The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Dylan Holloway to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.Holloway, 19, was selected by Edmonton with the 14th overall pick at the 2020 NHL Draft.The 6-foot-1 pivot tallied 11 goals and 35 points through 23 games during his sophomore season with the Wisconsin Badgers and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team.Holloway also represented Team Canada at the 2021 world juniors, contributing one goal and one assist en route to earning a silver medal.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark is week-to-week with a lower-body injury he sustained Tuesday, interim head coach Don Granato announced."Right now, it's week-to-week, and we don't have many weeks left," Granato said. "So, that one's a little touchy."The Sabres have 13 games left, with their regular season scheduled to conclude May 8.Ullmark previously missed 15 games this season due to injury. He's been one of few bright spots for Buffalo in 2021, posting a .917 save percentage across 20 contests.The 27-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at season's end.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has postponed the next three games on the Colorado Avalanche's schedule after a third Avalanche player entered COVID-19 protocols, the league announced Friday.The Avalanche canceled their morning skate Friday after a COVID-19 test came back positive from Thursday's testing. Colorado goaltender Philipp Grubauer reportedly tested positive earlier this week and joined defenseman Bowen Byram on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list.Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday he expects Grubauer to miss "more than 14 days."Colorado was scheduled to play the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and Sunday before facing the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The league expects the Avalanche to re-open team facilities on April 21 and return to action against the Blues the following night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets signed forward Adam Lowry to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.25 million, the team announced.Lowry, 28, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Jets since being selected by the club in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He has eight goals and 12 assists in 44 games this season.

Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto will make his NHL debut Saturday when his club takes on the Montreal Canadiens, head coach DJ Smith confirmed Friday, according to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas.The Senators inked the Hobey Baker Award finalist to a three-year, entry-level contract earlier in April. Pinto recently wrapped up his second season at the University of North Dakota, racking up 15 goals and 17 assists in 28 games.Ottawa also previously signed Jacob Bernard-Docker - the 26th pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and Pinto's teammate at North Dakota - to an entry-level deal. The defenseman debuted with the Senators on Wednesday.Pinto was selected by Ottawa with the 32nd pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL fined Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman $5,000 for high-sticking Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk, the league's Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.

The NHL is delaying the Vancouver Canucks' return following their COVID-19 outbreak, the league announced Thursday.Vancouver was supposed to resume its season - which has been on pause since March 26 - Friday versus the Edmonton Oilers. That game was officially postponed Thursday, and Saturday's matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to be delayed as well, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The league expects to release a revised North Division schedule by Friday."The decision to extend the period prior to the team's resumption of play was made to provide club staff and players with additional time for recovery and preparation following its recent COVID outbreak. The NHL made the decision with input from the league's, NHLPA's, and club's medical groups," the statement read.Canucks forward J.T. Miller voiced safety concerns on Wednesday, saying, "This is about the health and safety of our players, their family, and their children."Wednesday night, the Canucks held a video meeting with the NHLPA, according to Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Team doctors also evaluated players Thursday morning to determine if they were healthy enough to play Friday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.As many as 21 players on the Canucks' roster tested positive during the outbreak, with many experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. As of Thursday evening, three players - Nils Hoglander, Nate Schmidt, and Jake Virtanen - remained on the NHL's COVID-19 list, per Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It may be a short season, but it feels like things are really dragging along right now as we creep toward the playoffs. Condensed schedules and the repetition of playing the same opponents have players often looking tired and disengaged, which makes betting these games even more difficult.Still, we're managing to keep our heads above water this year with a 114-106 (+6.24 units) record heading into Thursday's slate.Panthers (+130) @ Lightning (-150)(Note: Chris Driedger was later confirmed as the Panthers’ starter, but this is still a bet on the Lightning.)The Lightning would probably be running away with the Central Division if they could get any sort of quality goaltending behind Andrei Vasilevskiy. Curtis McElhinney hasn't provided anything close, as Tampa is 13-3-0 since the beginning of March in Vasilevskiy starts and 1-5-1 when anyone else is in net.Vasilevskiy is confirmed as tonight's starter after McElhinney started the 7-2 loss Tuesday, and that makes the Lightning excellent value in a bounce-back spot on home ice. This should also be a Sergei Bobrovsky start for the Panthers - the lesser of their two goalies - as Chris Driedger hasn't started back-to-back games since February.So we're getting a significant goaltending edge with the better roster, and while the price may seem expensive, it's still too short. The Panthers have actually come back down to earth over the last three weeks, with pedestrian marks of 49.94 xGF% and 51.57 CF% at five-on-five over that span, while the Lightning continue to tick along with a 52.35 xGF% and 54.73 CF%. Lay it with the hosts here.Pick: Lightning (-150)Blackhawks (-160) @ Red Wings (+140)(Note: Kevin Lankinen was later confirmed as the Blackhawks’ starter.)This bet hinges on Jonathan Bernier starting for the Red Wings. Assuming he's in net, then we're getting great value with the hosts here. Detroit has actually played some pretty good hockey over the last little bit, managing a 5-3-2 record over its previous 10 despite eight of those games coming against the top-four teams in the division (two each against the Lightning, Hurricanes, Panthers, and Predators).And the Red Wings' underlying metrics support that record, as they're seventh in the NHL with a 52.7 xGF% at five-on-five over their last 10 games. Their 46.7 CF% over that span is below league average but still better than what the Blackhawks managed. Chicago has posted a 44.51 xGF% and 44.28 CF% over its last 10 games - both bottom-five marks in the NHL over that span.The Blackhawks have largely been riding their luck and are due for regression, with Kevin Lankinen often bailing them out of bad performances. However, Lankinen has started seven straight games and clearly needs rest. It's possible we see Malcolm Subban start tonight for the Blackhawks, or it'll be a tired and overworked Lankinen. Either way, as long as Bernier starts, the Red Wings are worth backing in this spot.Pick: Red Wings (+140)Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, despises how the NHL handles starting goalie announcements, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews won't play against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced.Matthews is considered day-to-day and isn't expected to be held out long, Keefe adds.When asked if the 23-year-old is suffering from the same injury as a wrist ailment that resulted in Matthews missing three games earlier this season, Keefe said "it's similar but not the same no," according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.The forward was the first Leafs player on the ice for the morning skate Thursday, but he departed before it officially began. The team practiced with these lines without the sniper:

