The 18-year-old's spectacular month was highlighted by his third hat trick of the season, coming Feb. 14 against Dallas, as Laine became the first rookie to record three hat tricks in one season since 1992-93.
Vanek was playing in Detroit on a one-year contract, $2.6-million and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
He boosted his value with Detroit to the tune of 15 goals and 23 assists in 48 games, and will now bring that production to a Panthers squad looking to climb back into a playoff spot.
McIlrath was drafted 10th overall by the New York Rangers in 2010. In 43 career games, the 24-year-old defenseman has recorded three goals and two assists.
On Tuesday, Vancouver flipped long-time Canuck Jannik Hansen for a conditional fourth-round pick and prospect Nikolay Goldobin.
It was the club's latest move in their apparent shift into rebuild mode, and while some Canucks faithful might be saddened by the loss of a player who'd been with the organization since the 2007-08 season, the fact is, Goldobin gives the Canucks a quality young talent.
Here are three things you need to know about Goldobin:
He was among the Sharks' top prospects
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Goldobin was certainly no throw-in in Tuesday's transaction.
In Goldobin, the Canucks are getting a former first-round pick and a player NHL.com's Eric Gilmore touted as the Sharks third-best prospect entering the season. Goldobin is a highly skilled forward who, with some added strength, could become a dependable everyday player, Gilmore notes,
Meanwhile, ESPN prospect expert Corey Pronman ranked Goldobin 95th among the top 120 prospects entering this season, further praising his high-end puck skills.
He's a young, skilled player, exactly what the Canucks need to start filling their roster.
He's a high-end AHL producer
Goldobin's strongest asset is his offensive game, and his numbers bear that out.
Last season, Goldobin finished tied for seventh in the AHL in rookie goals with 21 - which also tied for first on the San Jose Barracudas.
This season, the 21-year-old is back to filling the net and at an ever higher clip. Through 46 games, Goldobin has 15 goals and 41 points, good enough for third in team scoring.
He was an offensive dynamo with the OHL's Sarnia Sting in is junior heyday, and if he can translate that part of his game to the NHL level, this could be another big win for Jim Benning and Co.
He'll get a bigger opportunity in Vancovuer
(Photo courtesy: USA Today)
While praise can be heaped on most former first-round picks, the question that almost always follows is: If he's so good, why did the Sharks trade him away?
In Goldobin, the reasoning is quite simple: Opportunity.
With the Sharks, Goldobin struggled to crack a roster that had very few open roster spots.
Factor in that Goldobin was competing with 2015 ninth overall pick Timo Meier, who's only managed to suit up for 26 games this season, and Kevin Labanc, who's become a Sharks regular, and it's clear Goldobin was in a tough position in San Jose.
With the Canucks - especially given the trades of Alex Burrows and Hansen - a roster spot should be available for the taking both down the stretch this season and down the road into next season, making the Canucks a great fit for Goldobin.
Iginla owns a full no-move clause, but has previously said he's willing to waive it for a chance at his first Stanley Cup.
Oddly, while McKenzie says the interest between Los Angeles and Iginla may be mutual, the Kings are currently one point outside a playoff seed in the Western Conference.
However, they're desperate for offense, and Iginla - a surefire Hall of Famer - has 619 NHL goals on his resume. That said, for the struggling Avalanche this season, Iginla's registered just eight goals and 10 assists in 61 games.
Forsberg continued his assault on goaltenders Tuesday, scoring twice - including the overtime winner - and adding an assist in the Nashville Predators' 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The Swedish forward has a remarkable 10 goals and 13 points in his last five games.
"He's the best player in the league right now the way he's playing," Subban said after Tuesday's win. "He's just got to continue, whatever he's doing. I don't know what it is, just keep doing it."
The Sabres captain said Tuesday that despite pending unrestricted free agency, he wants to remain with Buffalo.
"I'd like to stay here," Gionta said, writes Buffalo Hockey Beat's Bill Hoppe. "I'd like to be here going on in the future. I want to see this thing through."
That would be the Sabres' rebuild. Buffalo was hoping to take big strides this season, but is on track to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
Gionta's 38 and has given the Sabres a list of five teams he'll accept a trade to ahead of Wednesday's 3 p.m. deadline. He's producing, with 13 goals and 29 points in 63 games. He could bring back a middle-of-the-road draft pick.
The undersized winger is playing out the final season of his contract, earning $4.25 million.
Gionta's one of four Sabres who are set to become UFAs and who've no doubt heard or read their names in trade rumors. Defenders Cody Franson and Dmitry Kulikov, and goaltender Anders Nilsson could be on the move Wednesday, as well.
Put Franson in Gionta's camp - he wants to stay in Buffalo, too, beyond this season.
Montreal's trajectory during Desharnais' time with the club was a bit up and down, but the Canadiens lead the Atlantic Division with a good shot at advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, hence the disappointment of leaving with unfinished business on his plate.
But Desharnais is looking ahead for now, with a view to helping the Oilers clinch a playoff spot and make good on a promising future in Edmonton.
"There were highs and lows, but I'm only taking away the positives. This will help me grow. I'm leaving with my head held high." -Desharnais pic.twitter.com/kMOdbWdIDB
Shane Doan isn't forcing his way out of the only organization he's ever known.
The Arizona Coyotes captain - on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season - has been linked to trade rumors recently as a pending unrestricted free agent.
Winning a Stanley Cup has eluded Doan his entire career, and while he'd like the chance to compete for one, he's not asking his boss to pull a deal out of thin air.
"I'm not going to ask (general manager) John (Chayka) to go find me anything," Doan told Sarah McLellan of The Arizona Republic. "I'm not going to do that by any means."
Doan would have to waive his no-move clause to be traded out of the desert before Wednesday's deadline, and recently publicly disagreed with the Coyotes decision to trade Martin Hanzal.
The 40-year-old has logged a remarkable 1,528 games with the Coyotes/Jets franchise, recording 401 goals and 564 assists as one of the fan bases most beloved players.
