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Nathan MacKinnon is one of the league’s most productive players, and he always takes it up a notch against Dallas.

My Avalanche vs. Stars predictions expect the trigger-happy MacKinnon to find the net against his division rival for the sixth consecutive game.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Friday, March 6.

Avalanche vs Stars prediction

Avalanche vs Stars best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-110)

Nathan MacKinnon has piled up the shots since returning from the Olympics, generating 25 shots on goal and 36 attempts over four games.

The volume should remain strong against the Dallas Stars, a division rival he’s excelled against over the years. He's generated 50 shots on target over his past 10 meetings with Dallas and scored in seven of the last eight.

With consistently strong shot outputs and the highest conversion rate of his career (15.2%), MacKinnon is a big threat to score.

Avalanche vs Stars same-game parlay

Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas has picked up a point in eight of the last nine games in which MacKinnon scored.

Necas helps facilitate a lot of MacKinnon’s shot volume at 5-on-5 and on the power play, making the two players strongly correlated.

Mavrik Bourque has played six games without both Tyler Seguin and Mikko Rantanen in the lineup. He’s registered multiple shots on goal in each, averaging 3.7 shots on 5.0 attempts.

He’s an efficient, shoot-first player who has benefited greatly from an increase in usage.

Avalanche vs Stars SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
• Mavrik Bourque Over 1.5 shots on goal

Avalanche vs Stars odds

• Moneyline: Colorado -125 | Dallas +105
• Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+190) | Dallas -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Avalanche vs Stars trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five consecutive games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Stars.

How to watch Avalanche vs Stars

Avalanche vs Stars latest injuries

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For the first time this season, the Montreal Canadiens will be taking on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The California-based outfit is currently second in the Pacific Division, and it looks like it will qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Keen to help their playoff push, GM Pat Verbeek acquired veteran offensive defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals for two draft picks early on Friday morning. The rearguard has 46 points in 55 games this season and will bring some veteran leadership to a young Ducks side.

This game will be the first duel between rookies Beckett Sennecke and Ivan Demidov. While the Habs’ rookie led the scoring race for most of the season, Sennecke recently overtook him and is now in pole position with 51 points in 61 games, while Demidov has 48 points in 60 games. The young Russian was outshone by the New York Islanders' rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer when they faced off last week, and he will no doubt want to win his duel with Sennecke.

Beckett Sennecke is the first rookie to hit 50 points this year! 🦆 pic.twitter.com/VpuEiKyptb

— NHL (@NHL) March 5, 2026

Former Canadiens’ Prospect Having A Good Stretch In St. Louis 
Former Canadiens D-Man Traded To Central Club
Could The Canadiens Trade For Help In Net?

The Canadiens had a new look at practice on Thursday, not because Kent Hughes went out to get some reinforcements, but because Martin St-Louis decided to change his lines. Since coming back from the Olympics break, his second line had been ineffective, and he decided it was time to put red-hot Alex Newhook back with Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen.

As a result, Juraj Slafkovsky went back to the first line, a welcome change for captain Nick Suzuki after having a revolving door on his wing since the big Slovak was moved to the rookie line. This also means that Kirby Dach is moving to Jake Evans’ wing alongside Zach Bolduc. Dach and Bolduc had shown some chemistry early in the season, and the reunion may be good for them. As for the Brendan Gallagher, Philip Danault and Josh Anderson line, it’s the only one that remains untouched.

After Thursday’s practice, St-Louis refused to confirm if there would be any lineup change on the blueline, simply saying “I don’t know” when he was asked if Arber Xhekaj would play. The gritty defenseman has been linked to the Calgary Flames in trade rumours, but he’s still a member of the Canadiens at the time of writing.

The Ducks have a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games and have won their last game 5-1 against the Islanders, with Sennecke leading the charge with a goal and an assist and Ville Husso manning the net. Since he’s the backup, chances are the Canadiens will face Lukas Dostal on Friday night. The Czech netminder has a 2-1-1 record against the Habs with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Meanwhile, Husso has a 4-0-2 record against Montreal with a 1.95 GAA and a .929 SV.

As for the Habs, St-Louis has already confirmed that Samuel Montembeault would be in the net after Jakub Dobes lost his last game and gave up six goals against the San Jose Sharks. The Becancour native has a 2-5-0 record against the Ducks with a 2.89 GAA and a .894 SV. As for Dobes, he has never taken on Anaheim.

