The biggest events bring out the best in Brad Treliving.

Eight months after plucking Dougie Hamilton off the draft floor, the Calgary Flames' second-year general manager executed another plan on another salient event on the NHL calendar, engineering a series of shrewd deals in the lead-up to the trade deadline.

In all, Treliving turned a depth forward approaching his ceiling and three players on expiring contracts that, for all intents and purposes, could re-up with the club this summer, to acquire six functional assets (and a sixth-round lottery ticket) to fuel the team's continuing reconfiguration.

Here's his handiwork in full:

OUT: D Kris Russell, F Jiri Hudler, F Markus Granlund, F David Jones

IN: F Hunter Shinkaruk, D Jyrki Jokipakka, F Brett Pollock, two second-round picks (one of which could become a first), fourth-round pick, sixth-round pick

Perhaps his best move came at the expense of the organization which might, nay, is, feeling the most wrath from its fan base. Treliving revisited (and feasted) on a previously useful, and perhaps unusual, trade partner in Jim Benning's Vancouver Canucks with last week's acquisition of Shinkaruk for Granlund.

A former first-round selection, Calgary native, and one of the top AHL goal-scorers, Shinkaruk possesses much more upside than Granlund - a player who failed to carve out a role in 86 games.

With that swindling, Treliving then turned his attention to expiring contracts on his payroll.

First, two days before the deadline, Calgary received value on Hudler, acquiring second- and fourth-round draft picks from the Florida Panthers. Hudler contributed massive numbers previously, but needed 53 games this season (largely spent alongside Calgary's best two offensive players) to reach the 10-goal plateau.

For comparison sake, Hudler is averaging just 0.31 points per 60 minutes more than Kris Versteeg, who the Los Angeles Kings acquired for a fifth-round pick and a low-grade prospect.

Lastly, Treliving manufactured the trade deadline's greatest rental bounty. Russell, the mid-to-bottom pairing blue-liner who hangs his hat on shot blocks and intangibles, brought back a young, controllable, NHL-ready puck mover to fill out the team's current group in Jokipakka, a former second-round pick and point-per-game WHL scorer in Pollock, and conditional second-round selection.

The pick, currently the Flames' third in the second round this summer, will be upgraded to a first-round pick should the Dallas Stars - currently third in the overall standings - win two series this spring.

Oh, and then long after the deadline has passed, it was announced Treliving dumped a third expiring contract in David Jones onto the Minnesota Wild for a sixth-round pick (and the right to house goalie Niklas Backstrom).

***

Stan Bowman's masterful roster augmentation in Chicago was objectively unmatched. But for Treliving and the Flames, who unlike the Blackhawks must balance improving the existing makeup with devotion to the process, might be right there behind the defending champions.

Until draft day, Brad.

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The NHL's trade deadline has come and gone, leaving a minimal ripple in its wake. In the end, only 15 deals were made, with few winners and losers to consider, in no particular order.

Winners

Colorado Avalanche

Up front, the Avalanche added Mikkel Boedker by way of Arizona, who's believed to be set to skate on a line with Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, forming a speedy trio that will be difficult to contain.

And on defense, Eric Gelinas was acquired from New Jersey. The 2009 second-round pick's ice time had fallen under first-year head coach John Hynes, but he showed great promise for the Devils in his rookie season, and defense is a clear area of weakness in Denver.

Patrick Roy's squad holds a two-point advantage over Minnesota in the race for the second wild-card spot, and general manager Joe Sakic did well to help ensure that bubble won't burst.

Calgary Flames

The Flames entered the day as sellers, and GM Brad Treliving was able to secure quite the haul from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Kris Russell.

Calgary received defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock, and a conditional second-round draft selection for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.

Jokipakka is a solid defender with limited NHL experience, while Pollock is a WHL prospect with decent offensive upside.

The draft pick condition is key, however, because if the Stars qualify for the conference finals with Russell appearing in half their playoff games, Calgary will get a first-round pick come June. Otherwise, it remains a second-round selection, which would have been a nice return on its own.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks fell flat out of the gate this season and have been playing catch up ever since. The offense, in particular, has sputtered, averaging 2.48 goals per game, ranked 22nd in the NHL.

In adding Brandon Pirri and Jamie McGinn, Anaheim was able to shore up its forward depth with players who fit the team's current style of play and who can put the puck in the net with semi-regularity.

The fact that they were able to land Pirri - who scored 22 goals in 49 games last season - for the mere pittance of a sixth-round pick is cause for celebration all on its own. The third-round pick for McGinn would also be well worth it if they can manage to come out of the West.

Losers

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks fall firmly in the losers camp for what they weren't able to do.

GM Jim Benning was sitting on two seemingly attractive trade chips in impending UFA's Radim Vrbata and Dan Hamhuis.

The latter was certainly believed to be commanding attention from several suitors, including Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Pittsburgh, and even Washington. While it is believed he was willing to waive his no-trade clause for at least a couple of those options, the return didn't appear to meet Benning's liking.

"Staying here was my number one priority" said Hamhuis. Said #Canucks took calls from Chicago and Dallas, but nothing worked out.

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 29, 2016

Hamhuis enjoys Vancouver and could very well have returned as a free agent this summer; that the Canucks held on to him when there was such great interest and offers on the table is nothing short of baffling.

And the same goes for Vrbata, who's had a down season after being removed from the top line early on, but who also recorded 31 goals and 63 points as recently as last year. Surely a contending team had a draft pick or two lying around for that potential boost.

In short, the inability to gain assets for these two players is a stunning lack of action for a team stuck in no man's land in terms of direction for the future.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins considered themselves buyers, dealing no fewer than four draft picks - third and fourth rounders in 2016 and second and fifth rounders in 2017 - for defenseman John-Michael Liles and forward Lee Stempniak.

