Category: NHL

The Buffalo Sabres got some bad news on Thursday, as St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko used his no-trade clause to block a trade to Buffalo. With this, the Sabres still must address their major need for another impactful right-shot defenseman.

Parayko would have been an excellent addition to the Sabres' roster. This is because he is a solid top-four defenseman who chips in offensively and plays a smart defensive game. However, the 6-foot-6 defenseman used his NTC to block a move to the Sabres, and now Buffalo must explore their options elsewhere. 

When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec stands out as a very intriguing target for the Sabres to consider.

Nemec is a young defenseman who has the potential to become a very impactful player at the NHL level. The 2022 second-overall pick has already shown signs of clear progress this season, as he has set new career highs with nine goals and 21 points in 48 games. With numbers like these, he would be a strong addition to the Sabres' right side.

Furthermore, with Nemec being only 22 years old, he undoubtedly has the potential to get better as he continues to gain experience. Perhaps getting a fresh start on a team on the rise, like the Sabres, could help him take that next step and hit his full potential.

The Buffalo Sabres made a deal today to acquire defenseman Colton Parayko. The 32-year-old defenseman reportedly declined the move to the Sabres with his no-trade clause, which means he can essentially dictate his next destination. 

Colton Parayko will NOT be traded to Buffalo, per @FriedgeHNIC

He refused to waive his no-trade clause pic.twitter.com/wdV7yrHO06

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 5, 2026

The Blues defenseman signed an eight-year, $52 million extension with St. Louis in 2021. The deal carries a $6.5 million annual cap hit and runs through the 2029-30 season. Because of the no-movement clause, the Blues cannot trade him without his approval.

For now, it appears his preference is to remain in the Western Conference, according to Kevin Weekes. 

Update Re @StLouisBlues D Parayko,
I’m told his preference as of now is
to stay in the West, and he’s open to
the @LAKings and @AnaheimDucks
among potential landing spots.#HockeyXpic.twitter.com/n19TVEVXMr

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) March 5, 2026

The report from Weekes on Thursday afternoon indicates that Parayko would be open to a move to either the Los Angeles Kings or the Anaheim Ducks if either team decides to acquire him. 

Both California teams could make sense for different reasons; they look to strengthen their blue lines with a proven top-four defenseman who brings size, defensive reliability, and playoff experience.

Los Angeles has been starved for a reliable defenseman on their line this season, with Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin being disappointing this season, and Drew Doughty dealing with injuries. Parayko would be the perfect fit for the Kings' blue line.  

If the Kings can somehow flip Cody Ceci for Colton Parayko and still keep Brandt Clarke and Drew Doughty, that would be a big win for Los Angeles, especially for a team that has been looking to solidify its defensive depth as it pushes to remain competitive in the Western Conference. 

Meanwhile, Anaheim is already a dangerous contender this season, holding the second seed in the Pacific Division, just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights. If the Ducks can somehow land Parayko, they could elevate their potential to a No. 1 seed in the division and become serious threats in the west. 

Either way you slice it, Los Angeles needs to acquire Parayko, especially with him now saying that the Kings are at the top of his list as a destination. This move for Los Angeles is exactly what they need to solve their defensive problems. 

Parayko has played 58 games this season and has one goal, 13 assists, and 14 points for the St. Louis Blues, and can quickly elevate the Kings' defense and help create offensive looks for the forwards. 

Still, his contract now complicates the Blues' process with the other teams interested in Parayko, because his indication that he would only join Anaheim or Los Angeles lowers his trade value, and the Kings are most likely not willing to give up much to acquire him. 

For now, the deal appears imminent, and the Blues can either keep Parayko for the rest of the season or do as he wishes and trade him to one of the two California teams. 

Whatever happens, we only have one more day until the trade deadline, tomorrow until 3:00 PM EST. Could this deal go through before that? Whatever deal happens, it will likely be on Parayko's terms, and the Blues' defenseman remains firmly in control of his decision to land on his next team. 

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The Los Angeles Kings made a coaching change on Sunday, firing Jim Hiller and replacing him with D.J. Smith on an interim basis.

While Smith was promoted from associate coach to head coach, it isn't a permanent hire by the Kings and GM Ken Holland. However, Smith does have the advantage of being the next official head coach of the Kings, or "pole position" as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman put it in the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Regardless of Smith having the lead in the coaching carousel for the role of the Kings' bench boss, Friedman name-dropped former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft as someone who could be next in line.

"There's going to be talk about Woodcroft if Smith doesn't grab hold of the job," Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts episode.

Woodcroft is currently the assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks, who looks after the team's offense and power play specifically, alongside head coach Joel Quenneville.

