McDonagh to Bolts, Stastny to Jets on busy NHL trade deadline day
Paul Stastny, Evander Kane and Thomas Vanek changed teams ahead of the NHL trade deadline Monday.
Erik Karlsson, Mike Green and Jack Johnson all stayed put.
But the blockbuster move of the day came from the New York Rangers, who sent captain Ryan McDonagh and forward J. T. Miller to the already talent-laden Tampa Bay Lightning for scoring winger Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Brett Howden and Libor Hajek, a 2018 first-round draft pick and conditional second-round selection.
The Lightning, who entered Monday night’s action with a league-best 87 points, were seeking an experienced left defenceman to play with Victor Hedman and boost their Stanley Cup ambitions. It cost them Namestnikov, 25, who’s having his best season with 20 goals in 62 games, as well as some of their deep pool of top prospects and picks.