matchup on April 5 will feature an "Inside Out Classic" with animated characters from the Pixar film.