Blue Jackets Claim Craig Rivet Off Waivers from Sabres

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have claimed defenseman Craig Rivet off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres. The 36-year-old blueliner, who was also the captain of the Sabres, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 23 games this season, he has one goal and two assists and has been a frequent healthy scratch. Not a bad move for the Blue Jackets, as Rivet will bring lots of veteran depth, leadership, and grit to the blueline. With Columbus currently three points out of the playoffs in the Western Conference, Rivet will bring some much needed defensive depth to the club as they look to make the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

Flyers Claim Nick Boynton Off Waivers from Blackhawks

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have claimed defenseman Nick Boynton off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old blueliner will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 41 games this season with Chicago, he has one goal and seven assists for eight points and 36 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Flyers, as Boynton will bring plenty of grit, toughness, and defensive depth to their blueline. He will replace Oskars Bartulis, who is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, as the team's seventh defenseman.

Capitals Claim Marco Sturm Off Waivers from Kings

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have claimed left wing Marco Sturm off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. Sturm, who was acquired by the Kings on December 11 from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 17 games this season with the Kings, he has four goals and five assists for nine points. He never appeared in any games this season with the Bruins. He has missed 45 games altogether this season with two separate knee injuries. Not a bad depth move for the Capitals, as they are getting a speedy forward in Sturm. He is also an excellent stickhandler and good on the power play and penalty kill. For the Kings, the addition of Sturm was a big disappointment, and now that his salary is off their books, they will have some salary cap space to possibly make a significant deal by the trade deadline for a power forward.

Panthers Acquire Alexander Sulzer from Predators

The Florida Panthers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Alexander Sulzer from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 31 games this season with the Predators, he has one goal and three assists. Not a bad depth move for the Panthers, as Sulzer will provide some offensive depth to the blueline, especially if the the team trades Bryan McCabe by the February 28 trade deadline, but likely as a third pairing defenseman. While Sulzer wouldn't completely replace McCabe's skill level, he will at least keep some offense on Florida's blueline. As for the Predators, Sulzer was a frequent scratch this season and had recently become expendable with rookie Jonathan' Blum's decent play as of late. Blum will likely remain in the NHL now for the rest of the season.

Hurricanes Acquire Cory Stillman from Panthers for Ryan Carter

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have acquired left wing Cory Stillman from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Ryan Carter and a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Stillman, who is beginning his second stint with Carolina, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He previously played with the Hurricanes from 2005 to 2008 and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2006. Carter, who was acquired by the Hurricanes earlier this season from the Anaheim Ducks for Stefan Chaput and Matt Kennedy, will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 44 games with the Panthers, Stillman has seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points, while Carter has one goal and five assists for six points in 50 games with the Ducks and Hurricanes. Not a bad move for the Hurricanes, as Stillman will bring plenty of offensive and veteran depth to the team as they try to lock down a playoff spot. Carter will bring some checking depth to the Panthers, but little more than that.

Canadiens Acquire Sopel, Dawes from Thrashers for Maxwell, Draft Pick

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have acquired defenseman Brent Sopel and left wing Nigel Dawes from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for center Ben Maxwell and a fourth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Sopel will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Dawes and Maxwell will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 59 games this season, Sopel has two goals and five assists for seven points, while Dawes has one assist in nine games. He has spent the majority of the season with Chicago of the AHL and will now report to Hamilton of the AHL. Maxwell has 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points in 47 games with Hamilton and will now report to the Chicago Wolves. Not a bad depth move for the Canadiens, as Sopel will bring some much-needed depth to their injury-ravaged blueline. He can play lots of minutes and brings lots of shot blocking skill to the team. Dawes does bring some goal-scoring skill to Montreal, but is very inconsistent in his scoring. He will look to salavage his NHL career with the Canadiens, but if he cannot, this will likely be his last stop in the NHL. Maxwell brings some two-way skill to the Thrashers, but likely won't make much of an impact this season. With the emergence of rookie center David Desharnais this season, Maxwell became expendable to Montreal.

Senators Claim Marek Svatos Off Waivers from Predators

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have claimed right wing Marek Svatos off waivers from the Nashville Predators. The move was announced just after the Senators traded Alex Kovalev to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Svatos will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He originally signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues on December 28, but was claimed off waivers by the Predators just a day later. In nine games with Nashville, he has one goal and two assists. He missed 13 games recently with a knee injury. This is really just a depth move for Ottawa, as they are in need of a little veteran depth on offense after trading Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Jarkko Ruutu, and Alex Kovalev in separate deals over the past two weeks. Svatos will bring plenty of offensive depth to the team down the wing for the remainder of the season.

