Capitals Sign Forward Aucoin to Two-Year Contract Extension

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed center Keith Aucoin to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In nine games with the Capitals this season, he has one goal and four assists for five points. He has spent the majority of the season with the Capitals' AHL affiliate in Hershey. Not a bad depth signing for the Capitals, as Aucoin has provided steady offensive depth on the checking lines the past couple of seasons with the team. It's also a good depth move for their minor league team in Hershey, as Aucoin has always been a prolific scorer at the AHL level.

Senators Sign Defenseman Lee to Two-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have signed defenseman Brian Lee to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer. In 18 games this season with the Senators, he has two goals and one assist for three points. He has also spent part of the season with the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Not a bad move for the Senators, as Lee has proven to be a decent depth defenseman for the team. He could likely crack the Senators' lineup full-time next season, where he would likely be a third-pairing defenseman.

Avalanche Sign Goaltender John Grahame

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have signed free agent goaltender John Grahame to a contract. The deal is likely for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. He last played in the NHL during the 2007-08 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, posting a 5-7-1 record, with a 3.75 GAA and a .875 save percentage in 17 games. In 224 career NHL games, he has a 97-86-4 record, 12 shutouts, a 2.79 GAA, and a .898 save percentage. Not a bad depth move for the Avalanche, as Grahame has always been a fairly steady backup goaltender. Along with Craig Anderson and Peter Budaj, the Avalanche have a fairly stable goaltender rotation going into the playoffs.

Flames Acquire Defenseman Delmore from Red Wings for Armstrong

In a trade that slipped under the radar on Trade Deadline Day, the Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Andy Delmore from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for left wing Riley Armstrong. Delmore had signed as a free agent with the Red Wings last summer. In 283 career NHL games, Delmore has 43 goals and 58 assists for 101 points with the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He has not played in an NHL game since the 2005-06 season. Armstrong, who has not played in the NHL this season, signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames last summer. He appeared in two NHL games with the San Jose Sharks during the 2008-09 season. This is nothing more than a minor league depth move for both teams. Delmore will provide plenty of offensive depth on defense for the Abbotsford Flames of the AHL, while Armstrong will bring lots of toughness to the offense of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Coyotes Acquire Nokelainen from Ducks

In the last trade on Trade Deadline Day, the Phoenix Coyotes have acquired center Petteri Nokelainen from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a sixth round draft pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. In 50 games this season with the Ducks, he has four goals and seven assists for 11 points. Not a bad move for the Coyotes, who have stocked up on players for a playoff run. Nokelainen should bring plenty of offensive depth to their third line.

Rangers Acquire Eriksson from Coyotes for Wiikman

The New Rangers announced on Wednesday that they have acquired veteran defenseman Anders Eriksson from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for goaltender Miika Wiikman and a seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Eriksson, who signed as a free agent with the Coyotes on December 21, has three assists in 12 games this season and was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. In 564 career NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, and Phoenix Coyotes, he has 22 goals and 152 assists for 174 points. Wiikman has yet to play a game in the NHL. This is really just a depth move for the two teams. Eriksson will provide the Rangers with plenty of veteran depth on the blueline if he is recalled from the minors. Wiikman has the potential to become at least a backup goaltender in the NHL, so he is not a bad pick-up for the Coyotes.

Coyotes Acquire Picard from Blue Jackets for Kolarik

The Phoenix Coyotes continued to be busy right up until the 3 PM trade deadline by acquiring left wing Alexandre Picard from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for right wing Chad Kolarik. In nine games with the Blue Jackets this season, Picard has no points. He has two assists in 67 career games with the Blue Jackets. Kolarik has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for both teams. Picard will give the Coyotes suitable offensive depth on the wing on their checking lines, while Kolarik could give the Blue Jackets decent offensive depth on the wing if he is able to make the team next season.

Avalanche Acquire Yelle, Reed from Hurricanes for Lalonde-McNicoll

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have acquired centers Stephane Yelle and Harrison Reed from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for center Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll and a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. This will mark Yelle’s second stint with the Avalanche, having previously played there from 1995 to 2002. In 59 games this season with the Hurricanes, Yelle has four goals and three assists for seven points. In 980 career games with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes, he has 96 goals and 168 assists for 264 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Both Reed and Lalonde-McNicoll have yet to play in an NHL game. Not a bad move for both teams, as Yelle will bring lots of leadership and veteran depth to the Avalanche. He will also bring lots of skill to their penalty kill units. Reed could become a decent checking line forward for the Avalanche in the future, while Lalonde-McNicoll gives the Hurricanes another offensively talented forward to help rebuild their team.