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed prospect Rodion Amirov to a three-year entry-level contract for the 2021-22 season, the team announced Thursday.Since his season with the KHL's Ufa Salavat Yulayev is complete, Amirov will join the Marlies and Maple Leafs' development program this season.The Leafs are expected to loan Amirov to the KHL for the 2021-22 campaign, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston."We look forward to welcoming Rodion to Canada in the coming weeks and having him begin working with our player development staff in Toronto," general manager Kyle Dubas said. "We also look forward to continuing to work with Ufa with his development next season. Ufa has done an excellent job guiding Rodion's development as a player to date and we are excited to work very closely with them through the summer and into the future."The plan is for Amirov to work with the Maple Leafs' development staff both this offseason and next in Toronto, his agent Dan Milstein said.Toronto selected Amirov with the 15th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old recorded nine goals and four assists in 39 games in the KHL this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury passed Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Belfour for fourth on the NHL's all-time wins list Wednesday night.Fleury's 20-save effort versus the Los Angeles Kings was the 485th victory of his career. The 36-year-old is among some truly elite company with his latest milestone.RankGoalieWins1Martin Brodeur6912Patrick Roy5513Roberto Luongo4894Marc-Andre Fleury4855Ed Belfour4846Henrik Lundqvist459Fleury has a chance to move into the top three this season, his 17th in the NHL. He's showed no signs of slowing down in 2021, posting a .925 save percentage in 28 starts entering Wednesday's game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Grubauer will miss "more than 14 days," head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday, per The Denver Post's Kyle Fredrickson.The 29-year-old has been enjoying a career year, going 25-8-1 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.Colorado added veteran goaltender Devan Dubnyk ahead of the trade deadline. Dubnyk and Jonas Johansson, whom the Avalanche acquired in March from the Buffalo Sabres, will likely share the crease until Grubauer returns.Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram is also on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list, notes The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.T. Miller doesn't believe the Vancouver Canucks should be taking the ice any time soon following their COVID-19 outbreak."I don't feel ready at all," Miller said Wednesday, per The Athletic's Thomas Drance.The Canucks haven't played since March 26 after as many as 21 players and four staff members tested positive for the virus. Vancouver is slated to return Friday versus the Edmonton Oilers."I hope people don't take this the wrong way, I'm a super competitive guy ... but this isn't about hockey for our team," Miller said. "This is about the health and safety of our players, their family, and their children."He continued: "To be brutally honest, we're going to need more time than this to come back and play hockey. Even the guys that didn't get it aren't ready."Miller admitted his conditioning has declined despite never testing positive."Even for me, sitting around and not doing much, my lungs are screaming," he said.Miller's comments were the talk of the hockey world Wednesday, and there could be fallout. The Canucks had a video meeting with the National Hockey League Players' Association, and clarification on the resumption of the team's schedule will be provided Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Seven Canucks players remain on the league's COVID-19 list, including Jalen Chatfield, Alex Edler, Jayce Hawryluk, Nils Hoglander, Zack MacEwen, Nate Schmidt, and Jake Virtanen, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Vancouver currently has a 16-18-3 record. As of now, the Canucks are set to play the entirety of their 56-game schedule.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals rewarded winger Conor Sheary with a two-year extension carrying an annual cap hit of $1.5 million, the team announced Wednesday.The 28-year-old has recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 40 games this season while averaging 13:09 per contest. He's posted solid underlying numbers, too.

Jack Eichel's season is officially over.The Buffalo Sabres superstar won't return to the ice this season due to a herniated disc in his neck, the club announced Wednesday. The team expects him to be ready to play at the start of the 2021-22 campaign.Eichel hasn't suited up for a game since March 7. The normally dominant Sabres captain struggled to score in 2021, collecting two goals and 16 assists in 21 contests. He posted a shooting percentage of only 3.3 after tallying at a 15.9% rate last season. The 24-year-old racked up a career-high 36 goals to go along with 42 assists over 68 games in 2019-20.His underlying numbers also indicated bad luck was a factor in 2021. The dynamic center produced a goals for percentage of 38.46 at five-on-five, but his expected goals for percentage was a favorable 56.42 in those situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.Eichel has played his entire six-year career with Buffalo. The Sabres drafted him second overall in 2015 and named him captain at the start of the 2018-19 campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop and forward Alexander Radulov will miss the remainder of the season due to injury, the team announced.Bishop will continue rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, while Radulov needs a procedure to repair a core muscle injury.Bishop has been out the entire season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee in October. The netminder's original recovery timeline was five months.In his absence, Anton Khudobin and Jake Oettinger have manned the Stars' crease. Dallas ranks fifth in the league in goals allowed per game (2.46).Radulov, meanwhile, has been in and out of the lineup this campaign, last playing on March 18. He's appeared in just 11 games, recording four goals and eight assists.Both players are expected to be ready for the 2021-22 season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray will start against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night, Senators head coach D.J. Smith confirmed after the team's morning skate.Murray has missed Ottawa's last 13 games with an upper-body injury. He suffered it during the pregame warmup on March 14 before the Senators faced the Toronto Maple Leafs.Anton Forsberg has taken the club's goaltending reins since then, going 2-3-1 with a .910 save percentage and 0.72 goals saved above average over six games. Joey Daccord earned a victory with a 33-save effort in that March 14 contest, but he suffered an injury