The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Sam Girard and a 2028 2nd round pick.
Kulak, 32, was acquired by the Penguins in a December trade that sent Tristan Jarry to the Oilers. He carries a $2.75 million cap hit and is eligible to be a UFA this summer.
Girard, 27, has a cap hit of $5 million, with his contract expiring after the 2026-27 season.
The Rangers signaled that they will be doing a retool for the remainder of the season, already trading away pending UFAs Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy.
Vincent Trocheck is a player the team doesn’t have to move, as he’s signed through the 2028-29 season at a reasonable $5.625 million cap hit. However, Chris Johnston has noted that it appears likely that Trocheck will be moved before the March 6th trade deadline.
Peter Baugh and Vince Mercogliano of the Athletic went over 10 potential trade options for the Rangers for a potential Trocheck trade.
The first team listed was the Minnesota Wild, who are frequently mentioned in connection with the center. Wild GM Bill Guerin reportedly likes Trocheck, as backed up with his selection to the USA Olympic team. The Wild have also shown they will be aggressive and have a need in the middle of the ice. Mercogliano suggested a package of a 1st round pick, Charlie Stramel and another piece as a reasonable return on his podcast. The Wild do not have their 2026 1st round pick after the Quinn Hughes trade, but have their 2027 1st available. While Trocheck can block a trade to 12 teams, and reportedly would like to stay in the East, Michael Russo reported the Wild are not on his no-trade list.
The two also mentions the Red Wings and the Hurricanes, mentioning prospects like Alexander Nikishin, Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper as players the Rangers might target. Both Eastern conference teams could use some help at center.
The Mammoth, Stars, Avalanche, Penguins, Bruins, Kings and Islanders were the remaining teams on the list.
The Los Angeles Kings have acquired Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional 3rd round pick.
Mollie Walker reports that the Kings were the only team that Panarin was willing to go to, in the end. The 3rd round pick turns into a 2nd round pick if the Kings win 1 round in the playoffs.
Panarin has signed a 2-year contract extension with the Kings carrying a cap hit of $11 million.
Liam Greentree, 20, was a 1st round pick (26th overall) for the Kings in 2024. He has 23 goals and and 22 assists in 34 games for Windsor of the OHL this season.
The New Jersey Devils have acquired Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a 2026 4th round pick and Thomas Bordeleau.
The center is signed through 2026-27 at a cap hit of $1.75 million.
Bjugstad, 33, had 6 goals and 1 assist in 35 games for the Blues this season.
Artemi Panarin is willing to sign a contract extension with the San Jose Sharks if the team can facilitate a trade with the New York Rangers, reports Sheng Peng.
Panarin has a full no-movement clause in his contract and is believed to be unwilling to accept a trade without a contract extension in most cases.
Pierre LeBrun suggests that he wouldn’t have the Sharks as a favorite to land Panarin but seemed to suggest that the Washington Capitals might be a fit that makes sense.
LeBrun further says he believes the Anaheim Ducks are out as an extension might not make sense for them.
The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed Ben Chiarot to a 3-year contract extension with a cap hit of $3.85 million.
The defenseman was signed to a 4-year deal by the Red Wings as a UFA in the summer of 2022.
Chiarot, 34, has 4 goals and 7 assists in 54 games this season while leading the Red Wings in shorthanded time on ice.
The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed Sam Malinski to a 4-year contract extension with a $4.75 million cap hit.
The defenseman was set to be a UFA this summer.
Malinski, 27, has 3 goals and 21 assists for the Avalanche this season.
The New York Islanders have acquired Carson Soucy from the Rangers in exchange for a 2026 3rd round pick.
The Rangers acquired Soucy last season in a trade from the Canucks.
Soucy, 31, had 3 goals and 5 assists this season for the Rangers.