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sports Saturday 4 March 2023
Flood of trades could be reduced to trickle at NHL deadline

ing into Friday was the busi-
est for trading in the NHL
over the past decade: 43
trades involving 85 play-
ers and 55 draft picks, in-
cluding 12 first-rounders, all
since Feb. 17.
That's more than double
the trade volume over the
same spans since the 2012-
13 lockout. Going back to
the All-Star break this year,
there have been 44 trades
with 89 players and 57 draft
picks, kicked off by the
Rangers getting Tarasenko
in a multiplayer deal with
St. Louis.
The Rangers also added
the biggest fish, getting
three-time Stanley Cup
champion Patrick Kane
from Chicago earlier this
week. That answered the ri-
val Islanders' addition of Bo
Horvat, the Devils' acquisi-
tion of Meier and plenty
more movement around
the loaded Eastern Confer-
ence.
Just as notable were the
teams in contention that
mostly stood pat. They in-
cluded the Seattle Kraken,
who began the day third in
the Pacific Division stand-
ings, and Calgary Flames,
who are ninth in the West-
ern Conference race and
five points out of conten-
St. Louis Blues right wing Kasperi Kapanen, left, and San Jose Sharks center Nick Bonino (13) and defenseman Jacob MacDonald tion. In the East, the Florida
compete for possession of the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 2, 2023. Panthers have been inac-
Associated Press tive, and the Buffalo Sabres
made cursory moves de-
spite being in a four-way tie
By JOHN WAWROW trading defenseman Jakob New York Rangers and ing a Canucks game last in ninth, just four points out
AP Hockey Writer Chychrun to the Ottawa plucking underachieving month. "We're definitely no of contention.
NHL teams were so busy Senators two days before winger Kasperi Kapanen slouch in this mix, so it's mo- The trade deadline last
wheeling and dealing in the deadline. off waivers from Pittsburgh. tivating." year featured 32 trades, ty-
the days ahead of the With dozens of high-profile — The Penguins, mean- — The Los Angeles Kings ing a one-day record set in
trade deadline, Arizona names having already while, brought back Nick continued their playoff 2020, involving 51 players
general manager Bill Arm- switched teams, includ- Bonino in a three-team preparations by acquiring and a record-matching 26
strong jokingly wondered ing goalie Jonathan Quick deal involving San Jose tough winger Zack MacE- draft picks.
if there would be anything twice, the NHL's familiar and Montreal. In trading wen from Philadelphia for Armstrong said it was hard
left to talk about come the frenzy of last-minute moves Bonino to Pittsburgh, the Brendan Lemieux and a to pin down why GMs have
final day on Friday. slowed to a trickle. Sharks acquired two draft 2024 fifth-round pick. been so proactive ahead
"We try to ruin the trade The final day's moves be- picks and the rights to Pen- — Vladislav Namestnikov of the deadline this year.
deadline shows, that's gan with Detroit continuing guins prospect Arvid Hen- was on the move again. "It's a great question be-
the biggest thing in To- to sell off players, dealing rikson. The Canadiens ac- A day after being dealt by cause particularly this year,
ronto," Armstrong said with winger Jakub Vrana to St. quired Sharks defenseman Tampa Bay to San Jose, the calls started way earli-
a laugh, referring to the Louis for a 2025 seventh- Tony Sund for retaining 50% the 10th-year player was er. It seems like we've been
NHL's broadcast partners, round pick and minors of Bonino's salary. shipped by the Sharks to at this for three hard weeks
who dedicate a majority player Dylan McLaugh- — The New Jersey Dev- Winnipeg for a 2025 fourth- already," said Armstrong,
of their airtime to monitor lin, while retaining half of ils added more forward round draft pick. who collected seven draft
the movement. "We just like Vrana's salary through next depth following their deal Among the top trade can- picks, including a condi-
to watch those guys talk season. for winger Timo Meier by didates still considered tional first-rounder from Ot-
about nothing for about In Vrana, the Blues got a getting Curtis Lazar from available were three Ana- tawa, in making five trades
three hours on trade dead- third low-risk player in as Vancouver for a 2024 heim Ducks players: defen- over the past two weeks.
line day." many weeks after reacquir- fourth-round pick. "You can semen John Klingberg and "So I do believe that there's
Armstrong spoke after con- ing depth forward Sammy see the excitement," Lazar Dmitry Kulikov, and forward a change in when GM's
tinuing the Coyotes youth Blais in the trade that sent said, recalling the atmo- Maxime Comtois. are negotiating. They're not
rebuilding movement by Vladimir Tarasenko to the sphere in New Jersey dur- The two-week stretch lead- waiting for the final day."q