Lightning Acquire Anders Lindback from Predators

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Friday that they have acquired goaltender Anders Lindback, center Kyle Wilson, and a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for goaltender Sebastien Caron, two second round draft picks in 2012, and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.  In 16 games this past season with the Predators, Lindback posted a 5-8-0 record, with a 2.42 GAA and a .912 save percentage.  He also appeared in two games with Milwaukee of the AHL, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.50 GAA, and a .879 save percentage.  Wilson was held pointless in five games with Nashville.  He also played in 68 games with Milwaukee, scoring 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points.  Caron appeared in three games last season with the Lightning, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.11 GAA, and a .877 save percentage.  He also played in 49 games with Iserlohn of the German League, posting a 25-23-0 record, five shutouts, a 2.57 GAA, and a .932 save percentage.

The Lightning were looking to solve their problematic goaltending situation and may have done that with the acquisition of Lindback.  He has great size and loads of potential and will likely land the starting role next season in Tampa Bay.  Wilson will likely only provide fourth line depth for the club and could also spend some of next season in the minors.  The Lightning gave up quite a few future assets to land Lindback, but he could be worth it down the road.  As for the Predators, Lindback wasn't likely to get much playing time backing up Pekka Rinne, so the team did well in landing a nice package of draft picks for the Swedish netminder.  Caron will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and Nashville could sign him for organizational depth, but that remains to be seen.

Sharks Acquire Brad Stuart from Red Wings

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for center Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2014 Entry Draft.  The Sharks now have exclusive negotiating rights with Stuart until July 1, when he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency.  Detroit will receive San Jose's seventh round pick in 2014 if Stuart signs with the Sharks.  In 81 games last season with the Red Wings, Stuart had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.  Murray appeared in 39 games with the Sharks, scoring one goal and three assists for four points.  In also played in 10 games with Worcester of the AHL, scoring two goals and one assist for three points.  If the Sharks can get Stuart signed in the off-season, this is a solid move by the club.  There was much speculation that he wanted to play in California next season to be closer to his family, so San Jose may have an excellent shot at re-signing Stuart, who has expressed interest in signing with the club.  He will bring lots of defensive and shutdown skill and veteran depth to the team's blueline if signed.  As for the Red Wings, they weren't going to retain Stuart, so they were wise to add some possible assets instead of losing him for nothing via free agency.  However, the Red Wings are unlikely to sign Murray, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and was more than likely was just a "throw-in" player for the deal.  If Detroit were to sign him in the off-season, he would likely spend most of next season in the minors.

Penguins Acquire Tomas Vokoun, Sign Him to Two-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have acquired goaltender Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.  Immediately after the trade, the Penguins announced that they had signed the 35-year-old netminder to a two-year contract worth $4 million.  The deal will average out to $2 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 48 games last season with the Capitals, he posted a 25-17-2 record, four shutouts, a 2.51 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.  Not a bad move for the Penguins, as Vokoun will add lots of stability in goal.  While Marc-Andre Fleury will still have the starter role, Vokoun will add a lot of skill and veteran depth to the team in the backup role and will easily be able to jump in to the starter role if Fleury should miss time with injury.  The signing insures that Brent Johnson will not be retained by Pittsburgh in the off-season.

Bruins Acquire Chris Bourque from Capitals for Zach Hamill

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired left wing Chris Bourque from the Washington Capitals in exchange for center Zach Hamill.  In 73 games this past season with Hershey of the AHL, Bourque had 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points.  He last appeared in the NHL during the 2009-10 season with Washington and Pittsburgh.  In 16 games this past season with the Bruins, Hamill had two assists.  He also appeared in 41 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points.  Bourque has spent a lot of time in the minors over the past several seasons and has little left to prove at the lower levels.  If the Bruins choose to re-sign the son of long-time Bruin Ray Bourque prior to July 1, he will likely compete for a spot at training camp, where he will bring some offensive depth if he makes the team.  Hamill has some offensive upside and playmaking skill, but has struggled in the minors a little bit over the past few seasons.  The change of scenery could do him some good to help him improve his offensive game.

