1

Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips

February 25, 2016

Columbus Blue Jackets

PAGE 02: Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets notebook | Slumping fourth line pressed for

goals

PAGE 03: CBSSports.com: Game Preview: New Jersey at Columbus

Lake Erie Monsters/Prospects

NHL/Websites

PAGE 05: ESPN.com: Worst 5 trades of the past five seasons PAGE 07: ESPN.com: Trading for Dion Phaneuf sparked the Senators, but is it too late? PAGE 09: ESPN.com: Rumblings: Bruins have options with Loui Eriksson, but trade is likely PAGE 11: Sportsnet.ca: For how long can the NHL reward Oilers’ futility? PAGE 14: Sportsnet.ca: Five things we learned in the NHL: Upset in Washington PAGE 16: Sportsnet.ca: NHL Trade Rumours: Latest on Eberle, Ladd, Eriksson, Hartnell PAGE 18: Sportsnet.ca: Waiver Wednesday: Time to pluck some Ducks PAGE 20: TSN.ca: 10 non-rentals who could be on the move before the deadline PAGE 23: TSN.ca: Statistically Speaking: Forsberg flying high PAGE 25: USA Today: NHL trade deadline: 12 teams expected to be active

2

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2016/02/25/blue-jackets-notebook.html

Blue Jackets notebook | Slumping fourth line pressed for goals By Shawn Mitchell – February 25, 2016 The fourth line of the Blue Jackets has played well enough to remain together through their winter surge toward respectability.

Eye-popping numbers are not expected from the bottom of the offensive order, which has been occupied by center Gregory Campbell and wings Rene Bourque and Kerby Rychel.

“They haven’t been bad,” coach John Tortorella said. “But you have to put some pressure on yourself to score goals, too.”

Campbell, Bourque and Rychel have combined for only six goals heading into the season’s 62nd game, against the New Jersey Devils tonight at Nationwide Arena, with each mired slumps that are beginning to stand out, even for fourth-liners.

Campbell has played in every game this season. He has two goals and four assists and has not recorded a point since Dec. 4, a span of 34 games. Rychel has two goals and seven assists in 30 games, but he has no points in his past 12. Bourque has two goals and three assists in 40 games. He has no points in his past 14.

“Like I told them before the Boston game, it is not good enough to go out as a fourth line or as anybody, really, and play good defense and play under a good team concept and play good away from the puck,” Tortorella said. “It’s not about just having a good forecheck. We’ve got to find a way to score a goal.”

When the three don’t score, it makes their slip-ups at the other end of the ice more glaring.

Despite holding a lead for the final 29:43 of a 6-4 win Monday at the Boston Bruins, Tortorella benched his fourth line for most of the third period.

Campbell and Rychel were on the ice when Boston’s Matt Beleskey tied the score at 2 early in the second.

All three were on the ice when Beleskey scored again to cut the lead to 4-3 at 2:52 of the third. Only Bourque, spelling Matt Calvert on the third line, saw the ice again. Rychel finished the game with a career-low 4:54 of ice time.

All three remained on the bench for the final 9:39 of a 2-1 shootout loss Tuesday at the Detroit Red Wings.

“We get two goals scored on us on our fourth line in Boston,” Tortorella said. “That can’t happen. It wasn’t one particular guy. It was the unit. And that’s why you end up getting sat in the third period.

“That’s the life of a fourth-liner. You’ve got to make sure you keep the puck out of the net but also add some offense. I need more consistency out of them.”

Slap shots

Center Brandon Dubinsky is slated to play his 600th career game tonight. Dubinsky has 125 goals and 230 assists with 717 penalty minutes and a plus-42 rating in 599 games with the Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers. … The Blue Jackets have won four straight over New Jersey and are 7-3-1 against the Devils dating to Nov. 23, 2011.

3

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/preview/NHL_20160225_NJ@CLB/devils-blue-jackets-preview

Game Preview: New Jersey at Columbus By CBSSports – February 25, 2016

The New Jersey Devils avoided matching their longest losing streak of the season by beating an arch-rival.

Now they can't afford another slip-up against a Metropolitan Division foe that has been a thorn in their side.

The Devils have dropped four straight to the Columbus Blue Jacketsheading into Thursday night's matchup at Nationwide Arena.

New Jersey (30-24-7) ended a three-game slide with Tuesday's 5-2 home win over the New York Rangers. The Devils posted their highest goal total in 13 games by rallying from a goal down after one period as five different players scored.

"It's a huge rivalry game, you always want to beat those teams," said wingerLee Stempniak, who ended a personal nine-game goal drought.

The losing streak has seen the Devils drop outside the playoff picture, and they know they must improve down the stretch.

''It's a big win,'' Stempniak said. ''You can see where we are in the standings. Losing three games, it's tough to keep pace with teams. To not get points in three straight, you are going to fall behind.''

New Jersey could use two points Thursday against the division's worst team, although Columbus (24-29-8) likely poses a bigger threat than its place in the standings suggests.

The Blue Jackets are 7-2-3 in their last 12 games and, more pertinent to this matchup, have taken the last four between the teams. That includes a pair of low-scoring road contests this season, 3-1 on Oct. 27 and 2-1 on Nov. 25.

Columbus returns home after winning 6-4 at Boston on Monday and losing 2-1 in a shootout in Detroit the next night. Boone Jenner scored three goals in those games to give him 22 to match Brandon Saad for the team lead.

The Blue Jackets outshot both opponents, and coach John Tortorella was happy with the trip.

"That's where I think our biggest improvement is, is when there are surges and there is momentum coming at you, we just stay with it, we don't break away and open up, we don't try to do too much, we just settle ourselves down and play," Tortorella said. "And for the most part with this trip here, we have done a really good job with that."

It may be difficult to translate that solid play over at home, where Columbus has scored one goal in back-to-back defeats.

Curtis McElhinney made his first start since Jan. 2 on Tuesday after being out with an ankle injury. Joonas Korpisalo, who started the previous 12 games, has never faced the Devils.

The Devils will have to figure out how to use their goalies in the start of a back-to-back set capped by Friday's home game against Tampa Bay. Cory Schneider is 0-3-1 with a 2.80 goals-against average in his last four starts against the Blue Jackets while backup Keith Kinkaid is the other option.

4

New Jersey's goalies have had to endure playing in front of an offense that is the league's worst in goals (2.2) and shots on goal (24.6) per game.