Los Angeles Kings' List Of Rumored Trade Targets Ahead Of NHL Trade DeadlineWith the NHL trade deadline just days away, it's unknown how aggressive Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland will be on the trade front. Nonetheless, here is a list of players that have been linked to the Kings in trade rumors this season.

With the help of Woodcroft's offense-minded guidance, the young Ducks have looked like one of the fastest and most threatening teams up the ice. 

Furthermore, Anaheim's style has helped its young forwards progress and grow into real difference makers in the NHL. Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson are all 22 or younger, yet they are the three scoring leaders for the Ducks. In fact, Sennecke leads all NHL rookies in scoring with 51 points in 61 games.

Before becoming a member of the Ducks' coaching staff, Woodcroft was the Oilers' head coach for parts of three seasons.

He spent 133 games behind Edmonton's bench, with just one full season with the team. That full campaign was in 2022-23 when he led his team to a 50-23-9 record. The Oilers went on to accumulate 109 points that year, the team's most in a regular season since 1985-86.

Report: Kings Veteran Eyeing Contract Extension, Doesn't Want To Be TradedLos Angeles Kings right winger and 40-year-old veteran Corey Perry has shown interest in signing a contract extension. With that, it's been reported that he isn't interested in being moved at this NHL trade deadline

Woodcroft had two playoff campaigns in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs were his first as a head coach, and he was able to help the Oilers get to the Western Conference final for the first time since they advanced to the Stanley Cup final in 2006.

Along the way, Woodcroft's Oilers knocked out the Kings in the first round of the playoffs twice over the last four seasons.

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, who was rumored to be on the move to the Buffalo Sabres, as initially reported by TSN's Darren Dreger, has decided to invoke his no-trade clause and nix the trade:

Sounds like Radim Mrtka and a 1st will be part of it. https://t.co/SHTSjJdcZH

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 4, 2026

As we reported here last night, two sources indicated that Parayko was reluctant to move to the Sabres, who appear set to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years while the Blues (23-29-9) are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Parayko officially declined to waive:

Officially, Colton Parayko has declined to waive his no-trade clause to Buffalo -- as is his contractual right.

We will see where we go from here

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2026

So where do the Blues and management pivot from here? They have until 2 p.m. (CT) to make those decisions. But for now, at least, the Parayko to Buffalo deal has been squashed.

And in essence, we have the Torey Krug situation all over again, when the then-Blues defenseman nixed a potential deal to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023 for a package that included Travis Sanheim.

But it's obvious that Parayko, drafted by the Blues in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft and has spent his entire 11-year career in St. Louis, doesn't want to part with leaving -- at least for the moment. He is signed through the 2030, with the final two years of his contract falling to a modified 15-team no-trade list.

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This could be one of the busier NHL trade deadlines in recent memory. The Winter Olympics using NHL talent meant that a majority of teams that would have executed February deals decided to wait and see if injuries impacted their plans before committing to anything. As a result we now have a March 6 date looming, and lots of teams needing to make moves to set their rosters for a run at the Stanley Cup.

Today we look at some of the biggest names attacting attention on the market, as well as who might be buyers at the deadline.

Evgeni Malkin, RW — Pittsburgh Penguins

The writing is on the wall for the legendary Pens wing to skate for his final time in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. All signs are pointing to the Penguins making a deal at the deadline to send Malkin away, separating him from Sidney Crosby for the first time in his career.

President of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said Malkin was having a “fantastic season,” praised him as a franchise icon, and said his future was a “private internal matter.” It doesn’t take a lot of reading the tea leaves to see this one is coming to an end.

The 39-year-old wing is still a ludicrously effective playmaking forward who can offer a veteran presence for a team in need of a wing. At this stage in his career he’s no longer an elite goal scorer, but still has 13 goals and 34 assists in 45 games this season. It would be stunning if Malkin is still on the roster on Friday night.

Potential landing spots: Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers

Dougie Hamilton, D — New Jersey Devils

A strong start to the season has collapsed into mediocrity for the Devils, and they’re likely to be sellers at the deadline as a result. The prime name that keeps getting mentioned is Dougie Hamilton — who would offer a big boost as a veteran blueline presence, something there’s not a lot of on the market this year.

There are no shortage of teams who would be interested if Hamilton is dangled in front of them, especially for a forward the Devils can pair with Jack Hughes in 2026-27 and beyond.

Potential landing sports: Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs

Robert Thomas, C — St. Louis Blues

It’s unusual to see a former 80+ point center being shopped at the deadline when he’s only 26-years-old, but the Blues are being realistic about their future. Languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference, the Blues need a solid rebuild and are looking for draft assets or prospects to make that happen.

