The Playoff Picture Part I: THE EAST

Will you be seeing your team in the playoffs in just under a month when the NHL concludes its regular season April 10th?

(Sorry Ottawa Fans...)

This is part one of out two part series looking at the playoff picture.  Part I features the Eastern Conference and Part II will look at the Western Conference. 

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.

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.

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.