Penguins Acquire Alex Kovalev from Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have acquired right wing Alex Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The pick will become a sixth rounder if the Penguins win the first round of the playoffs and Kovalev plays in at least fifty percent of the games. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Kovalev, who lifted his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade and will begin his second stint with Pittsburgh, has 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 54 games this season. Not a bad depth move for the Penguins, as Kovalev will bring plenty of offensive depth down the wing for the injury-ravaged team, but only as a playoff rental. The enigmatic forward will also bring some depth to the power play and lots of playoff experience to the team. Plus, the Penguins gave up next to nothing to get him, which shows the market for Kovalev was pretty dry.

Ducks Acquire Dan Ellis from Lightning for Curtis McElhinney

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have acquired goaltender Dan Ellis from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney. The move comes one day after the Ducks recalled Ray Emery from Syracuse of the AHL as a substitute for starter Jonas Hiller, who is currently sidelined with what is believed to be vertigo. Ellis still has one more year left on his current contract, while McElhinney will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 31 games this season, Ellis has a 13-7-6 record, two shutouts, a 2.93 GAA, and a .889 save percentage. McElhinney has a 6-9-1 record, two shutouts, a 3.43 GAA, and a .890 save percentage in 21 games. Not a bad depth move for Anaheim, as Ellis will provide plenty of depth in goal and is an upgrade over McElhinney, who has not played particularly great as of late. Ellis will also add some stability in goal in case Emery should struggle. For Tampa Bay, they shed $1.5 million in salary cap space for next season and will likely use it to pursue a goaltender over the summer, as Dwayne Roloson, Mike Smith, and Curtis McElhinney are all unrestricted free agents at season's end and likely won't be re-signed. For the rest of the season, McElhinney will play backup to Roloson.

Capitals Sign Matt Hendricks to Two-Year Contract

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed center Matt Hendricks to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. He signed a one-year deal this past September with the Capitals after being invited to training camp and impressing the team there. In 57 games so far this season, he has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points and 84 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Capitals, as Hendricks is a very harder worker on the ice and plays with lots of energy and toughness. He has fit in well on Washington's checking lines this season and should continue to be a good fit over the next two years.

Stars Acquire Goligoski from Penguins for Neal, Niskanen

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have acquired defenseman Alex Goligoski from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for left wing James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. All three players still have one year left on their current contracts and will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2012. In 60 games this season, Goligoski has nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points. Neal has 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points in 59 games, while Niskanen has six assists in 45 games. This is a good trade for the Penguins, as Neal brings them lots of offensive and goal-scoring skill on the wing. The Penguins have been looking for a scoring winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby for the past couple seasons and they have found that in Neal. Plus, he brings some much-needed depth on offense with the injuries to Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and Mark Letestu. In Niskanen, the Penguins get a smooth-skating defenseman who has some offensive skill. In Goligoski, the Stars get some much-needed offensive help on the blueline, as well as a decent puck-mover with some mobility. However, the price to acquire him was a little steep in giving up Neal and Niskanen. Plus, with Brad Richards currently sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, giving up Neal was not really a great idea, as it will deplete their offense a bit. It is possible Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk made this move to shed some salary to attempt to retain Richards, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Still, giving up Neal costs the team some offense, but they still could pursue another forward before the February 28 trade deadline.

Avalanche Acquire Johnson, McClement from Blues for Stewart, Shattenkirk

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Saturday that they have acquired defenseman Erik Johnson, center Jay McClement, and a conditional first round draft pick in 2011 or 2012 in exchange for right wing Chris Stewart, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, and a conditional second round draft pick in 2011 or 2012. If St. Louis finishes among the bottom 10 teams in the league this season, they will send Colorado their first round pick in 2012 and Colorado will send them their second round pick in 2012. If St. Louis does not finish in the bottom 10 teams this season, Colorado will get the Blues' first round pick in 2011 and St. Louis will get Colorado's second round pick in 2011. Johnson, McClement, and Stewart all have one year left on their remaining contracts, while Shattenkirk still has two years left on his entry-level deal. In 56 games this season with the Blues, Johnson has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, while McClement has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 57 games. Stewart, who missed 21 games this season with a broken hand, has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points, while Shattenkirk has seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points in 47 games. Quite an interesting trade for Colorado and St. Louis, as I figured both teams would continue to rebuild around the players they traded. For the Avalanche, they get a very talented defenseman in Johnson who has the potential to anchor their blueline for years to come. He has a good shot, lots of size, and plenty of all-around defensive upside. In McClement, the Avalanche get a decent defensive forward who is good on the faceoff, and with his addition, are now very solid up the middle (Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, and McClement). The Blues land an offensively skilled forward in Stewart who can play a physical game and has the poential to become a power forward in the league. Shattenkirk brings lots of offensive skill to the blueline, especially on the power play, and gives the team a decent prospect defenseman to replace Johnson. In the end, the Blues look to be winners in this trade, given the all-around skill they've added to their team in Stewart and Shattenkirk.