There have been strong links between the Buffalo Sabres and Blues on a deal for Thomas, but signs point to Buffalo balking at the demand the Blues have made from their prospect pool. This is interesting because now teams around the NHL know roughly the price on Thomas, which could lead to teams swooping in to make an offer at the deadline. Any organization needing a solid second line center will be keeping an eye on this one, though I suspect the Sabres still have the inside line.

Potential landing sports: Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes

Sergei Bobrovsky, G — Florida Panthers

I don’t think anyone saw the Stanley Cup champs falling apart as quickly as they have, but here we are. It’s gotten to the point where the Panthers are being realistic about their chances to compete, with only the narrowest beam of light reaching them in last place in the Atlantic Conference.

Bob has had a down year, but he’s a brilliant goaltender who rises to the occasion when games matter the most, making him the ideal playoff goalie for a team in need of help. The question becomes: Who is willing to make a deal here? There are numerous teams who can plug him in as a part of a push, predominantly organizations who see their window being right now with lesser-established prospect systems.

Potential landing sports: Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres

Elias Petterson, C — Vancouver Canucks

It’s rebuild time in Vancouver, and the center of that has to be moving Elias Pettersson. The once-transcendent center who seemed poised to become a perennial 100-point player didn’t really take that next step, despite getting a contract to pay him like that guy.

This becomes the biggest sticking point in a Pettersson deal. Who is willing to pay him like an elite, $11.6M AAV player with a deal running until 2031-32, when he might be a 60 or 70 point guy at best? The key to that is believing there’s an element that can be unlocked, which had been stymied with the Canucks due to an inability to put a team around him.

It’s a major swing for the fences move, which could either net a team a player who returns to dominant form and brings them a cup — or be resigned to an eventual “worst trades of all time” column.

Potential landing spots: Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes

Vincent Trocheck, C — New York Rangers

It’s become clear that the Rangers don’t really know how to build a winning roster, and that has led to a lot of veterans reaching the end of their run, who should be on playoff teams, rather than wasting away. Vinny Trocheck leads this list, hot off a gold medal win with Team USA at the Winter Olympics.

At this point in his career he’s not a top-line center, even though he’s been forced to play like one in New York at times. The best spot for him is to play on a second line, master the face off, and be in a position where he doesn’t need to be overtly physical in the corners. A team needing a veteran boost at their center position makes a lot of sense, where Trocheck would be a low-risk move with potentially big upside.

Potential landing spots: Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes

The Islanders’ Olympic-spanning win streak ended in a Husso in Anaheim Wednesday night, but they have another chance to pick up points from Southern California tonight vs. the Kings.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• About last night: Shots, but too few threats and D. [LHH | Newsday | Post]
• Previewing tonight vs. the Kings. [Isles]
• The Islanders have apparently had talks with Vancouver about Conor Garland for some reason, but they have apparently stalled, thankfully. [THN]

Elsewhere

• As a reminder: Corey Perry is a King now (and still) and intends to remain. [Sportsnet]
• The Oilers are buying more Hawks. [Sportsnet]
• Tyler Myers is emotional about leaving the Canucks for Dallas. [Sportsnet]
• Buffalo agreed to send a 1st and a recent first for Colton Parayko, pending the Blues defenseman’s approval… [STLToday] …but he says no! [TSN]
• Toronto sends Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche. [Sportsnet]
• Washington sends Nic Dowd to Vegas. [NHL]
• Newsflash: Mark Stone is on IR again, but this time Vegas can’t use that to stack their playoff roster. [TSN]

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The Ottawa Senators roll into Cowtown to take on the reeling Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. 

My top Senators vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks expect Ottawa to cruise to a convincing win on Thursday, March 5.

Senators vs Flames prediction

Senators vs Flames best bet: Senators -1.5 (+155)

The Calgary Flames are 3-6-3 since trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Ottawa Senators are 7-3-2 during the same stretch.

Ottawa also ranks third in expected goals percentage at five-on-five with an overall plus-12 goal differential during the run, and Calgary checks in 17th in xGF% with a minus-14 mark.

The Flames appear to be mailing it in and could rest trade assets ahead of Friday’s deadline, so expect Ottawa to take advantage. 

Senators vs Flames same-game parlay

Sens winger Drake Batherson has marked the scoresheet in six of his past eight games and is up to an impressive 3.14 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. He also continues to skate with the top line and No. 1 power-play unit.

Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot rounds out the same-game parlay, and he’s recorded two or more shots in 19 of his past 27 contests. 

Senators vs Flames SGP

• Senators -1.5
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points
• Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots

Senators vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Senators -170 | Flames +145
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 (+145) | Flames +1.5 (-170)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)

Senators vs Flames trend

Ottawa has covered the puck line in 12 of its last 20 road games (+7.10 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Flames.

