Canucks Acquire Lapierre, Sharp from Ducks for Perrault, Draft Pick

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they have acquired centers Maxim Lapierre and MacGregor Sharp from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for center Joel Perrault and a third round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Lapierre and Sharp will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Perrault will be an unrestricted free agent. Lapierre was acquired by the Ducks this past December from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Brett Festerling. In 59 games this season with the Canadiens and Ducks, Lapierre has five goals and six assists for 11 points and 72 penalty minutes, while Sharp has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 49 games with Syracuse of the AHL. Perrault has appeared in seven games this season with the Canucks, scoring no points. He has also played in 26 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. Not a bad move for the Canucks, as Lapierre will bring lots of grit and toughness to their checking lines, as well as some versatility. However, he lacks discipline and can grate on his teammates as well as the opposition. If he can play a more disciplined game, Lapierre could really help the team in the playoffs. With Brandon McMillan's emergence in Anaheim, Lapierre became expendable to the team. As for Sharp and Perrault, they will likely spend the rest of the season in the minors and probably won't see any NHL action unless injuries start to mount for both Anaheim and Vancouver.

Flames Acquire Fredrik Modin from Thrashers

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired left wing Fredrik Modin from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Modin will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 36 games this season with the Thrashers, he has seven goals and three assists for 10 points. He has missed 22 games altogether this season due to injuries. Not a bad depth move for the Flames, as Modin will bring plenty of offensive skill, two-way ability, and goal-scoring insurance to the team. Despite being injury prone and a bit inconsistent, Modin is a solid veteran addition for the surging Flames.

Canucks Acquire Chris Higgins from Panthers for Evan Oberg, Draft Pick

The Vancouver Canucks added some offensive depth on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring left wing Chris Higgins from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Evan Oberg and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. Higgins, who is currently sidelined with a broken thumb, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Oberg has one more year left on his current deal. In 48 games this season with the Panthers, Higgins has 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. Oberg appeared in two games this season with the Canucks, scoring no points. He has also played in 37 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring seven goals and four assists for 11 points. Not a bad move for the Canucks, as Higgins will bring plenty of offensive depth to their third and fourth lines. He will also bring some two-way ability to the team, as well as some skill to the penalty kill. In Oberg, the Panthers get a puckmoving defenseman with some offensive instincts to help them in their rebuilding process.

NY Rangers Acquire John Mitchell from Maple Leafs

The New York Rangers announced today that they have acquired center John Mitchell from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Mitchell will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 23 games this season with the Maple Leafs, he has two goals and one assist for three points. He has also appeared in nine games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. Not a bad depth move for the Rangers, as Mitchell will bring some versatility to the checking lines and skill to the power play and penalty kill. Right now, he is in the minors, so it's possible he could be called up before the end of the season. Mitchell never fit in well with the Maple Leafs, so a new start with the Rangers could help him get his NHL career back on track.

Kings Acquire Dustin Penner from Oilers for Colten Teubert, Draft Picks

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they have acquired left wing Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for prospect defenseman Colten Teubert, a first round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, and a conditional third round pick in 2012. The third round pick can become a second round pick if the Kings make the playoffs this season. Penner still has one more year left on his current contract, while Teubert still has two years left on his entry-level deal. In 62 games this season with Edmonton, Penner has 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points, while Teubert has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 57 penalty minutes in 39 games with Manchester of the AHL. This is a good move for the Kings, as Penner will bring the top-six winger the team had been seeking all season. He will bring plenty of goal-scoring talent to the team, as well as a physical presence, and should fit in very well with the team. The Kings did give up a premium to land Penner, and the draft picks can help the Oilers continue to rebuild their team. In Teubert, Edmonton gets a very physical blueliner who has all-around upside. He will likely jump into the Oilers' lineup next season, but could possibly play some NHL games this season if the team feels he's ready to make the jump to the NHL.

Ducks Acquire Brad Winchester from Blues

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have acquired left wing Brad Winchester from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a third round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Winchester will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 57 games this season with the Blues, he has nine goals and five assists for 14 points and 86 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Ducks, as Winchester will bring lots of toughness and size to their team. The Ducks have become one of the more physical teams in the NHL, so Winchester's gritty style of play should fit in well there. For the Blues, they likely weren't going to retain Winchester this summer anyway, so they will be able to add a future asset with the draft pick.