Flames Acquire Defenseman Staios from Oilers for Johnson

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired defenseman Steve Staios from the rival Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Aaron Johnson and a third round draft pick. In 39 games with the Oilers this season, Staios has seven assists and 57 penalty minutes. In 878 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Edmonton Oilers, he has 52 goals and 147 assists for 199 points and 1227 penalty minutes. He still has one more year left on his current contract. In 22 games this season with the Flames, Johnson has one goal and two assists for three points and 19 penalty minutes. The world must be coming to an end, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have made a trade with each other! In all seriousness, this is not a bad move for the Flames, as Staios will bring lots of grit, leadership, and defensive depth to the team. Johnson will bring plenty of toughness to the Oilers’ roster, though he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and likely won’t be retained by the team.

Predators Acquire Forward Boyd from Flames

The Nashville Predators added some offensive depth to their roster on Wednesday by acquiring center Dustin Boyd from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 60 games this season with the Flames, he has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. In 192 career games, all with the Flames, he has 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points. He will be a restricted free agent this summer. This is a decent move for the Predators, as Boyd brings them plenty of offensive depth. If he is given more of a chance in Nashville to play up to his potential than he was given in Calgary, Boyd could be a good pick-up for the Predators.

Maple Leafs Acquire Defenseman Peluso from Penguins

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have acquired defenseman Chris Peluso from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. He is currently playing at Bemidji State and was a seventh round pick of the Penguins in 2004. This is really just a minor trade for the Maple Leafs. If Peluso is able to make the Maple Leafs in the future, it will likely be as a depth defenseman.

Ducks Acquire Visnovsky from Oilers for Whitney

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Ryan Whitney and a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 56 games this season with the Oilers, Visnovsky has 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points. In 605 career NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers, he has 88 goals and 254 assists for 342 points. Whitney has four goals and 24 assists for 28 points in 62 games this season with the Ducks. This is a decent move for Anaheim, as Whitney was not able to live up to the team’s offensive expectations of him. Visnovsky brings lots of offensive depth and goal-scoring skill to the Ducks blueline, especially on the power play. With the possibility that Scott Niedermayer could retire this summer, Visnovsky is insurance that the Ducks will still have a number one defenseman on their team next season. Whitney has decent offensive skill on the blueline, but has not been able to repeat his success of past season in Pittsburgh. Perhaps a change of scenery will help Whitney improve his production.

Panthers Add Defenseman Roy from Columbus

The Florida Panthers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Mathieu Roy from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the rights to center Matt Rust. In 31 games with the Blue Jackets this season, Roy has 10 assists and 17 penalty minutes. Rust has yet to play in an NHL game. This is a relatively minor deal on Trade Deadline Day. Roy brings the Panthers lots of toughness and grit to their blueline, while Rust gives the Blue Jackets another talented young forward to help build around.

Canucks Acquire Defenseman Alberts from Hurricanes

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Andrew Alberts from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 61 games this season with the Hurricanes, Alberts has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 72 penalty minutes. In 324 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes, he has four goals and 38 assists for 42 points and 364 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Canucks, as Alberts is a very physical, defensive defenseman who plays with lots of grit. He should be a good addition to their blueline.

Ducks Acquire Goaltender MacDonald from Maple Leafs

The Anaheim Ducks added some more goaltending depth to their roster today by acquiring goaltender Joey MacDonald from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Earlier in the day, the Ducks dealt goalie Vesa Toskala to Calgary for goalie Curtis McElhinney. In six games with the Maple Leafs this season, he has posted a 1-4-0 record with a 3.20 GAA and a .892 save percentage. Not a bad depth move for the Ducks, as MacDonald can be a decent backup when he is on his game. He could easily jump into the backup role if the newly acquired McElhinney should begin to struggle for the Ducks.

Kings Acquire Forward Modin from Kings

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they have acquired left wing Fredrik Modin from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional draft pick. In 24 games this season with the Blue Jackets, he has two goals and four assists for six points. He has missed 40 games this season with knee and foot injuries. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Not a bad trade for the Kings, as Modin brings plenty of veteran depth to the team. He also brings lots of offensive skill, especially on the power play, and plenty of two-way play to the team.

Capitals Acquire Defenseman Corvo for Pothier, Osala

The Washington Capitals added some more depth to their team today by acquiring defenseman Joe Corvo from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Brian Pothier, left wing prospect Oskar Osala, and a second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. In 33 games this season with the Hurricanes, Corvo has four goals and eight assists for 12 points. He missed 28 games this season with a leg injury. In 41 games this season with the Capitals, Pothier has four goals and seven assists for 11 points. He has missed 17 games this season due to injury. Osala last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season, appearing in two games and scoring no points. Both Corvo and Pothier will be unrestricted free agents this summer. This is a good move for the Capitals, as Corvo has lots of offensive skill on the blueline. He’s also a good puck-mover that has excellent skill on the power play. Pothier will bring plenty of veteran depth and skill to the Hurricanes’ defense, while Osala gives the team another talented prospect forward to build their team around.