How to watch Senators vs Flames

Senators vs Flames latest injuries

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Amidst all the noise of the NHL's trade deadline, it appears that Los Angeles Kings right winger Corey Perry is interested in signing a contract extension.

Mayor's Manor was the first to report on the developments on Wednesday, saying the "Kings are looking to sign Corey Perry to an extension."

On Thursday, one day before the official trade deadline, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that Perry himself informed the Kings' organization that he wants to remain in Los Angeles.

Therefore, Perry is not interested in being traded at this year's deadline and would rather further his stay and talk contract extension with the Kings.

The 40-year-old veteran is on an expiring contract that he signed in free agency this past off-season. That deal includes a full no-trade clause, so even if Holland looked at trading Perry, the player would have all the power in whether he could be moved or not.

Perry inked a deal that pays him $2 million against the salary cap, which included plenty of bonuses and incentives.

Los Angeles Kings' List Of Rumored Trade Targets Ahead Of NHL Trade DeadlineWith the NHL trade deadline just days away, it's unknown how aggressive Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland will be on the trade front. Nonetheless, here is a list of players that have been linked to the Kings in trade rumors this season.

Those bonuses include $500,000 after 10 games played, $250,000 for featuring in each 20, 30, 40, and 50 contests. Additionally, for the playoffs, he'd earn $125,000 for winning one round, $250,000 for the second round, and $125,000 for the third round.

So far this season, Perry has made 49 appearances for Los Angeles, scoring 11 goals and 28 points in the process. 

If he gets his wish and is signed to another deal, that will be his 10th NHL contract after the entry-level deal he inked in September 2004. 

If Holland is interested in bringing Perry back, it'll likely be on another one-year deal. If so, that'll be the player's fifth consecutive one-year contract.

Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland Reveals NHL Trade Deadline PlanWith just a few days until the NHL's trade deadline, Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland has revealed what his plan is with his roster.

The Peterborough, Ont., native continues to be an effective hockey player, even in his 40s. He's seventh on the Kings in goals and assists, and sixth on the team in points.

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Nicolas Roy is headed back to the NHL's Western Conference.

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded the forward to the Colorado Avalanche just after noon ET on Wednesday, in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in 2027 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2026.

TRADE: We’ve traded forward Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche

ℹ️ https://t.co/UnPCdVQCQ0pic.twitter.com/LGdxxXuMgr

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 5, 2026

Toronto highlighted the conditions of the two picks in their press release: "In the event Colorado’s 2027 first-round selection is in the top-10 of the 2027 NHL Draft, Colorado will send its unprotected 2028 first-round pick to Toronto. Colorado currently holds three fifth-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft; the lowest of those three picks will be transferred to Toronto as part of the transaction."

Roy joined the Maple Leafs this summer after Toronto signed and then traded Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old has one year left in his contract — which expires at the end of next season — with an annual average value of $3 million.

The Amos, Quebec native appeared in 59 games with the Maple Leafs this season, primarily as the team's third-line center. In that span, Roy scored five goals and 20 points, which was the 11th-most on the team.

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving does solid work here, recovering a first-round pick in 2027 after he traded it away to the Philadelphia Flyers for Scott Laughton at the trade deadline last year.

Toronto now has two fifth-round picks in this year's draft.

Despite sitting Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for "roster management" reasons, Roy was in the Maple Leafs' lineup on Wednesday night in the club's 4-3 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils.

He now joins a dangerous Avalanche team that's looking to push for the Stanley Cup Finals again this year, after winning hockey's ultimate prize in 2022. Roy won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

"Yeah, in that sense, obviously, I have a lot of playoff experience playing in Vegas for a while," Roy said when discussing his name in trade rumors on Wednesday morning. "But I’m just trying to focus on tonight. I’m playing for the Leafs now and I want to be here."

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, but teams also like to get deals done early.

Already this season, the Minnesota Wild have acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings have traded for high-scoring New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and the Utah Mammoth acquired defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames. 

In the latest moves, the Colorado Avalanche acquired center Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vegas Golden Knights acquired center Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals on Thursday, March 5.

Plenty of players remain, and the Rangers, Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Flames, Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers could be sellers.

Here are some of the more notable trades this season. Follow along for analysis on deals as the NHL trade deadline approaches:

March 5: Mathieu Joseph's contract to be terminated

The Blues placed forward Mathieu Joseph on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his contract. That would allow him to become a free agent, and if he signs with another team by 3 p.m. ET Friday, he would be eligible for the playoffs.

March 5: Wild's pursuit of Vincent Trocheck fading, per report

The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith report that the Rangers' price for Trocheck appears to be too high, and the Wild might look elsewhere for a center.