Hurricanes Acquire Bryan Allen from Panthers for Sergei Samsonov

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have acquired defenseman Bryan Allen from the Florida Panthers in exchange for left wing Sergei Samsonov. Allen still has one more year left on his current contract, while Samsonov will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 53 games this season with the Panthers, Allen has four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 63 penalty minutes, while Samsonov has 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 58 games. Not a bad move for the Hurricanes, as Allen will bring some much-needed shutdown skill to the team's blueline. He also has lots of size and plays with plenty of toughness, so he should be a good fit for Carolina. In Samsonov, the Panthers add some offensive depth to their forward lines, but this move is a salary dumping trade for them in getting rid of Allen. Samsonov likely won't be retained over the summer unless he has a good finish to the season.

Blackhawks Acquire Chris Campoli from Senators for Ryan Potulny

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Chris Campoli and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Ryan Potulny and a conditional second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. The conditional second round pick going to Ottawa will be Chicago's choice of three second picks they own in 2011. The seventh round pick going to Chicago is conditional on Potulny re-signing with Ottawa this summer. In 58 games this season with Ottawa, Campoli has three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. Potulny has appeared in three games this season with Chicago, scoring no points. He has also played in 58 games with Rockford of the AHL, scoring 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points. Not a bad move for the Blackhawks, as Campoli will bring some puckmoving skill to the team's defense, which will help with the loss of Jordan Hendry to a lower body injury. However, it remains to be seen if Chicago will be able to retain Campoli beyond this season given their salary cap constraints. Potulny will bring the Senators a bottom-six forward and some offensive depth to a team that has seen a mass exodus of players over the past several weeks. The biggest part of this trade for Ottawa is the conditional second round pick, which can help them restock their team with youth.

Avalanche Acquire Shawn Belle from Oilers for Kevin Montgomery

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have acquired defenseman Shawn Belle from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Kevin Montgomery. Shawn Belle will qualify for group six unrestricted free agency this summer, while Montgomery will qualify for restricted free agency this summer. In five games this season with the Oilers, Belle has no points. He has also appeared in 39 games with Oklahoma City of the AHL, scoring three goals and 17 assists for 20 points and 61 penalty minutes. Montgomery has played in 51 games this season with Lake Erie of the AHL, scoring two goals and 17 assists for 19 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as both players will likely spend the rest of the season in the minors. Belle will bring plenty of toughness to Lake Erie's blueline, while Montgomery will bring some puckmoving skill to Oklahoma City.

Coyotes Acquire Klesla, Byers from Blue Jackets for Upshall, Lepisto

The Phoenix Coyotes announced today that they have acquired defenseman Rostislav Klesla and left wing Dane Byers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for right wing Scottie Upshall and defenseman Sami Lepisto. Klesla still has three years left on his current contract, while Upshall will be an unrestricted free agent, while Lepisto and Byers will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 45 games this season with Columbus, Klesla has three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Byers, who was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the New York Rangers this past November in exchange for Chad Kolarik, has 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points and 120 penalty minutes in 64 games with Hartford/Connecticut and Springfield of the AHL. Upshall has 16 goals and 11 assists for 27 points in 61 games with the Coyotes, while Lepisto has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 51 games. Not a bad deal for both teams, as it addresses needs for both of them. The Coyotes get a shutdown defender in Klesla who can play a lot of minutes and also some much needed defensive depth with the current injuries to Ed Jovanovski and Adrian Aucoin. In Upshall, the Blue Jackets get some offensive depth on the wing, as well as a fiery player even though he is a bit prone to injury. Lepisto will bring some offensive depth and puckmoving skill to the Columbus blueline, which will help with the loss of Klesla. Byers will likely play the rest of the season in the minors and won't make an impact on the Phoenix roster.

Red Wings Sign Jimmy Howard to Two-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million. The deal averages out to $2.25 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 47 games this season with Detroit, he has a 30-12-3 record, two shutouts, a 2.79 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. This is a good move for the Red Wings, as Howard has become a reliable goaltender for the team over the past two seasons. He brings solid depth in goal and is quick to make saves. However, he does have consistency issues and can let in bad goals from time to time, but is still a very solid goaltender. Plus, his $2.25 million per season is very affordable for his caliber and a very salary cap friendly contract for Detroit.

Thrashers Claim Rob Schremp Off Waivers from NY Islanders

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have claimed center Rob Schremp off waivers from the New York Islanders. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 45 games this season with the Islanders, he has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Not a bad depth move for the Thrashers, as Schremp will bring some goal-scoring ability and passing skills to the team. He also adds some depth at center after the Thrashers dealt Rich Peverley to the Boston Bruins last week. He has struggled a bit this season in New York after having a fine season in 2009-10, so perhaps a fresh start in Atlanta can help him improve his game offensively.