For a team with an aging core that missed the playoffs last season, the willingness to give up picks for rental players is somewhat puzzling.

A look at the Bruins draft picks the next two years: pic.twitter.com/bvNsekx56K

— Bruins Daily (@BruinsDaily) February 29, 2016

All this after waiving Zac Rinaldo, who inexplicably cost the team a third-round pick back in the summer, and after Stempniak practiced with the Bruins prior to training camp and could have been signed back then on the cheap.

At the same time, and perhaps more egregiously, GM Don Sweeney ultimately decided to hold on to impending unrestricted free agent Loui Eriksson, choosing instead to view him as an added bonus rental who's already been with the team for a few years.

Considering Andrew Ladd - whose production this season was dwarfed by Eriksson's - fetched high-end prospect Marko Dano and a first-round pick, it certainly seems to be an opportunity lost for a team seemingly keeping its Stanley Cup window open with toothpicks.

What remains to be seen is whether the Bruins and Eriksson can agree to terms on an extension by July 1, at which point he could walk and leave the Bruins with their hands deeper in their pockets.

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NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils have traded former first-round pick Stefan Matteau to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Devante Smith-Pelly. The Devils announced the move almost two hours after the NHL trading deadline expired, and it w...

After Sunday's trade that brought Daniel Winnik to the Washington Capitals from the Toronto Maple Leafs also spelled the end of Brooks Laich's 12-year run in Washington, general manager Brian MacLellan admitted that the veteran forward tried to talk him out of making the trade.

"He expressed that he really wanted to be a part of it and win a Stanley Cup here," MacLellan said, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. He also added that trading the winger was the hardest thing he's ever done as a general manager.

While both MacLellan and the Capitals players were certainly sorry to see him go, Laich's contract - which holds a $4.5-million cap hit this year and next - was limiting the team's ability to add more pieces at the trade deadline, and could have also hindered potential plans to lock up restricted free agents Marcus Johansson and Dmitry Orlov in the offseason.

The 32-year-old Laich has struggled this season, tallying just a goal and six assists in 60 games.

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The Philadelphia Flyers' dwindling playoff hopes have taken another hit.

Forward Jakub Voracek will miss approximately two weeks with a lower-body injury, general manager Ron Hextall announced Monday.

Voracek, who has already missed one game thanks to the injury, has recorded 10 goals and 38 assists in 60 games this season. The Flyers have six games on the schedule over the next 14 days.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild have activated defenceman Jonas Brodin from injured reserve after he missed 12 games with a broken foot. The NHL's trade deadline passed Monday without any major moves by the Wild, who acquired two minor-l...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Predators hope left-winger Filip Forsberg plays down the stretch the way he has been the past few games. That way the fun, and the wins, will continue in Nashville. Forsberg was named the first star of the week Monda...

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello met with the media after not making a deal on deadline day, and shared news about forward Leo Komarov and defenseman Jared Cowen.

Lamoriello said the Maple Leafs never considered trading Komarov, who was an All-Star this season.

"He's a core member of our group," the GM said.

It was speculated that Toronto would try to sell high on Komarov, who has 18 goals and 17 assists, and is signed through 2017-18 at $2.95 million. Komarov remains a Maple Leaf, though.

So does Jared Cowen, but only in name. The defenseman, who was acquired in the Dion Phaneuf trade, will be shut down and have his contract bought out this summer, Lamoriello said.

Lamoriello confirms Cowen to be bought out, buy out costs are as follows:
2016-17: $650k credit
2017-18 $750k pic.twitter.com/xzbEDEtp1a

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 29, 2016

In the end, in the weeks leading up to Monday's trade deadline, Toronto acquired six draft picks and two intriguing prospects:

The Leafs full trade movement in the weeks before the deadline. They added six draft picks and two solid prospects. pic.twitter.com/tsaEE0d8A2

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) February 29, 2016

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The Anaheim Ducks have traded forward Patrick Maroon to the Edmonton Oilers for a prospect and a fourth-round draft pick, according to the Los Angeles Times' Helene Elliott.

Maroon, 28 on April 23, has four goals and nine assists in 56 games. He's a big man at 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, and the Oilers were open about wanting to add size. Maroon set a career high in points last season, with 34 (nine goals) in 71 games.

Maroon is big, fairly physical. Pouliot, Kassian, Maroon, Draisaitl.. team is getting heavier in their top 9, building for cycle game.

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) February 29, 2016

The left winger's under contract through 2017-18 at a salary and cap hit of $2 million. He'll be replaced on the Ducks by Jamie McGinn, who Anaheim acquired at the trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres.

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The Jonathan Drouin saga didn't end before the trade deadline, and Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman now says Drouin can return to the NHL club if he wants.

Related: Lightning hold on to Drouin at deadline

"Jonathan is suspended. If he wants to come back, the door is open," Yzerman told reporters after the 3 p.m. ET deadline passed Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith. "That's up to him."

The Lightning had plenty of offers for the 20-year-old forward, but Yzerman said he was better off keeping his options open for the summer, and didn't want to lose him for a rental player.

"I wasn't going to trade (him) for (an unrestricted free agent) that I couldn't or wouldn't want to re-sign," Yzerman said. "That made no sense."

#tblightning Yzerman indicated most of conversations with teams about Drouin in past months revolve around future considerations

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) February 29, 2016

Drouin can still be traded now that the deadline has passed, but he'd be ineligible to participate in the playoffs.

He was suspended indefinitely by the Lightning in January for failing to report to a game for their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

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