three nights later that Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion subsequently said was likely season-ending.Murray struggled mightily for a lackluster Senators squad before suffering his injury. The soon-to-be 27-year-old has gone 7-12-1 with a .880 save percentage in 22 games this campaign.He posted minus-16.06 goals saved above average and minus-19.04 goals saved above expected in those contests, according to Evolving Hockey. Only Philadelphia Flyers netminder Carter Hart has been worse in those categories among all NHL puck-stoppers in 2021.The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Murray to the Senators for a second-round pick and prospect Jonathan Gruden in October. The Penguins used the pick to select goalie Joel Blomqvist. Two days later, the Senators signed Murray to a four-year contract extension carrying a $6.25-million cap hit.Murray helped the Penguins win back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh didn't mince words regarding his team's effort following a 7-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday."Tonight was an absolute embarrassment," the veteran blue-liner said, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.The Preds controlled 62% of both the high-danger scoring chances and the expected goals at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick."This was one of the worst performances I've seen in a Lightning uniform from our group," said McDonagh, who joined Tampa prior to the 2018 trade deadline.He added it was "not even close" to halfway effort.The Lightning will get a chance to rebound on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.Meanwhile, the Predators are arguably the hottest team in the NHL, as they've compiled an 11-2-0 record in their last 13 games. They've been banged up for a good portion of this stretch, too. Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Eeli Tolvanen, and Dante Fabbro were among those missing from Tuesday's lineup.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm and sniper Filip Forsberg will each become unrestricted free agents after next season, but general manager Dave Poile is keen on locking up the pair of blue-chip talents.Ekholm - who was the subject of trade rumors leading up to Monday's deadline - has played all 10 of his NHL seasons with the Predators, and Poile said the door will be open for the blue-liner to ink an extension."His name got thrown out there a lot in trade baits and different things," Poile said Monday, according to The Athletic's Adam Vingan. "My next conversation with Mattias will be after this year about how he thinks he fits into the future of this hockey club and whether he would like to be here longer, not whether we want to trade him."Ekholm, 30, has contributed five goals and 17 points while logging 22:44 of average ice over 36 games this season.Poile also discussed the future of Forsberg - one of the Predators' perennial goalscorers - and the GM understands how critical it is to keep the talented Swede around."We should sit down and see what he thinks about his future here and see if there's an opportunity to extend him," Poile said Tuesday, according to NHL.com.Forsberg has hit the 25-goal mark five times for the Predators and has amassed 382 points through 492 games with the club. He's been out of the lineup since March 25 with an upper-body injury."He'd be a very tough player to replace," Poile said. "I think he's just coming into his prime. These are his best years, and I still see the day when Filip is not just going to just score 30 goals, but he's going to score 40 goals."The Predators have won 10 of their last 12 outings to catapult back into a playoff position after a sluggish start to the campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf stayed with his rebuilding club through the deadline despite being a pending unrestricted free agent. However, there were no shortage of suitors for the veteran center.One of them, apparently, was the Vegas Golden Knights."I don't want to dig too much into the details of everything," Getzlaf said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens. "(General manager Bob Murray) was approached by a few different teams. Vegas, being one of them, I think, at some point. Were they part of the mix? I'm sure. They're a contender in our division."Getzlaf's contract contains a full no-movement clause, per CapFriendly, so he would've controlled his own destiny in any deal.The 35-year-old was only willing to facilitate a move out of Anaheim if the Ducks could get something significant in return, Murray said Monday, according to The Associated Press' Greg Beacham."It wasn't there," Murray said. "He is all about the organization, whatever is best for us."The Golden Knights are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, but if they have a weakness, it's down the middle of the ice. Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson are the club's top two pivots, while Cody Glass, Tomas Nosek, and Nicolas Roy round out the team's bottom-six center options.Getzlaf is one of the best centers of his generation, ranking sixth in points at his position since entering the league in 2005-06. He's having the worst season of his career, though, as he's registered just three goals and 12 assists in 37 contests. The Ducks rank dead last in the league in goals.It's possible Getzlaf's contract would've posed an issue in a potential trade. Vegas has just $153,816 in current space, and Getzlaf is in the final year of an eight-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $8.25 million.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2021 Memorial Cup has been canceled, the CHL announced Tuesday."With the WHL and QMJHL in the midst of shortened seasons and the OHL continuing return-to-play discussions with the Ontario government, unfortunately, we have once again had to make the difficult decision to cancel the Memorial Cup," the CHL's statement said. "As a league, we waited as long as we could in hopes that this was not the decision that we were going to have to make."Regrettably, we do not see a path in which we will be able to produce champions in our three member leagues due to border restrictions and quarantining requirements."This marks the second consecutive year that the Memorial Cup won't be awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.While the WHL and QMJHL both resumed play to some degree this season, the OHL has yet to hit the ice. The three champions of the individual leagues and the Memorial Cup host team typically play a round-robin tournament for the championship."Further decisions regarding the timing and location of the 2022 Memorial Cup will be announced at a later date," the CHL said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall won't have to wait long to face his former team.The star winger will be in the Boston Bruins' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed after his team's morning skate.Hall skated on the Bruins' second line alongside David Krejci and Craig Smith at Tuesday's practice. He also joined Boston's second power-play unit with Krejci, Smith, Charlie McAvoy, and Jake DeBrusk, according to The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa."To get a guy of Taylor's magnitude, knowing we could use that extra layer of secondary scoring, was big for our guys," Cassidy said.The Sabres traded Hall and forward Curtis Lazar to the Bruins on Sunday in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick and forward Anders Bjork. Boston also acquired defenseman Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators before Monday's trade deadline.Hall said Monday he'd "love to be a Bruin for a few years," adding that he nearly signed with Boston in the offseason and that the club was his desired destination in a trade. He approved Sunday's deal by