NHL TRADE DEADLINE TRADES

A list of the trades to happen today, Monday the 28th:


The Atlanta Thrashers acquire Radek Dvorak and a 5th round pick in next years draft from the Florida Panthers for forwards Patrick Rissmiller and Niclas Bergfors. Bergfors may be the largest asset in the exchange. 


They also dealt Fredrik Modin to the Calgary Flames for a 7th round draft pick in next years draft.

Niclas Bergfors

Sabres Acquire Boyes

Late last night, the Buffalo Sabres made their first move of the month when they acquired forward Brad Boyes from St. Louis in exchange for a 2011 second round pick.

Boyes, 28, scored 43 goals in 2008 and scored 33 goals in 2009.  Since then, he hasn't been able to produce such consistent numbers but still shows some promise.  He has 12 goals and 29 assists in 62 games this season for the Blues.  This move gives the Sabres a good second line winger to bolster their offense.  You can expect many more moves in the next 12 hours or so.

Click here to check out the rest of the trades to go down.

3 Big Impact Players that MIGHT be Moved at the Trade Deadline

Let's take a look at 3 players that will certainly help any team with their playoff push.  All 3 of these players are still available as of now.  There are just over 24 hours until the 2011 NHL trade deadline.

#3) Ales Hemsky

Although health is a constant issue with Hemsky, he is a fantastic playmaker and a great scorer.  He has very good hands and if he can stay healthy has the potential to first line on any team.  Statistically, he is a point per game scorer, and is in the top ten in "points per 60 minutes".  Interested teams include Washington and Los Angeles, but a trade is not necessarily imminent.

McCabe to NYR

TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that Florida has traded star defenseman Bryan McCabe to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Tim Kennedy and a third round draft pick.

(He's coming for you...)

McCabe, in the last year of his 5 year $28.75 million dollar contract, will have to waive his no-trade clause to come to the Big Apple.  He has reached out on twitter stating that he is willing to do that so the trade seems imminent. 

The former Florida captain has 5 goals and 17 assists in 48 games.  This trade is a huge pickup for the Rangers as it gives them a veteran presence that they currently did not have.  All of their top 6 defensemen are under the age of 26.

In addition to todays trade, multiple waiver claims were made.  Washington picked up Marco Sturm, Philadelphia picked up Nick Boynton, and Los Angeles claimed Craig Rivet.  The New York Islanders also waived Rob Shremp and goalie Nate Lawson.

Click here to check out the rest of the trades to go down.

Minor Trade

Today, the Nashville Predators send Alexander Sulzer to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2012 7th round pick.  The Predators will get that pick only if Sulzer chooses to resign with Florida at the end of the season.

(His only career NHL goal)

Sulzer has 1 goal and 3 assists in 31 games this season.  That goal is his only career goal.

You can check out the rest of the trades to go down here. 

Pens Add Scoring Depth Among Other Trades Today

Just after recently acquiring James Neal and Matt Niskanen, Penguins GM Ray Shero made another move today trading for former Penguin All-Star Alex Kovalev.

Pittsburgh will trade a conditional 7th round pick in exchange for the talented winger.  Kovalev, who is celebrating his 38th birthday today, also had to waive his no-trade clause to re-join the injury ridden Pens.

Pens Trade Goligoski; Recieve Neal and Niskanen

Just minutes ago, Penguins GM Ray Shero pulled the trigger to acquire forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski. This move helps out Pittsburgh who is in desperate need of help after losing roughly 10 players due to injury within the past month or so. "O" face.

The biggest player in the deal for the Penguins is left winger James Neal who has 21 goals and 18 assists in 59 games. Neal will provide a scoring punch to a team who hasn't been completely healthy in a long time.

In addition to Neal, the Penguins receive Matt Niskanen, who in my opinion is more solid defensively than Goligoski, but lacks the point production that Goligoski brings to the team.

Touch the stars kid.

As for Dallas, Goligoski is a solid puck moving defenseman with a bright future ahead of him, but I really feel like they overpaid on this one. He's having a career season for sure, and he has a good amount of skill, but I just have a bad feeling about the way this trade will pan out for Dallas.

Nonetheless, this is an interesting trade, and it'll be fun to see if the Pens or Stars are looking to make any more moves in the near future.

My instincts say they are.

