NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×NHL Trade Deadline Moves
The Red Wings espn.com acquired 15-year veteran defenseman Justin Faulk from the rebuilding Blues, bolstering their blue line. The Maple Leafs espn.com made multiple moves, sending forward Bobby McMann to the Kraken and forward Scott Laughton to the Kings ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline.
Detroit espn.com also brought back David Perron in a deal with the Senators, parting with a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick for the forward who spent two previous seasons with the Red Wings. The Capitals espn.com sent veteran defenseman John Carlson to the Ducks in what might be the most surprising development ahead of the deadline.
Major Player Acquisitions
The Avalanche espn.com re-acquired forward Nazem Kadri in a trade with the Flames, bringing back the player who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in the 2021-22 season before leaving for Calgary as a free agent. The Islanders espn.com landed Blues captain Brayden Schenn for their playoff push, sending Jonathan Drouin, two picks and a prospect back to St. Louis.
The Wild espn.com traded for Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, giving him an opportunity to play with his brother, Marcus. The Wild espn.com also added veteran defenseman Jeff Petry from the Panthers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026.
Western Conference Activity
The Oilers espn.com acquired forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Blackhawks in their second trade with Chicago this week. The Stars espn.com landed Predators forward Michael Bunting for a 2026 third-round pick.
The Utah Mammoth espn.com acquired Calgary Flames defenseman Mac Kenzie Weegar, bolstering their blue line as they seek their first playoff berth. The Golden Knights espn.com added veteran center Nic Dowd in a trade with the Capitals, sending back prospect goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Eastern Conference Developments
The Blue Jackets espn.com traded for Canucks forward Conor Garland as they seek their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2020. The Sabres espn.com addressed their blue line Thursday night by trading for Jets defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn after being spurned by Blues star Colton Parayko.
The Blues espn.com saw Parayko invoke his no-movement clause to prevent a trade to the Sabres, according to multiple reports. The Panthers espn.com kept goalie Sergei Bobrovsky after taking calls but failing to deal him, with general manager Bill Zito saying the plan now is to try and get a new deal done with the 37-year-old netminder.
Player Suspensions and Injuries
Penguins 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. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone espn.com was placed on injured reserve Thursday after being hurt in Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh.
Contract Extensions
The Kraken espn.com signed captain Jordan Eberle to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.5 million. The Sharks espn.com and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic agreed to a two-year contract extension. The Ducks espn.com and forward Ryan Poehling agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract extension during his first season with the team.
The Capitals espn.com signed forward Ethen Frank to a two-year, $4 million contract extension.
Other Notable News
Former Blackhawks player and broadcaster Troy Murray espn.com died at age. Murray played 12 seasons with Chicago and transitioned into becoming the team's longtime broadcasting analyst.
The Maple Leafs espn.com traded center Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche for a conditional first-round draft choice in 2027 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026. The Lightning espn.com are bringing back Corey Perry after a trade from the Kings.
The Capitals-Rangers matchup espn.com on April 5 will feature players skating alongside Joy and Sadness in the "Inside Out Classic," a real-time animated alternative broadcast featuring characters from the hit Pixar film.
The PWHL game espn.com on April 4 between the New York Sirens and the Seattle Torrent has sold out Madison Square Garden, with a crowd expected to set a U.S. attendance record for a professional women's hockey event.
Playoff Picture
Stanley Cup playoff spots espn.com remain up for grabs with division titles and seeds still to be determined. Projections, draft lottery standings and more are being closely watched as the regular season winds down.