Coyotes Acquire Stempniak from Maple Leafs for Jones, Draft Picks

The Phoenix Coyotes continued to bolster their roster today by acquiring right wing Lee Stempniak from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Matt Jones and a fourth and seventh round draft pick. In 61 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Stempniak has 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Jones has not played in any NHL games since the 2007-08 season since being sidelined with a concussion. This is a decent move for the Coyotes, as Stempniak brings the team lots of offensive depth on the wing and skill on the power play. He should fit in nicely with the Coyotes. Jones should provide the Maple Leafs with plenty of defensive depth as a third-pairing defenseman.

Capitals Re-Acquire Defenseman Jurcina from Blue Jackets

The Washington Capitals continued to add depth to their roster on Wednesday by re-acquiring defenseman Milan Jurcina from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a sixth round draft pick. The Capitals traded Jurcina to the Blue Jackets in December with Chris Clark for Jason Chimera. In 44 games this season with the Capitals and Blue Jackets, he has one goal and six assists for seven points. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. This is an okay deal for the Capitals, as they have brought in a familiar face in Jurcina and he will provide plenty of defensive depth for the team. However, he has developed a bit of a bad reputation for his defensive blunders and turnovers. The Capitals probably could have found a better defenseman on the market than Jurcina, but the cost could have been a lot more than a sixth round draft pick.

Thrashers Acquire Forward MacArthur from Sabres

The Atlanta Thrashers added some toughness to their team on Wednesday by acquiring left wing Clarke MacArthur from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third and fourth round draft picks. In 59 games this season with the Sabres, he has 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points and 47 penalty minutes. He will be a restricted free agent on July 1. This is a decent trade for the Thrashers, as MacArthur plays with plenty of toughness and has some offensive skill. He also has some skill on the power play, so this should be a good pick-up for the Thrashers.

Sabres Acquire Torres from Blue Jackets for Paetsch

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have acquired left wing Raffi Torres from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second round draft pick. In 60 games this season with the Blue Jackets, Torres has 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points and 32 penalty minutes. In 11 games this season with the Sabres, Paetsch has one goal and one assist for two points. Both players will be unrestricted free agents this summer. This is a good trade for the Sabres, as Torres has lots of offensive skill, plays with lots of grit and toughness, and has good skills on the power play. He should fit in very nicely with the Sabres. Paetsch was a frequent scratch this season with Buffalo and never really got a chance to land a regular role with the team. He should provide plenty of defensive depth for the Blue Jackets and could improve his play if he is able to land a regular role with the team.

Flames Acquire Toskala from Ducks for McElhinney

The Calgary Flames bolstered their goaltending today by acquiring goaltender Vesa Toskala from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney. Toskala, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was sent to Anaheim on January 31 by the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Jason Blake for Jean-Sebastien Giguere. In 26 games this season with the Maple Leafs, he posted a 7-12-3 record, with a 3.66 GAA and a .874 save percentage. He did not suit up in a game with the Ducks. In 10 games this season with the Flames, McElhinney posted a 3-4-0 record, with a 3.22 GAA and a .885 save percentage. This is a decent trade for the Flames, as Toskala will be a more suitable and experienced backup goaltender for the team than McElhinney. He could also easily jump into the starter's role if Miikka Kiprusoff should struggle or suffer an injury. McElhinney has the potential to become a decent backup goaltender, but has struggled mightily in that role in Calgary. Perhaps playing on a new team can turn his game around.

Capitals Acquire Belanger from Wild

The Washington Capitals added some more offensive depth on Wednesday by acquiring center Eric Belanger from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a second round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 60 games this season with the Wild, he has 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points. This is a great move for the Capitals, as Belanger will bring plenty of grit and offensive depth to the team. He's a decent two-way player who is a great contributor on the power play, though he will likely be only a playoff rental for the Capitals.

Kings Acquire Halpern from Lightning for Purcell, Draft Pick

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they have acquired center Jeff Halpern from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for right wing Teddy Purcell and a third round draft pick. In 54 games this season with the Lightning, Halpern has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. In 703 career NHL games with the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning, he has 131 goals and 183 assists for 314 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 41 games this season with the Kings, Purcell has three goals and three assists for six points. He will be a restricted free agent this summer. This is a good move for the Kings, as Halpern brings a lot of veteran depth and leadership skills to the relatively young team. Purcell will bring plenty of third-line offensive depth to the Lightning.

Coyotes Acquire Schneider from Canucks for Zimmerman, Draft Pick

The Coyotes continued to deal on Wednesday by acquiring defenseman Mathieu Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Sean Zimmerman and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 17 games this season with the Canucks, Schneider has two goals and three assists for five points. He has spent most of the season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. In 1281 career games with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Vancouver Canucks, he has 223 goals and 516 assists for 739 points. He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993. Zimmerman has appeared in 54 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points and 75 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Not a bad move for the Coyotes, as Schneider will bring a wealth of experience, veteran depth, and offensive skill to their blueline. However, he is still in the minors and there is the possibility that he could remain in the minors for the time being. Zimmerman should bring plenty of defensive depth and toughness to the Canucks organization.