Red Wings Sign Jan Mursak to Two-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed right wing Jan Mursak to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 17 games this season with the Red Wings, he has one goal. He has also appeared in 39 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL, scoring 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points. Not a bad depth signing for Detroit, as Mursak has some offensive potential. He also has some speed and hockey sense, so he will likely land a roster spot with the team over the next two years.

Lightning Acquire Eric Brewer from Blues

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have acquired defenseman Eric Brewer from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect defenseman Brock Beukeboom and a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. In 54 games this season with the Blues, Brewer has eight goals and six assists for 14 points and 57 penalty minutes. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Beukeboom has one goal and seven assists for eight points and 54 penalty minutes in 44 games with Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL this season. Not a bad trade for the Lightning as Brewer will add some size, stability, toughness, and leadership to the blueline. As for the Blues, they get a physical defensive prospect in Beukeboom who has some size.

Sharks Acquire Ian White from Hurricanes

In a second and separate trade by both teams today, the San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Ian White from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Just prior to this trade, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Derek Joslin from the Sharks in exchange for future considerations. White, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was acquired by the Hurricanes earlier this season from the Calgary Flames with Brett Sutter in exchange for Anton Babchuk and Tom Kostopoulos. In 55 games this season with the Flames and Hurricanes, White has two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. Not a bad move for the Sharks, as White will bring plenty of offensive and puck-moving skill to the blueline, as well as some mobility. For the Hurricanes, White didn't play very well on the team, but they will lose a little depth on defense with his departure. Perhaps they could go shopping for another blueliner by the February 28 trade deadline if they feel they need more defensive depth.

Hurricanes Acquire Derek Joslin from Sharks

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have acquired defenseman Derek Joslin from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 17 games with the Sharks this season, he has one goal and three assists for four points. Not a bad depth move for the Hurricanes, as Joslin is a mobile defenseman with some offensive upside and skill on the power play. He was seldom used by San Jose this season and likely wasn't going to advance up their depth chart very much. Landing with the Hurricanes should give him a chance to see more ice time.

Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle from Maple Leafs

Tomas Kaberle's time in Toronto has come to an end. The Boston Bruins announced today that they have acquired the 32-year-old defenseman from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for prospect center Joe Colborne, Boston's first round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, and a conditional second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft if he is re-signed in the off-season by the Bruins. Kaberle, who has been a part of Toronto's defense for the past 11 seasons and is the second highest scoring defenseman in Leafs' history behind Borje Salming with 83 goals and 437 assists, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. Colborne is currently in the first year of a three-year entry level deal. In 58 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Kaberle has three goals and 35 assists for 38 points. Colborne has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points this season with Providence of the AHL and will now report to Toronto of the AHL. This is a good trade for the Bruins, as Kaberle will add lots of offensive skill to the blueline, particularly on the power play. With all the moves the Bruins have made over the past week, it has become clear they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. As for the Maple Leafs, they get a fairly decent prospect in Colborne. He has great size and has the potential to become a goal-scoring forward at the NHL level and will eventually fill a hole at center for Toronto. The first round pick the Maple Leafs received in the trade is Boston's first rounder and not their own that they sent to the Bruins in the Phil Kessel deal. Still, Toronto now has two first round picks in this year's draft from which to start restocking their team with young talent.

Thrashers Acquire Wheeler, Stuart from Bruins for Peverley, Valabik

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired winger Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart from the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. Wheeler and Valabik will both be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Stuart will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Peverley still has one more year left on his current deal. In 58 games with the Bruins this season, Wheeler has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points, while Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points in 31 games. In 59 games with the Thrashers, Peverley has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points, while Valabik has nine assists and 165 penalty minutes with Chicago of the AHL. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. This is a good trade for the Thrashers, as Wheeler and Stuart will bring plenty of depth to the team at their respected positions. Wheeler will add some two-way depth, size, and offensive skill despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, while Stuart will add plenty of defensive depth as a stay-at-home defenseman and bring some physical play to the blueline. Trading Peverley will leave the Thrashers a little thin at center and they could perhaps swing another trade for a center before the February 28 trade deadline. Also, the Thrashers likely won't miss Valabik, as he never panned out for the team. It's not a bad trade for the Bruins either, but I give the edge to the Thrashers in this one. Peverley brings the Bruins some offensive skill and two-way ability, perhaps a bit more than Wheeler was providing in Boston. He will also bring some versatility to the team, as he can also play on the wing. At six feet, seven inches, Valabik brings tremendous size to Boston's blueline, as well as lots of toughness and physical play. However, he is a bit slow, tends to take bad penalties, and isn't very offensive minded, which will likely land him a sixth or seventh role with the team for the time being. Although, with Zdeno Chara as a mentor, Valabik's game should improve over time.