5

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/14837078/nhl-worst-5-trades-five-seasons

Worst 5 trades of the past five seasons By Scott Burnside – February 25, 2016 Previously, we looked at the five best trades of the past five years. Well, sometimes deals just go south for a team. That's just life. As they say at the casino, you can't win if you don't play. But you can sure get your lunch eaten when you do, and here are five cases in the past five years where teams wish they could have a do-over.

1. June 23, 2011: Jeff Carter traded by the Philadelphia Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jakub Voracek and a first-round pick (Sean Couturier) and a third-round pick (Nick Cousins) in 2011

This deal seemed doomed for Columbus right from the get-go. Carter, a first-round pick by the Flyers, didn't want to go to Columbus and made that abundantly clear. So clear was his dissatisfaction that less than a year later, the Blue Jackets were basically forced to deal him to the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Jack Johnson and a first-round pick (which helped the Kings win the first of two Stanley Cups). That deal helped take some of the sting out of the original Carter deal, but both Voracek and Couturier have turned into excellent NHL players and are part of the Flyers' core. The Blue Jackets have qualified for the playoffs just twice in franchise history and have yet to win a playoff round.

2. April 3, 2013: Filip Forsberg traded by the Washington Capitals to the Nashville Predators for Martin Erat and Michael Latta

Forsberg is coming off a hat trick Tuesday night for the Predators and has taken over the team lead in goals. He had a stellar rookie season (2014-15), although he, like most of his teammates, did swoon down the stretch. Still, he's a key piece of the Preds' arsenal. As for the lamentable Erat, he played in 62 regular-season games for the Caps from April 2013 until his trade to the Arizona Coyotes a year later at the deadline and scored two goals. Obviously the Capitals aren't the worse for wear, but this is still a deal that got away from them in a big way.

3. Oct. 27, 2013: Thomas Vanek traded by the Buffalo Sabres to the New York Islanders for Matt Moulson and a first-round pick and second-round pick in 2015

In theory, Vanek was to have been the missing piece of the Islanders' contending puzzle, a big, strong winger with great hands in the prime of his career. But this early-season deal didn't work out that way -- not that Vanek was bad. He had 44 points in 47 games for the Islanders. But the team wasn't ready, and when it became clear Vanek was going to test free agency in summer 2014 and the Isles weren't going to make the playoffs, general manager Garth Snow had to try to recoup some assets. On March 5, he ended up trading Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens, along with the Islanders' fifth-round pick in 2014, for Sebastian Collberg and a second-round 2014 pick, a little more than four months after acquiring Vanek. It didn't come close to reclaiming what Snow sent out initially and remains a black mark in the Islanders' ledger.

4. June 26, 2015: Dougie Hamilton traded by the Boston Bruins to the Calgary Flames for a first- (Zachary Senyshyn) and second-round pick (Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson) in 2015 and the Washington Capitals' previously acquired second-round pick (Jeremy Lauzon) in 2015.

Yeah, the Flames took a step backward this season -- one that many predicted, by the way. And it did take a while for Hamilton to get his footing in Calgary. But this remains a hard one to digest if you're a Bruins fan. Hamilton, the ninth overall pick in 2011, is a big, right-handed defender with all kinds of up-side. He is just 22 years old. And while the Bruins might have balked at what Hamilton was looking for in

6

terms of a second contract (he signed a six-year deal worth $34.5 million shortly after the trade), the gaping hole Hamilton's departure left on the Bruins' blue line has yet to be filled and might not be for the foreseeable future. Indeed, if the Bruins are looking to add at the trade deadline, it will be for defensive depth, which will only reinforce that this deal shouldn't have happened.

5. (tie) June 30, 2013: Cory Schneider traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth overall pick (Bo Horvat) in 2013

March 4, 2014: Roberto Luongo and Steve Anthony traded by the Canucks to the Florida Panthers for Jacob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias

In nine months, the Canucks went from having a glut of elite goaltenders to having none. And the return for giving up two goalies who this season would easily rank in the top five or six in the league? Well, with all due respect to Horvat, who might become a decent NHL player (he has 10 goals, 26 points and was minus-30 for the Canucks): not much. The departure of Schneider first and then Luongo was counterintuitive, given the age difference (Schneider is now 29, Luongo 36) with no real Plan B for the goaltending future, illustrates the chaos of the recent years at the top of the Canucks' organization, chaos that in some ways still afflicts the franchise.

7

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/14835673/nhl-morning-3-3-ottawa-senators-ready-pull-another-miracle

Trading for Dion Phaneuf sparked the Senators, but is it too late? By ESPN.com – February 25, 2016 The Oilers' 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators was the fourth straight for Talbot, who has lost six of nine starts in February.

Do the Senators have another stretch-run miracle in them?

Pierre LeBrun@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Can the Ottawa Senators pull off a miracle stretch run two years in a row? They've now won four in a row after a 4-1 decision over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. A year ago, the Senators amazingly erased a 14-point deficit in the standings to make the postseason in one of the most memorable runs in NHL history. They don't need to be that great this time around, though, sitting just four points out right now with plenty of hockey left. The problem is, which of the teams in front of them do you really see dropping off? The Pittsburgh Penguins are four points ahead and should be getting Evgeni Malkin back sometime in the next week. The Boston Bruins are six points ahead with a game in hand. The B's have been streaky both ways, so I guess you never know. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four straight and look like a good bet to finish second, maybe even first, in the Atlantic Division. The Detroit Red Wings? They're seven points up on Ottawa, and I like them to stay in a playoff spot. And don't forget that the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are also ahead of the Sens and are also on the outside looking in. It's a daunting task once again, but Ottawa seems to be catching fire at the right time once again.

Scott Burnside@ESPN_Burnside: Um, no. The short answer to your excellently framed question is "not a chance." Yes, it's been a nice four-game win streak for the Senators, but I would be more excited if they'd beaten quality teams. Yes, they did come up with a shootout win over an inconsistent Detroit team dealing with injuries, but beating the Buffalo Sabres, the Hurricanes and the Oilers does not qualify as "miracle" time for me. Perhaps I'll be proved wrong and Ottawa will carry a nation's hopes for Stanley Cup glory on their slender shoulders come mid-April, but I don't see it. The sad part is, this ministreak is as good as it's going to get for Canadian hockey fans in terms of playoff-related excitement. That's a departure from a year ago, when it was all Canada, all the time with five Canadian teams in the postseason mix. As you said, Pierre, the dilemma is deciding which team would come out and allow the Sens to sneak in. If I'm Ottawa, I'm cheering hard for a regulation win for Pittsburgh tonight, because the Pens take on the Bruins, who look most vulnerable to being displaced from the playoff field. I still think it's a long shot, though.