Up front, Gallagher is the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Ducks with 12 points in 15 games, followed by Patrik Laine, who has 11 points in 14 games but won’t play tonight. Suzuki comes in third place with seven points in nine games.

At the other end of the ice, veteran Alex Killord has 21 points in 42 duels against the Canadiens, followed by Ryan Strome with 17 points in 24 games and Frank Vatrano with 13 points in 21 games. Newly acquired Carlson has 28 points in 46 duels against the Tricolore, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be dressed on Friday after the trade went down during the night from Thursday to Friday.

The Canadiens have a 4-6-0 record in their last 10 games against the Ducks, and they lost their last meeting, 3-2 in Anaheim in February 2025. The game is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, and you can catch it on Victory+, KCOP-13, TSN2, and RDS.

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The New York Islanders seem reluctant to move either of their 2025 first-round picks in a potential trade for St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou, per industry sources. 

Forward Victor Eklund, whom the Islanders selected 16th overall, is untouchable or as close as you can get to it.

The 19-year-old, who has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 39 games with Djugardens in the Swedish Elite League, is planning to join the organization for the 2026-27 season, whether that's at the NHL or AHL level.

Don't be shocked if he cracks the Islanders' roster out of camp.

Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, whom the Islanders selected 17th overall, is crushing it -- figuratively and literally -- in the OHL with the Barrie Colts. He has 64 points (27 goals, 37 assists) in 50 games and was named February's OHL Defenseman Of The Month for a second straight month, setting the franchise record for points by a blue-liner. 

Blueline boss. 👑@NYIslanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson is your February #OHL Defenceman of the Month for the second straight month, setting a new @OHLBarrieColts franchise record for points by a defenceman.

DETAILS 🗞️: https://t.co/OGKuGxn8Ujpic.twitter.com/1My6POqq74

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 1, 2026

Eklund signed his three-year entry-level deal on July 14. 

We're told that Aitcheson will be signing his entry-level deal come the conclusion of the OHL season. 

Flyers make another trade, move Deslauriers to Hurricanes originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers traded Nicolas Deslauriers to the Hurricanes on Friday in exchange for a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick.

Deslauriers, a 35-year-old veteran winger, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He had served mostly as the Flyers’ extra forward over the last two seasons.

Earlier in the day, the Flyers traded Bobby Brink to the Wild.

The Flyers signed Deslauriers in July 2022 to a four-year, $7 million contract. As one of the NHL’s toughest players, Deslauriers took pride in protecting his teammates and never shied away from dropping the gloves.

But as Deslauriers had gotten older and the Flyers turned younger, he had lost his everyday role on the fourth line. Over the last two seasons, he played a combined 55 games and only 7:50 minutes per game.

With Carolina, Deslauriers will get a chance at a playoff run. He’ll very likely be an extra forward on a deep Hurricanes team, but when called upon, he’ll know his role.

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Patrick Kane’s best days are behind him, but he’s still a strong offensive player, having produced 33 points through 47 games.

My Panthers vs. Red Wings predictions expect Kane to find the scoresheet while facing one of the league’s worst teams at keeping the puck out.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Friday, March 6.

Panthers vs Red Wings prediction

Panthers vs Red Wings best bet: Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-120)

Patrick Kane has consistently produced in favorable matchups — particularly in Detroit. He has picked up at least one point in nine of 14 home dates against Bottom-16 teams in goals against. That’s a solid 64% clip.

That hit rate soars to 78% when isolating home games vs. Bottom-10 goal suppression teams. Kane has points in seven of nine, tallying 11 along the way.

The Florida Panthers rank 26th in goals against and 31st in high-danger SV%. They’ve also conceded a power play marker in six of their last eight, and Kane skates on the No. 1 unit.

Panthers vs Red Wings same-game parlay

Dylan Larkin has averaged more than four shots on goal per game since returning from the Olympics. His shot totals have also seen a boost playing with Kane, whom he shares the ice with at 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Matthew Tkachuk has averaged 3.2 shots on 7.4 attempts over five games following the Olympic break. He generates a ton of his volume from the slot, and the Detroit Red Wings rank 30th in preventing shots from that area over their last 10.