waiving his full no-movement clause.The 29-year-old collected only two goals and 17 assists in 37 games with the Sabres after signing a one-year, $8-million pact with Buffalo, but bad luck and poor team play contributed to his diminished production. Hall posted an expected goals for percentage of 52.76 at five-on-five, and his shooting percentage of 2.3 was down significantly from his career average of 10.4 over his previous 10 NHL seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another trade deadline has come and gone, and it wasn't nearly as quiet as expected given quarantine restrictions and the flat cap.The playoff field feels strangely set, with a couple of exceptions. With rosters essentially finalized, let's see which teams offer value in the futures market.TeamOdds (4/13)Odds (3/23)Colorado Avalanche+350+550Vegas Golden Knights+400+400Tampa Bay Lightning+450+450Toronto Maple Leafs+500+700New York Islanders+800+1200Carolina Hurricanes+1000+1000Boston Bruins+1300+1100Minnesota Wild+1500+1500Pittsburgh Penguins+1700+2400Florida Panthers+1800+1600St. Louis Blues+1800+1800Washington Capitals+1800+1800Philadelphia Flyers+2000+1800Montreal Canadiens+2200+2200Winnipeg Jets+2200+2200Edmonton Oilers+2500+2500Dallas Stars+3200+3200*Only displaying teams with odds 35-1 or shorterBuyTampa Bay Lightning (+450)The Lightning announced the biggest pre-deadline acquisition a few weeks ago when they confirmed Nikita Kucherov is still on track to return for the playoffs. Little else was expected of the defending champions given their cap restraints. So, naturally, they solidified their blue line by adding a defense partner for Victor Hedman in David Savard. It's bordering on unfair at this point.Tampa Bay has traded away three first-round picks since the beginning of last season and I don't believe the team is drafting again until 2027. But the Lightning already have one Cup to show for it and appear well on their way to another. Flags fly forever.Boston Bruins (+1300)We all know the Taylor Hall story so I won't beat it to death. He's sucked this year and wasn't a desired commodity as a result, but Boston feels like a perfect fit. The Bruins need scoring in a bad way, and a motivated Hall could do some serious damage on the second line.This is something of a last chance for Hall. The impending unrestricted free agent has no excuse if he doesn't perform given he requested a trade to Boston. Additionally, this was a low-risk move by the Bruins given how little they gave up, with Hall using his no-trade clause to essentially back the Sabres into a corner. It's nice to see a team from Boston finally catch a break.The Bruins also traded for Mike Reilly, who's enjoyed a breakout with the Senators, to play alongside Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, and Brandon Carlo in the top four. This roster is rounding out nicely, with Tuukka Rask also due back soon.Pittsburgh Penguins (+1700)Few people seem to care that the Penguins acquired two-time Stanley Cup champion Jeff Carter. This was low-key one of my favorite deadline deals. Carter's arrival makes it 16 Stanley Cups won collectively by this roster. If there's one thing Pittsburgh needed, it's more playoff experience.Carter also came at a relative bargain despite posting better numbers than Hall, Nick Foligno, and Kyle Palmieri. The 36-year-old can play up and down the lineup at center or on the wing. He's still a strong skater and the offense hasn't dried up yet. Playing to the right of Evgeni Malkin wouldn't hurt, either. Carter's a good, smart hockey player, and the fit in Pittsburgh feels perfect. The Penguins will be a nightmare to deal with once they start getting their injured forwards back.SellVegas Golden Knights (+400)Nothing against Mattias Janmark, but the Golden Knights paid more for him than Boston and Pittsburgh did for Hall and Carter, respectively. Janmark can provide some secondary scoring, but I'm not sure how much he moves the needle. This felt like a time for Vegas - which has come so close in each of the last three seasons - to add an impact player ahead of a likely showdown with the Avalanche, a team stacked with them. To me, it looks like Vegas overpaid for a depth guy.I also would have loved to see the Golden Knights pay up for Ryan Getzlaf. He's having a down year but he would've been a great addition for Vegas' power play and its locker room.Minnesota Wild (+1500)The Wild have really tailed off after being analytical darlings throughout the first half of the season. Since March 17, they rank dead last in the NHL in xGF% and CF% at five-on-five. They're also second-last in GF%. With Minnesota's road to the Cup likely going through Vegas and Colorado, that's just not going to cut it.There aren't any glaring holes on this roster, but some depth down the middle or secondary scoring on the wing would've been nice. Don't use cap space as an excuse, either - we saw plenty of teams get creative to make the numbers work. It's been a fun season in Minnesota, but the team picked the wrong day to become boring again.Winnipeg Jets (+2200)The Jets cleared nearly $4.8 million in cap space by moving Nathan Beaulieu to long-term injured reserve, paving the way for Kevin Cheveldayoff to swing for the fences. The general manager is no stranger to a deadline splash, acquiring Paul Stastny in 2018 and Kevin Hayes in 2019, so it's a real head-scratcher as to why he elected to let the newfound cap space go unused.Maybe it's just me, but if I have a top-three goalie and one of the league's elite forward groups, I'm going all-in. The Jets can score with anyone and Connor Hellebuyck is capable of stealing a game on his own on any given night. Winnipeg needs help on the blue line, but instead of acquiring a Josh Manson, Jamie Oleksiak, or Vince Dunn, Chevy settled for Jordie Benn. Yeah, that ain't it.Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, strongly believes in the power of the jinx, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils will get Nico Hischier back against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, the team announced.Hischier missed the last 24 games with a concussion and broken nose after being struck in the visor by a puck Feb. 27. He underwent surgery in early March to repair a frontal sinus fracture.The 22-year-old captain also missed time earlier this season due to a leg injury he suffered during the offseason. Hischier has two goals and one assist in five games this campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL trade deadline behind us, it's time to award winners and losers. Given that Monday was the quietest deadline day since 2000, we're considering every deal made from Friday and onward for this exercise.WinnersRed Wings and Capitals Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals are both winners for adding some much-needed excitement to a rather stale deadline day after pulling off a blockbuster deal right at the buzzer. The full trade: Detroit sent forward Anthony Mantha to Washington for forwards Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2022 second-round pick.Vrana, 25, has been a more efficient offensive player than Mantha, 26, since the 2018-19 campaign:StatVranaManthaGP190152PTS124107P/PG0.650.70P/60 (5v5)2.491.94TOI/G14:2518:14The key is points per 60 minutes at five-on-five since Mantha has averaged nearly four more minutes per game than Vrana. By gleaning Vrana's production over first-line minutes, he has the potential to become a 70-plus point player. It's not always that simple, as first-line minutes generally come with tougher matchups. Whether he can handle that remains to be seen.Points are not everything, though. Both players have posted exceptional underlying numbers over the past three seasons as well. Evolving-Hockey.comThe biggest difference is Mantha's superior defensive metrics on the far