March 5: Blues' Colton Parayko turns down trade to Sabres

From NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet:

Officially, Colton Parayko has declined to waive his no-trade clause to Buffalo -- as is his contractual right.

We will see where we go from here

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2026

March 5: Avalanche acquire Nicolas Roy

The trade: The Colorado Avalanche acquire forward Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a conditional first-round draft pick in 2027 and a conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick.

Analysis: Roy gives the Avalanche playoff experience and depth down the middle. He won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023 and has won 52.9 percent of his faceoffs this season. Roy was in his first season in Toronto after being part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade. He has a year left on his contract. If Colorado’s 2027 first-round selection is in the top 10, Colorado will send its unprotected 2028 first-round pick to Toronto. The fifth-round pick will be the lowest of the three that the Avalanche currently hold.

March 5: Golden Knights acquire Nic Dowd

The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals for goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2029 second-rounder.

Analysis: Dowd has been with the Capitals since 2018-19 and is a solid bottom six forward who kills penalties. He has another year left on his contract. Vikman plays in the American Hockey League.

After acquiring Dowd, the Golden Knights placed Mark Stone on the injured list.

March 4: Oilers acquire Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach

The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick.

Analysis: Edmonton continues to go all in after falling just short in the Stanley Cup Final two consecutive years, sending out another future first-round pick. Dickinson and Dach are hardly needle-movers (the veteran Dickinson has 13 points in 47 games and Dach, 23, has 9 points in 53 games) but they add to the Oilers' depth. Plus, Dickinson comes at a bit of a discount, the Blackhawks retaining half of his $4.25 million salary.

It also creates some future cap room, with Mangiapane's 2026-27 cap hit of $3.6 million off the books and Dickinson set to be a free agent this summer (Dach is an RFA). While that seems like a decent bit of business, it solves a problem the Oilers created themselves by giving Mangiapane, who has just 14 points in 52 games, a two-year deal. And it comes at the cost of a first-round pick and removes all protections from their 2026 first-round pick, which they had previously traded to the San Jose Sharks.

The Oilers 2027 first-round pick is top-12 protected. If the Oilers drafted in the top 12 in 2027, the pick would slide to 2028.

If the Oilers were to trade their 2028 first-round pick before the 2027 trade deadline, then the Blackhawks would get the 2027 pick unconditionally.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 5, 2026

March 4: Avalanche acquire Nick Blankenburg

The trade: The Colorado Avalanche acquire defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Analysis: You can never have enough defensive depth, and Blankenburg provides a left shot on a Colorado team heavy on right shots. Blankenburg, who ranked second among Nashville defensemen with 21 points, is the third Predators player to be dealt in two days. Nashville now has 12 picks in the 2027 draft and added two in 2028 from the Michael McCarron and Cole Smith trades. The Avalanche earlier changed up their blue line by trading Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak.

March 4: Mammoth acquire MacKenzie Weegar

The trade: The Utah Mammoth acquire defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Olli Maatta, Cornell center Jonathan Castagna and three second-round picks.

Analysis: The Mammoth have upgraded their defense since moving to Utah in 2024. Weegar is the latest in a list that includes Mikhail Sergachev. Weegar is a right-shot defenseman who scored 20 goals two seasons ago, though he has only three this season. That (and his minus-35 rating) should improve on a Utah team that sits in a wild-card position. He is signed through 2031 while Maatta is a pending unrestricted free agent.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Castagna is in his third year at Cornell and has 32 points in 29 games.

March 4: Colton Parayko, MacKenzie Weegar deals in works?

TSN's Darren Dreger reports that the Blues and Sabres are working on a deal to send defenseman Colton Parayko to Buffalo. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that defenseman MacKenzie Weegar could be traded to the Utah Mammoth. Both would have to approve the moves.

March 4: Maple Leafs sit out Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 2 others

Analysis: Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton won't play for roster management reasons, the team said. All three players have been mentioned in trade rumors. Laughton and McMann are pending unrestricted free agents and Ekman-Larsson is signed through 2028.

March 4: Sharks re-sign Kiefer Sherwood

The details: He gets a five-year, $28.75 million contract extension, a cap hit of $5.75 million.

Analysis: The Sharks dealt two draft picks and a minor leaguer to land Sherwood, who has 18 goals and is second in the league in hits. The extension means they won't have to flip him. He said he's "just fired up" about the extension.

March 4: Stars acquire Tyler Myers

The trade: The Dallas Stars acquire defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-rounder.

Analysis: The Stars have won 10 in a row and Houston native Myers gives them veteran depth on their blue line. The right shot defenseman has another year left on his contract, and the Canucks are retaining 50% of his salary. The Stars have the 6-foot-8 Myers and 6-foot-7 Liam Bischel on their defense corps.