Panthers vs Red Wings SGP

• Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points
• Dylan Larkin anytime goal
• Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots on goal

Panthers vs Red Wings odds

• Moneyline: Florida +125 | Detroit -145
• Puck line: Florida +1.5 (-200) | Detroit -1.5 (+165)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Panthers vs Red Wings trend

Patrick Kane has points in six of his last eight games against Florida. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Panthers vs Red Wings

Panthers vs Red Wings latest injuries

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It's NHL trade deadline day.

NHL teams have until 3 p.m. ET today on Friday, March 6, to get a deal done. Contenders will be looking to add the final piece or pieces to get them over the top for a Stanley Cup title. Non-playoff teams will be looking for prospects or draft picks to help them with their rebuild or retool.

The past two days have been busy. Defensemen moved on March 4, including MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth, Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars and Nick Blankenburg to the Colorado Avalanche.

Forwards changed hands on March 5, including Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights, Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche, Michael Bunting to the Stars and David Perron returning to the Detroit Red Wings. Defensemen John Carlson (Anaheim Ducks) and Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn (Buffalo Sabres) were moved after midnight.

Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides news and analysis on the moves of the day (previous trades can be found here):

Will Vincent Trocheck be traded?

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Rangers "have indicated they are prepared to keep Vincent Trocheck if they don't get what they feel they need. Told teams, they are not trading him just for the sake of making a trade." Trocheck is signed through 2029. He was held out of the Rangers' last game.

Sabres acquire Sam Carrick from Rangers

The trade: The Buffalo Sabres acquire forward Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers for 2026 third- and sixth-round picks.

Analysis: Carrick has won 53.9 percent of his faceoffs this season, and the Sabres are last in the league at only 45 percent. He also has playoff experience with the 2024 Edmonton Oilers, playing 10 games in their run to the Stanley Cup Final, including four in the conference final. He also had 86 hits while averaging 10:25 a game. He's under contract for another year.

When is the NHL trade deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6. Trades usually are announced after that hour, too, because of a backup in the NHL approving the deals submitted beforehand.

Players who could be moved today

The following players were held out of the lineup on Thursday night for roster management purposes: New York Rangers forwards Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann, plus Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer.

Late-night trades

Several trades were announced after midnight ET.

The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres acquired defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forward Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. Trade details can be found here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade deadline live updates, deals, team, player analysis

Happy Trade Deadline day, Vancouver Canucks fans. After the deadline passes at 12:00 pm PT later today, the Canucks (18–36–7) will take on the Chicago Blackhawks (23–28–10) in what will be the first of a road back-to-back. Vancouver’s last matchup saw the team show a little spirit, attempting a comeback but ultimately falling 6–4 to the Carolina Hurricanes at home. Chicago’s last game also ended in a loss, with the Blackhawks falling to the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3–2 in overtime.

Today’s game will be an interesting one to watch, as the moves made ahead of the deadline today could cause both teams to look different from how they appeared at the start of the day. Already, both teams have gotten moves in ahead of the deadline, with the Canucks trading Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday and Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, and the Blackhawks dealing Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Edmonton Oilers for Andrew Mangiapane and a first-round pick. It’s currently unclear whether either team will make another move before 12:00 pm PT or not. 

Vancouver is coming off what many view as the perfect tank game on Wednesday, as they managed to put up a decent comeback effort against the Hurricanes but ultimately fell short. Key players in Vancouver’s lineup — Filip Hronek, Elias Pettersson, and Marco Rossi — all recorded multi-point games, while Nils Höglander scored his first goal of the season. While the decisions made leading into the deadline could impact how the team looks come puck drop, Wednesday’s effort should be something the team looks to build on when they face the Blackhawks later today. 

Players To Watch: 

Marco Rossi

Rossi had what’s been considered his best game in a Canucks uniform on Wednesday, putting up a goal and an assist in Vancouver’s loss to the Hurricanes. Prior to that, the forward’s last point came on December 27 against the San Jose Sharks, though he missed the entire month of January and parts of February due to injury. If Rossi remains paired with Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren tonight, the two wingers he played with on Wednesday, it’ll be interesting to see if they can replicate their success from the prior game.  

Connor Bedard

Regardless of who he’s playing against, Connor Bedard is always a treat to watch. In his last game against the Canucks on November 5, the forward scored his first goal against his hometown team in a 5–2 win for Chicago. Since returning from the Olympic break, Bedard has put up a point-per-game pace all against Central Division teams. Chicago’s lines still have yet to be altered to fit Mangiapane in, though Bedard will likely contribute lots offensively no matter who he ends up playing with. 

