PHN NHL Trade Deadline Live Blog: Late Blockbuster-Caps Get Mantha

Once the trades started, they flew furiously on Sunday night keeping the NHL trade processing office busy into the wee hours of Monday morning. The Penguins trade for LA Kings forward Jeff Carter wasn’t official and complete until about 1:40 a.m.

Anybody else on Red Bull and intravenous coffee today?

The Penguins acquired RW Jeff Carter for conditional 2022 third and 2023 fourth-round picks. Carter has traditionally been a center but LA Kings head coach Todd McCellan flipped the 36-year-old Carter to RW this season. For fans who chirped that Carter is a center, 36-year-olds at the end of their career don’t generally go back to center.

It’s not like LA had a hotshot young center who displaced Carter. Keep that in mind. Carter is more likely lineup flexibility and RW insurance, in case Kasperi Kapanen and Brandon Tanev are not available.

Carter has one more year on his $5.25 million AAV contract, but there is some question if he will retire after this season. If he does, the Penguins would oddly get a $381,000 cap bonus next season because LA agreed to a 50% salary holdback.

PHN also reported early Monday morning that Penguins President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke recently told Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray the Penguins were interested in center Ryan Getzlaf.  The Penguins were waiting to hear back from Anaheim if Getzlaf would be available, but we’re not sure if that is dead because of the Carter deal.

NHL TRADE DEADLINE DEALS:

3:45 p.m: A PHN was part of the Ron Hextall NHL trade deadline wrap-up press conference, the Washington Capitals pulled off a late blockbuster.

Washington snagged Anthony Mantha from Detroit for Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a first-rounder and a second-rounder.

Analysis: WOW. PHN likes Vrana and he’s been a playoff animal. Who knows about Anthony Mantha in the playoffs? This is a dangerous deal for Washington. It will certainly upset their chemistry but not otherwise increase their team speed. Washington purged Panik’s bad contract which runs for two more years with a $2.75 million AAV, and Mantha may have more offensive skills than Vrana, but that’s not guaranteed. Washington paid a lot here.

3:15 p.m.: Carolina traded Hayden Fleury to Anaheim, per Pierre LeBrun. Philadelphia traded Michael Raffl–to the Capitals?!

3:01 p.m.: Erik Gudbranson goes to Nashville for a seventh-rounder and Brandon Fortunato.

Great deal for Nashville.

The San Jose Sharks sneaked Alexander Barabanov under the wire. They acquired the 26-year-old Russian who is in his first year of North American hockey for Antti Suomela. Barabanov, LW, has one assist in 13 NHL games.

3:00 p.m.: The final rose. We think. Anaheim trades defenseman Ben Hutton to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2022 fifth.

That’s all folks.

2:46: p.m: No Penguins trade here, sorry. Sam Bennett appears to be headed to Florida. Calgary received a 2022 second-round pick and Florida’s 2020 second-round pick, Emil Heineman.

Analysis: That’s a solid price, but Sam Bennett with Patric Hornqvist. Cmon. Florida is going to be a TOUGH out in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. They may have to make ice in 110-degree, humid heat this July.

2:45 p.m.: TRADES! Philadelphia Flyers send defenseman Erik Gustafsson to Montreal for a late round pick.

PENGUINS: 

2:12 p.m: The Colorado Avalanche reacquired Carl Soderberg from the Chicago Blackhawks.

A trade!!

Analysis: We’ll see what Soderberg has left. The 35-year-old center had a resurgent year in Colorado, but was a victim of the flat-cap free agency market. He’s back in the 420-friendly mile-high city and Colorado didn’t give up much for him. He has 15 points (7g, 8a) in 34 games with Chicago this season. Colorado sent Ryder Rolston (a 2020 fifth-round pick and son of former Boston Bruins forward Brian Rolston) and organizational depth player Josh Dickinson to Chicago.

2:09 p.m.: Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports the Philadelphia Flyers and Scott Laughton have come to a contract agreement. 

The deal is for five years at $3 million per season.

Analysis: That’s a pretty solid deal for the Philadelphia Flyers. A third-line center ideally makes a comparable salary, but often teams overpay their third-liners. Nick Bonino springs to mind for Penguins fans.

1:55 p.m.: Brian Burke tells Sportsnet that Ron Hextall put the wheels in motion for the Jeff Carter trade one month ago. The Penguins see versatility at wing or center. And, he didn’t have to sell Jeff Carter on the Penguins trade:

"We're the Pittsburgh Penguins and we're not here to kiss anyone's butt to play here." — @Burkie2020 to @DavidAmber on @Sportsnet about Jeff Carter, adding Penguins were not in on Taylor Hall

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 12, 2021

1:40 p.m.: Kevin Weekes reports the Kings and Alex Iaffalo are close to a four-year deal.

Analysis: We’ll have to see the final numbers, but this could be a massive overpay for LA. Iaffalo is a nice player. You like him on your team, but he’s not hard enough, not dynamic enough to soak up too much money.

UPDATE: Deal is four years, $16 million. That’s as fair as fair gets. Team probably wanted $3.25 – $3.5 million. Player probably wanted $4.5-$5 million. Iaffalo will be on the trade market before the deal is over.