NY Islanders Acquire Yury Alexandrov from Bruins

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they have acquired defenseman Yury Alexandrov from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 37 games this season with St. Petersburg SKA and Avangard Omsk of the KHL, he has three goals and three assists for six points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Islanders, as Alexandrov is going to finish out the season in the KHL. The Islanders' scouts will likely evaluate him for the rest of the season to determine if they will give him a qualifying offer come July 1.

Canucks Acquire Andrew Gordon from Ducks

The Vancouver Canucks remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring right wing Andrew Gordon from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for minor league defenseman Sebastien Erixon. Both players have one more year left on their current contracts. In 37 games this season with the Ducks, Gordon has two goals and three assists for five points. He also appeared in 19 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points. Erixon has played in 30 games with Chicago of the AHL, scoring one goal and seven assists for eight points. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as Gordon and Erixon likely won't have much of an impact with their new teams. Gordon will likely play a fourth line role in Vancouver, while Erixon will probably spend the rest of the season in the minors.

Sabres Acquire Cody Hodgson from Canucks for Zack Kassian

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Alexander Sulzer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for right wing Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. In 63 games so far this season, Hodgson has 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points, while Sulzer has one assist in 12 games. Kassian has three goals and four assists for seven points in 27 games with the Sabres. He also appeared in 30 games with Rochester of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points. Gragnani has played in 44 games so far this season, scoring one goal and 11 assists for 12 points.

This is quite the unexpected trade for both teams, as neither Hodgson or Kassian had figured into any trade rumors as of late. Buffalo gets a highly skilled center in Hodgson, who could gain some consideration for the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year. He has lots of goal-scoring upside, good playmaking skill, and some two-way ability. He should take on an immediate top-six role in Buffalo and will make the team's offense much stronger. As for Sulzer, he will likely play a sixth or seventh defensive role for the remainder of the season. In Kassian, the Canucks get a power forward who plays with a lot of aggression and has good size, lots of strength, and scoring upside. However, Vancouver gave up a highly skilled player in Hodgson to land Kassian, and if Kassian can't make a physical impact on the team, the Canucks will lose this trade hands down. As for Gragnani, he has some offensive upside and plenty of puck-moving skill, so he could be a good fit for Vancouver.

Maple Leafs Acquire Mark Fraser from Ducks for Dale Mitchell

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired defenseman Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right wing Dale Mitchell. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Fraser was acquired by the Ducks from the New Jersey Devils this past December in the Kurtis Foster trade. He appeared in four games with the Devils, scoring no points. He also appeared in 25 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring five assists. Mitchell played in two games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring no points. He also appeared in 35 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth trade for both teams, as Fraser and Micthell will likely spend the remainder of the season in the minors. Although, the Maple Leafs added a similarly skilled player in Fraser after trading Keith Aulie earlier in the day, so he may have a future with the team. He has good size, some mobility, and still some defensive upside despite struggling at the NHL level in recent years, so the change of scenery may help him out.

NY Rangers Acquire John Scott from Blackhawks

The New York Rangers have announced that they have acquired defenseman John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 29 games so far this season, he has one assist and 48 penalty minutes. A depth move at best for the Rangers, Scott will add some grit, toughness, and great size to their defense. His playing time in Chicago was dwindling, so Chicago did him a favor by moving him to a team that will likely get more use out of him. Also, the Blackhawks did good in landing a fifth round pick for the rugged defenseman and impending free agent.

Bruins Acquire Greg Zanon from Wild

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired defenseman Greg Zanon from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Steven Kampfer. Zanon will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Kampfer still has one more year left on his current contract. In 39 games so far this season, Zanon has two goals and four assists for six points. He missed 16 games with a groin injury. In 10 games with the Bruins this season, Kampfer has two assists. He also appeared in 12 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. This is a decent move for the Bruins, as Zanon will add plenty of grit, experience, and shot-blocking prowess to the blueline. His shutdown skills should be a welcome addition to Boston's defense. As for the Wild, they have added a defenseman with some mobility and offensive upside in Kampfer, but he may not hit his full potential for a few years. With all the defensive changes in Minnesota over the past week or so, the team looks to be rejuvenating their blueline for the future. The Wild have also shed quite a bit of salary over the past week, so they could be making room to make some big splashes on the free agent market this summer, as it's believed they are interested in both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, both of whom could command a premium on the open market.