Vancouver Canucks (18–36–7): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 13–24–37

Filip Hronek: 6–29–35

Jake DeBrusk: 13–17–30

Brock Boeser: 13–14–27

Evander Kane: 11–16–27

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 7–20–4

Nikita Tolopilo: 3–5–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Chicago Blackhawks (23–28–10): 

Points: 

Connor Bedard: 25–32–57 

Tyler Bertuzzi: 26–19–45

Andre Burakovsky: 10–20–30

Teuvo Teräväinen: 13–15–28

Ryan Donato: 13–12–25 

Goaltenders: 

Spencer Knight: 16–18–8

Arvid Söderblom: 6–9–2

Drew Commesso: 1–1–0

Game Information: 

Start time: 5:30 pm PT 

Venue: United Center 

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks Trade Conor Garland To The Columbus Blue Jackets For Two Picks

Abbotsford Canucks Sign Defenceman Christian Felton To One-Year Contract

Canucks Trade Longtime Defenceman Jett Woo To The San Jose Sharks

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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The Vancouver Canucks hit the road this evening to take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Jake DeBrusk has created tons of chances against Chicago this season, and I’m eyeing him to do so again in my Canucks vs. Blackhawks predictions.

Read more in my NHL picks for Friday, February 6.

Canucks vs Blackhawks prediction

Canucks vs Blackhawks best bet:Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots (+105)

Jake DeBrusk is averaging 2.68 SOG this season for the Vancouver Canucks, and while that number dips to 2.33 in road games, there’s a serious reason to believe he’ll be busy offensively tonight.

Across two meetings with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025-26, DeBrusk has put an absurd amount of pucks on net. We’re talking 14 shots on target. The Blackhawks are also poor defensively, allowing 29.4 SOG per game. 

Canucks vs Blackhawks same-game parlay

Drew O’Connor is averaging just 1.45 SOG per contest this season, but he’s hit the Over in two of his last three contests.

O’Connor has also cashed the Over on his shots prop in one of the two meetings with Chicago this season.

Despite trading Conor Garland on Thursday, I’m eyeing them to end their seven-game losing skid tonight. Vancouver is 1-1 against the Hawks in ‘25-26, and that lone win came on the road.

In fact, the Canucks are 9-1-0 across their last 10 meetings with Chicago.

Canucks vs Blackhawks SGP

• Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots
• Drew O’Connor Over 1.5 shots
• Canucks moneyline

Canucks vs Blackhawks odds

• Moneyline: Canucks +123 | Blackhawks -140
• Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (-210) | Blackhawks -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (-120) | Under 6 (+104)

Canucks vs Blackhawks trend

The Vancouver Canucks have hit the game total Over in eight of their last 13 games (+3.10 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Blackhawks.

How to watch Canucks vs Blackhawks

Canucks vs Blackhawks latest injuries

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Seven games are scheduled across the National Hockey League tonight, with no shortage of stars in action. My NHL player props will highlight Nathan MacKinnon, Wyatt Johnston, and Matt Boldy. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Friday, March 6. 

Best NHL player prop bets today

img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Friday, March 6

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots on goal 

-170 at BET99

Nathan MacKinnon is an unstoppable force offensively, and that’s clear by the -170 odds here. After all, he is averaging 4.55 shots on goal per game. While the Colorado Avalanche are taking on the red-hot Dallas Stars tonight, MacKinnon has already had success against them this season. 

The Nova Scotia native had a goal, two helpers, and four shots on target earlier in the campaign versus Dallas. Yes, the Stars are seventh in the league in fewest shots allowed, but MacKinnon is a superstar who can compete with the best of them.

He’s also cashed the Over in shots on goal in six of his last seven, and MacKinnon even had eight shots on net against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, a team who is 13th in fewest shots conceded. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ALT, Victory+

Prop #2: Wyatt Johnston anytime goal

+150 at BET99

The Stars have won 10 straight, and Wyatt Johnston has certainly played his part. The youngster, who has 33 goals on the year, has scored in three of four games since the Olympic break. 

Johnston found the back of the net on Tuesday against the Flames, and he also scored twice in the Stars’ first game back from the Winter Olympics. The Ontario native already scored this season against the Avs as well. 