The Heritage Classic: Flames vs. Habs

Today, the NHL will be hosting is second outdoor game in just over a month and a half.  This game, also known as the Heritage Classic will take place today in Calgary at 6pm. 

The game will be played at McMahon stadium on the campus of the University of Calgary between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames.  Both teams will be sporting alternate uniforms.  

I think that the Flames jerseys look especially sharp and the Habs jerseys look just like all of their other jerseys.  Nonetheless, should be a good game.  As of right now it's 12° and feels like -4. It's only going to get colder. 

Stewart to the Blues: Blockbuster Trade #1

Early this morning, The St. Louis Blues and the Colorado Avalanche worked out a deal that surely goes down as the biggest trade to date this year.  Heres how it broke down:

Colorado Receives:
- (F) Jay McClement
- (D) Erik Johnson
- A 2011 or 2012 First round pick

St. Louis Receives:
- (F) Chris Stewart
- (D) Kevin Shattenkirk
- A 2011 or 2012 Second round pick

That's a lot to handle.  Let's take a look into things a little bit further...

Kaberle to Boston; Big Day for the Bruins

Today was a huge day for the Boston Bruins as we saw them make 2 trades which moved 3 players and 2 draft picks in order to receive star blueliner Tomas Kaberle, centerman Rich Peverley, and defenseman Boris Valabik. The Maple Leafs get future considerations and the Thrashers received a pair of players from the deals.

Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart in Atlanta's most hi-tech training facility.

This trade should make a significant impact on the Bruins remaining games, and should make similar impacts on the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs immediate and long term futures.

For further details on today's trades look after the jump.

Habs Acquire Mara

Yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens traded their 5th round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Paul Mara.

Mara hasn't played for the Ducks since January 18th and he became even more expendable since Anaheim traded for Francois Beauchemin.

All in all this trade doesn't mean too much.  You can check all the other trades to go down here.  

It was the best of 35 minutes, it was the worst of 35 minutes..

Future Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg has once again, and supposedly finally, announced his retirement from professional hockey after making a comeback with the Avs which consisted of 2 games, 35 minutes on ice, and a minus 4.

Well this is awkward...

Meaningless Trade 1: Aaron Voros to TOR

Toronto acquired Aaron Voros today from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2011 conditional draft pick.

Voros has yet to record a point in 12 games this season, but he will bring toughness to a softer Toronto team.  All in all this trade means virtually nothing. 

You can check out the rest of the trades to go down here.

Flyers Acquire Versteeg

Philadelphia bolstered their rosters today with the acquisition of Toronto Maple Leaf's forward Kris Versteeg.  He was traded for two draft picks, one of them being a first rounder.

(Ironic right?)

Versteeg, subject of trade rumors, has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 53 games this season.  He is a solid second line winger and a good third line winger for any team.  He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

Versteeg is signed through the 2011-12 season in which he will make $3 million dollars a season. This move is to help bolster the Flyers offense as they head towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

You can check out all of the trades to go down here.

NHL Dishes Out Suspensions

The NHL has chosen to suspend 3 players and fine the New York Islanders organization $100,000 following Friday's brawl between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders.

INCIDENT: Islanders forward Matt Martin sucker punches Penguins forward Max Talbot at center ice.

Poor quality, but you get the picture.  Martin suspended 4 game.

Jake's Take: Penguins vs. Islanders Brawl

As you may have read on our FAQ, Jacob Niehl, is Adam's brother and the designer of our kick ass banner. Jake is also going start to occasionally write articles for us, the second of which being his reflections and musings on the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders fist filled game.


Make the jump to read Jake's artice...

To Trade, Or Not to Trade: Brad Richards

As we quickly approach the February 31st trade deadline, the Dallas Stars have a lot to think about. Their star, and debatably their best player Brad Richards is nearing the end of his contract, and will thus become a free agent this summer.

As of now, Richards makes upwards of $8 million a season and that number might possibly rise. Because of this, Dallas most likely will not be able to resign him.

Predators Acquire Fisher

Today, the Nashville Predators traded a 1st round pick and a conditional 2nd/3rd round pick in exchange for Ottawa forward Mike Fisher.  