Craig Custance@CraigCustance: Since trading for Dion Phaneuf, the Senators are 4-3 and their possession numbers are actually in the positive with Ottawa controlling 51 percent of the even-strength shot attempts in those seven games. That's a healthy improvement over their 47.3 percent overall mark this season, though the pair of Cody Ceci and Phaneuf are at just 46.7. But I'm with Scott. How much of that is settling in after a big trade and how much is the opponents? Not to mention, two of those four wins came in the shootout. If the coin falls on tails instead of heads, it's a different story and we're not talking about the Senators. They're not a bad team. They're not a great team. And that makes them like a lot of the teams right around them in the standings.

Joe McDonald@ESPNJoeyMac: My immediate reaction is there's no chance for the Senators, but given the ebbs and flows in the Atlantic this season, I guess you can say maybe the Sens do have a chance to mount an epic comeback. Realistically, I don't think it happens. Teams understand playing the best

8

hockey of the season down the stretch is a sure way to remain in the playoff structure and earn a postseason berth. So even if Ottawa continues to play well, I can't see a situation where the Florida Panthers, Lightning, Red Wings and Bruins suddenly collapse, allowing the Senators to sneak in. Well, maybe the Bruins have a meltdown in them given their inconsistency, but I really can't see the Senators doing it this season. The addition of Phaneuf has added a spark, but I wonder how long that lasts.

Around the league

New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller was ejected from Tuesday's loss to the New Jersey Devils for fighting with a taped-up hand.

The league-leading Washington Capitals will get another boost soon, with forward Jay Beagle possibly returning this weekend from a broken hand.

The St. Louis Blues will be without goalie Brian Elliott for at least four weeks thanks to a lower-body injury that landed him on injured reserve.

9

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/14837091/nhl-pierre-lebrun-rumblings-boston-bruins-face-dilemma-loui-eriksson

Rumblings: Bruins have options with Loui Eriksson, but trade is likely By Pierre LeBrun – February 25, 2016 What to do, what to do, if you're the Boston Bruins and pending unrestricted free-agent winger Loui Eriksson remains unsigned into Monday, as the clock ticks down to the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline?

As far as I can ascertain, Bruins GM Don Sweeney has prepared for all three options on the Eriksson front: get him signed to an extension; keep him past the deadline and hope it's worth it to make the playoffs and maybe win a round or two, and also use the extra months to get him signed; or trade him.

To me, the final option seems the most likely, even for a team that's sitting in a playoff spot.

The reason I feel that way is that Sweeney is in his first season at the helm of the Bruins. His mandate is to retool the team on the fly, which suggests the big-picture vision should trump any short-term goals.

Of course, it's all a moot point if Sweeney can get Eriksson signed in the next few days, but that would mean either convincing Eriksson to come down on term for a shorter deal, or the B's being willing to go longer term. Either way, the length of a potential contract is an issue.

From talking to other sources around the league, Boston is a very active team on the phones, not only to gauge the trade market on Eriksson, but also because they will be looking to add pieces too, particularly on defense.

Keep in mind, the Bruins already have two first-round picks this June, their own plus the San Jose Sharks' pick from the Martin Jones deal. So the Bruins don't necessarily need another high pick in a deal for Eriksson, but they could use a young player instead. Unless, of course, they turn around and use the high pick from an Eriksson trade to then deal for a defenseman.

Whatever the outcome, it's going to be an interesting few days, to say the least, for the Bruins' first-year GM.

Elsewhere:

The Los Angeles Kings were looking hard at the market for the longest time, wondering what might make sense in terms of a defenseman. But a source suggested to me Tuesday evening that Kings GM Dean Lombardi has decided the high prices on the thin rental-defenseman market might not be worth it. I still think Lombardi is willing to add a defenseman if the price is modest, but I don't think he's going to be as aggressive as he was last year, when he went for Andrej Sekera for a first-round pick. In addition to the potential of adding on defense, the Kings could also add up front to help fill the void left by the injured Marian Gaborik. One name I've heard that could be on the radar for the Kings is that of Edmonton Oilers pending unrestricted free agent Teddy Purcell, although it's a deep rental forward list this year, so the Kings have lots to pick from if they do go after a winger.

You often hear about the NHL coaching world being a tight fraternity. That was exemplified again in the wake of Mike Yeo's firing by the Minnesota Wild. Michel Therrien, Mike Babcock, Claude Julien, Jon Hynes, Dan Bylsma, Todd Richards, Dave Tippett and other coaches and front-office execs all were quick to reach out to Yeo to offer comfort and guidance.

"As soon as it happened, it's amazing how many awesome people are in this game," Yeo said over the phone Wednesday, making the media rounds for the first time since his dismissal on Feb. 13. "A lot of people that I barely know, people that I don't know, people that I have an incredible amount of respect

10

for reaching out to me. So you look at it and you say, 'If this guy has gone through it, you can't take it personally.' They all said the same thing, that I'll be better for it. I already feel that, to be honest. I know I'll be better in my next job."

No question he'll be better for it. Yeo has a sharp coaching mind, and he'll be able to grow and learn from his first NHL experience. The next team that hires him will be a lucky one. Still, while he could see the writing on the wall, he said when he was fired, it still hit hard.

"I've never been through this, 20-some-odd years in the game, never been traded, never been fired," said Yeo. "I thought I was prepared for it, but I wasn't prepared for what it would feel like. It was tough. A lot of bad feelings for a few days, and just a few days ago I woke up and I was back. I'm in a good spot. Regrets have turned into knowledge, lessons for the next job. I'm just excited for the next challenge."

11

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/for-how-long-can-the-nhl-reward-oilers-futility/

For how long can the NHL reward Oilers’ futility? By Leah Hextall – February 25, 2016 Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers suffered a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. It was the team’s fifth straight loss and eighth in nine games.

The effort, or lack thereof, prompted Edmonton’s head coach, Todd McLellan to voice his displeasure with the team post-game.

McLellan’s comments became a discussion point during the second intermission of the Calgary Flames/Los Angeles Kings game. During this discussion, I made a statement that stimulated conversation in the Twitterverse.

Yes, I said it. “You can’t suck for that long because it’s not fair to everyone else.”

While some believe my comment was biased, because I’m a Hextall and it was directed at the Oilers, it was not.

I won’t deny that I still feel the sting of the tears streaming down my face as my seven-year-old self watched my cousin Ron and the Philadelphia Flyers lose Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup final to Gretzky’s Oilers. But, to this day as a hockey fan, I believe the ’87 Cup final was one of the best series of all-time.