March 3: Golden Knights acquire Cole Smith

The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a third-round pick in the 2028 draft.

Analysis: That's two trades in one day for the Predators. Just like Michael McCarron, who was dealt to the Wild, Smith kills penalties. He was tied for second in hits in Nashville (behind McCarron) with 119. Sedoff has spent the last three seasons in the American Hockey League.

March 3: Wild acquire Michael McCarron

The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire forward Michael McCarron from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2028 draft.

Analysis: Minnesota adds to its depth as it eyes a deep playoff run, importing the hulking McCarron, who stands 6-foot-6. He has 12 points, 73 penalty minutes and 165 hits in 59 games this season for Nashville, kills penalties and has a 52.8 faceoff winning percentage.

March 2: Oilers acquire Connor Murphy

The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 second-round pick.

Analysis: The Blackhawks retain 50 percent of the $4.4 million cap hit for the pending unrestricted free agent. The Oilers have been leaking goals, and the 6-foot-4 Murphy is a solid defensive defenseman. He played on the No. 1 unit of the league's best penalty kill, led the Blackhawks in blocked shots and was third in hits.

Feb. 24: Penguins, Avalanche swap defensemen

The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche for defenseman Brett Kulak.

Analysis: The Avalanche pick up salary cap space and add a defenseman who has been to the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons. The Penguins had acquired pending unrestricted free agent Kulak in the Stuart Skinner trade, Girard is also a pending UFA, and Pittsburgh gets a draft pick in the deal by flipping Kulak.

Feb. 4: Kings acquire Artemi Panarin

The trade: The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers for forward Liam Greentree and conditional third-round (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.

Analysis: The Kings are hurting for offense and Panarin can provide plenty. He also signed a two-year extension with an $11 million cap hit, ensuring he'll be around after Anze Kopitar retires at season's end. It didn't help the team, though, that Kevin Fiala broke his leg at the Olympics before Panarin suited up. Panarin had a full no-movement clause, so the Rangers were limited in their return, but Greentree was the Kings' top prospect and the third-round pick could become a second-rounder.

Feb. 4: Devils acquire Nick Bjugstad

The trade: The New Jersey Devils acquire forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick.

Analysis: This is the third time Bjugstad has been moved near the trade deadline because the 6-6 forward is a good fit in the bottom six. He has another year left on his contract.

Jan. 27: Islanders acquire Ondrej Palat

The trade: The New York Islanders acquire left wing Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

Analysis: That's two trades in two days with a division rival. Palat is a two-time Stanley Cup winner (with the Lightning) and kills penalties. Tsyplakov didn't get a lot of ice time with the Islanders but has potential.

Jan. 26: Islanders acquire Carson Soucy

The trade: The New York Islanders acquire defenseman Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Analysis: Soucy was the first player moved after the Rangers informed fans that the team would retool. It's a rare deal completed between the Islanders and Rangers.

Jan. 20: Sharks acquire Kiefer Sherwood

The trade: The San Jose Sharks acquire forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round picks in 2026 and 2027, plus defenseman Cole Clayton.

Analysis: Sherwood had been mentioned as a trade candidate since the Canucks started slowly. The pending free agent is among the leader in hits and had 17 goals at the time of the deal. The Sharks are playing better than expected and this deal shows they are trying to push for a playoff spot.

Jan. 19: Golden Knights acquire Rasmus Andersson

The trade: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2028.

Analysis: The Golden Knights had been without Alex Pietrangelo all season and Andersson gives Vegas another puck-moving defenseman. The Flames get a good return for a pending unrestricted free agent. Andersson is the second defenseman Vegas had acquired from Calgary recently after the 2024 trade for Noah Hanifin. Hanifin eventually signed an extension and the Golden Knights will seek the same from Andersson.

Dec. 29: Penguins acquire Yegor Chinakhov

The trade: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-rounder.

Analysis: Chinakhov had requested a trade last season. He's a pending restricted free agent so the Penguins have control over his future. Heinen is a pending UFA.

Dec. 19: Canadiens acquire Phillip Danault

The trade: The Montreal Canadiens acquire center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick.

Analysis: Danault is coming back to Montreal. He was a key shutdown player during the Canadiens' 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Dec. 19: Blue Jackets acquire Mason Marchment

The trade: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.

Analysis: Marchment had been off to a slow start after an offseason trade in which Seattle gave up a third- and a fourth-round pick. But he scored 22 goals in each of his last two seasons in Dallas.

Dec. 12: Wild acquire Quinn Hughes

The trade: The Minnesota Wild acquire Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick.

