NHL Trade Deadline 2018: Rumors and deals tracker

With the NHL trade deadline approaching, keep up to date with the latest rumors and deals from across the league.

As we approach and eventually pass the NHL Trade Deadline, there will be plenty of speculation about deals that could happen. There will also be plenty of deals that go from rumor to realized, and we’re going to be keeping track of all the madness.

Keep in mind, the deadline doesn’t pass until 3pm ET on Monday Feb. 26th, so the closer we get to that the crazier things will get.

Note: The latest rumor or deal will appear at the top. This list only goes back to the beginning of February, so any trade made prior to that doesn’t appear. 

TRADE: Canadiens Trade For Mike Reilly

Analysis: Montreal was apparently very impressed with Reilly earlier this year when Minnesota was in town. Minnesota picks up a fifth-rounder for a guy they apparently didn’t want anyway and clear space for Jonas Brodin and (maybe) Jordan Greenway if he chooses to leave BU.

TRADE: Devils Acquire Patrick Maroon from Edmonton

Analysis: The Devils have made some really solid trades this year, and adding Maroon is going to help them with their playoff push out East.

TRADE: Tampa Bay Springs For Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller

Analysis: Once it was clear that Erik Karlsson and Jack Johnson weren’t being traded, the move then became acquiring McDonagh. This isn’t the first time Tampa has called up New York for a deadline deal but hopefully, this time around it ends up helping them more than before.

No-Trade: Erik Karlsson and Jack Johnson Stay Put

Two of the biggest names to watch at the deadline ended up staying put. Erik Karlsson and Jack Johnson will remain with Ottawa and Columbus, respectively.

It’s rare that captains are dangled so ferociously and then stay put. It’s a business, but it’s going to be hard sell to have both players invested when they were so close to being traded.

TRADE: Thomas Vanek Heads To Columbus

Analysis: It wasn’t a deal that involved Jack Johnson, although it could be a precursor. Columbus acquiring Vanek is move that gives them a potential scorer, if he can tap into the player he was a few years ago. It’s been a while since Vanke has been special, but this is a safe flier for the Blue Jackets to take as they push towards the playoffs.

RUMOR: Erik Karlsson Trade Talks Are ‘Continuing’

The biggest name of the trade season, Erik Karlsson, is still with his current team as of a half hour before the deadline passing. It appears that the Senators are still trying to move him, but nothing sounds concrete.

TRADE: Evander Kane Heads To San Jose

Analysis: Kane apparently isn’t going to be signing an extension with the Sharks, which means he’s just a rental for the rest of the season and playoffs. It’s not a bad flier for San Jose to take, as Kane could provide them some punch as they might need.

RUMOR: Penguins Still Looking To Load Up

As if they need to, the Penguins are still looking to load up for a Stanley Cup three-peat. After acquiring Derick Brassard over the weekend, the Pens are looking into acquiring Ryan McDonagh from New York.

Rivals trading players like this is rare, but the Rangers are in fire sale mode and the Penguins are as close to a Stanley Cup trifecta as we’ve ever seen a team in the last 20 years.

RUMOR: Wild Likely To Trade Mike Reilly

With their core of defensemen playing well, it appears the Minnesota Wild are going to part ways with Mike Reilly. It’s a little bit of a bummer for fans who wanted to see another homegrown player lead the charge of the next generation (Reilly played his college hockey with the Minnesota Gophers) but it’ll be a move that frees up space for Olympian Jordan Greenway.

TRADE: Blues Send Paul Stastny to Winnipeg

Analysis: With the Jets currently trying to stave off Minnesota for home ice in the first-round, acquiring a Wild killer like Stastny is a big deal. Not only does Winnipeg fortify its late-season push but it gives the team a fantastic postseason piece on its roster.

For the Blues, this is an insane haul. They’re still in the playoff hunt but this is a move for the future and it’s something that will help them stay competitive down the road. Stastny is a great player, but getting this kind of return for him should excite fans.

TRADE: Nashville Acquires Ryan Hartman From Chicago

Analysis: Hartman was someone the Predators were sniffing around about, but the asking price was extremely high. Chicago isn’t totally in full tank mode yet, but selling off Hartman is a big deal.

RUMOR: Ducks Interested In Jack Johnson Deal

One team emerging as a possible destination for Jack Johnson is the Anaheim Ducks. Tampa Bay still looks like a viable option, unless they deal for Erik Karlsson. The prospect of Columbus possibly meeting Tampa in the first-round of the playoffs might encourage a Johnson trade to the Ducks.

RUMOR: Blackhawks Want A Lot For Ryan Hartman

Chicago is in free fall out West, and that makes them prime candidates to make a trade and try to structure their future. Moving a young piece like Ryan Hartman is a bold move, but it comes with a catch. Hartman is available, but the price tag is hefty.

TRADE: Ian Cole Gets Traded, Again 

Analysis: For the second time in a week, Ian Cole has been traded. After being shipped to Pittsburgh as part of the Derick Brassard deal, Cole is on the move to Columbus as the Senators continue to rebuild on the fly.

Right now the Blue Jackets are in the last Wild Card spot out East, and adding Cole gives them a veteran defenseman with Stanley Cup experience. He’s not the difference between winning or losing to Tampa Bay in the first-round, but having him can’t hurt.