Senators Claim Curtis McElhinney Off Waivers from Lightning

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have claimed goaltender Curtis McElhinney off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning acquired the 27-year-old goalie from the Anaheim Ducks on February 24 in exchange for goaltender Dan Ellis. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 21 games this season, he has a 6-9-1 record, two shutouts, a 3.43 GAA, and a .890 save percentage. This is really just a depth move for the Senators, as McElhinney will likely become the backup to Craig Anderson. Robin Lehner will likely be sent back to the minors for the rest of the season to help Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Binghamton make a push for the AHL playoffs.

Flames Claim Brett Carson Off Waivers from Hurricanes

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have claimed defenseman Brett Carson off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes. He will be a free agent this summer. In 13 games this season with Carolina, he has no points. He has also appeared in 38 games with Charlotte of the AHL, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. This is really just a depth move for the Flames, as Carson will likely be a seventh defenseman for the team. He does have good size and can chip in offensively, so he's not a bad option for the Flames if they should lose a defenseman to injury.

Capitals Acquire Dennis Wideman for Jake Hauswirth, Draft Pick

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have acquired defenseman Dennis Wideman in exchange for prospect center Jake Hauswirth and a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Wideman has one more year left on his current contract and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, while Hauswirth has one more year remaining on his entry-level deal. In 61 games so far this season, Wideman has nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points, while Hauswirth has 10 goals and four assists for 14 points in 37 games with South Carolina of the ECHL. Not a bad move for the Capitals, as Wideman will bring lots of offensive depth to the team's blueline. He can also log lots of minutes and is good on the power play. With Mike Green currently sidelined indefinitely with a head injury, the need for another offensive blueliner in Washington was important. For the Panthers, they get a marginal prospect in Hauswirth who has some bottom-six forward skill, but is still a few seasons away from landing a regular NHL roster spot.

Thrashers Sign Mark Stuart to Three-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed defenseman Mark Stuart to a three-year contract extension worth $5.1 million. The deal averages out to $1.7 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired by the Thrashers on February 18 from the Boston Bruins with Blake Wheeler in exchange for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik. In 35 games this season with Boston and Atlanta, Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points and 33 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Thrashers, as Stuart brings lots of defensive depth to their blueline. He brings lots of shutdown skills to the team's defense and some physical play, so he should be a good fit for the team over the next three years.

Kings Sign Justin Williams to Four-Year Contract

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they have signed right wing Justin Williams to a four-year contract worth $14.6 million. The deal averages out to $3.65 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 62 games this season, he has 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points and 53 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Kings, as Williams brings lots of offensive depth to the wing. He also has some speed and some defensive skills. His only downside is that he is a bit prone to injury, but when healthy, Williams can be a good scorer and offensive contributor for the Kings. If he can stay healthy over the next four years, he will be a solid contributor for Los Angeles.

Thrashers Acquire Dvorak from Panthers for Bergfors, Rissmiller

In the first trade on Trade Deadline Day, the Atlanta Thrashers have acquired right wing Radek Dvorak from the Florida Panthers in exchange for right wing Niclas Bergfors and left wing Patrick Rissmiller. Dvorak and Rissmiller will be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Bergfors will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 53 games with the Panthers, Dvorak has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Bergfors has 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 52 games with the Thrashers, while Rissmiller has no points on only one game. He has spent the majority of the season with Lake Erie of the AHL. This trade works for both teams. Dvorak brings plenty of two-way skill, lots of experience on the penalty kill, and veteran offensive depth to the Thrashers as they make a push for the playoffs. The Panthers get a young scorer in Bergfors to help them in their rebuilding process. Despite struggling in Atlanta this season, he has plenty of offensive potential and could become a steady scorer for Florida. Rissmiller brings veteran offensive depth down the wing, but could continue to play in the minors for the rest of the season, depending on how many players the Panthers deal throughout the day.

EDIT

The Thrashers also acquired a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft from the Panthers in the trade.

Sabres Acquire Brad Boyes from Blues

The Buffalo Sabres announced late Sunday evening that they have acquired right wing Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. He still has one year left on his current contract with a $4 million salary cap hit. In 62 games this season, he has 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points. Not a bad move for the Sabres, as Boyes will bring plenty of offensive depth to the forward lines. He also has good goal-scoring and playmaking skills, but is a bit inconsistent in his scoring. Perhaps the move to Buffalo will help Boyes pick up his offensive production a bit.