Analysis: This is a sign that the Wild are going for it and it gives them a dynamic former Norris Trophy winner to match Cale Makar if they face the Avalanche in the playoffs. The Wild gave up a lot - Buium was great at Denver and for the USA at the world junior championships - and Hughes acknowledged that and appreciated it. That could help sway Hughes when he's eligible to sign a contract extension in July.

Dec. 12: Oilers, Penguins swap goalies

The trade: The Edmonton Oilers acquire Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick.

Analysis: The Oilers pull the plug on Skinner, who was either spectacular or bad during back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final. But they land another inconsistent goalie in Jarry, who has had injury troubles. Skinner and Kulak are pending free agents, so the Penguins could flip them at the deadline. If Skinner works out, it would allow the Penguins to continue developing goalie Sergei Murashov in the American Hockey League.

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

With the NHL Trade Deadline looming, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman continues to carefully evaluate his options in a market that has started to heat up across the league.

Detroit’s last major move came during the summer when the club acquired goaltender John Gibson during the second day of the NHL Draft. Since then, Yzerman has largely stayed patient while monitoring the trade market, waiting to see how prices develop for potential targets.

As Friday’s deadline approaches, Detroit is believed to be looking at several areas to strengthen its lineup. The Red Wings have reportedly been searching for a second-line center, a top-four defenseman, and possibly a depth forward who could add another scoring option to the roster.

The Calgary Flames sent defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth in a massive deal that included defenseman Olli Määttä, forward prospect Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round picks in 2026. Detroit likely could have assembled a similar package, but paying that price for a 32-year-old defenseman may have been more than Yzerman was willing to commit.

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“A Good Sign”: Todd McLellan Encouraged After Dylan Larkin Returns From Injury ScareDespite the Red Wings appearing to lose team captain Dylan Larkin, the fact that he came back before the end of the game on Wednesday evening against the Vegas Golden Knights was encouraging.

Another notable pending deal has the St. Louis Blues trading defenseman Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2026 first-round pick and top defense prospect Radim Mrtka. While Detroit may have been able to match the offer, Mrtka’s value as a blue-chip prospect could have made that price too steep for a team focused on maintaining its long-term pipeline.

The market has continued to shift quickly with defenseman Tyler Myers, who Detroit had interest in, instead chose to join the Dallas Stars and return to his home state of Texas. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks dealt Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers for a second-round pick, a move that could be one the Red Wings wish they had made.

As the market tightens and options become more limited, Detroit’s remaining defensive targets could include names such as Justin Faulk, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Dougie Hamilton.

At center, the market has seen little movement so far, leaving several high-profile players still available including Vincent Trocheck, Robert Thomas, and Nazem Kadri. League insiders expect that acquiring one of the top centers on the market could require first-round draft picks as part of the return.

With deals expected to accelerate Thursday and Friday, Red Wings fans will be watching closely to see if Yzerman ultimately makes a move to reward a team still pushing to end its near decade-long playoff drought.

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After it was reported that the Buffalo Sabres were strongly interested in Robert Thomas, but the deal fell through, they shifted their sights onto another St. Louis Blues player.

The Sabres are looking to add a right-handed defenseman, and according to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, they’ve struck a deal with the Blues involving veteran defender Colton Parayko. 

The reported deal at the moment is Parayko heading to the Sabres for prospect Radim Mrtka and a first-round pick. While there could be other parts to the deal, this is the information that has been made public. The only holdup for this trade is Parayko’s approval.

The 32-year-old is in the fourth season on an eight-year, $6.5-million contract that holds a full no-trade clause until 2028. Any deal the Blues want to make involving Parayko needs his approval. If he doesn’t want to move, he can simply decline the trade and remain with the Blues. 

Dreger first reported that the trade had been agreed upon and was awaiting Parayko’s approval at 4:30 on Wednesday, yet Parayko has still not made a decision. 

If Parayko does accept the trade, he’ll join a Sabres blueline that is quickly becoming one of the better ones in the NHL. They boast multiple lengthy defenders, all of whom are strong skaters. Parayko would provide the Sabres with additional defensive fortitude and further balance out the defense core. 

Report: Sabres' Interest In Robert Thomas Stalls; Focus Shifts To A Pair Of Right-Handed DefensemanAfter a deal between the St. Louis Blues and the Buffalo Sabres involving Robert Thomas has reportedly fallen through, the Sabres shift their attention toward Blues right-handed defensemen Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk.

As for the Blues, they would receive the 2025 ninth overall pick, Radim Mrtka.  The 18-year-old defender stands 6-foot-6, like Parayko, but possesses strong offensive instincts and a mature two-way game. Mrtka played in four AHL games before returning to the WHL, where he’s notched one goal and 29 points in 35 games. 

