The NHL trade deadline is approaching, and many teams have already made big moves to strengthen their rosters. The league-leading Boston Bruins added toughness and size with the acquisition of Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway, while Toronto improved their defence with the trade for Ryan O’Reilly.
The New York Rangers responded to the Islanders’ move for Bo Horvat by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko, and they may not be finished yet. Several other trades have taken place around the league, with more expected before the deadline on Friday at 3 PM Eastern time.
The most highly anticipated deal is Patrick Kane’s move from Chicago to the Rangers, but there is still much uncertainty surrounding other potential trades. Many top players are on the market, with high prices set for players like Jakob Chychrun of Arizona.
The Islanders made a big move in late January with the acquisition of Horvat, and the Rangers followed suit after the All-Star break with the trade for Tarasenko. The Maple Leafs, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2004, hopes to finally break their drought with the addition of O’Reilly and Noel Acciari.
While some teams are selling, others are buying and still selling, leading to a complicated trade market. The St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals, who have made the playoffs in recent years, may still be in the market for players like Chychrun.
The Capitals have already traded Orlov and Hathaway to the Bruins but may still trade some of their pending free agents.
Washington’s General Manager Brian MacLellan has stated that they are not going into a rebuild anytime soon, and they may use their assets to retool their team and build a competitive squad for next year.
He says, “While this season has proven challenging with injuries to our significant players, we can use some of our current assets to retool our club and build a competitive team moving forward.”
With the trade deadline approaching, teams are looking to make moves to improve their chances in the playoffs.
Many top players are on the market, and the prices are high. The most highly anticipated trade is Patrick Kane’s move to the New York Rangers, but there is still much uncertainty surrounding other potential trades.
The Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers have already made big moves; more are expected before the deadline.
While some teams are selling, others are buying and still selling, leading to a complicated trade market. The St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals, contenders in recent years, may still be in the market for players like Jakob Chychrun of Arizona. The Capitals have already traded Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Bruins, but they may still trade some of their pending free agents.
Washington’s General Manager Brian MacLellan has stated that the team is not going into a rebuild anytime soon, and they may use their assets to retool their team and build a competitive squad for next year.
He says, “While this season has proven challenging with injuries to our significant players, we can use some of our current assets to retool our club and build a competitive team moving forward.”
The trade deadline is shaping up to be a busy and exciting time for NHL fans, with many big moves expected in the next few days. It will be interesting to see how the trade market develops and which teams make the most impactful acquisitions.