Which brings me to my comment on Tuesday night.

As a child I watched the Oilers win five Stanley Cups in seven years. Now, as an adult covering the game, I watch the Oilers earn first-overall draft picks. They have accumulated four of those in the past six years.

And here they are last place in the NHL. If the NHL Draft lottery was held today, the Oilers would have the best chance (20 per cent), of selecting first overall… again. Hello, Auston Matthews.

Whether it’s a coincidence, or a result of the Oilers owning the lottery and therefore the NHL’s top young talent, in April of 2014 the NHL announced it would phase in a new draft lottery system.

For 2015, the draft lottery was adjusted to produce a more evenly-balanced result by adjusting the odds of the 14 non-playoff teams.

Teams finishing in the bottom four spots received lower odds of winning the lottery and the right to pick first overall, while the odds increased for the other non-playoff teams. In 2016, the lottery will expand and assign the top three drafting slots instead of just No. 1 overall. Now, the worst team in the NHL could pick as low as No. 4 in the draft.

The Buffalo Sabres had the best chance of winning the draft lottery in 2015 (20 per cent) but it was not to be.

The Oilers, with an 11.5 per cent chance, scored the first overall selection and generational talent Connor McDavid.

While this is a tough pill to swallow for the 29 other NHL teams, it’s just how it works.

For this reason, I believe the NHL needs to implement a rule capping the amount of first-overall selections in a specific time frame.

12

Suggestion: a maximum of two first-overall picks within a five-year period.

Now, for those who say it’s not the Oilers’ fault they keep winning the lottery, that’s a fair point. After all, it is a lottery.

However, is it not the Oilers’ responsibility as a franchise to utilize those picks to build a strong on-ice product?

In 2003 and 2005, the Pittsburgh Penguins held the first overall draft picks, selecting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and phenom Sidney Crosby respectively. In 2008, the Penguins lost in the Stanley Cup final, but won it all the following season.

In 2008, the Kings drafted defenceman Drew Doughty second overall and four years later they won the Stanley Cup, and did it again in 2014.

Both the Penguins and Kings built a winner around their top draft picks. Yes, I hear you screaming Oilers fans.

There is no doubt markets such as Los Angeles have more allure to free agents. Let’s remember, I am from Manitoba and covered the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have the same issue as Edmonton – it’s not a sexy market.

That’s not an excuse though. Take a look at the Detroit Red Wings.

While I have an affection for Detroit (my uncle Dennis played for the Red Wings, and Joe Louis Arena is one of my favourite places to watch a game), it’s not exactly a sexy market either.

But, Detroit acquires free agents for one reason – they win.

Ken Holland’s hockey club has rattled off 24 consecutive playoff appearances, the longest active streak in all major North American professional sports and the third-longest in NHL history. The Red Wings accomplished this even though their highest draft pick since the lottery began in 1995 was 15th overall in 2014: Dylan Larkin.

This season, Detroit is once again in a playoff position (third in the Atlantic Division), and Larkin is in the Calder Trophy conversation.

Most Consecutive Playoff Appearances in NHL History

29 – Boston Bruins (1968-96)

28 – Chicago Blackhawks (1970-97)

25 – St. Louis Blues (1980-2004)

24 – Detroit Red Wings (1991-pres.)

24 – Montreal Canadiens (1971-94)

21 – Montreal Canadiens (1949-69)

20 – Detroit Red Wings (1939-58)

Imagine where Detroit would be with four first overall picks in six years.

No one is suggesting the Oilers want to be in this predicament. New management was brought in to elevate the Oilers out of the basement and return the team to its glory days.

13

While working in Boston for NESN, I watched then-Bruins and current Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli craft a Stanley Cup contender and pull the trigger on several major trades. Along with Bob Nicholson, one would expect to eventually see change for the better within the Edmonton organization.

Until then, if this year’s draft lottery again falls in the Oilers’ favour, I assure you NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s inbox will be filled with emails from 29 GMs, stating in more colourful terms than I used:

“You can’t suck that long because it’s not fair to everyone else.”

14

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/five-things-we-learned-in-the-nhl-upset-in-washington/

Five things we learned in the NHL: Upset in Washington By Emily Sadler – February 25, 2016 An unexpected outcome, an odd goal, a couple of newcomers and more.

Here’s what we learned in the NHL on Wednesday night.

Canadiens upset Holtby and the Capitals

Well, who saw that one coming?

Going into Wednesday’s game, Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby was undefeated in regulation against the Montreal Canadiens, with a record of 8-0-2 against the club. When you think about the way the record-breaking Capitals have been playing lately (their 44 wins in 58 games is the best in league history) — not to mention their slumping opponent — it seemed like a safe bet the netminder would add another W to that record to keep the streak alive.

Not the case.

The top Vezina candidate let in three unanswered goals on 18 shots (a far cry from his 1.36 GAA and .951 career save percentage against the Habs) and didn’t get a chance to redeem himself as he was pulled from the game just three minutes into the second frame.

Philipp Grubauer, who came in to relieve Holtby, let in one goal as Washington rallied, but the league-leading squad eventually fell short in the unlikely 4-3 loss.

Over on the opposite end of the ice, Mike Condon showed some grit to backstop the Canadiens to their first regulation road win since beating the Bruins at the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.

He made 33 stops on the night, but it’s this crazy-good save on Mike Richards that proved to be the save of the game:

Wow.

Audition night in Washington?

Mike Condon wasn’t the only member of the struggling Canadiens to show a little life Wednesday night. Alex Galchenyuk was the star of the show for Montreal, but it was the supporting cast who were garnering the attention at Verizon Center.

Dale Weise, Lars Eller and Tomas Fleischmann have been widely considered three of the most likely members of the Canadiens who could be traded prior to Monday’s deadline, and all three had a strong showing against the Capitals in front of scouts.

Weise and Eller each had an assist to their name, and Fleischmann scored the second-period goal that sent Holtby packing for the night.

Read Eric Engels’ full recap and trade implications.

Always follow the puck

Tom Kuhnhackl‘s controversial second-period goal is the reason why coaches always tell their players to go hard to the net. The Pittsburgh Penguins‘ lone goal in their 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins was contested, as the puck went in the net off Kuhnhackl’s skate.

15

The league reviewed the goal, and deemed it legal, citing that there was no kicking motion on the play.

This was the rookie’s second career NHL goal. (He notched his first on Sunday, and it was a real beauty.)

Also worth noting from the game, 19-year-old David Pastrnak proved to be the leading skater for the Bruins, scoring twice including one a penalty shot.

