NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Playoff Races Heat Up
The Pacific Division espn.com title race comes down to a critical showdown between the Golden Knights and Oilers, with both teams jockeying for position in the final stretch. Stanley Cup projections espn.com are being reset across the league following the trade deadline, with every conference seeding now in flux as teams finalize their rosters for the postseason.
Trade Deadline Deals
The Colorado Avalanche espn.com re-acquired forward Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames, bringing back a key piece from their 2022 Stanley Cup championship run. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers espn.com failed to move goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and will now pivot to contract extension talks with the veteran netminder. The Detroit Red Wings espn.com added defensive depth by acquiring 15-year veteran Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues. In a separate move, Detroit also brought back familiar forward David Perron espn.com in a deal with the Ottawa Senators.
The Toronto Maple Leafs espn.com shuffled their forward depth, sending Bobby McMann to the Seattle Kraken and Scott Laughton to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kraken espn.com simultaneously locked up their captain, signing Jordan Eberle to a two-year extension worth $5.5 million annually. Corey Perry is returning to Tampa Bay espn.com after a trade from the Kings, adding veteran presence for a potential Cup run. The New York Islanders espn.com landed Blues captain Brayden Schenn in a package that sent Jonathan Drouin and assets back to St. Louis.
The Buffalo Sabres espn.com addressed their blue line by acquiring defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets after failing to land Colton Parayko. The Minnesota Wild espn.com traded for Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, setting up a reunion with his brother Marcus. Minnesota also added another veteran defenseman, acquiring Jeff Petry espn.com from the Florida Panthers for a conditional draft pick. The St. Louis Blues continued their sell-off, shipping Schenn and Drouin out as they rebuild.
The San Jose Sharks espn.com signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year extension, securing their netminder for the foreseeable future. The Anaheim Ducks espn.com locked up forward Ryan Poehling with a four-year, $15 million extension during his first season with the club. In a surprise move, the Washington Capitals espn.com traded longtime defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks, signaling a significant shift for the veteran-laden team. The Columbus Blue Jackets espn.com acquired forward Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks as they push for a playoff berth. The Dallas Stars espn.com added forward Michael Bunting in a second deadline deal, acquiring him from the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick.
Player News & Disciplinary Action
Jack Hughes espn.com celebrated his return from the 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal with a hat trick and an assist, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 6-3 victory over the rival New York Rangers. Evgeni Malkin espn.com received a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, a significant blow to the Pittsburgh Penguins' fading playoff hopes. The hockey world is mourning the passing of Troy Murray espn.com, the former Chicago Blackhawks player and longtime broadcaster who died at age.
Injury Report
Vegas Golden Knights espn.com captain Mark Stone was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, a recurring issue for the oft-injured forward during a crucial stretch for the Pacific leaders.
Power Rankings & Schedule
The latest NHL Power Rankings espn.com have been released, featuring a new 1-32 poll and highlighting each team's most must-watch game for the month of March as the playoff picture solidifies.