Senators Sign Chris Phillips to Three-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators announced late Sunday evening that they have signed defenseman Chris Phillips to a three-year contract extension worth $9.25 million. The deal averages out to $3.08 million and includes a no-movement clause. Phillips had been the subject of trade rumors for the last month as the Senators began a downward spiral through the standings that has left them in last place in the Eastern Conference. Instead of waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to another team by the February 28 trade deadline, Phillips opted to remain with the team to mentor the young players. In a rather disappointing season for the 32-year-old blueliner, he has one goal and four assists for five points in 62 games. This is a decent move for the Senators, as Phillips has always been a steady player back on the team's blueline. He is an excellent shutdown defenseman with good mobility and a decent shot and will be an excellent mentor for the younger defensemen in Ottawa, as well as provide some stability on the blueline.

Ducks Acquire McGrattan, Zimmerman from Bruins for Laliberte, Chaput

The Anaheim Ducks announced late Sunday evening that they have acquired right wing Brian McGrattan and defenseman Sean Zimmerman from the Boston Bruins in exchange for right wing David Laliberte and center Stefan Chaput. All four players will be free agents this summer. In 39 games this season with Providence of the AHL, McGrattan has five points and 97 penalty minutes. Zimmerman, who the Bruins acquired from the Florida Panthers this past December, has four points in 30 games with Providence and Rochester of the AHL. Laliberte, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Philadelphia Flyers this past November, has 18 points and 52 penalty minutes in 48 games with Adirondack and Syracuse of the AHL. Chaput, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Carolina Hurricanes this past November, has 10 points in 47 games this season with Charlotte and Syracuse of the AHL. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely play out the rest of the season in the minors. Laliberte does have some upside, so he could end up being a good acquisition for the Bruins, whereas Chaput will just bring offensive depth for Providence. For the Ducks, McGrattan and Zimmerman will bring lots of grit and toughness at their respected positions in Syracuse.

Blackhawks Sign Brent Seabrook to Five-Year Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have signed defenseman Brent Seabrook to a five-year contract extension worth $29 million. The deal averages out to $5.8 million per season and includes a limited no-trade clause. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 61 games so far this season, he has four goals and 29 assists for 33 points. Not a bad signing for the Blackhawks in terms of defensive depth, as Seabrook brings some offensive skill to the blueline. He can also play a lot of minutes, has good size, and skates well. However, this deal does not help out the Blackhawks' salary cap situation and is going to likely handcuff them down the road. They will likely have to sacrifice depth on other areas of the team in future seasons to remain salary cap compliant. This deal could make it very difficult for the Blackhawks to attempt to retain Patrick Sharp next summer, as well as comfortably retain restricted free agents Troy Brouwer, Corey Crawford, Jake Dowell, and Michael Frolik this summer.

Bruins Sign Shane Hnidy to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Shane Hnidy to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The contract will be for the rest of the 2010-11 season, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. Hnidy had been on a professional tryout contract with the team since February 23 and will begin his second stint with the Bruins, previously playing there from 2008 to 2009. In 70 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, he had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points and 66 penalty minutes. In 547 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota Wild, he has 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points and 631 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Bruins, as Hnidy is likely being signed as defensive insurance for the playoffs. He will bring plenty of grit and toughness to the blueline as a seventh defenseman and should fit in nicely after already playing in Boston for parts of two seasons.

Thrashers Sign Chris Thorburn to Three-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed center Chris Thorburn to a three-year contract extension worth $2.601 million. The deal averages out to $867,000 per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 62 games this season, he has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 51 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Thrashers, as Thornburn has had a decent season as the team's fourth line center. He has good size, plays with lots of toughness, and is decent at killing penalties. While he isn't a great skater or an offensive producer, he brings plenty of depth and grit to the checking lines.

NY Rangers Acquire Bryan McCabe from Panthers for Tim Kennedy, Draft Pick

The New York Rangers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Bryan McCabe from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Tim Kennedy and a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. McCabe, who had to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Kennedy will qualify for restricted free agency at season's end. In 48 games this season with the Panthers, McCabe has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points and 28 penalty minutes. Kennedy has 12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points in 53 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale of the AHL. He has not appeared in an NHL game yet this season. This is a good move for the Rangers, as McCabe will bring some much needed veteran depth and offensive skill to the team's blueline. He also brings a good shot, leadership, skill on the power play, and some toughness to New York's defense. Kennedy will bring the Panthers plenty of energy and playmaking skill up the middle. However, it remains to be seen if he will suit up with Florida or remain in the AHL.