Maple Leafs make their mark

The Toronto Maple Leafs weren’t playing tonight, but they still made an impact.

Wednesday night saw three former Leafs making their debut with their new teams as the San Jose Sharks visited the Colorado Avalanche. All three looked right at home in their new sweaters.

Forward Nick Spaling, who was dealt to the Sharks Monday along with defenceman Roman Polak in exchange for second-round picks in 2017 and 2018 as well as forward Raffi Torres, scored on his very first shot with the Sharks.

Then, about 10 minutes later, it was Shawn Matthias‘ turn. The forward, who landed in Colorado in Sunday’s trade that saw the Leafs receive a fourth-round pick and prospect Colin Smith, registered a goal in his debut.

In the end, the Avalanche edged the Sharks 4-3 in a shootout.

So, with the trade deadline fast approaching… who’s next?

Going streaking

Quick trivia: Who currently holds the NHL’s longest active point streak?

That would be Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, whose assist in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres extended his point streak to nine games.

What’s more, Getzlaf also set a new franchise record for assists by reaching his eighth season with 40 or more helpers.

Getzlaf’s now got four goals and 10 assists for 14 points during the streak that began Feb. 8 — just in time to continue the Ducks’ momentum heading into the post-season stretch.

16

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-trade-rumours-jordan-eberle-boston-bruins-edmonton-oilers-andrew-ladd-tyler-seguin-blackhawks-panthers-weber/

NHL Trade Rumours: Latest on Eberle, Ladd, Eriksson, Hartnell By Luke Fox – February 25, 2016 You can begin the countdown on one healthy human hand.

Five days until the NHL’s trade deadline, and Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan has already put his team on notice — under no uncertain terms.

“Maybe we have to eliminate some players,” McLellan said after his porous, uninspired team lost at home to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday. “I have a huge concern because the spirit of the team isn’t where it needs to be.”

Today’s roundup of the freshest trade chatter begins with the sell-sign Oilers and touches Andrew Ladd, Scott Hartnell, Loui Eriksson, plus the Blackhawks, Capitals, Avalanche, and Panthers.

Who does Edmonton ship out?

With the changes-are-coming messages resounding from the general manager and the head coach Tuesday, which Oilers don’t survive until Monday afternoon?

Well, defenceman Justin Schultz has been on the market for months and could be tossed in as part of a package that includes one of Edmonton’s attractive forwards. UFA-to-be winger Teddy Purcell is also expected to go.

GM Peter Chiarelli is also open to dealing name-brand players with term. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov. None are safe, reports the Edmonton Journal.

Chiarelli has said a more complicated deal like that would likely wait until summer, but you wonder if McLellan’s anger speeds things up.

Sportsnet’s Doug MacLean tackled the dilemma on Dean Blundell & Co. Wednesday morning.

MacLean figured Edmonton would be selling low on Yakupov now and might be better served by pairing the first-overall pick with Connor McDavid early next season and propping up his value that way.

The former GM also suggested Chiarelli’s former club, the Boston Bruins, as a good fit for Eberle — who would look good next to a David Krejci or Patrice Bergeron. In a scenario like that, the Bruins would have to move out pending UFA Loui Eriksson in the next few days, replacing him with the younger (and possibly cheaper) Eberle, who is already signed through 2018-19 at $6 million per season.

“That might be a fit, but those are tough deals to make,” said MacLean, who knows Chiarelli is cognizant of the mistake he made by dealing away a young Tyler Seguin to Dallas. “If he is thinking of trading a young player, he’s thinking, Seguin, Seguin, Seguin. You’d think it’s a valuable lesson.

“But he’s got to move one or two of those guys. This defence is so bad, he’s got to make a move.”

Of course, the Oilers are looking for size, grit and defence. We’re not sure Boston has a D-man to spare. That’s the Bruins’ greatest need as well.

Chicago, Florida, Pittsburgh all want Ladd?

Very cool that Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd scored and received an ovation in what could possibly be his final home game at MTS Centre.

17

In attendance Wednesday night? Chicago GM Stan Bowman, said to be keen on swinging a deal to bring Ladd back to the Blackhawks for a Cup run. The obstacle here is that the Blackhawks are fairly tight to the cap ceiling and would love to move out some bad money, like a Bryan Bickell.

Pittsburgh beat reporter Josh Yohe reports that the Penguins have been looking at veteran wingers such as Ladd and Scott Hartnell, leading scorer for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Then there is Florida Panthers co-owner and Andrew Ladd superfan Doug Cifu.

“He’s a great player, a character guy, obviously Dale [Tallon, GM] knows him very well,” Cifu told the Florida Sun-Sentinel of the Jets captain. “I’m not going to comment on discussions, but he’s a great character, a great hockey player. He really is.”

Considering the Jets have one of the lowest payrolls in the league, there is still a case to be made for Winnipeg to re-sign Ladd.

Alternately, the Jets could take on a bad contract or two in exchange for picks or prospects and use their enviable cap flexibility that way. The Toronto way.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the consensus trade value for Ladd is a first-round pick plus a prospect (sounds about right on the Spaling Scale) and wonders if a Ladd trade sends a signal to veterans like Bryan Little, Ondrej Pavelec and Tobias Enstrom that the Jets are hitting reset.

Bruins, Eriksson still talking

When I inquired about the future of Loui Eriksson a few weeks ago, a source close to the Boston franchise told me, “Getting information out of Don Sweeney is like getting information out of Bill Belichick.”

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Tuesday that the sides are still in dialogue, but this one is tricky. Boston appears playoff-bound but not Cup-bound, and Eriksson — IMHO — should be worth more than Ladd, Eric Staal and Mikkel Boedker on the rental forward market.

The guy already has 23 goals, 25 assists and is a plus-12. The easiest way to inject instant offence.

Colorado, Washington hit the limit

As General Fanager points out, the playoff-hopeful Colorado Avalanche have reached the maximum number of roster players (50) and would have to get creative if they wish to take on another player for the stretch run.

The Avs have been actively placing players on waivers, likely hoping one gets scooped, which would free up a slot.

The Washington Capitals moved to 49 contracts when they acquired blueline depth rental Mike Weber from Buffalo Tuesday evening, but made sure the Sabres paid half of Weber’s freight.

18

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/waiver-wednesday-time-to-pluck-some-ducks/

Waiver Wednesday: Time to pluck some Ducks By Steve Laidlaw – February 25, 2016 This time of year is always a tricky one when it comes to waiver pickups. You never know for certain if the guy you snag is going to be in the same situation after the trade deadline. You might pick a guy up on Friday only to see him moved to a deeper team on Monday.