right of the graph. The 6-foot-5, 234-pounder also passes the eye test as the better defensive player, considering how well he skates for his size.However, the Red Wings are clear winners in this trade. GM Steve Yzerman gets a winger who's proven he can produce at a similar rate than Mantha, while also netting first- and second-round picks to help the rebuild.Now, the deal could end up being a win for Washington as well - it's just not as much of a sure thing. Mantha is already a defensive upgrade from Vrana, and it's possible he could reach his full offensive potential as a 30-goal power forward while playing on a second line with Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie.The Caps are getting cost-certainty with Mantha, too. He's signed through 2023-24 at $5.7-million per year. Vrana makes $3.35 million this year but is an RFA at season's end. His AAV probably won't approach Mantha's (likely in the $4-million to $5-million range), but Panik's deal is the difference-maker here. He's on the books for $2.75-million through 2022-23, which is far too much for a fourth-line player on a team up against the cap. For the next two seasons, Mantha is likely $1-million to $2-million cheaper than Vrana plus Panik combined. It may seem marginal, but that's huge for a contending team.Washington is clearly in win-now mode given most of its core is on the wrong side of 30. If the Caps believe Mantha is a big enough upgrade over Vrana to help them win another Cup, it's worth sacrificing the draft picks.Boston Bruins Sara Schmidle / National Hockey League / GettyThe Bruins landed arguably the top available player at a bargain price, acquiring Taylor Hall from the Buffalo Sabres - as well as fourth-liner Curtis Lazar - in exchange for a second-round pick and Anders Bjork.A second-round pick for Hall is a flat-out steal for Boston. Other top rentals such as Nick Foligno, David Savard, and Kyle Palmieri all costed first-round picks. Hall came at a cheaper acquisition cost than Sam Bennett and Mattias Janmark. Yes, you read that correctly. That's some savvy work by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. It also seems like poor market evaluation by Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, but it's possible he was left handcuffed due to Hall's no-movement clause.Yes, Hall is having a miserable season, notching just two goals and 17 assists in 37 contests with Buffalo, but this is well worth the gamble for Boston. The former MVP has been severely unlucky this year, converting on just 2.3% of his shots. That's nearly 8% lower than his career average and the NHL league average of 10%.It's not difficult to envision Hall breaking out of his slump on a far superior Bruins team while playing on a second line with David Krejci and either Craig Smith or David Pastrnak.Meanwhile, Boston also shored up it's blue line by netting Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators for a third-round pick. The 27-year-old has recorded 19 assists in 40 games this season while posting extremely strong underlying numbers on a poor Sens team. He doesn't play difficult minutes, but his 51.3% expected goals share led all Ottawa blue-liners despite an offensive zone start percentage of just 35.6.Reilly isn't the sexiest addition, but he fills a big need on a beleaguered Bruins blue line.Bjork doesn't move the needle all that much. The 24-year-old has notched just five points in 30 games this season and his ceiling is likely capped as a third-liner, at best.Columbus Blue Jackets Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyThe Blue Jackets netted strong returns for their two biggest assets - Nick Foligno and David Savard. In exchange for both rentals, they landed two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. During a trade-deadline period where only four first-round picks were moved, getting half of them is nice work by GM Jarmo Kekalainen.Yes, those first-round picks will likely be near the bottom of the opening round in an unpredictable draft, but Columbus is undergoing a reset and did well to get the best returns possible. Remember in 2019 when the Jackets went all-in and didn't pick until the fourth round? With three picks in the first round this season, the Jackets will get a chance to replenish their prospect pipeline.LosersWinnipeg Jets Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyThe Jets only made one move in the lead-up to the deadline, bringing in Jordie Benn from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2021 sixth-round pick. Benn is nothing more than a depth blue-liner and will have a hard time cracking a weak Winnipeg top six.The Jets sorely needed a defenseman who can play in their top four, but failed to address it. If they weren't comfortable with surrendering first- and third-round picks for David Savard, there were far better options than Benn to help the blue line. Mike Reilly, Brandon Montour, Dmitry Kulikov, and Jon Merrill all would've been better additions, and none of them costed more than a third-round pick.The Toronto Maple Leafs further separated themselves from the rest of the North Division by adding Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, Ben Hutton, and David Rittich. Winnipeg, likely Toronto's biggest competition in the division, could've closed the gap on the Leafs with upgrades on the blue line, but instead, the lack of aggressiveness from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff widened it.Nashville Predators Chase Agnello-Dean / National Hockey League / GettyThe Predators were widely expected to be sellers for over a month leading up to the deadline, but a six-game winning streak at the end of March vaulted Nashville back into playoff contention and changed GM David Poile's plans.But should those plans have changed?The Chicago Blackhawks entered Monday four points back of Nashville with a game in hand, while the Dallas Stars - who should get Tyler Seguin back soon - are six points back with three games in hand. Nashville will likely make the playoffs, but it isn't guaranteed.Even if the Predators secure the 4-seed in the Central Division, a first-round upset over the Tampa Bay Lightning or Carolina Hurricanes seems highly improbable.Now the Preds could lose pending UFA Mikael Granlund for nothing, and they likely missed their best chance at maximizing a return for Mattias Ekholm, a 2022 UFA.The Predators did add rearguard Erik Gudbranson for a seventh-round pick, but his presence in the lineup arguably makes them a worse team.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)

The New York Rangers will buy out the contract of defenseman Tony DeAngelo after this season, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Monday.New York was reportedly willing to terminate the 25-year-old's contract to allow him to sign with another team as a free agent. It's believed the Montreal Canadiens were interested, but DeAngelo did not accept, according to Dreger.DeAngelo and the Rangers agreed to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4.8 million in October.The club placed DeAngelo on waivers in January and general manager Jeff Gorton later said the blue-liner played his final game with the club.DeAngelo, who has a history of poor behavior, was sour when scratched for a pair of games earlier this season. He was reportedly later involved in an incident with teammate Alexandar Georgiev, which appeared to be the final straw.The New Jersey native finished fourth in scoring among defensemen in 2019-20 with 53 points through 68 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have traded defenseman Jordie Benn to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2021 sixth-round draft pick, the teams announced Monday.Benn, 33, is a pending unrestricted free agent and carries a $2-million cap hit. He has nine points in 31 games while averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time per contest this season and has 126 points in 548 career games.The Jets were widely expected to shore up their blue line ahead of Monday's trade deadline. Winnipeg currently sits second in the North Division with 53 points.