Mrtka took home a silver medal with Team Czechia, alongside Blues prospect Adam Jiricek, at the 2026 World Junior Championship. Mrtka was the second defenseman selected at the 2025 NHL draft. 

If the reports are true and Parayko does agree to be traded, the Blues will add another right-handed defenseman to their prospect pool, as well as another first-round pick. 

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With the trade deadline upon us, rumours are swirling everywhere around the league, and there are a couple of big-name goaltenders reported to be on the market. Given how the Montreal Canadiens have struggled in net, could they try to bolster the position before tomorrow’s trade deadline?

Samuel Montembeault has struggled out of the gate this season and has a 10-8-3 record on the season with a 3.37 goals-against average, while rookie Jakub Dobes, who started the season as the backup, has a 19-6-4 record with a 3.04 GAA and a .889 SV. Despite not having great numbers, Dobes leads all rookie goaltenders in wins with his 19 triumphs. San Jose Sharks’ rookie Yaroslav Askarov also has 19 wins, but he earned them in 38 games, while Dobes saw only 29 games of action.

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Despite the goalies’ underwhelming numbers, the president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, said in an interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Engels that the Canadiens are probably more comfortable than most people think with their goalies. But Kent Hughes and Gorton have both said in the past that Hughes has his fingers on the pulse of the trade market and that it’s his job to know what’s out there and how much it could go for. When Gorton spoke to Engels, the names of Sergei Bobrovsky and Jordan Binnington weren’t out there.

Now that the Florida Panthers are on their way to missing the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the veteran goaltender is in the last year of his contract, he could become a solid rental option. Despite being 29 years old, Montembeault has only played three playoff games in his career, just like 24-year-old Dobes, meaning the Canadiens could certainly use some experience in net.

However, with his $10 M cap hit, Bobrosky would be tricky to acquire; the Canadiens would need the Panthers to be willing to take Patrik Laine and a goaltender in return, which doesn’t appear very likely. It wouldn’t be cheap to convince them to play ball, and the Habs have said in the past that they do not want to have to part with assets to move the big Finn.

Besides, it’s hard to imagine Hughes being willing to sacrifice assets for a very temporary solution. As for Binnington, he’s in year five of his six-year, $6M cap hit contract. The St. Louis Blues have been in a lot of trade rumours of late because of their abysmal results, and it’s not hard to imagine them being ready to move on from the netminder.

He has proven he can win, guiding the Blues to a Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2019 and winning the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada last year. However, he is having an awful season; he’s 8-18-6 in 33 games with a 3.60 GAA and a .867 SV. Would a change of scenery instantly make him better? That’s doubtful.

There’s no denying that the Canadiens will soon have to make a big decision when it comes to their goaltending. Prospect Jacob Fowler didn’t look out of place in the 10 games he played in the big league this season, and he could very well end up starting the next season in Montreal, making one of Montembeault and Dobes surplus to requirements. Acquiring Binnington would probably delay his arrival, and if the Habs’ brass deems him ready, it would make very little sense. Unless, of course, they intend to move on from both Montembeault and Dobes, but that’s easier said than done.

It feels as if the Canadiens are likely to get reinforcements in net, they are more likely to come from the Laval Rocket than from outside. Giving Fowler some playoff experience would make much more sense than acquiring a band-aid solution.

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Things are apparently getting hotter off the ice for U.S. Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes.

A source told Us Weekly that the New Jersey Devils forward and Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae are officially a couple.

"Tate and Jack are dating," the source said. "They started casually seeing each other late last year, so it’s still new, but they are exclusively seeing each other."

Hughes, who scored the winning goal in overtime against Canada in the gold medal game at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, had been seen with McRae on several occasions since their first public appearance together last December.

The 22-year-old Canadian singer, who earned her first Grammy Award nomination last year for the soundtrack single "Just Keep Watching" from the film "F1," has also been spotted supporting Hughes at Devils games.

McRae is a big hockey fan, serving as a celebrity captain and performing live at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.

She is perhaps best known for her breakout hit "You Broke Me First," released in 2020.

McRae received some backlash from Canadians after her public support for Team USA at the Olympics, which led her to post on social media that she was still "Canada down."

Tate McRae responds to backlash over her supporting Team USA in a Winter Olympics ad:

“…y’all know I’m Canada down” pic.twitter.com/yYchRkMrJc

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 5, 2026

Us Weekly reports that the relationship started when Hughes messaged McRae on Instagram.

"They are making it work during this busy season, but hope to have more time together next month when his season ends," the magazine's source said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jack Hughes, Olympic hockey hero, dating Tate McRae, Canadian singer