With that in mind, let’s focus on the very near future with these waiver options. We are looking for players with an optimal schedule between now and Sunday to see who might give you a boost this week. As always, these players are widely available in fantasy leagues with all ownership values based on Yahoo leagues:

Tomas Hertl – C/LW – 27 per cent owned

The Sharks have a rare Wednesday-Friday-Sunday trio of games this week, which is an ideal mix avoiding back-to-back scenarios but also avoiding the packed Thursdays and Saturdays. Most of the big guns on the Sharks will be owned but Hertl has been skating on the top line of late and has four goals in his last five games. Getting exposure to the red-hot Joe Thornton is something every fantasy GM should be striving for right now.

Andre Burakovsky – LW – 18 per cent owned

Another team boasting the lovely Wednesday-Friday-Sunday troika is the Capitals. Like the Sharks the Capitals’ big guns are heavily owned but Burakovsky remains undervalued and has been a frequent name in this space. He only has 18 points in his last 17 games skating alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Thornton, Crosby, and Kuznetsov lead the league in scoring since Jan. 1. Getting exposure to these players is paramount. Burakovsky can get you that exposure and three games of action this week.

David Perron – LW/RW – 46 per cent owned

Folks are starting to catch onto Perron given that he has scored 14 points in 15 games since joining the Ducks, but he is still available for plenty of you to snag for free. He skates with the resurgent Ryan Getzlaf but what really makes Perron interesting is his upcoming schedule.

You guessed it, the Ducks play three more games this week with the Wednesday-Friday-Sunday troika. Perron’s multi-positional eligibility practically ensures you get him for three games if you add him today.

Rickard Rakell – C – 15 per cent owned

In case Perron is unavailable to you but you still want to get in on the surging Ducks and their favourable schedule here’s another offering. While Getzlaf and Corey Perry have been split up it has allowed room for other Ducks to get in on the scoring, which includes Rakell who also has 14 points in 15 games since Perron arrived, while skating with Perry on the second line.

Matt Beleskey – LW – 15 per cent owned

You wouldn’t think that another team could possibly have the excellent Wednesday-Friday-Sunday combo this week but indeed the Bruins have that exact schedule. Beleskey is extremely hit or miss but he has three goals and four points in his last two games while seeing some usage on the top power-play unit of the Bruins.

Jordan Staal – C/LW – 38 per cent owned

19

When we boasted about Staal in this spot last week he was just 24 per cent owned with 18 points in 19 games since Jan. 1. All he did in that week was score five points in four games to drive himself up to a tie for ninth in league scoring in 2016. At this rate, Staal should be owned in every league.

Also helping matters is that Staal has three games remaining this week with a Thursday-Friday-Sunday combo that isn’t perfect, but given that the Thursday matchup is with the tanking Maple Leafs, you’ll want to find a way to get him into your lineup.

20

http://www.tsn.ca/10-non-rentals-who-could-be-on-the-move-before-the-deadline-1.442936

10 non-rentals who could be on the move before the deadline By Frank Seravalli – February 25, 2016 The NHL trade deadline mostly revolves around rental players, pending unrestricted free agents who can join a playoff team with 40 days remaining in the regular season and hopefully help springboard them to a Stanley Cup.

Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins did that last year for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The real intrigue, though, lies in the trades we don’t necessarily see coming. Trade requests for Jonathan Drouin and Travis Hamonic have been on the books for months, but here are 10 other non-rental players potentially on the move between now and Monday:

NAIL YAKUPOV

Team: Edmonton

Age: 22

Position: Right Wing

Contract Status: One year remaining at $2.5 million

2015-16 stats: 39 GP, 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points

Scoop: In the midst of an abysmal season, it’s clear Yakupov could use a fresh start. The 2012 first-overall pick has shown flashes at times, but isn’t nearly as consistent or competitive enough to warrant a huge return. That return may indeed wait until the summer, but the best fit will come in the form of a prospect in need of a similar change of scenery.

BRANDON PIRRI

Team: Florida

Age: 24

Position: Centre

Contract Status: RFA (qualifying offer: $1 million)

2015-16 stats: 52 GP, 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points

Scoop: The Panthers are in the hunt for a big left winger (read: Andrew Ladd), and if they’re going to spend, Pirri will be part of the package out of Florida. He is currently working his way back from a gruesome ankle injury and could be playing again in the next two weeks. As recently as Feb. 15, the versatile Pirri was on a line with Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau.

JUSTIN SCHULTZ

Team: Edmonton

Age: 25

Position: Right-shot Defence

Contract Status: RFA (qualifying offer: $3.9 million)

2015-16 stats: 45 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points

21

Scoop: No team is likely to qualify Schultz with a $3.9 million offer this summer, but part of today’s discussion must be whether or not they think he is worth at least $3.3 million as a minimum team-elected arbitration award to keep him beyond this season. Schultz has underachieved, but there are still a handful of teams interested to see if they can rejuvenate the two-time 30-point blueliner.

LARS ELLER

Team: Montreal

Age: 26

Position: Centre

Contract Status: Two years remaining at $3.5 million

2015-16 stats: 60 GP, 10 goals, 8 assists, 18 points

Scoop: Eller may be the most difficult player on this list to move. He is having a down year, like most of the rest of the Canadiens, but he has only reached the 30-point plateau once in his career. He is unlikely to do it again this season. In addition, Eller’s contract is backloaded and he is due $9 million in cash over the next two seasons.

MIKAEL BACKLUND

Team: Calgary

Age: 26 (27 on March 17)

Position: Centre

Contract Status: Two years remaining at $3.575 million

2015-16 stats: 59 GP, 11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points

Scoop: The Flames have other pressing rentals to move, with Kris Russell, Jiri Hudler and David Jones, but they may get a pretty decent return for Backlund. He is bound to be Calgary’s No. 3 centre next season with Sam Bennett rising behind Sean Monahan. Moving Backlund would create more cap space for new deals to Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.

PETER HOLLAND

Team: Toronto

Age: 25

Position: Centre

Contract Status: RFA (qualifying offer: $813,750)

2015-16 stats: 53 GP, 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points

Scoop: Holland is perhaps the most underrated players on this list. He has quietly produced and been the frequent recipient of praise from coach Mike Babcock. He is also a restricted free agent coming off a very reasonable deal, making it possible the Maple Leafs hang on to him.

