The Seattle Kraken traded forward Calle Jarnkrok to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick (originally the Florida Panthers'), a 2023 third-round selection, and a 2024 seventh-rounder, the team announced Wednesday.

Seattle will retain 50% of Jarnkrok's salary.

This marks the Flames' second big acquisition ahead of next week's trade deadline after the club landed Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens in February.

The Kraken selected Jarnkrok from the Nashville Predators in the expansion draft. The 30-year-old forward has 12 goals and 14 assists in 49 games this season and can slot in anywhere in the Flames' lineup.

Calgary currently sits comfortably atop the Pacific Division with a 36-16-7 record.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks signed forward Tomas Hertl to an eight-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $8.1375 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The first three years have a no-movement clause, and the final five years have a limited no-trade clause, Friedman adds.

Hertl was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season ended.

The 28-year-old's name was floated around in trade rumors all season long, but San Jose's management was adamant that the club wanted to sign him to a long-term deal.

Hertl plays a dynamic two-way game and excels on both ends of the ice. He's having a great campaign with the Sharks, tied for first on the team with 25 goals and sitting second in points with 48.

San Jose currently has no forwards on its roster signed beyond the 2023-24 season. The club has defensemen Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic signed long term, but Hertl now figures to be the Sharks' centerpiece on offense as they usher in a new era.

Hertl has 176 goals and 195 assists in 562 career games. He ranks third on the squad with 315 points and second with 148 goals since the beginning of the 2015-16 season.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Kraken captain Mark Giordano won't play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, head coach Dave Hakstol announced, according to NHL.com's Andy Eide.

The veteran defenseman is a premium trade chip for the Kraken. General manager Ron Francis reportedly met with Giordano in late February to discuss his future with the league's newest franchise, and the pending unrestricted free agent is expected to be moved ahead of the March 21 deadline.

Seattle will celebrate Giordano for playing in 1,000 NHL games before the puck drops on Wednesday's contest.

Giordano is tied for most points among all Kraken blue-liners with 23 in 55 games. The 38-year-old has logged 46 hits and 98 blocks while averaging over 21 minutes a contest.

He's playing out the final season of a six-year deal with a $6.75-million cap hit.

The Montreal Canadiens pulled off a similar move Tuesday when they sat coveted defenseman Ben Chiarot against the Arizona Coyotes.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are trading forward Frank Vatrano to the New York Rangers for a fourth-round pick in 2022, the teams announced Wednesday.

Vatrano is a pending unrestricted free agent and has a $2.53-million cap hit.

The 28-year-old has been buried in a stacked Panthers attack this season. He's notched 19 points in 49 games while averaging just over 12 minutes per night.

Vatrano posted a career-high 24 goals for Florida in 2018-19.

The Rangers had their own fourth-rounder as well as the Winnipeg Jets' prior to the trade. The Panthers will receive whichever pick is lower.

New York and Florida are both expected to be buyers leading up to Monday's trade deadline as two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg and goaltender Braden Holtby are staying put.

Barring any overwhelming offers, general manager Jim Nill said he isn't looking to move two of his biggest trade chips ahead of the March 21 deadline, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

Klingberg, a pending unrestricted free agent, has been on the trade block for most of the season. However, the 29-year-old's presence became critical for a team in the throes of a playoff race following the news that defenseman Miro Heiskanen is out indefinitely with mononucleosis.

"Let's be clear, I'm not calling teams about (Klingberg)," Nill said.

"We've talked to some people, and you always have to look at things. But our focus is on making the playoffs. That's very important to our franchise. John's a big part of that, and we'll just move forward."

Klingberg said in January that he didn't feel "appreciated" after his contract negotiations with Dallas stalled. Shortly after his comments, the Stars reportedly ramped up their efforts to trade the veteran blue-liner.

Nill added that he never actively shopped Holtby around, but Anton Khudobin's injury solidified his place in Dallas. Khudobin will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair earlier this week.

The Stars are one point behind the stumbling Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Klingberg averages 22 minutes of ice time a night and leads all Stars defensemen with 31 points in 51 games.

Holtby, 32, has rebounded in a big way after having his contract bought out by the Vancouver Canucks in July. He's logged a .913 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average across 24 appearances this season.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a jam-packed schedule Tuesday night, we have just four games on the docket Wednesday evening.

While I don't yet see a ton of value in terms of sides, I have found one I like to pair with shot props.

Devils (+265) @ Flames (-330)

The New Jersey Devils have quietly played pretty solid hockey of late. While they only have four wins over the last 10 games, they've often dictated play at five-on-five, and their share of the high-danger chances is above 60% during that span.

Maintaining their standing in that category is going to be a difficult task in this game. The Calgary Flames are sixth in high-danger chance share over the last 10 games. That total sits above 60% if we adjust to their last 10 in Calgary. They routinely dominate in the chance department and are better equipped to capitalize than New Jersey.