Johnston has 18 goals in 28 home games, and Dallas welcomes Colorado to town this evening. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ALT, Victory+

Prop #3: Matt Boldy Over 0.5 assists

-115 at BET99

Matt Boldy was one of the heroes for Team USA in Milan, and he’s carried that form right back to the National Hockey League. The Minnesota Wild star has notched 37 assists in 2025-26, and he’s already grabbed seven helpers since the league resumed play. 

Boldy handed out three assists in a win over the Lightning earlier this week, and he set up another in Sunday’s loss to the Blues. The Wild hit the road tonight to face the Golden Knights, and that’s a welcoming sight for Boldy. 

He’s compiled two helpers in two meetings with Vegas this season, and the 24-year-old has 18 assists in 27 road games. 

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN NO, SCRIPPS

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

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Hours after acquiring left winger Warren Foegele for a combination of draft picks, the Senators alleviated their logjam of depth forwards.

With news that Stephen Halliday was an extra forward and that Kurtis MacDermid was drawing into the lineup against the Calgary Flames, there was speculation that his future could be clouded ahead of tomorrow’s trade deadline.

Instead, it is veteran forward David Perron who is headed out the door.

The organization announced that they had moved the impending unrestricted free agent to the division rival Detroit Red Wings for a conditional fourth-round pick. The conditions of the pick are outlined as follows: provided Perron plays in a regular season game for the Wings before the end of the year, Ottawa will receive a 2026 fourth-round pick. If the Red Wings advance to the second round of the postseason and Perron plays in more than 50 percent of the games, that fourth-round pick will become a 2026 third.

Perron has not played since the Senators’ January 20th game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The winger has missed the past 12 games after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

When healthy, the 37-year-old proved he still was an effective player. In 49 games with the Senators this season, he scored 10 goals and had 25 points while providing the strong underlying metrics that have traditionally followed the veteran across his 19-year career.

Unfortunately, injuries and a 2024 family issue limited Perron to 92 games across two seasons for the Senators, contributing 19 goals and 41 points.

Interestingly, general managers Steve Staios and Steve Yzerman were engaged in a lengthy conversation in the press box at the Canadian Tire Centre during an intermission of their teams’ matchup on Thursday, February 26th. And now, we know what they were likely discussing.

This trade affords Perron the opportunity to return to Detroit, where he spent two seasons before joining the Senators as a free agent during the 2024 offseason.

The trade leaves the Senators with $12,779,484 in accrued cap space, per PuckPedia. It leaves the organization with considerable room if it intends to make another deal (or two) to improve its roster at tomorrow’s trade deadline.

And, following tonight’s 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames that left the Senators four points back of the Boston Bruins and the Eastern Conference’s second wild card seed, there is the potential for things to get very interesting.

The addition of Warren Foegele earlier in the day certainly made Perron expendable. His acquisition allows the organization to return Nick Cousins to a fourth line role, which better suits him.

It does, however, raise questions about Stephen Halliday’s future. The young 23-year-old has played and produced well in his limited minutes this season, but Foegele's presence could push him to the outside, provided the organization does not move another veteran like Lars Eller or Fabian Zetterlund.

Given his age and production, there should be considerable interest in Halliday as a prospective trade chip.

Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

Are The Senators About To Trade Stephen Halliday?Kurtis MacDermid being in Stephen Halliday's spot at practice on the eve of the NHL trade deadline signals potential roster moves.

Last summer, there were rumours about the Montreal Canadiens being in trade talks with the St. Louis Blues to acquire winger Jordan Kyrou. However, when the two organizations announced a trade, it didn’t involve him, but rather two young players: Zachary Bolduc and right-shot 22-year-old defenseman Logan Mailloux.

Since the trade, the 23-year-old Bolduc has played 59 games with the Habs, been a healthy scratch once last week, and has 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He’s also gotten 24 penalty minutes and has a minus-nine rating.

Canadiens Prospect Lightning Up The WHL
Canadiens: Kapanen Ready For The Big Time
Sabres Reportedly Out On Thomas, Are The Canadiens Still In?

Meanwhile, Mailloux has played five games with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL and 46 games with the Blues. He picked up two points in Springfield (both goals) and three goals and two assists for five points in the NHL.

