NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Trade Deadline Moves
The Sharks espn.com secured 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 while the Predators 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 for a 2028 second-round draft pick.
Cap Rules & Deadline Impact
New NHL salary cap rules are creating frustration among teams ahead of Friday's deadline according to several executives and player agents. The Oilers espn.com addressed their defensive needs by trading for Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick. Vincent Trocheck espn.com has placed Western Conference clubs on his 12-team no-trade list preferring an East Coast destination if the Rangers move him.
Injuries & Team Updates
Rangers captain J.T. Miller espn.com was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury. The Kings lost their first game under interim coach marking their first contest since firing Jim Hiller on Sunday. Meanwhile the Avalanche espn.com secured their 40th win of the season becoming the first NHL team to reach that milestone.
Olympic Celebration & Player Tributes
Tage Thompson espn.com scored the decisive goal in the Sabres' 3-2 victory following a pregame celebration honoring U.S. hockey Olympians. Meredith Gaudreau espn.com reflected on her Olympic trip that resulted in gold for U.S. men's hockey sharing her experience as the widow of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau.
Deadline Speculation
With Friday's trade deadline approaching the market has been relatively quiet but executives expect activity to pick up. The Sabres espn.com are considered aggressive potential buyers as teams position themselves for the final push. Analysts are projecting several win-win trades that could reshape the playoff landscape before the 3 p.m. ET deadline.