The NHL’s trade deadline has come and gone, and it was a very entertaining day, not just for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who bolstered up front and on defence with the acquisitions of Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo. From blockbuster deals, head-scratching trades, and a ton of fallout since, the NHL is a media circus at the moment, with just over a month until the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.

Without further ado, here’s all the very latest in this week’s around the NHL:

Brad Marchand was willing to compromise with Bruins’ GM

In perhaps the most shocking trade of the season, the Boston Bruins moved pending free-agent forward Brad Marchand to their rival, the Florida Panthers. Not only was the return eye-opening at just a conditional second-round pick, but the whole situation was also filled with drama.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the trade with the Panthers came together after management wasn’t willing to compromise on Marchand’s contract extension. The two sides had agreed on a three-year term for the 36-year-old forward but weren’t able to find common ground on the average annual value. Marchand’s currently making $6.1 million and requested a face-to-face meeting with GM Don Sweeney to try and find a solution, but Sweeney wasn’t willing to budge on his cap hit moving forward. The talks broke off, Marchand requested a move to the Panthers, and the Bruins agreed it was time to end an era.

The conditional second-round pick converts to a first-rounder if Marchand plays in 50% of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup Playoff games. He’s currently sidelined with a lower-body injury and is expected back before the postseason. The Bruins also dealt Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche, Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs, and Trent Frederic to the Oilers.

Mikko Rantanen was open to signing long-term in Edmonton

The Rantanen sweepstakes were fascinating to watch, as the Hurricanes knew early last week a contract extension wasn’t getting completed by the trade deadline, and talks ramped up in a major way. Several teams were interested, and most trade talks appeared to hinge on Rantanen being open to signing long-term with his new franchise.

Of course, he wound up in Dallas, on a very Finnish-heavy Stars’ roster, however, according to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Rantanen was open to signing a long-term extension with the Edmonton Oilers, but the Oilers weren’t able to meet the type of package other teams, including the Stars were presenting to Hurricanes’ GM Eric Tulsky.

Edmonton’s very light on NHL-ready prospects and young roster players, and the Hurricanes ended up settling on the Stars’ offer of forward Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks, and two third-round picks. Rantanen returns to the Central Division, where his Stars have a six-point lead on his old teammates in Colorado.

Alex Ovechkin scores No.886, reaches 1600 points

Washington Capitals’ great Alex Ovechkin continues to climb the NHL record books. Ovechkin scored Sunday afternoon against the Seattle Kraken, #886 of his career, and also hit the 1600-point mark, becoming just the 11th player all-time to hit the milestone.

Ovechkin is 41 points behind Joe Sakic for 10th all-time, and with his 33rd goal of the season, is now just nine goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record:

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ALEX OVECHKIN IS NINE GOALS AWAY FROM HISTORY! 🦅 #Gr8Chase

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The Capitals have just 18 games left, so it’s going to come down to the wire. Ovechkin and the Caps enter the week 12 points up on the Carolina Hurricanes for the Metropolitan Division lead.

Quick Hits Around the NHL:

With his two-goal performance Saturday night against the Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon became the first NHLer to hit 100 points this season.
The Chicago Blackhawks called up 2024 second-overall pick Artyom Levshunov from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Levshunov, a right-handed defenceman, posted five goals and 22 points in 50 AHL games.
Utah HC’s Connor Ingram has entered the player assistance program, the league and NHLPA announced on Sunday. In a heartfelt social media post, Ingram admitted he hasn’t been himself since his Mother passed away earlier in the year.
Dylan Cozens is pumped to join the Ottawa Senators, especially since the Senators are playing meaningful hockey, currently in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. “It felt great,” Cozens said, per Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. “You couldn’t have drawn it up any better with a little comeback win in overtime for the first one. I’m so happy and excited to be part of this group and do something special here.”
While adding Cozens is a huge get for the Senators, captain Brady Tkachuk was emotional when asked about losing Josh Norris in the deal. “It’s pretty tough,” Tkachuk said. “It sucks losing a guy like that. Obviously, everybody knows how much he means to me.”
Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski passed Rick Nash on the franchise’s all-time assists record on Sunday against the New York Rangers.
New Jersey Devils are down a couple of blueliners as Jonas Siegenthaler will miss the remainder of the regular season, while fellow defenceman Dougie Hamilton will ‘miss an extended period of time’ due to injury.
When asked about trading pending free-agent forward Brock Boeser before the deadline, Canucks’ GM Patrik Allvin had the most cringe-worthy quote of the week. “If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me,” Allvin said to TSN’s Farhan Lalji. “I would imagine that Brock is extremely hungry to finish off strong here and then prove that he’s a good player in this league, and we’ll continue to talk [about a new contract].” That can’t feel great for Boeser to hear.
Oilers’ Evander Kane will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season and should be ready to suit up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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