Live, quick-hit analysis of big-league trades completed Monday, March 21.
Coyotes reel in McBain
Arizona acquires: F Jack McBain
Minnesota acquires: 2nd-round pick (2022, originally Vancouver's)
Consider this a typical transaction in the Bill Armstrong era in Arizona. Deep in a rebuild and about to start playing in a 5,000-seat arena, the Coyotes are in desperate need of young, cheap talent to fill their roster. McBain, a 2018 third-round pick by the Wild who never signed with Minnesota, fits the bill. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound center recorded 33 points in 24 games for Boston College this past season. He also played for Team Canada at the Olympics, pitching in two points in five games. You can assume McBain will sign with Arizona soon.
Bruins extend DeBrusk
His name in the rumor mill for months, Jake DeBrusk inked a two-year, $8-million deal to stay in Boston - for the time being, at least. A league source confirms DeBrusk's long-held trade request has not been rescinded and the Bruins are still trying to find a trade partner prior to Monday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. While DeBrusk's production has dropped off the past couple of seasons, he has the physical tools to be an effective power forward. A change of scenery could help and he could help deepen a contender's middle-six.
Senators re-up Forsberg
Another bottom-feeding team extends its starting goalie, as Anton Forsberg and the Senators agree to a three-year deal with a $2.75 million average annual value. After stops in Columbus, Chicago, and Carolina, the 29-year-old Forsberg has found a long-term hockey home in Ottawa. He has a .918 save percentage through 31 games, saving 8.84 goals above average and 7.86 goals above expected, per Evolving Hockey. Pretty damn good. Most crucially, this deal brings stability to Ottawa's crease at a reasonable price tag.
Coyotes re-sign Vejmelka
Goalie Karel Vejmelka gets rewarded with a three-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $2.725 million. The right-catching, 25-year-old Czechia netminder has impressed in his first NHL season, posting a .906 save percentage in 36 games behind a woeful Coyotes squad. Arizona announced the extension a day after trading Vejmelka's partner, Scott Wedgewood, to the Dallas Stars for a fourth-round pick.
Jets add Beaulieu
Pittsburgh acquires: D Nathan Beaulieu
Winnipeg acquires: 7th-round pick (2022, conditional)
This is Penguins management adding injury insurance to its back end, nothing more. Beaulieu, a 29-year-old left-shot defenseman, averaged 10:46 of ice time in 24 games for the Jets this year. He contributed four assists and posted terrible underlying numbers. A pending unrestricted free agent, Beaulieu makes $1.25 million against the cap. He's now been traded three times over his career, having previously been sent from Montreal to Buffalo in 2017 and from Buffalo to Winnipeg in 2019.
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