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators claimed defenseman Victor Mete off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Mete will be in Ottawa's lineup Monday night when the club takes on the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Pierre Dorion confirmed, according to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas.The 22-year-old has only appeared in 14 games with the Canadiens this season, spending the majority of the campaign on the team's taxi squad. He's accumulated three assists in 2020-21.The Senators traded defensemen Mike Reilly and Braydon Coburn to the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, respectively, on Sunday.The Canadiens selected Mete with the 100th pick in 2016. He's amassed four goals and 30 assists in 185 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for wingers Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, a first-round pick in 2021, and a second-round selection in 2022, the team announced Monday.Mantha and the Red Wings agreed to a four-year deal in November with an average annual value of $5.7 million. The 26-year-old is under contract through 2023-24.The 6-foot-5 winger tallied 11 goals and 21 points through 42 games with Detroit this season.Washington already averages the second-most goals per game this year (3.43), and Mantha gives the club another top-six scoring threat. The Quebec native drives offense at a high level at five-on-five. He also put together a solid body of work in the defensive end for a rebuilding Red Wings team, according to Hockey Viz's isolated impact tool. Mantha netted a career-best 25 goals in 2018-19 and played at a 30-goal pace over 82 games last season.Vrana is in the final year of his current deal, which carries a $3.35-million cap hit. He'll become a restricted free agent in July.The 25-year-old recorded a career-high 25 goals and 52 points in 69 contests in 2019-20 and has amassed 11 tallies and 14 assists in 39 games this season.Panik, 30, has two years remaining on his current deal after this season with an annual cap hit of $2.75 million. The veteran winger has contributed nine points through 36 games this campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals acquired forward Michael Raffl from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick previously acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced.The Flyers will also retain 25% of Raffl's salary.Raffl has spent his entire career with the Flyers since arriving as an undrafted free agent in 2013. The winger has three goals and five assists in 34 games this season.Washington made a big splash at the deadline by acquiring forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings in a blockbuster deal involving Jakub Vrana. The Capitals are currently in first place in the East Division.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators traded defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Nashville Predators for a 2023 seventh-round draft pick and prospect Brandon Fortunato, the club announced.Gudbranson carries a $4-million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. The 29-year-old joined Ottawa in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks in October after previous stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers.Selected third overall by the Panthers in 2010, Gudbranson has three points in 36 games this season while averaging over 18 minutes of ice time per contest.Fortunato is an undrafted 24-year-old left-shot defenseman. He split four years in the NCAA between Boston and Quinnipiac before spending time in the ECHL and AHL. He's gone pointless in nine games with the Cleveland Monsters this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Ben Hutton from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2022.Toronto also traded forward Alexander Barabanov to the San Jose Sharks for forward Antti Suomela in a separate move.Hutton posted one goal and four assists over 34 games with the Ducks in 2021. The 27-year-old had spent his entire six-year career with teams on the Pacific coast, playing the 2019-20 campaign with the Los Angeles Kings after suiting up for the Vancouver Canucks in his first four seasons.Barabanov collected one assist in 13 contests with the Maple Leafs this campaign. The 25-year-old inked a one-year deal with Toronto last April after playing parts of seven seasons in the KHL.Suomela played four games with the Sharks in 2021. The 27-year-old notched one goal and five assists in 10 contests with their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, this year. Suomela played all three of his NHL seasons in the Sharks organization.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Games involving several Minnesota pro sports teams scheduled for Monday have been postponed in response to the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died during a traffic stop after a police officer yelled "taser," but fired a gun instead, according to Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon, via CNN.A game between the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox was the first to be postponed, with the Twins announcing the decision.The Twins' call is "rooted in safety" after the club spoke with local officials, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic.The Minnesota Timberwolves-Brooklyn Nets contest also won't be played Monday, the Timberwolves announced.Lastly, the matchup between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues has been postponed too, the Wild and the NHL announced.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers acquired forward Sam Bennett and a 2022 sixth-round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and prospect Emil Heineman, the team announced.Bennett requested a trade through his agent earlier this season, hoping for an expanded role on a new team. Last week, the 24-year-old said he enjoyed playing under new head coach Darryl Sutter in Calgary, and he was in a "better mindset."The fourth overall pick in 2014 has largely played a bottom-six role with the Flames. He's managed four goals and eight assists over 38 games this season.Heineman was selected with the 43rd pick in last year's draft. The winger has totaled seven goals and six assists over 43 games this season with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Adam Gaudette to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Matthew Highmore, the team announced Monday.Gaudette carries a cap hit of $950,000 and is set to become a restricted free agent after this season. Drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round in 2015, he's registered 52 points in 153 career NHL games.The 24-year-old was removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list Sunday as Vancouver continues to deal with its outbreak.Highmore, 25, is under contract through the 2021-22 season with a $725,000 cap hit. He's notched 10 points in 73 games over three NHL campaigns and is averaging under nine minutes of ice time per game this season.The two clubs agreed to a second trade later Monday. The Canucks dealt a fourth-round pick to the Blackhawks in exchange for a fifth-rounder and defenseman Madison Bowey, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens added another defenseman for the stretch run, acquiring Erik Gustafsson from the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2022, the team announced.The Flyers are retaining 50% of Gustafsson's $3-million salary in the deal, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Gustafsson had a major breakout offensively in 2019 with the Chicago Blackhawks, posting 60 points in 79 games. However, he hasn't been the same player since while bouncing in and out of the Flyers' lineup in 2021.The 29-year-old has notched 10 points across 24 contests while averaging over 17 minutes per matchup this season.Montreal has made a concerted effort to shake up its blue line. The club traded for Jon Merrill on Sunday and waived Victor Mete.