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The Colorado Avalanche caused a sensation on the eve of the NHL trade deadline on Thursday evening by obtaining the Brock Nelson center from the New York Icelanders.
The move occurred a few hours after the rival of the Western Conference, Vegas Golden Knights, reacted the winger Reilly Smith in an agreement with the New York Rangers. A large part of the action came to the east, where New Jersey added in defense with Brian Dumoulin in an agreement with Anaheim, Florida, the Depth Center Nico Sturm from San Jose, and the Rangers also bought by acquiring Carson Soucy de Vancouver.
The Colorado sent the defender Oliver Kylington, the prospect Calum Ritchie, a first round choice in 2026 and a third conditional round in 2028 in the Icelanders for Nelson and the 23 -year -old winger William Dufour. Nelson, a free -waiting free agent, was considered one of the best available players. The Islanders almost immediately exchanged Kylington in Anaheim for future considerations.
The acquisition by Devils of Dumoulin, sending a second round choice in this year’s draft and the rights of the 19 -year -old united perspective, Herman Traff, on the Ducks, comes after learning the top scorer Jack Hughes for the season after having undergone shoulder surgery and with defender No. 1 Dougie Hamilton Hamilton because of the injury. With Hughes during the long -term injured reserve, they can add around $ 10 million of players before the deadline, even after obtaining Dumoulin because Anaheim keeps half of Dumoulin’s salary.
The Rangers also keep half of what remains of Smith’s salary and obtains the young striker Brendan Brisson and a third round choice in 2025 – previously belonging to the last place of San Jose – de Vegas. A few hours later, they sent this choice to Vancouver for Carson Soucy, a defender of the left shooting under contract until next season who effectively replaces Ryan Lindgren after being sent to Colorado.
Another player who fell in disgrace with the Rangers, Smith was exchanged in Pittsburgh, New York and Vegas since the Golden Knights helped the Golden Knights to win the Cup in 2023 as an alternative captain and original member of the expansion franchise.
The Panthers, who lost in this final before winning their first title last year, sent a fourth round in 2026 to the Sharks for a seventh in 27 and Sturm, a 29 -year -old penalty killer who won seven goals and six assists and won 62.7% of his game problems in 47 games this season. This is the highest total of anyone who participated in at least 200 playing, and the recruit candidate of San Jose, Macklin Celebrini, said that the Panthers get “someone who will do all the little things”.
“(He) makes sure that all the little things are taken care of, like the penalty, you call it, just facades, his defensive game – all that,” said Celebrini. “These are not things you are recognized by, but it is something that will certainly help them.”
In a movement before the night preceding the avalanche adding Nelson, the Minnesota obtained a 6 -foot 5 -inch winger Justin Brazeau from Boston for young attackers Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko, plus a choice of sixth round 2026.
With the best winger Matthew Tkachuk on Ltir like Hughes, Florida – who has already exchanged against the defender Seth Jones of Chicago and added the goalkeeper of the rescue Vitek Vanecek – always has space to potentially add another striker in order to become the third series of back champions in the last decade. Thursday also brought an exchange of a depth caretaker, obtaining Kaapo Kahkonen from the Winnipeg jets for Chris Driedger.
The Devils are again suitors and seek to come back after falling from the race last season, and they hope that Dumoulin, 33, brings a precious experience with him of his 789 regular and qualifying season games. He won the cup with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 1917 and this season has 16 points while skating just under 20 minutes on average for 61 games with Anaheim.
“Brian was good for us at the same time and outside the ice, and we wish him good luck in New Jersey,” said Ducks Managing Director Pat Verbeek. “It was not an easy decision for us. We believe that this allows more opportunities for our young defenders, who have proven that they can play and succeed in the NHL. »»
The New Jersey GM, Tom Fitzgerald, could always try to add a high -end advantage – ideally a center – which could help fill the void left by the absence of Hughes. Hughes is tied with Mikko Rantanen de Caroline in the League score race with 70 points out of 27 goals and 43 assists.
Rantanen’s future remains the biggest mystery to monitor before the 3 p.m. deadline is Friday. Already exchanged once this year from Colorado to Hurricanes in a blockbuster with three teams at the end of January, the 2022 Cup winger, at its peak, could again be in motion without guarantee Carolina will be able to sign the free agent pending beyond this season.
“If Carolina was moved, it’s not because of his game,” said avalanche coach Jared Bednar on Thursday. “Looking at Mikko’s game just, he has played well since he is there – a little snake at first – now production is starting to come. I think he is adjusted in any team from the League, including Caroline. So, yes, I think it’s just the commercial side of hockey at that time.”
While the teams sort their business before the deadline, the derogation thread on Thursday was also occupied, Nashville saying that the winger Jakub True de Washington and defender Jordan Oesterle from Boston. Columbus claimed the striker Christian Fischer from Detroit, while Toronto put the Ryan Reaves execution on derogations in order to clean another million dollars in space.
