NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Trade Deadline Moves
The Sharks espn.com locked up forward Kiefer Sherwood with a five-year extension worth $5.75 million annually against the salary cap. The Stars espn.com bolstered their defense by acquiring Tyler Myers from the Canucks, who received picks in 2027 and 2029. The Predators espn.com traded winger Cole Smith to the Golden Knights for prospect defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round pick. The Wild espn.com added veteran center Michael McCarron from Nashville in exchange for a 2028 second-round draft pick.
Trade Deadline Buzz
With the NHL trade deadline set for Friday, executives espn.com are expressing frustration with new salary cap rules that have complicated deadline deals. Vincent Trocheck espn.com has placed Western Conference clubs on his 12-team no-trade list and prefers an East Coast destination if moved by the Rangers, who placed captain J.T. Miller espn.com on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The Oilers espn.com strengthened their defense by acquiring Blackhawks' Connor Murphy for a 2028 second-round pick.
Game Results & Standings
The Avalanche espn.com became the first NHL team to reach 40 wins this season, defeating the Kings in their first game under new interim coach. The Sabres espn.com rode the momentum from a pregame celebration honoring U.S. hockey Olympians to a victory, with Tage Thompson scoring the decisive goal. The Rangers continue to deal with injuries as they approach the trade deadline.
Deadline Speculation
Analysts espn.com are projecting six potential win-win trades ahead of Friday's deadline, though the market has been relatively quiet this week. The Sabres espn.com are being mentioned as a potentially aggressive buyer in the trade market. Fantasy hockey players espn.com are making final moves to prepare for the deadline's impact on rosters.
Off-Ice News
Meredith Gaudreau espn.com thanked the U.S. men's hockey team following their Olympic gold medal victory, reflecting on her late husband Johnny Gaudreau's connection to the team. The trade deadline approaches with uncertainty about how many blockbusters will materialize before the 3 p.m. ET Friday cutoff.