Predators Acquire Paul Gaustad from Sabres

The Nashville Predators added more offensive depth to their roster on Monday by acquiring center Paul Gaustad and a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for their first round pick in 2012. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, Gaustad has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points and 70 penalty minutes. He missed six games this season with an upper body injury. With all of the trades the Predators have made over the past week and a half, they have made one thing absolutely clear: they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. Gaustad will add lots of grit, toughness, size, defensive skill, and versatility to the checking lines. Nashville did pay a premium to land him, perhaps a little too much for a player of his caliber, but his experience will be extremely valuable to the team in the playoffs. As for the Sabres, the first round pick will definitely help them retool their team with a future prospect.

Bruins Acquire Brian Rolston, Mike Mottau from NY Islanders

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired left wing Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders in exchange for right wing Yannick Riendeau and defenseman Marc Cantin. Rolston and Mottau will both be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Riendeau will qualify for restricted free agency. Cantin still has two years left on his current deal. In 49 games so far this season, Rolston has four goals and five assists for nine points, while Mottau has two assists in 29 games. He missed 24 games this season due to a concussion. This will be Rolston's second stint with the Bruins, where he played from 2000 to 2004. Riendeau appeared in 18 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring three goals and three assists for six points. He also played in 30 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points. Cantin was held pointless in 19 games with Providence, but scored one goal and five assists for six points in 16 games with Reading. Both Riendeau and Cantin have yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Bruins, as Rolston and Mottau will add plenty of veteran depth to their lineup. Both players could give the team a little bit of a boost as they head into the playoffs. As for the Islanders, they've added a couple of young players to replace some impending free agents who were likely not going to be re-signed in the off-season. While neither Riendeau or Cantin are stellar players, they could potentially see some NHL action in the future.

Blackhawks Acquire Johnny Oduya from Jets

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have acquired defenseman Johnny Oduya from the Winnipeg Jets for a second and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. In 63 games so far this season, he has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. The Blackhawks were desperate for some defensive depth and they got it in Oduya. He's a very mobile defenseman who can play a shutdown role and can add some grit to his game when needed. Chicago paid a steep price to land him, but they needed to add some defensive depth to their struggling blueline. As for the Jets, Oduya had pretty much been replaced when they plucked Grant Clitsome off waivers earlier in the day. While Clitsome isn't as good as Oduya, the acquisition of the draft picks made it a great move for Winnipeg.

Canucks Acquire Sami Pahlsson from Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have acquired center Sami Pahlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for minor league defenseman Taylor Ellington and two fourth round picks in the 2012 Entry Draft. The draft picks that Columbus will receive are Vancouver's fourth round pick and the New York Islanders' fourth round selection, which the Canucks acquired in the Christian Ehrhoff trade this past summer. In 61 games so far this season, Pahlsson has two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Ellington has appeared in 55 games with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He was also held pointless in one game with Chicago of the AHL and has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Canucks, as Pahlsson will bring lots of two-way skill and veteran depth up the middle, particularly on their third and fourth lines. The acquisition ended up being the precursor to the Cody Hodgson trade, and Vancouver really took a downgrade at center on their checking lines. Pahlsson is not as fast as he used to be and the team will likely miss Hodgson's speed up the middle, but he should still be helpful to the Canucks as they inch closer to the playoffs. As for the Blue Jackets, they've been full-blown sellers for the past several weeks, so it comes as no surprise that they moved Pahlsson, an impending free agent. It remains to be seen if Ellington will figure into their rebuild efforts, but the draft picks are the key to this deal to help the Blue Jackets restock their team through the draft.

