The deal comes shortly after the Pens flippedTeddy Blueger to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Granlund has recorded nine goals and 27 assists in 58 games with the Preds this season. A veteran of 11 NHL seasons, the 31-year-old can play all three forward positions. However, his underlying numbers over the past three seasons have been poor.
Evolving-Hockey
The 31-year-old is signed through 2024-25 with a $5-million cap hit.
A three-time 60-point producer, the Pens will look for Granlund to add an offensive spark to the team's bottom-six forward group if they wish to play him in that role. It's possible he plays wing on one of the top two lines centered by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
If he centers one of the bottom two lines, it'll be a defensive downgrade from Blueger, who excelled in a shutdown role but provided little offense.
Blueger has recorded two goals and eight assists in 45 games this season. He's never cracked 30 points in his five-year NHL career but has proved to be an effective defense-first center.
Blueger carries a $2.2-million hit, creating more cap flexibility for the Pens, who are still in a playoff spot. He's set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
DiLiberatore, 22, has posted three points in 18 games with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights this season. He was taken in the sixth round by Vegas in 2018.
The Los Angeles Kings organization has invested further in the goaltending position.
The Buffalo Sabres traded coveted goalie prospect Erik Portillo to the Kings for a 2023 third-round pick, the teams announced.
Wednesday's deal comes less than 24 hours after the Kings acquired netminder Joonas Korpisalo from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Portillo was the Sabres' third-round pick in 2019. He remains unsigned and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. His path to playing time in Buffalo would've potentially been blocked by 23-year-old Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who's already in the NHL, and 21-year-old Devon Levi, who's also unsigned but is a more highly touted goalie prospect.
The Kings' goalie depth chart is made up of Korpisalo, a pending UFA, journeyman Pheonix Copley, and Cal Petersen.
Portillo, who stands 6-foot-6, has posted a .908 save percentage in 31 games at Michigan this season. The Swede was named to the Big Ten Second All-Star Team a year ago when he recorded a .926 save percentage in 42 appearances with the Wolverines.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said the team tried to sign Portillo in the summer, according to WGR's Paul Hamilton. Adams added he intends to sign Levi as soon as his college season is over.
An offensive-minded blue-liner who excels at quarterbacking a power play, Gostisbehere recorded 10 goals and 21 assists in 52 games for the Coyotes this season. He's entering the final year of his contract and carries a $4.5-million cap hit.
Shayne Gostisbehere, acquired by CAR, is a useful offensive defenceman who moves the puck pretty well (especially in the offensive zone) and has a great shot for a blueliner. #LetsGoCanespic.twitter.com/Tg4WYZ0sXf
Gostisbehere, 29, projects to slot in on the left side of the third pair of Carolina's blue line behind Jaccob Slavin and Brady Skjei. He'll likely get some time on the second power-play unit, too, as Brent Burns currently runs the top unit.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida, native is vying for his third 50-point season. Gostisbehere tallied 51 a year ago with the Coyotes and 65 in 2017-18 with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he finished 10th in Norris Trophy voting. He was also the Calder Trophy runner-up to Artemi Panarin in 2015-16 when he racked up 17 goals and 29 assists in 64 contests.
The Coyotes acquired Gostisbehere, a second-round pick, and a seventh-rounder from the Flyers for nothing during the 2021 offseason.
Arizona now has 23 picks in the first three rounds over the next four drafts.
The Vancouver Canucks activated No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko from injured reserve Monday, the team announced. He'll start Monday's game against the Dallas Stars.
Vancouver assigned fellow netminder Arturs Silovs to the AHL in a corresponding move.
Demko hasn't played since suffering a lower-body ailment Dec. 1 against the Florida Panthers. The 27-year-old - who finished seventh in Vezina Trophy voting last year - has endured a poor season, posting an .883 save percentage in 15 contests.
Silovs, 21, posted a .908 save percentage in four games with the Canucks.
Between Demko, Silovs, Collin Delia, and Spencer Martin, the Canucks rank last in the NHL with a team save percentage of .872 entering Monday.
The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and there's nothing more fun this time of year than arguing over hypothetical swaps.
Here's how this exercise went down: Each of theScore's five NHL news editors (Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman) submitted a trade to have the other four editors vote on which team they think would say no in that scenario. "Both" and "good deal" were options, too.
Remember, these deals are hypothetical. Editors were encouraged to think outside the box.
Below, I dive into the trades and analyze which aspects make sense and which don't.
Note: There were initially five trades in this exercise, but the one submitted by Douglas - which involved Timo Meier to Toronto - became moot after the Maple Leafs acquiredRyan O'Reilly from the St. Louis Blues late Friday night.
