NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Player Performance & Team Updates
Jack Hughes espn.com scored a hat trick and added an assist, marking his first NHL goals since winning the gold medal with Team USA two weeks ago in Italy. The New Jersey Devils defeated the rival New York Rangers 6-3 with Hughes' stellar performance. Meanwhile, Evgeni Malkin espn.com has been suspended five games for slashing Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Thursday's Penguins-Sabres game.
Trade Deadline Activity
The NHL trade deadline delivered numerous significant moves as teams positioned themselves for the stretch run. Nazem Kadri espn.com returned to the Avalanche in a trade with the Flames, bringing back the player who helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2021-22. The Red Wings bolstered their defense by acquiring Justin Faulk espn.com from the Blues and David Perron espn.com from the Senators in separate deals. The Maple Leafs traded Bobby McMann espn.com to the Kraken and Scott Laughton to the Kings, later sending Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche for draft picks.
The Lightning welcomed back Corey Perry espn.com, while the Islanders addressed their forward needs by acquiring Brayden Schenn espn.com from the Blues. The Hawks sent Nick Foligno espn.com to the Wild to reunite him with his brother Marcus. In a surprising move, the Capitals traded veteran defenseman John Carlson espn.com to the Ducks. The Sabres, after being spurned by Colton Parayko espn.com, instead traded for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. The Blue Jackets bolstered their lineup with Conor Garland espn.com from the Canucks, while the Stars added Michael Bunting espn.com from the Predators. The Wild also acquired Jeff Petry espn.com from the Panthers, and the Golden Knights traded for center Nic Dowd espn.com from the Capitals.
Contract Extensions & Roster Changes
The Kraken espn.com locked up captain Jordan Eberle with a two-year extension worth $5.5 million annually. The Sharks espn.com agreed to a two-year extension with goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, and the Ducks espn.com signed forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year, $15 million contract extension. The Panthers, after taking calls on Sergei Bobrovsky, decided to keep the veteran netminder and focus on negotiating a new contract.
Organizational & League News
The hockey community mourned the passing of Troy Murray espn.com, a former Blackhawks player and longtime team broadcaster who was 63 years old. With the trade deadline passed, Stanley Cup playoff races espn.com are taking shape as teams battle for playoff spots, division titles, and seeding. The Vegas Golden Knights placed captain Mark Stone espn.com on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Off the ice, the PWHL game at Madison Square Garden on April 4 has sold out espn.com, with a crowd expected to set a U.S. attendance record for professional women's hockey. The Capitals-Rangers game on April 5 will feature a special "Inside Out Classic" theme espn.com.