Senators Acquire Craig Anderson from Avalanche for Brian Elliott

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have acquired goaltender Craig Anderson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Brian Elliott. This is the fourth trade the Senators have made in the past week as GM Bryan Murray continues to revamp the roster. Elliott is the latest Senator to move, following forwards Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Kelly, and Mike Fisher. Anderson will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, while Elliott will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 33 games this season with the Avalanche, Anderson has a 13-15-3 record, with a 3.28 GAA and a .897 save percentage, while Elliott has a 13-19-8 record, three shutouts, a 3.19 GAA, and a .894 save percentage in 43 games with Ottawa. This is a good trade for the Senators, as Anderson has decent goaltending skills and adds a lot of depth in goal despite struggling in Colorado this season. Despite being eligible for UFA status this summer, the Senators will likely try to get Anderson under contract prior to July 1, as long as he has a good run with the team for the rest of the season. If he does and Ottawa re-signs him, look for their goaltending tandem to be Anderson and Robin Lehner next season. Pascal Leclaire will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Ottawa is unlikely to re-sign him due to his inconsistency and injury history while with the team. As for Colorado, they get a young goaltender in Elliott who covers a lot of area in net and is fairly quick on his skates, but is very inconsistent and can lose his positioning sometimes. He had a decent start to the 2010-11 season, but has struggled mightily in net for the past few months. If Elliott is able to improve his goaltending skills, this could be an okay trade for Colorado, but they were likely better off trying to re-sign Anderson for another year and see if he could improve.

Ducks Acquire Jarkko Ruutu from Senators

The Anaheim Ducks announced tonight that they have acquired left wing Jarkko Ruutu from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Ruutu will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. In 50 games so far this season, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 59 penalty minutes. In 629 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ottawa Senators, he has 57 goals and 83 assists for 140 points and 1040 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Ducks, as Ruutu plays with lots of toughness and is a very gritty, energetic, and agitating forward. He also brings a little two-way skill to the lineup and should be an effective checking line forward for the Ducks as they approach the playoffs.

NY Islanders Sign Pierre (PA) Parenteau to One-Year Contract

The New York Islanders announced today that they have signed right wing Pierre (PA) Parenteau to a one-year contract extension worth $1.25 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, he has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. In 83 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and New York Islanders, he has 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Islanders, as Parenteau has been one of the better offensive producers for the team all season. Not only does he have some offensive instincts, he can also play at center, making him a versatile forward for the team. More than likely, Parenteau should have another respectable season with the Islanders in 2011-12.

Canadiens Acquire Paul Mara from Ducks

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have acquired defenseman Paul Mara from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Mara, who has been a healthy scratch in 23 of the Ducks' last 25 games, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He is also beginning his second stint with the Canadiens. In 33 games so far this season, he has one goal and one assist, as well as 40 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for Montreal, as Mara played with the team last season and will already be familiar with their system, and will also bring some toughness and plenty of size to the team. More importantly, he will bring some much needed defensive depth to a club that is currently without Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges, Hall Gill, and Jaroslav Spacek because of injuries.

Bruins Acquire Chris Kelly from Senators

The Boston Bruins announced late Tuesday evening that they have acquired center Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. He still has one more year left on his current contract. In 57 games so far this season, he has 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points. In 463 career NHL games, all with the Senators, he has 75 goals and 101 assists for 176 points. Not a bad move for the Bruins, as Kelly has some two-way skill, works very hard on the ice, is good on the penalty kill, and is also versatile enough to play on the wing. He will bring some much needed depth at center with Marc Savard currently sidelined with a concussion. Kelly will likely become the Bruins' third-line center, which will also likely push rookie center Tyler Seguin further down the depth chart and lead to a reduction in his ice time for the rest of the season.

Thrashers Sign Dustin Byfuglien to Five-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract extension worth $26 million. The deal averages out to $5.2 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer and a likely target for an offer sheet. He was acquired by the Thrashers this past summer from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu in exchange for Marty Reasoner, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb, and first and second round picks in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 58 games so far this season, Byfuglien has 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points. In 318 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 72 goals and 80 assists for 152 points. This is a good signing for the Thrashers, as Byfuglien has emerged as an elite player on the blueline and still has his best years ahead of him. He has excellent offensive skills, especially on the power play, good size, and can log lots of minutes. He can also play on the wing, which makes him a very versatile player for the Thrashers.

Maple Leafs Acquire Aaron Voros from Ducks

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have acquired left wing Aaron Voros from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Voros, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, will report to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In 12 games this season with the Ducks, he has no points and 43 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth move for the Maple Leafs, as Voros was brought in to fill a roster spot on the Marlies for Christian Hanson, who was called up by the Maple Leafs yesterday. Voros, who does play with lots of toughness, could see time with Toronto if they need to insert more grit into their lineup, but other than that, he will spend most of the rest of the season in the minors.