Why it could work: Wouldn't this be fun? Imagine Karlsson sharing the ice with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a power play. That would be lethal.
The Western Conference is wide-open, and the Oilers have been playing excellent hockey lately, so this would be an ideal year to go for it. Karlsson is the Norris Trophy favorite amid a resurgent campaign and could be the missing ingredient on the back end. Getting him at $8.08 million is palatable, too.
Puljujarvi is in dire need of a fresh start, and Barrie's role would be vastly diminished with the addition of Karlsson, so both players are expendable. Their inclusion is also necessary from a cap perspective.
For the Sharks, it's a prime opportunity to sell high on Karlsson and rid themselves of most of his mammoth contract. A first-round pick and Holloway, the 14th selection in 2020, would help the rebuild.
Why it might not: Even with the inclusion of Barrie, Puljujarvi, and Holloway, the Oilers are unable to put forth a cap-compliant roster consisting of 18 skaters in this scenario. So they'd either need the Sharks to retain more than 30%, get a third team to retain a portion, or shed money elsewhere. All three options would be difficult to accomplish in season, making an offseason deal more realistic.
It's also possible the Sharks might not be comfortable retaining $3.45 million annually through 2027, especially when they're already retaining $2.72 million through 2025 for Brent Burns. New general manager Mike Grier seems content to rebuild, but he might think his team can compete again before 2027. And if he's going to retain salary, he might want another asset in return.
Bruins bring in Kane for Cup push
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Bruins receive: Patrick Kane (50% retained), Jarred Tinordi Blackhawks receive: 2023 1st-round pick, Fabian Lysell, Craig Smith, Mike Reilly, Chris Wagner, Jakub Zboril
Submitted by: Wegman
Editor
Who Says No?
Cushman
Bruins
Douglas
Bruins
Gold-Smith
Bruins
O'Leary
Bruins
Why it could work: The Bruins are enjoying a historically great campaign. There's no guarantee Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci play beyond this season, and it's also the last year of David Pastrnak's bargain contract before he gets a massive raise. If there was ever a year for a team to push all its chips into the middle, it's the 2022-23 Bruins.
Even in a down year, Kane is one of the best rentals available. It's easy to imagine how he'd be reinvigorated going from the basement-dwelling Blackhawks to the stacked Bruins. He wouldn't be asked to play a major role, either. While the idea of him with Bergeron and Brad Marchand on a line is enticing, playing a middle-six role to provide an offensive punch is probably more realistic. And as good as Boston is, there's no such thing as too much scoring in the playoffs.
The Bruins would also likely be pleased to get Smith, Reilly, and Wagner off their books. Swapping Zboril for Tinordi is the final piece to get the deal to work from a cap perspective, and it gives Boston a more reliable depth option on defense.
Why it might not: Kane has been playing through hip issues for at least the last couple of seasons. It didn't seem to affect him last year during a 92-point campaign, but it's likely partly to blame for his poor production this season.
Boston shouldn't hesitate to deal its first-round pick, which, if all goes as planned, will be 32nd overall. But there may be some hangup on moving Lysell, the organization's top prospect, in exchange for a 34-year-old rental. But that might be the cost considering he's the Bruins' only high-end prospect, and it's a similar package to what the Florida Panthers paid for Claude Giroux - who also had a no-movement clause - a year ago.
Kings acquire Demko to solidify crease
Derek Cain / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Kings receive: Thatcher Demko Canucks receive: 2023 1st-round pick (top-12 protected), 2024 2nd-round pick, Alex Turcotte, Cal Petersen
Submitted by: Cushman
Editor
Who Says No?
Douglas
Good deal
Gold-Smith
Good deal
O'Leary
Good deal
Wegman
Canucks
Why it could work: Goaltending has been the Kings' Achilles' heel this year. They're actually a strong defensive team; they just haven't received any saves. Pheonix Copley, the 31-year-old journeyman, has been their most reliable netminder to this point, but it would be difficult to trust him in a playoff series.
Demko had struggled this year before he went down with an injury, but the Canucks are among the worst defensive teams in the league. It's easy to envision the San Diego native thriving in Los Angeles. He received downballot Vezina Trophy votes a year ago and owns a ridiculous .985 save percentage in four career playoff games.
Petersen had played so poorly this season that the Kings optioned him to the minors. But he was solid in 2021-22, so it's possible the Canucks think he can eventually rebound. But more importantly, Demko and Petersen are signed to identical $5-million cap hits (Demko through 2025, Petersen through 2026) to get the deal to work financially.
The Canucks have been on the hunt for young centers, and Turcotte fits the bill. The 2019 fifth overall pick has yet to live up to his lofty draft hype, but at 21, there's still plenty of time to turn it around.
