NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Trade Deadline Moves
Multiple teams espn.com made significant trades ahead of Friday's NHL deadline. The Maple Leafs dealt forward Bobby McMann to the Kraken and forward Scott Laughton to the Kings. Meanwhile, the Red Wings acquired 15-year veteran defenseman Justin Faulk from the rebuilding Blues. Detroit also brought back David Perron in a deal with the Senators, parting with a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick. The Blackhawks sent captain Nick Foligno to the Wild, giving him an opportunity to play alongside his brother Marcus. The Ducks signed forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year, $15 million contract extension during his first season with the team.
Playoff Picture Updates
Jack Hughes espn.com had a hat trick and an assist in his first NHL game since winning gold at the Olympics, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 6-3 victory over the rival New York Rangers. Team USA's hero had been scoreless in his previous 11 games before breaking out with three goals. In other playoff-relevant news, the Avalanche re-acquired forward Nazem Kadri in a trade with the Flames. Kadri won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in the 2021-22 season but left for Calgary as a free agent that offseason. The Islanders acquired Brayden Schenn in a trade that sent Jonathan Drouin, two picks and a prospect back to the Blues. Schenn, had served as St. Louis' captain for the past three seasons.
Injury Updates
Captain Gabriel Landeskog espn.com is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the Avalanche announced Sunday. The news comes as Colorado looks to solidify its playoff positioning. The oft-injured Golden Knights also placed captain Mark Stone on injured reserve Thursday after he was hurt in Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh. Stone's upper-body injury adds to Vegas' growing list of health concerns as the team pushes for postseason positioning.
Contract Extensions
The Seattle Kraken espn.com signed captain Jordan Eberle to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.5 million. The deal keeps the veteran forward in Seattle through the 2025-26 season. The Sharks and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic agreed to a two-year contract extension. Meanwhile, after taking calls but failing to deal goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito said the plan now is to try and get a new deal done with the 37-year-old netminder.
Suspensions & Discipline
Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin espn.com has been suspended five games for slashing Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Thursday's game between the Penguins and Sabres. The suspension will cost Malkin significant game time as Pittsburgh pushes for playoff positioning. The Sabres, meanwhile, addressed their blue line Thursday night by trading for Jets defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn after being spurned by Blues star Colton Parayko.
Notable Deaths
Troy Murray espn.com, who played 12 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and transitioned into becoming the team's longtime broadcasting analyst, has died at age. Murray was originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round (seventh in the 1980 NHL Draft and played for the Jets, Blackhawks and Sharks during his career.
Western Conference Spotlight
The Golden Knights-Oilers game at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN takes center stage as both teams jockey for Pacific Division positioning. Mark Stone's espn.com absence due to injury adds intrigue to Vegas' playoff push. The Kings paid tribute to Artemi Panarin's brief overlap with their mascot's jersey after his number change, with No. 10 originally unavailable when he wanted to wear No. 72 upon being traded to Los Angeles.
Eastern Conference Developments
The Capitals traded veteran defenseman John Carlson to the Ducks in what might be the most surprising development ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline. In what could be his final season with Washington, the 33-year-old defenseman's departure signals a significant shift in the Capitals' direction. The Blue Jackets traded for Canucks forward Conor Garland as they seek their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2020.
International Impact
Team USA hero Jack Hughes returned from Olympic gold medal glory with a dominant three-goal performance for the Devils. His hat trick and assist marked his first NHL goals since winning gold in Italy two weeks ago, showing no signs of rust after the international tournament. The timing of his breakout could prove crucial for New Jersey's playoff positioning down the stretch.