The Florida Panthers pulled off their third trade in less than an hour Saturday, landing defenseman Jakub Kindl from the Detroit Red Wings, according to various reports.
Kindl to FLA. Return is a late-round pick and DET will keep some salary.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 27, 2016
Kindl, who is in the third season of a four-year, $9.6-million deal, has been back and forth between Detroit and the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins this season.
The 29-year-old recorded two goals and four assists in 25 games with the Red Wings.
The Panthers acquired Jiri Hudler from the Calgary Flames as well as Teddy Purcell from the Edmonton Oilers in separate trades Saturday.
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You're up, Garret Sparks.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed the media Saturday afternoon after trading James Reimer - his best goaltender - to the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal that netted his club a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
Lamoriello talked about the return - mainly the draft pick that could, at best, turn into a third-round selection - since many Maple Leafs supporters aren't too happy with it.
On return for Reimer, Lamoriello said there was not a "real need" for a goalie on playoff teams, or there were cap constraints at his price.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 27, 2016
With Reimer's contract expiring and Toronto playing out the stretch with a roster already resembling that of an AHL team, Lamoriello said it's time to look to the future in goal, specifically in Sparks and Antoine Bibeau.
"We needed to take a look at our minor-league goalies who are playing extremely well," he said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Garrett Sparks will be in Montreal tonight as the #Leafs backup. Lamoriello said they want to find out what Sparks "can or can't bring."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 27, 2016
Sparks played five games for Toronto this season, winning three, and recorded a shutout and .915 save percentage. Only 22, he has a .925 save percentage in 20 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season. Drafted 190th overall in the seventh round in 2011, Sparks could be the goalie of the future. Lamoriello wants to find out.
"We have to take a look at Sparks right now and see if how he performed earlier is the real thing," Lamoriello said, according to The Canadian Press' Jonas Siegel.
Bibeau will turn 22 in May and was a sixth-round pick, 172nd overall, in 2013. He has a .904 save percentage in 25 games with the Marlies this season, after posting a .913 save percentage in the AHL in 31 games last season. He's yet to see NHL action.
Lamoriello says possibility that pending UFAs could re-sign in summer despite being traded now is something he keeps in mind
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 27, 2016
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The Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Teddy Purcell to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick, multiple sources reported Saturday.
Purcell is the second player acquired by the Panthers Saturday. Earlier in the day, Florida traded a pair of draft picks to the Calgary Flames for forward Jiri Hudler.
#FlaPanthers have added a little over $2m in true salaries in Hudler ($1m) and Purcell ($1.125m)
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) February 27, 2016
The trade comes hours after reports surfaced earlier Saturday that the Los Angeles Kings were "inching closer" to acquiring Purcell, as well as defenseman Justin Schultz, from Edmonton.
The deal was expected to include Nikolay Prokhorkin, a forward currently playing with Ufa Salavat Yulayev who has registered 20 goals and 38 points in 58 games this season.
Prokhorkin (rumored in now failed LA-EDM trade) has had history of transfer issues. Lot of on/off again to NA, KHL team interfered and more.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) February 27, 2016
The 30-year-old has scored 11 goals and 32 points in 61 games with the Oilers this season.
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The Calgary Flames traded forward Jiri Hudler to the Florida Panthers on Saturday in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2016 and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
Those draft picks CGY got from FLA for Hudler are a 2016 2nd rounder and 2018 4th rounder.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 27, 2016
No salary was retained in the deal.
"We want to thank Jiri for his years of service with the Flames. He is tremendous player and teammate. We wish him the very best of luck with his new club," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. "As we continue to build our team, these picks will be valuable assets to us and also valuable capital in the market place."
Hudler, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final season of a four-year, $16-million deal.
The 32-year-old has 10 goals and 25 assists in 53 games this season after recording a career-high 76 points last season.
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A final decision on Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension isn't expected for at least another week.
Neutral arbitrator James Oldham met with both parties for a two-day final appeal Thursday and Friday and has informed them that a decision won't be handed down until the week of March 7, sources told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Wideman was handed the suspension after checking linesman Don Henderson in a Jan. 27 game against the Nashville Predators.
An appeal was made to the league, but commissioner Gary Bettman upheld his initial ruling.
The 32-year-old will miss his 13th straight game when the Flames host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
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