Fisher, more prominently noted for being Carrie Underwood's husband, is set to make 4.2 million until the 2013 season.  What a trade for Ottawa. They dump salary, and get a first round with the potential to get a second round pick as well. This is the beginning of the Senators massive "1 year rebuild" plan.  

Tonight's Other Two Trades

In the hours following today's Anaheim-Toronto trade, there were 2 additional deals announced, one relatively big one relatively small. Trades today involved players going from Chicago to Florida, and from the Islanders to the Phoenix Coyotes, with a grand total of six players and one draft pick moving today.

Read on for details...

First Trade of the Month!

Today the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks broke the trade season ice with a solid deal for both clubs.

The Maple Leafs received right wing Joffrey Lupul, defensive prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional 2013 draft pick, while the Ducks ended up with solid vet blueliner Francois Beauchemin.

Additional info on the jump...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: The NHL Trade Deadline.

February. Possibly the most important month of the year in reference to the future of a hockey club. Teams fight to get themselves in the playoff picture before the final stretch into the playoffs, or they struggle to retain their dignity while letting the rest of the lost season play out... not pointing fingers but....

It's been a long year, better luck next 100 million dollar contracted superstar.

Regardless of standings, one of the highlights of the season is about to occur.

February 28th at 3 p.m. is the scheduled trade deadline for the NHL. Teams without hope will look forward to the draft, and teams on the edge of the playoffs will look into risky deals to give themselves a better shot at the cup, presenting interesting trade scenarios.

Make the jump..

Around the NHL 2/8 Edition

Theres been a lot going on in the NHL lately, most of it not good.  On the injury front, Marc Savard has been shut down for the season.  In much more gruesome news, Vancouver's Keith Ballard suffered a terrible knee injury tonight (2/7).

Obviously, Ballard did not return after being injured during the 1st period.  He'll undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

Ray Emery signed a two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks yesterday (2/7) and at most he will make $500,000 and thats at the NHL level.  Emery sucks.  This move doesn't really mean anything.

You're Horrible

Pavel Datysuk returned after a 19 game absence due to a broken wrist.  He had a goal and an assist in his return. 

The trade deadline is creeping closer and closer.  Should be interesting...

Forsberg's Return Moving Along

Adrian Dater reported earlier today that veteran forward Peter Forsberg is set to sign with the Colorado Avalanche before the team leaves for Phoenix to start a 4 game road trip.

This pleases Peter.

Make the jump for some analysis.

Malkin Out For the Season

On friday night, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was awkwardly hit into the boards by Buffalo's Tyler Myers.  As a result of the hit, Malkin tore his ACL and MCL and will likely require season ending surgery.

Here's the hit:

It looks like a really awkward hit, but obviously there was no intent to injure.  Despite Malkin's injury, the Penguins battled back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

This is a huge loss for Pittsburgh.  Malkin is clearly their most valuable player besides Crosby and even he is out with an injury.  The Pens have some tough times coming up, but its nothing they haven't battled through before.  Prior to last nights game, the Pens were without Crosby and Malkin.

The Pittsburgh is currently 3rd in the league in points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

Atlanta Thrashers Player Collapses: Part 2

Anyone remember game one of the Atlanta Thrashers season?

Well, it happened again, this time with forward Freddy Meyer thursday night against the Calgary Flames.

I don't get it.  Two players on the same team in the same building? Bizarre to say the least.  The play seemed harmless.  He got bumped into a little bit but nothing even remotely serious.  Hopefully he's ok, and hopefully this doesn't happen again.

Rick DiPietro Out. Shocking.

Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro is out with an injury yet again, which usually I wouldn't take the time to post about, but I will this time, give the injury's source...

IN THE FACE! Easily the worst edited picture to grace this site ever.

DiPietro is reportedly out for 4 to 6 weeks with facial fractures and knee swelling.

Taylor Gang or get punched in the face by Brent Johnson.

Unusual Happenings in the NHL: 2/2 Edition

A distinct pair of unique happenings took place February second in the NHL, one an offensive feat and the other... well I guess it was defensive...

Make the Jump.

Back To Business: The NHL Returns

Well, the All-Star festivities have come and gone and overall it came off as a success.  T.V. ratings were up 33%, and overall the experience was enjoyable for all.  With that being said,  its back to business.  There are a ton of teams in action tonight (26 total) and there is plenty of news to report on.