TRADE: Bruins Give Up A Haul For Rick Nash

Analysis: This was an absolute haul for the Rangers, who recieved what had to have been the best package offered. Nash has been struggling this year and New York is in a free fall — this deal is a gift.

Boston is betting big on Nash bouncing back, even if recent history suggests that’s a fool’s gamble. Nash has one 45-point season since 2012, and no 40-point seasons since 2014. The Bruins gave up a first-round pick and a a pair of great prospects to rent a 33-year old winger for the rest of the season. It’s Stanley Cup or bust with this deal.

RUMOR: NHL Rejects Original Brassard Trade

This is a rarity, but also a reality. The NHL has nixed the proposed Derick Brassard trade in its current form. This means it’s back to the drawing board for all three teams if they want to get this deal done.

Luckily, they have the weekend to talk. The trade deadline won’t pass until 3pm ET on Monday so there’s still plenty of time to iron out a deal that the league approves of.

TRADE: Derick Brassard Heads To Pittsburgh

Analysis: It sounds like this will be a three-team deal with the Vegas Golden Knights being involved as well. But for what we know, it appears the Ottawa fire sale is on. Brassard was a name to watch but wasn’t the first player we all though the Senators would be moving. Now, everything indicates Erick Karlsson is going to be next.

Pittsburgh absolutely came out ahead in the short term here, acquiring one of the better veteran forward in hockey and adding him to an already Stanley Cup caliber team. It’s going to be hard to stop the Pens out East and it just got a lot harder.

RUMOR: Senators Want to Unload Bobby Ryan

A new wrinkle in the Erik Karlsson trade talks is the fact that Ottawa wants to package Bobby Ryan (and also his bloated salary).

That’s a hefty price for a team acquiring Karlsson, but it might be the one that has to be paid in order to get a deal done.

RUMOR: Rangers Might Be Close To Dealing Michael Grabner

Another name to watch amid the New York Rangers fire sale is Michael Grabner. He’s apparently being held out of the Rangers’ lineup tonight, fueling speculation that a deal is near.

This, of course, doesn’t mean a deal will happen but typically players aren’t pulled from the lineup when something isn’t going to happen.

RUMOR: Boston, Toronto Could Land Ryan McDonagh

While hardly a deep rumor, there are rumblings that New York’s fire sale could lead to Ryan McDonagh playing in Boston or Toronto before the end of the season. He doesn’t have either team on his no-trade list, which leaves the door open to a deal.

RUMOR: Lightning Favorite to Acquire Erik Karlsson

When rumors started getting kicked up about Erik Karlsson, the idea was Ottawa would be crazy to trade a franchise player. He’s older, so it’s not like the Blackhawks moving Kane or Toews, but Karlsson has been a fixture in Ottawa his whole career.

That still hasn’t cooled rumors that he’ll be moved and Tampa Bay is the new leader in the clubhouse to acquire him.

It’s sounding more and more like Karlsson will be moved by the deadline on Monday

TRADE: Kings Get Complete Their List

Analysis: What the Kings set out to accomplish at the trade deadline was to find a Top-4 Defenseman and a solid scoring wing. That vision was completed with the acquisition of Tobias Rieder, who is now coupled with the trade for Dion Phaneuf earlier in the week.

For Arizona, they now have two netminders to deal with. Speculation has already rampant about what Kuepmer’s presence means Annti Raanta, but it sounds like the Coyotes want to roll with two solid goalies and decide what to do later.

TRADE: Capitals Upgrade On Blue Line

Analysis: It’s not the sexiest trade in the world, but all indications are this is a near-fleecing of yet another Habs player. When fans are angry in three different languages on Twitter following a trade, chances are your team didn’t make the right move.

Washington is getting a smart player to help bolster its blue line, something that should come in handy during the playoffs. Of course, we’ve all witnessed what happens whenever the Caps are in the postseason regardless of how solid the roster may seem.

TRADE: Toronto Sheds A Contract

Analysis: There’s no real reason for this trade to happen other than a meeting in the middle about a player in flux. Fehr has been on assignment in the AHL burning a hole in Toronto’s pocket, and the Sharks could use him. It’s a minor move on paper but this could all come down to the postseason and if Fehr can make an impact.

TRADE: New York’s Fire Sale Begins

Analysis: The Rangers are tanking in a bad way, and the fire sale has started. Rick Nash is the big name that everyone will be keeping an eye on, but moving Holden is a sign that the sale is going to happen.

Where the Rangers go from here is up in the air, but they’re open for business and the Bruins getting a solid player for a decent price could trigger more deals like this.

TRADE: Flyers Finally Find A Goalie

Analysis: After losing Michal Neuvirth and Brian Elliott to injuries, the Flyers were in desperate need of finding a goaltender. Mrazek is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, which means this is essentially a rental for Philadelphia.

Given how badly they needed an NHL-level netminder as they continue to push towards the playoffs, this was a no-brainer deal.

TRADE: Kings Begin Putting The Pieces Together

Analysis: There are two things the Kings needed to do heading into the home stretch of the trade deadline: find a Top-4 D and get some scoring help on the wing. Acquiring Dion Phaneuf helps ease that plan along but doesn’t solve all of the problems. They’ll still need to make another move.

As for Ottawa, they’re in a bad spot right now and acquiring Gaborik isn’t going to be helping much. It’s a decent move but this is more about the Kings than anything else.