1:39 p.m.: All is quiet. Teams working, but nothing boiling.

1:09 p.m: Janmark deal is done. Vegas second-rounder to Chicago. Flip VGK and Chicago flip 2022 third and fifth picks.

1:05 p.m: Per multiple reports, the Chicago Blackhawks are trying to send Mattias Janmark to Vegas, but Vegas doesn’t have the cap space. So, enter Vegas’ mortal enemy, the San Jose Sharks??

12:51 p.m: You were waiting with bated breath for this one. Stop the NHL trade deadline! As per @PierreVLeBrun, the Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Frederik Claesson from the San Jose Sharks for goaltender Magnus Chrona.

12:31 p.m.: LeBrun says Scott Laughton and Flyers are still talking contract. And Flyers still taking calls. Our colleagues in Philly have the full story. 

2.5 hours to the NHL trade deadline. Pitter Patter.

Analysis: If a contract doesn’t get done, we see the Penguins as free agent pursuers, not NHL trade combatants. Not with the Flyers, anyway.

PENGUINS: Source says Penguins and Anaheim Ducks are still checking in with each other. Nothing imminent.

12:12 p.m.: Weekes reporting Vancouver will trade Adam Gaudette to Chicago for 25-year-old depth forward Mathew Highmore, who has two assists in 25 games this season.

12:05 p.m.: Per Kevin Weekes of the NHL Network, Edmonton is set to acquire Dmitri Kulikov from New Jersey for a draft pick.

Analysis: Good move by Edmonton. Kulikov played well vs. Penguins. Will help solidify Edmonton’s blueline.

12:01 p.m.: Ottawa claims Mete. Good move, Pierre Dorion. Mete is one of those defensemen who needs a chance before becoming a 7th/depth defenseman forever.

Dallas claims Sami Vatanen off waivers from New Jersey.

I expected a lot more from Vatanen in NJ. Very vanilla in games vs. Penguins.

11:54 a.m.: At noon, we will find out if a team claimed Montreal defenseman Victor Mete. the 5-foot-9 offensive defenseman has some NHL skill.

Analysis: In past Penguins history, we’d put the Penguins high on the list of possible claimants. Not now.

11:24 a.m.: What happened to everyone? Frank Seravalli of TSN says Buffalo goalie Linus Ullmark is staying put.

10:34: a.m.: LeBrun says Iaffalo and Kings closing the gap.

10:11 a.m.: St. Louis Blues reporter Andy Strickland also hears the Penguins connected to Anaheim tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers.

10:04: Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun indicates there is strong interest in former Penguins defenseman Erik Gudbranson. More than a few teams could use a tough as nails defender.

9:58: Daren Dreger of TSN reported the New York Rangers have entered the market as a broker. They have $9 million of salary-cap space and willing to “sell” their space to help others get a deal done.

9:55.: LeBrun reports LA and Alex Iaffalo’s camp talked late into the night on a contract extension, but so far–nada.

PENGUINS: Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Jeff Carter and a 50% salary holdback from the LA Kings for conditional 2022 third and 2023 fourth-round picks. Full analysis.

UPDATE: The conditional details of the Jeff Carter – Penguins trade are official, per Pierre LeBrun: The 2022 third-round pick can become a second-rounder if the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Final and Carter plays in at least 50% of the games.

Boston Bruins acquire winger Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 second-round pick and Anders Bjork.

Analysis: Boston has been fishing in deep ponds all season. Hall’s offensive game should help the physical Bruins, who needed a boost. However, if he doesn’t fill the net, both the Bruins and Hall are going to hear about it from the faithful. Read more from our colleagues in Boston.

New York Islanders acquire defenseman Brayden Coburn from Ottawa Senators for a 2021 seventh-round pick.

Analysis: A good depth move on the Island. 

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire goalie David Rittich from Calgary Flames for a 2021 third-round pick.

Analysis: Calgary traded their 1 or 1A goalie. Who else might they sell? Toronto needed some goalie help behind Jack Campbell and struggling/injured Frederick Andersen. Rittich is a good pickup.

Boston Bruins acquire Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators for a 2022 third-round pick.

Analysis: Reilly is an offensive defenseman and the Bruins have been struggling on the back end. The kids asked to replace Torey Krug have been hit and miss. Reilly should solidify that group.

3-Way-Trade: Toronto acquired Nick Foligno from Columbus and Stefan Noesen from San Jose for a first-round pick and two fourth-rounders.

Analysis: Toronto wanted forward depth and they got the Blue Jackets captain who is a blood and guts leader. A late first-rounder in the 2021 Draft is not a great asset and Toronto flipped it for a real chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Jon Merill from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2021 fifth-round pick and prospect Hayden Verbeek

The New Jersey Devils acquired depth defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler from the Washington Capitals for a third-round pick. The deal kicked off the NHL trade deadline frenzy on Sunday.

Analysis: Expect Washington to spend that third-rounder on Monday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets dealt David Savard to Tampa Bay with Detroit as a salary cap pass through. Tampa Bay got defenseman David Savard. Columbus got a 2021 first-round pick and 2022 third-rounder. Detroit was compensated for holding 25% of Savard’s salary.