SCOTT HARTNELL

Team: Columbus

Age: 33 (34 on April 18)

Position: Left Wing

22

Contract Status: Three years remaining at $4.75 million

2015-16 stats: 59 GP, 19 goals, 20 assists, 39 points

Scoop: Hartnell has been the Blue Jackets’ most consistent producer (99 points in 136 games) since joining the team, but his contract has three years left. Columbus can score a bigger return by eating some of that salary, but how much makes sense if the goal is to cut costs? Pittsburgh was a rumoured destination, but we’re told the Penguins have no interest. Would Hartnell waive his no-trade clause to go back to Nashville?

JANNIK HANSEN

Team: Vancouver

Age: 29 (30 on March 15)

Position: Left Wing

Contract Status: Two years remaining at $2.5 million

2015-16 stats: 55 GP, 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points

Scoop: Hansen’s name has made it through the rumour mill, but he is a strong candidate to be a part of the Canucks’ rebuilding process. He is on pace to set a career high of 45 points and he can play up and down Vancouver’s lineup. His reasonable contract is what makes him attractive.

MARTIN HANZAL

Team: Arizona

Age: 29

Position: Centre

Contract Status: One year remaining at $3.1 million

2015-16 stats: 47 GP, 10 goals, 22 assists, 32 points

Scoop: The Coyotes’ alternate captain has been with Arizona since draft day in 2005, but Hanzal is drawing interest from clubs. Over a full season, this year’s production would mean a 55-point campaign. The issue is he hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since 2009-10, but Hanzal is on the right side of 30 and presents little risk with one year left on his deal.

MATT HENDRICKS

Team: Edmonton

Age: 34

Position: Centre

Contract Status: One year remaining at $1.85 million

2015-16 stats: 48 GP, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points

Scoop: The heart-and-soul Hendricks is one of the few core players Edmonton would like to hang onto. Yet, at 34, it’s clear he isn’t part of the Oilers’ long-term plans other than as an example-setting leader. If teams are interested in Hendricks for intangibles, why wouldn’t the Oilers listen?

23

http://www.tsn.ca/statistically-speaking-forsberg-flying-high-1.442876

Statistically Speaking: Forsberg flying high By Scott Cullen – February 25, 2016 Filip Forsberg – Nashville’s winger had a hat trick in a 3-2 win at Toronto. He has 12 points (9 G, 3 A) in the past nine games. He’s just 21-years-old, and is becoming one of the best young goal-scorers in the league. Since the beginning of last season, Nikita Kucherov is the only under-23 player with more goals than Forsberg.

John Tavares – The Islanders centre picked up a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win at Minnesota, and has 18 points (8 G, 10 A) in the past 13 games. After starting slowly, Tavares is tied for 21st in the league in scoring.

John Klingberg – With three assists in a 5-3 victory at Winnipeg, the Stars defenceman has 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in the past 12 games. He ranks second among defencemen with 51 points in 61 games.

ZEROES

Chris Terry, Jay McClement and Riley Nash – The Hurricanes line was crushed in a 3-1 win against the Flyers. When the trio was on the ice at even strength, they had no shot attempts for and 10 against. Over the whole game, at even strength, Nash was oh-fer (0 for, 16 against).

Austin Watson, Paul Gaustad and Mikka Salomaki – The Nashville trio was pinned in their own end (2 for, 11 against, 15.4 SAT%) at Toronto.

Dan Boyle – The Rangers blueliner was on for four goals against (and one for) in a 5-2 loss to New Jersey.

Justin Schultz – Edmonton’s puck-moving defenceman was on the ice for three goals against, and none for, in a 4-1 loss to Ottawa.

WEBER TO CAPITALS

Veteran defenceman Mike Weber was traded to Washington, in exchange for a third-round pick.

This is the kind of deal that a Stanley Cup contender can afford to make. Weber may very well not be a regular for the Capitals. Now that Brooks Orpik has returned from injury, Dmitry Orlov is the current sixth defenceman on the Washington depth chart, and he could very well remain in the lineup ahead of Weber.

However, 28-year-old Weber is a serviceable, no-nonsense depth addition to the blueline. He’s tough and has been an effective shot suppressor for the Sabres this season, so Weber gives Washington some insurance.

The Sabres retained half of Weber’s salary, a pro-rated portion of $833,333, in this trade and received a third-round pick in exchange. There is a little better than one-in-four chance that a third-round pick will become an NHL player and this gives the Sabres three third-rounders, and 11 picks overall in the 2016 Draft.

Verdict: It’s a smart move for both teams. Washington has such a good team that they don’t need to do more than tweak as they prepare for a Stanley Cup run. While Buffalo is much better than they were last season, they are still rebuilding, so might as well add an asset for a player headed for unrestricted free agency.

VITAL SIGNS

24

Shea Weber – Missed Nashville’s 3-2 win at Toronto due to a lower-body injury. As a result, both Anthony Bitetto and Petter Granberg were in the Predators’ lineup.

Nikita Kucherov – The Lightning scorer was out of the lineup with a lower-body injury.

Mikhail Grabovski – An upper-body injury kept the Islanders centre out of their win at Minnesota.

Brady Skjei – With Marc Staal nursing a lower-body injury, the Rangers called up Skjei, a 21-year-old rookie, who played 22:17 in a 5-2 loss at New Jersey.

FIRSTS

Nick Paul – The 20-year-old Senators left winger scored his first career goal in his fourth career game, a 4-1 win at Edmonton.

SHORT SHIFTS

Senators C Zack Smith had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win at Edmonton, and has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) in the past 11 games…Devils LW Joseph Blandisi recorded a pair of assists in a 5-2 win over the Rangers, giving him 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in the past 14 games…Devils LW Sergey Kalinin had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight) against the Rangers; he had no goals and two assists in his previous 23 games…Islanders C Frans Nielsen scored a pair of goals in a 4-1 win at Minnesota, giving him seven points (3 G, 4 A) in the past eight games…Stars LW Jamie Benn produced a couple of goals in a 5-3 win at Winnipeg, and has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in the past nine games…Flyers RW Nick Cousins had a strong possession game (17 for, 3 against, 85.0 SAT%) at Carolina.

Senators G Craig Anderson stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 4-1 win at Edmonton; he has a .950 save percentage in his past eight starts…Hurricanes G Cam Ward turned away 36 of 37 shots in a 3-1 win vs. Philadelphia. He has a .932 save percentage in seven starts since returning from injury…Blue Jackets G Curtis McElhinney made his first start since January 2, and stopped 28 of 29 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss at Detroit…Kings G Jonathan Quick turned aside 22 of 23 shots in a 2-1 win vs. Calgary; he has a .949 save percentage in his past five starts.