The Kings have a deep prospect pool, so they can live with dealing Turcotte. And in a year where the Western Conference is wide open, and Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are getting older but still playing at a high level, this is an ideal time to go for it.
Why it might not: The Canucks may want more than Turcotte and a couple of draft picks considering there's a very real possibility he's a bust. Plus, not only are they giving up Demko, but taking on Petersen's contract warrants assets in return on its own. Perhaps if L.A. adds one of its many right-handed defense prospects - another positional need for Vancouver - a deal could work.
Boeser gets fresh start in Minnesota
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Wild receive: Brock Boeser (25% retained) Canucks receive: 2024 3rd-round pick, Jordan Greenway, David Spacek
Submitted by: O'Leary
Editor
Who Says No?
Cushman
Canucks
Douglas
Canucks
Gold-Smith
Canucks
Wegman
Canucks
Why it could work: Boeser and Greenway are both in need of a change of scenery. Going to the Wild would be a perfect fit for Boeser, a native of Burnsville, Minnesota. And the Wild could desperately use some scoring up front. Boeser has never cracked 30 goals, but at 25, there's still some unlocked potential there.
The Canucks, meanwhile, buy low on a hulking defensive-minded forward in Greenway. They also fill an organizational need on right defense with Spacek, the son of longtime NHLer Jaroslav Spacek. He was only a fifth-round pick in 2022, but his stock is on the rise after a strong world juniors for Czechia, in which he tallied eight points in seven games en route to a silver medal.
Why it might not: If the Canucks are going to retain salary on Boeser, they might want a greater return considering he's under contract through 2025. Retaining $1.66 million isn't an insignificant amount for a cap-strapped team.
Vancouver isn't in a time crunch to move Boeser, so it could wait and see if he heats up before accepting a return without any surefire building blocks coming back the other way.
Copley has come out of nowhere to become Los Angeles' No. 1 goaltender this season. The 31-year-old journeyman had just 31 NHL games under his belt entering the campaign, but entered Friday with a 17-3-1 record and a .903 save percentage this season.
It's Connor McDavid's 56th game of the season, and he already has 100 points.
The Oilers superstar reached the milestone for the sixth time in his eight-year career on Friday against the New York Rangers, notching a secondary assist on an Edmonton power-play goal.
McDavid is the first player to reach the century mark in points this season. He entered Friday with a 19-point lead over teammate Leon Draisaitl for the NHL scoring race.
The only seasons in which McDavid didn't reach 100 points were his rookie year in 2015-16 when he posted 48 in 45 games, and 2019-20 when he registered 97 in 64 contests.
This is the second-fewest amount of games McDavid has needed to reach 100 points, as he required just 53 in 2020-21.
McDavid is the 16th player in NHL history with at least six 100-point seasons, tying Sidney Crosby for the most among active players.
The St. Louis Blues have already started selling off their pending unrestricted free agents, but they're apparently also open to the idea of trading players with term - particularly on the back end.
A deal would be complicated, though, as all four players have full no-trade clauses. Parayko, Krug, and Faulk all carry $6.5-million cap hits; Parayko is under contract through 2030, while Krug and Faulk are signed through 2027. Leddy inked a four-year deal worth $4 million annually this past offseason.
Parayko, 29, shoots right and stands at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds. He's posted only 17 points in 50 games this season, but his defensive metrics have been strong.
Evolving-Hockey.com
The Blues, who entered Thursday 11th in the Western Conference, already dealt pending UFA Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. They're also widely expected to move on from other veterans on expiring deals, such as captain Ryan O'Reilly and forwards Ivan Barbashev and Noel Acciari.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar isn't pleased with his team's schedule.
The Avs are set to play in three straight back-to-backs. In the second half of each back-to-back, Colorado will be at a severe disadvantage, facing an opponent coming off an off day.
"I hate it," Bednar said following Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "Every back-to-back, the team is waiting on us, resting. I find it odd that's the best schedule we can come up with."
Here's a look at the Avs' current schedule:
Date
Opponent
Feb. 14
vs. TB
Feb. 15
@ MIN
Feb. 18
@ STL
Feb. 19
vs. EDM
Feb. 24
@ WPG
Feb. 25
vs. CGY
Bednar is particularly irked that the second half of all three back-to-backs comes against a team the Avs are battling in the standings.
"I have no problem with playing back-to-backs," he said. "I don't like playing a rested team every time on a back-to-back, especially against three teams we're fighting with."
The defending Stanley Cup champions have been ravaged by injuries this season, yet they still sit third in the Central Division with 61 points. Their spot in the standings is far from firm, though. A regulation loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, coupled with a Calgary Flames win on Thursday, would push Colorado out of the playoffs.
