Rangers, Ottawa likely big dealers as NHL trade deadline approaches
When The New York Rangers dealt Michael Grabner to the rival New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, it was like an opening bell was rung for the NHL trade market.
There had been a handful of smaller deals already, including The Florida Panthers’ acquisition of Boston forward Frank Vatrano earlier the same day, but a team in playoff position like New Jersey picking up a speedy scorer like Grabner showed there are clubs looking to take serious steps ahead of Monday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
On Friday, there was a three-team deal that sent much-coveted centre Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators to two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh, with the Penguins ceding a 2018 first-round draft pick, defenceman Ian Cole, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson.
The Vegas Golden Knights were also involved. Pittsburgh received prospect forward Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick originally acquired from Vancouver in Friday’s deal.