NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Trade Deadline Buzz
With the NHL trade deadline approaching this Friday, the market has been fairly quiet but all it takes is one major deal to spark movement espn.com. The Predators made a move by trading winger Cole Smith to the Golden Knights for prospect defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round pick espn.com. Meanwhile, the Wild also bolstered their roster, acquiring veteran center Michael McCarron from Nashville for a 2028 second-round draft pick espn.com. The Oilers have also been active, trading for Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick espn.com.
Player Movement & Preferences
Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has put Western Conference teams on his 12-team no-trade list, expressing a preference for a destination close to the East Coast espn.com. Several NHL executives and player agents have voiced frustration about the impact new salary cap rules are having on this year's trade deadline espn.com.
Game Results & Team Updates
The Avalanche became the first NHL team with 40 wins this season, defeating the Kings in a match that marked Los Angeles' first game since firing coach Jim Hiller espn.com. Meanwhile, Tage Thompson scored the decisive goal during a tribute to U.S. hockey Olympians, helping the Sabres secure a victory espn.com.
Injuries & Coaching Changes
The Rangers placed captain J.T. Miller on injured reserve with an upper-body injury espn.com. The Golden Knights also faced injury concerns as captain Mark Stone left Sunday's game against the Penguins with an undisclosed issue espn.com. Following Hiller's dismissal, the Kings named associate head coach D.J. Smith as their interim coach espn.com.