In his last five games, though, Mailloux has scored two goals, taken 13 shots, landed eight hits, blocked five shots and has a plus-five differential while playing on the Blues’ second pairing. Meanwhile, Bolduc has recorded two points, both assists, in his last five game put together a minus-one record, took two shots, blocked one and landed 13 hits while playing in the bottom six alongside Jake Evans and Alex Newhook.

Should the Canadiens have buyer’s remorse? It’s much too early to tell. Both players are still very young and are nowhere near done developing. When he joined the Canadiens, Bolduc was parachuted into a whole new system, playing under Martin St-Louis meant learning to read the plays and making the right decisions at the right time, rather than just using a standard system, which takes time. This is Bolduc’s first full season in the NHL, and he still has plenty of time to learn and improve.

Granted, the Canadiens could do with a right-shot defenseman right now, but they do have David Reinbacher and Bryce Pickford in the pipeline, and if Bolduc becomes the player the Habs’ brass felt he could become under St-Louis’ tutelage, the trade will have paid off for both sides.

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The Philadelphia Flyers still haven't managed to fix their center depth, and one of the key cogs they just traded has already found a permanent new home in the NHL.

So far, with one month to go in the 2025-26 season, Trevor Zegras has not taken over as a full-time center as many of us expected in the offseason.

Instead, that role belongs to fellow newcomer Christian Dvorak, with Noah Cates, a declining Sean Couturier, and Carl Grundstrom filling in behind.

Top prospect Jett Luchanko lasted only four games with the Flyers, and Rodrigo Abols is done for the season with a lower-body injury.

With all that in perspective, it's fair to say the Flyers are missing old friend Ryan Poehling, whom they traded to the Anaheim Ducks in the Zegras trade.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Should Be All-In On Simon NemecAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the market is flush with right-shot defenseman, which works for and against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>. If they want to add, though, now might be a good time.

And, while the Flyers still appear to have gotten the better end of that trade, they did create a gap in the lineup that's been plaguing them all season. Both things can be true.

On Thursday, Poehling, 27, cashed in on a solid first season in California, signing a four-year, $15 million ($3.75 million AAV) contract to remain with the Ducks.

The ex-Flyers forward has slotted in nicely behind the likes of Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish in Anaheim, and, importantly, does not have any trade protection in his new deal.

Given the state of the NHL trade market over the last few years, that very well could work out in the Ducks' favor in the future.

Poehling has seven goals, 17 assists, and 24 points in 54 games this season in his depth role.

Flyers' Latest Signing Creates New Trade PossibilitiesAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have yet to strike any deals of substance, though their latest signing indicates that one could be coming soon.

Comparatively, Dvorak, who signed a much more lucrative five-year, $25.75 million extension with the Flyers in January, has trade protection in all but the last season of his deal, sitting at 13 goals, 24 assists, and 37 points in 60 games playing almost top-line minutes almost exclusively with Zegras.

Poehling, with an expanded role and a bit of finishing luck, could be matching or surpassing Dvorak's offensive production, but the Ducks were happy to keep him in a role that matches his skillset and pay him accordingly.

As for the Flyers, the position they're in is very similar to when they had Poehling, looking for what they lost.

NEW YORK — On a day where the Toronto Maple Leafs will be busy working the phones trying to unload some of their players to shore up their future, they must be wondering if they need to make a change behind the bench.

The Maple Leafs fell to the New York Rangers 6-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, falling to 0-4-2 since returning from the Olympic break. It’s not that Toronto played as bad as some of their other games, but this recent loss came to the worst team in the NHL, with the Rangers winning their first game in regulation on home ice since November 24. 

It’s not a good scene right now. There are excuses, like the trade deadline, which will pass at 3 p.m. ET. And sure, that could effect a lot of the core players who aren’t used to seeing pieces being shipped away to sell rather than buy and compete for the playoffs. 

But whatever the case is, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube appears to be out of patience and admitted he’s been frustrated with the performance he’s seen in front of him this season.

"Definitely frustrated. Pissed off,” Berube said. “The games are right there and we don't push as a team hard enough to win them."

'We Put Ourselves In This Situation': Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Reacts To Nicolas Roy Trade To AvalancheJacob Qullian was called up to replace Nicolas Roy, who was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche and will suit up against the New York Rangers.

It’s the hardest he’s called out his team this season. After guiding the Leafs to first place in the Atlantic Division in his first year with Toronto last season, the players appears to be sinking further. And while the prospect of getting into the bottom five so they can keep their first-round pick this season (a condition in a trade with the Boston Bruins this season), the current malaise has the risk of doing some long-term damage if it isn’t rectified.