FANTASY FOCUS

Some players worth considering off the waiver wire, owned in less than half of TSN leagues:

Matt Beleskey – Three goals and an assist over the past two games, and he’s played more than 18 minutes in both of those games. Owned: 35.6%

Erik Haula – The third-line centre role in Minnesota is working for the 24-year-old who has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in the past eight games. Owned: 2.1%

Kevin Connauton – His ice time is all over the place, but the Coyotes defenceman has five points (3 G, 2 A) in the past five games, with 15 shots on goal in the past three. As a short-term injury fill-in, he’s worth a look. Owned: 8.3%

25

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2016/02/24/nhl-trade-deadline-east-west-buyers-sellers-general-managers/80807116/

NHL trade deadline: 12 teams expected to be active Kevin Allen – February 25, 2016 Andrew Ladd is a Winnipeg Jet today, but he could be a Chicago Blackhawk or a Florida Panther or a member of one of several other contenders by Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Although there does not appear to be as many teams selling as in the past, the expectation is that there could be 20-plus deals. Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes), Loui Eriksson (Boston Bruins), Dan Hamhuis and Radim Vrbata (Vancouver Canucks), Mikkel Boedker (Arizona Coyotes) and Dale Weise (Montreal Canadiens) are among those who could be on the move.

Last season, there were 24 deals, involving 43 players, on deadline day.

Here is a look at the teams that are expected to be active before the deadline:

Anaheim Ducks

Buyer: The Ducks could use another scorer up front, preferably one with grit, and they can afford to part with a defenseman . Anaheim has the potential to make a long playoff run. The Ducks will be all-in when it comes to preparing for the postseason.

General manager Bob Murray: His expertise was evident in his decision not to fire coach Bruce Boudreau when the team was floundering earlier this season. Murray is forceful trader. Even in an era of salary cap concerns, he finds a way to get major deals done.

Carolina Hurricanes

Seller: This organization faces some challenging decisions. They are only four points out of a playoff spot, but long-term they would benefit from trading veterans for prospects and draft picks. The Hurricanes could opt to be a halfway seller. They will move Eric Staal — if he waives his no-trade clause — but wait as long as they can before deciding on Kris Versteeg and John-Michael Liles. All three are free agents this summer. Given the unrest in the fan base, it would be helpful to make the playoffs.

Ron Francis: Francis is not prone to snap judgments. He sticks to his plans. He wanted a first-round pick for Andrej Sekera last spring, and he waited until got it from the Los Angeles Kings.

Chicago Blackhawks

Buyer: They are looking for a scoring forward to play with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, who will be out a few weeks with a leg injury. Ladd could be on their radar. He was a member of their 2010 championship team.

Stan Bowman: His credentials as a mover and shaker are beyond reproach. Under his command, the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups. He has made major roster changes after each title. He will move assets to improve his team at the deadline.

Dallas Stars

Buyer: The Stars like their group, but they believe their younger defenseman could benefit from the presence of a veteran.

26

Jim Nill: After three seasons in Dallas, Nill has already established himself as one of the most respected general managers. He is a strong judge of talent, and a creative trader. He has traded for Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza and Patrick Sharp.

Florida Panthers

Buyer: Strong defensively and in net, the Panthers would like to put a charge in their offense.

Dale Tallon: He doesn't want to trade away first-round picks and top prospects to plug holes. Tallon prefers to make deals that help in the short and long term.

Minnesota Wild

Buyer: The Wild have already changed coaches to put a charge into their playoff hopes. The next logical move would be to acquire a player or two to jazz up their offense. They could move a defenseman.

Chuck Fletcher: He is feeling pressure to ensure the Wild make the playoffs. Fletcher is known to be thorough, always careful to strike a balance between winning today and planning for the future. But it might be time for him to swing for the fences.

Nashville Predators

Buyer: The Predators have to make the playoffs, and they are expected to make deadline moves to bolster their scoring. Peter Laviolette is an offensive-minded coach and he needs more scoring up front.

David Poile: Because of his stately presence, Poile has long been mislabeled as a conservative general manager. The truth is he is among the most aggressive ones, evidenced by trading young defenseman Seth Jones for No. 1 center Ryan Johansen this season.

New York Rangers

Buyer: The Rangers could use a winger with size, especially one who might be able to spark a power play that ranks 25th. That’s unacceptable for a team that is fifth in goals per game. Speculation that the Rangers would peddle potential unrestricted free agent defenseman Keith Yandle seems to have died down. The Rangers are a contender, and they will need Yandle’s puck-moving skills if they are to make an extended run.

Jeff Gorton: Although he is in his first season as GM, Gorton was an assistant in New York for four years. He is considered a straight-forward trader and doesn’t make you guess what he is thinking.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Buyer: The addition of Trevor Daley has helped their defense, but the Penguins would like to add more experience on the back end. They also want another scoring forward. But their cap space is limited.

Jim Rutherford: He’s still the most active horse trader. The salary cap has made player-for-player deals a lost art, but somehow Rutherford has found a way get it done. He will need all of his skill because his Penguins have about $1.6 million in cap space, according to generalfanger.com.

St. Louis Blues

Buyer: The Blues have been looking for another scorer for most of the season, and that need has become more apparent with Alexander Steen out for a month. They have depth on defense, and veteran Kevin Shattenkirk is a player who might be moved if it’s a defenseman-for-a-forward deal. Plus, the Blues announced Tuesday that goalie Brian Elliott will be sidelined at least four weeks with a lower-body injury. The Blues could think about adding another veteran goalie.

27

Doug Armstrong: He has the patience and nerve to wait until he gets the deal he wants. Armstrong wanted to see where his team was at once it got healthy before before swinging a deal. But he will make something happen.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Buyer: The Lightning would like to turn disgruntled prospect Jonathan Drouin into a defenseman who could make them stronger now. Because of Drouin’s skating ability and potential, he is drawing considerable interest.

Steve Yzerman: It hasn’t taken long for Yzerman to earn the same reputation as a general manager that he owned as a player: He’s a star — a relentless, dedicated and talented difference-maker.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Seller: The Maple Leafs are fully committed to their rebuilding effort. It feels as if the organization is in the midst of an estate sale. They have already traded away Shawn Matthias, Nick Spaling and Roman Polak. P.A. Parenteau will probably be next, and James Reimer could go. Michael Grabner and Daniel Winnik are also possibilities. It’s not unthinkable to believe the Leafs would move Nazem Kadri in the right deal.

Lou Lamoriello: A veteran GM with an incredible track record, he has already set the bar this season by landing two second-round picks from the San Jose Sharks for Polak and Spaling.