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired forward Mattias Janmark and a 2022 fifth-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick and a 2022 third-round selection, the club announced Monday.The San Jose Sharks were also involved in the deal, receiving the Buffalo Sabres' 2022 fifth-round pick from Vegas and sending defenseman Nick DeSimone to the Golden Knights while retaining 25% of Janmark's salary. Chicago also retained 50% of his salary.Janmark signed a one-year, $2.25-million pact with the Blackhawks during the offseason. He has 10 goals and nine assists in 41 games with Chicago this season.The 28-year-old center played a key role for the Dallas Stars during their run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. He's a versatile player who can play on the power play and penalty kill.Janmark spent the first four seasons of his NHL career with the Stars before inking his pact with the Blackhawks. He's notched 56 goals and 72 assists in 338 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded Carl Soderberg to the Colorado Avalanche for forward prospects Josh Dickinson and Ryder Rolston, the teams announced ahead of Monday's trade deadline.The Blackhawks aren't retaining any of Soderberg's $1-million salary, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Soderberg is an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 35-year-old forward played four seasons in Colorado from 2015-19 and has notched 15 points in 34 games this campaign while averaging just over 15 minutes per night.The West-leading Avalanche made a few trades recently, adding netminder Devan Dubnyk and defenseman Patrik Nemeth in separate deals over the weekend.Dickinson, an undrafted 23-year-old, has bounced between the AHL and ECHL since the 2017-18 season. He's notched three points in eight games for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies in 2021.The Avs drafted Rolston in the fifth round in 2020. He just completed his freshman year at Notre Dame, posting one goal and five assists across 28 contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers and forward Scott Laughton have agreed to a five-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $3 million, the club announced Monday.Laughton was a pending unrestricted free agent. His current cap hit is $2.3 million.The 26-year-old has collected seven goals and 10 assists while averaging a career-high 15:34 of ice time across 38 games this season.Laughton has spent his entire NHL career with the Flyers, who drafted him 20th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings inked forward Alex Iafallo to a four-year contract extension carrying a $4-million cap hit, the club announced Monday.Iafallo was a pending unrestricted free agent whose current cap hit is $2,425,000.The 27-year-old was one of the biggest potential trade candidates remaining before agreeing to his new deal. Los Angeles had reportedly begun taking calls from other teams about him while negotiating the new pact.Iafallo has produced 11 goals and 14 assists over 39 games in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's April 12 trade deadline is fast approaching, and while this year's frenzy may be more diminished than usual, several big-name players could still be on the move.Canada's government has reportedly halved the quarantine period for NHLers entering the country, but the league's flat salary cap, the looming expansion draft, and the overall financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could still dissuade teams from completing a trade they would make during a normal season. However, the current level of parity around the league and a heightened need for playoff revenue amid the aforementioned budget concerns could lead some of the many bubble teams to become buyers when they might typically lean toward selling.Some other big boards list players based on their likelihood of being traded, but we're basing ours primarily on the NHLers' overall impact. We've excluded some players on contending clubs because their teams seem unlikely to sell.Here are the NHL's top potential trade candidates ahead of the 3 p.m. ET deadline on April 12:NMC = No-move clause

The New Jersey Devils have traded defenseman Dmitry Kulikov to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional fourth-round selection in 2022.Kulikov signed a one-year, $1.15-million contract with New Jersey in October.The 30-year-old collected two assists in 38 games with the Devils this season, but his underlying numbers were far more favorable. Kulikov has posted a 54.43 expected goals for percentage, a 53.07 scoring chances for percentage, and a 53.76 Corsi for percentage at five-on-five this season.Kulikov spent three seasons with the Winnipeg Jets from 2017-20 after playing part of one campaign with the Buffalo Sabres. He spent his first seven seasons with the Florida Panthers after they drafted him 14th overall in 2009.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars claimed defenseman Sami Vatanen off waivers from the New Jersey Devils, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Devils made the 29-year-old available Sunday. He carries a $2 million cap hit and is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.New Jersey dealt Vatanen to the Carolina Hurricanes at last season's trade deadline, and then the blue-liner re-upped with the Devils for 2021. He's notched six points in 30 games this campaign while averaging over 17 minutes per contest.The Stars currently sit six points outside the playoff cutline in the Central.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are pushing in all of their chips.General manager Kyle Dubas paid a steep price to land Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno and exercised some serious creativity to entice Columbus into moving one of its longtime talents.Dubas used the San Jose Sharks to significantly circumvent Foligno's expiring $5.5-million cap hit, which cost him an additional fourth-round pick on top of the first and fourth-rounder he dealt to Columbus. The Leafs' Stanley Cup window is wide-open, and the gritty veteran brings invaluable attributes that could put the Leafs over the top in the playoffs.Foligno checks all the boxes for LeafsFoligno's days as a dangerous offensive player are behind him, but the 33-year-old is a unique two-way skater who can slot into the lineup virtually anywhere. He's capable of filling all three forward positions, can play on both special teams units, and is still skilled enough to play alongside the Maple Leafs' high-flying talent.The 6-foot-1 grinder has put together a strong body of defensive work in recent years. Foligno's done a terrific job of nullifying his opponent's attack by limiting shot attempts at five-on-five, according to Hockey Viz's isolated impact. (Red or positive is good on offense, while blue or negative is good on defense). Foligno also brings 51 games of postseason experience, and the Leafs witnessed firsthand how his feisty game translates come playoff time. During last season's five-game series loss to the Blue Jackets, Toronto was outscored 4-0 at five-on-five with Foligno patrolling the ice.Potential line combinations Foligno gives the Leafs plenty of different looks, but before we dive in, it's worth mentioning the club will need to make some difficult decisions deeper down the lineup with a pair of extra bodies