“It sucks losing. It sucks being in this position. I haven't been in this position since I've been here, and it's not a fun feeling, yeah, I mean, like selling or whatever that might be,” a very despondant Joseph Woll said after the game “It sucks. I hate it. It's way more fun when you're winning. We have to get out of this slump regardless of what the rest of the season looks like.”

Why The Maple Leafs Traded Nicolas Roy To The Avalanche And What They Are Getting In ReturnRoy has one more year left on his contract, which comes in at $3 million.

Berube isn’t the only one to blame. The Leafs have not been getting goals from their star players. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews hasn’t scored a goal in 10 games, marking his longest stretch since his rookie season.

When the team struggled earlier in the season, they fired assistant coach Marc Savard and tied the team’s struggles to an inefficient power play.  The hope from Toronto was that it would spur better play. And for a brief time it did, as the Leafs briefly moved back into a playoff position in Janaury before going on another losing streak to fall further back.

During this losing stretch, the most recent five games have all come against teams that are not in the playoffs at the time of puck drop. It’s a bad scene and there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to be better without a big change.

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins were routed 5-1 by the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night after a competitive first period quickly unraveled in Buffalo’s favor, highlighted by the ejection of Evgeni Malkin following a confrontation with defender Rasmus Dahlin. With a lack of star power to drive offense, Pittsburgh struggled to recover as Buffalo capitalized on mistakes and pulled away for a decisive win. [Recap]

Sidney Crosby has, however, resumed skating while recovering from a lower-body injury he suffered at the Olympics. He has not yet returned to full practice, and that timeline remains unclear. [Trib Live]

The Penguins are entering the home stretch of the regular season with a few issues that ail them, notably the ability to win faceoffs sans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin’s future, and a brutal March schedule that will likely determine their playoff fate. How major or minor are these issues as we race toward the regular season finish line? [PensBurgh]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has agreed to sell 12.5% of the team at a $2.66 billion valuation, according to a new report from Sportico. [Sportsnet]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded center Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday for a conditional first-round pick at the 2027 draft and a fifth-rounder in 2026’s draft. [TSN]

St. Louis Blues defender Colton Parayko will not waive his no-trade clause for a trade to the Buffalo Sabres after the Blues had reached an agreement with Buffalo on Wednesday. [TSN]

The latest NHL trade tracker can be found here. [NHL]

The Washington Capitals traded longtime defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks early Friday morning in one of the surprise moves of the NHL trade deadline. At least on the surface.

Carlson, 36, has been a career Capital, appearing in 1,143 games for the franchise over 17 seasons after he was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. He owns basically every major franchise record for a defenseman — games played, goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) — and was a key component of the franchise's breakthrough Stanley Cup win in 2018. He finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting three times, including a runner-up finish in 2019-20.

"Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” Capitals GM Chris Patrick said in a statement. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable.

"We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”

So ... who won the deal?

Capitals trade grade: A-

Sentimentality aside, getting a first-round pick — either this summer if the Ducks make the playoffs or next year — and third-round pick for a 36-year-old defenseman who will be a free agent this summer is a tidy bit of business. The Capitals are just four points out of the playoffs, but they are tied for the most games played in the conference. They made a shrewd decision to throw in the towel in what seems to be a seller's market, earlier on Thursday trading another veteran in Nic Dowd.

The Capitals now have 22 picks in the next three NHL drafts and clearly have their eyes on the future ... which could also see franchise icon Alex Ovechkin depart this summer with the 40-year-old's contract set to expire. A trade of a franchise icon is never fun, but this move helps set the Capitals up for more winning down the road.

Ducks trade grade: B+

This trade feels very much like a win-win as the Ducks are adding a defenseman who can still get it done, particularly on the offensive end. Carlson has been quite productive again this season, scoring 10 goals and dishing 36 assists for 46 points in 55 games. He carries a plus-11 rating.

He also brings loads of playoff experience for a team that hasn’t played spring hockey in a while, having appeared in 137 postseason contests, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. That's the last year the Ducks made the playoffs. Maybe you'd like to keep your first-round pick, but getting a player like Carlson comes at a price; plus, Anaheim is already oozing with young talent thanks to its years in the wilderness.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Carlson trade grades for Capitals-Ducks deal