Trades, trades, and more trades–especially in New York. Here are four things we learned on a busy trade deadline eve in the NHL.
The New York Rangers are all in.
To say the New York Rangers were busy today would be an understatement.
The eve of trade deadline 2015 saw the club make several transactions, the biggest of which was the blockbuster deal that landed Arizona Coyotes’ defenceman Keith Yandle in the big apple along with Chris Summers and a 2015 fourth-round pick in exchange for Anthony Duclair, John Moore and a first-round pick in 2016.
A few hours later, they sent Lee Stempniak to the Winnipeg Jets in return for Carl Klingberg, followed by a deal with the San Jose Sharks that brought in James Sheppard for a fourth-round pick in 2016.
In a late move Sunday, the Rangers also locked up forward Mats Zuccarello, re-signing him to a four-year deal worth $18 million and putting an end to any trade talks.
The message? It’s Stanley Cup or bust in New York.
The Leafs have one less trading chip.
When Korbinian Holzer left Sunday’s game versus the Washington Capitals with an upper-body injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t just lose a defenceman–they lost a trading chip, too.
It had been expected that Holzer would not be a Leaf past the trade deadline, but now that he’s injured, that plan could be in jeopardy.
Dion Phaneuf is in the trade spotlight.
Dion Phaneuf is one name that is likely to be dropped quite a few times on Monday. According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs are trying “real hard” to trade their captain prior to the deadline.
But Sportsnet’s Michael Grange doesn’t think it makes sense to move Phaneuf just yet. Read the whole story here.
But wait! There’s more!
As busy as Sunday was, the trades show no signs of slowing down. Tomorrow promises to be a deal-filled deadline, with these teams still needing to make a move, according to our own Jeff Simmons.
Happy #NHLTrade deadline!