in the mix.Recently acquired Riley Nash will also become an option once he's healthy, but it would be tough to see Wayne Simmonds or Joe Thornton draw out of the lineup. Alex Galchenyuk has earned his spot thus far, and Pierre Engvall has also established himself as a reliable depth player.Option 1: Top-six buzzsawThe Leafs could experiment by using Foligno in a Hyman-like role. Foligno may lack the offensive upside Hyman possesses, but he's an impactful forechecker and could play puck retriever alongside players with high-end talent like Tavares and Nylander. Icing two top units with a similar makeup would make the Leafs a nightmare to match up against.Galchenyuk has brought a ton of energy since joining the club, and the chippy winger would complete an extremely fast trio alongside Kerfoot and Mikheyev in a bottom-six role. Envgall's speed on the fourth line is welcome and rounds out a nice look for the club.Option 2: Put him with the big boysIt's unlikely Foligno gets extended top-line minutes, but why not let him take a spin with two of the NHL's top-five scoring leaders. Foligno's ability to play in the dirty areas could complement Matthews and Marner in the offensive zone, though he's not quite the passer Hyman is.Another benefit here is dropping Hyman to the third line. The trio of Hyman, Engvall, and Mikheyev have dominated opponents with a 62.11% share of expected goals for over 91:10 at five-on-five, and having that kind of depth following the club's dynamic top six would be a coach's dream.Option 3: Foligno up the middleFoligno has played 14% of his shifts at center this season, and although he's likely better off on the wing, his defensive acumen and experience at the faceoff dot make him an option as a bottom-six pivot.Plugging Foligno in as a third-line pivot allows the Leafs to roll with a top-six unit with proven chemistry and gives Spezza some well-deserved ice time. It may not be ideal to slot Kerfoot on the fourth line, but his speed would be beneficial in that spot and he also provides some scoring punch.Option 4: Ultimate shutdown unitKeeping Foligno up the middle here gives the Leafs a third line that would be an absolute headache to play against. Foligno's recorded 109 hits this season, and Hyman and Mikheyev rank one and two among Leafs forwards in that department, respectively. The potential shutdown trio would give the top six more favorable matchups as well.Option 5: Let's get crazyIf the Leafs were ever in need of a spark, there really are no creative boundaries with Foligno in the mix. He gives them the ability to load the top line with talent without sacrificing deeper down the lineup.The Leafs haven't played Nylander at center at all this season, and his defensive limitations do give room for pause. Foligno's presence could help cover up for some of Nylander's lapses, and Toronto could move Tavares to the top line as a result. The Leafs could also move Nylander up with Matthews and Marner instead, but the Swedish winger doesn't typically play on the left side.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall isn't opposed to being more than just a rental player for the Boston Bruins."I'd love to be a Bruin for a few years," Hall said Monday, per Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "It's obviously been a bad year for me personally, and I need to play well. I need to contribute, and most of all, I want to be part of a team that wins games. I really believe we can do that here."Boston acquired Hall from the Buffalo Sabres late Sunday night. He's an unrestricted free agent this summer after inking a one-year, $8-million deal in the offseason.The 29-year-old also said Monday he was close to signing with the Bruins in the offseason, and the club was his No. 1 destination in a trade. He waived a full no-movement clause to make the transaction happen.The Sabres were expected to become playoff contenders in the East with Hall's arrival, but the club sits last in the NHL, and the former MVP only managed two goals and 17 assists in 39 games."Confidence-wise, the team in Buffalo never got off on the right foot," Hall said, according to John Wawrow of The Associated Press.Hall is expected to make his Bruins debut Tuesday versus the Sabres.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins acquired forwards Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Anders Bjork and a 2021 second-round pick, the team announced.The Sabres retained 50% of Hall's salary, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Hall was one of the most coveted forwards on the market ahead of Monday's trade deadline. He's notched two goals and 17 assists in 37 games this season. The 29-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Sabres during the offseason with a value of $8 million.The former Hart Trophy winner has racked up 220 goals and 362 assists in 664 career games with the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and Sabres. This marks the third time he's been traded in his career.Lazar has five goals and four assists in 33 contests. He's been out of the lineup recently with a lower-body injury he suffered on March 31.Bjork, 24, has collected two goals and three assists in 30 games with the Bruins this season. Previously selected in the fifth round by Boston in 2014, he's totaled 16 goals and 23 assists in 138 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired center Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2022 and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2023, the team announced Monday.Carter has one more season remaining on his contract, which carries a cap hit of $5.27 million. As part of the trade agreement, the Kings will retain 50% of his salary.The 36-year-old won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014. He has eight goals and 11 assists over 40 games this year.Carter has spent the past 10 seasons with the Kings. He's amassed 390 goals and 361 assists in 1,080 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have landed defenseman Braydon Coburn from the Ottawa Senators for a 2022 seventh-round pick, the team announced Sunday.Coburn, a Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, has appeared in 16 games for the Senators and is averaging 16:25 average ice time.The 36-year-old has 234 points and 716 penalty minutes in his 16-year career.Coburn should provide depth and playoff experience for an Islanders club that currently sits tied for first in the East Division with the Washington Capitals at 58 points.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired netminder David Rittich from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick, the team announced Sunday.Calgary is retaining 50% of Rittich's expiring $2.75-million salary. The 28-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.The Leafs have battled injuries in goal this season, and adding Rittich gives Toronto another experienced option between the pipes. Starter Frederik Andersen hasn't played since March 19, and it remains unclear when he'll return.Jack Campbell, who also dealt with a recent lower-body injury, has been sensational in goal with 11 consecutive wins to start the season.Rittich owns a .904 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average through 15 appearances this season. The 28-year-old recorded a 34-save shutout against the Maple Leafs in February.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators traded defenseman Mike Reilly to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick, the team announced Sunday.The Bruins have suffered numerous injuries to their blue line lately, with a number of the team's top defensemen nursing ailments. With Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, and Brandon Carlo sidelined, these were Boston's defensive pairings in Sunday's 8-1 loss against the Washington Capitals.