Lightning Acquire Brian Lee from Senators for Matt Gilroy

The Tampa Bay Lightning remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring defenseman Brian Lee from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Matt Gilroy. Lee will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Gilroy will qualify for unrestricted free agency. In 35 games so far this season, Lee has one goal and seven assists for eight points, while Gilroy has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 53 games. Not a bad pick-up for the Lightning, as Lee will bring a good mix of size, offensive upside, and excellent skating to the team. Tampa Bay is clearly looking to improve their blueline for next season and they did that on Trade Deadline Day. As for the Senators, Gilroy should help them in their playoff push with his smooth skating and mobility.

Sharks Acquire Winnik, Galiardi from Avalanche

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have acquired left wing Daniel Winnik, center T.J. Galiardi, and a seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for left wing Jamie McGinn and centers Mike Connolly and Michael Sgarbossa. In 63 games so far this season, Winnik has five goals and 13 assists for 18 points, while Galiardi has eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 55 games. McGinn appeared in 61 games with the Sharks, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. In 40 games with Worcester of the AHL, Connolly has 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points, while Sgarbossa has 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points in 57 games with Sudbury of the OHL.

This is a solid trade for both teams, as Colorado and San Jose both addressed some of their needs on offense. The Sharks get an excellent penalty killer in Winnik, who also has good size and plays with some grit. Galiardi also brings some grit to the team, as well as lots of energy and speed. With the addition of Dominic Moore on February 16, the Sharks have filled out their bottom-six forward positions nicely and the versatility of all three players will help the team immensely. McGinn adds some solid two-way ability to Colorado's checking lines, as well as some versatility and a solid work ethic. The Avalanche get a lot of offensive upside in Connolly and Sgarbossa and both players should get a chance to develop into NHL-caliber players in the team's system.

Lightning Acquire Keith Aulie from Maple Leafs for Carter Ashton

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Keith Aulie from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Carter Ashton. Aulie is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Ashton still has two more years left on his entry-level deal. In 17 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Aulie had two assists. He also appeared in 23 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one assist. In 56 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Ashton has 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is clearly a trade for the future for both Toronto and Tampa Bay. Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skills and physical play to the Lightning blueline. He should be an excellent addition to the team as they look to rebuild their defense. Ashton has great size, lots of offensive potential, and is versatile enough to play on both wings. He should be a decent top-six forward for the Maple Leafs down the road.

Wild Acquire Tom Gilbert from Oilers for Nick Schultz

The Minnesota Wild have announced that they have acquired defenseman Tom Gilbert from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Nick Schultz. Both players still have two years remaining on their current contracts. In 47 games so far this season, Gilbert has three goals and 14 assists for 17 points, while Schultz has one goal and two assists for three points in 62 games. This is a solid move for both teams, as it addresses needs on both of their bluelines. After trading Marek Zidlicky to the New Jersey Devils, the Wild were in need of a puck-moving defenseman with offensive talent and they got that in Gilbert. The Oilers were in need of a solid, veteran, shutdown defenseman and they got that in Schultz. He should also bring some grit to Edmonton's defensive corps, as well as some skill on the penalty kill. In the end, it's a good, solid trade for both teams.

Lightning Acquire Mike Commodore from Red Wings

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Mike Commodore from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 17 games so far this season, he has two assists. For the Red Wings, Commodore wasn't used very much throughout the season and were likely looking to dump a little bit of salary. It's quite possible this move could be the precursor to Detroit making another trade by the 3 PM deadline. As for Tampa Bay, Commodore will fill in a defensive role for the team for the remainder of the season and likely won't figure into their future plans. Bottom line, the Lightning are helping the Red Wings shed some salary.

Canadiens Claim Brad Staubitz Off Waivers from Wild

The Montreal Canadiens remained active on Trade Deadline Day by claiming right wing Brad Staubitz off re-entry waivers from the Minnesota Wild. Montreal will now only be responsible for half of his salary for the remainder of the season. Staubitz will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 43 games so far this season, he has been held pointless and has 73 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Canadiens, as Staubitz will bring a lot of grit and toughness to the checking lines.