The Flames also have an enormous edge in goal. Nico Daws has mostly played well of late, but the rookie netminder enters play having started eight straight. That's a lot to ask of a guy still finding his footing in the league, and Tuesday night gave us our first indication the heavy workload is taking its toll. Daws allowed 2.36 goals more than expected before being yanked, presumably to preserve some energy for this game.

I'm not sure he'll fare much better considering the stress the Flames put on opposing netminders. They rank sixth in attempts per 60, fifth in expected goals per 60, and fifth in actual goals per 60 on home soil. Suffice to say, they don't make it easy on you.

Calgary has a better, more balanced roster. It has a potential Vezina Trophy candidate going up against an unpolished rookie. It's a rested squad playing host to a fatigued team. New Jersey also has injury concerns, as its best defensive blue-liner, Jonas Siegenthaler, was unable to go on Tuesday night while Pavel Zacha left with an injury and won't dress in this game.

The Flames should be able to flex their muscles in this one.

Bet: Flames -1.5 (-125)

Josh Norris over 2.5 shots (+100)

Norris has been one of my favorite value targets for some time. While he doesn't go over the number on a nightly basis, he routinely gets the job done at home when he has an advantageous matchup. That's most definitely the situation he finds himself in on Wednesday night.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the NHL's worst shot-suppression teams. They give up a ton of attempts and shots on target, especially to centers.

Only the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have conceded more shots to the position. In New York's case, the difference is just one shot.

Norris found himself in a similar spot at home to the Arizona Coyotes last time out, and he dinged them for five shots on target. I don't know if he'll reach those heights again, but I do expect a productive outing.

Oliver Bjorkstrand over 2.5 shots (+100)

Bjorkstrand is a rare cat who enjoys more success on the road than at home. He's gone over his shot total (2.5) in just 37% of his home games, but he gets the job done 54% of the time on the road. That's a big difference.

Only two teams have allowed shot attempts at a higher rate than the Ottawa Senators, who've been absolutely crushed by right-wingers all year. Only the Detroit Red Wings have conceded more shots to the position on a per-game basis.

Bjorkstrand only had two shots the last time these teams met, but it wasn't for a lack of chances - he had six attempts toward the net. Look for him to have more success this time around.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Change can be a scary thing, but sometimes a little shake-up can go a long way.

Whether they're toiling away on an underperforming team, underperforming on a solid team, or fading into the background on their current squad, here are five NHL players who could greatly benefit from a change of scenery as the March 21 trade deadline approaches.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Blackhawks

Just nine months removed from taking home the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his illustrious career, Fleury finds himself on a non-playoff team in the Chicago Blackhawks. If he stays put, the 2021-22 season would mark the first time he failed to reach the playoffs in 15 seasons.

The 37-year-old has put up admirable numbers on a team that's leaky defensively - the Blackhawks control less than 50% of the shot attempts and expected goals at five-on-five - but finds himself in the midst of an up-and-down campaign.

If the season were to end today, his .909 save percentage would be his third sub-.910 mark in his last six campaigns. Fleury's also dangerously close to eclipsing a goals against average of over three for just the fourth time in his career. On the advanced stats side of things, he owns a 0.68 goals saved above average rate and a minus-7 goals saved above expected rate at five-on-five.

Fleury is playing out the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract and has stayed relatively mum about his future plans. The three-time Stanley Cup winner said in February that he "would love a chance to win" if he were moved at the deadline but added that he'd be open to re-signing in Chicago.

Luckily for Fleury, if he is indeed moved, plenty of contending teams need a boost in the crease, and he'd instantly become the top netminder available. Either way, the ball is mostly in Fleury's court, thanks in part to the 10-team no-trade clause included in his contract.

Max Comtois, Ducks

Comtois had a season to remember in 2020-21. He led all Anaheim Ducks skaters with 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games. Though that may not seem like eye-popping totals, he produced at a 0.60 point-per-game clip while tripling his output from the previous season.

All in all, the forward seemed primed to build on his breakthrough season and was rewarded for his efforts with a two-year, $4.08-million deal in the offseason, but he hasn't been able to keep the momentum going this campaign.

Comtois has been mired by not one, but two separate 11-game pointless droughts this season. He hasn't been in the lineup on a consistent basis when the Ducks are fully healthy and has logged just three goals and seven assists in 37 games. Comtois' campaign has also been hampered by health issues - he missed almost six weeks after undergoing hand surgery in November and followed that up with a stint in COVID-19 protocol.

If the Ducks' youth movement is proceeding without him and he's fallen out of favor in Anaheim, then it might be best for both parties if he moved on.

Besides, Comtois has one year left on a decent contract - not to mention that he's been handcuffed by a career-worst shooting percentage of 5.4% - so he could be a low-risk, high-reward option for teams in the market for a winger.

Jake DeBrusk, Bruins

Is this one obvious? Yes. Is it still valid? You bet - it'd be an oversight to leave him out.

It's been a well-documented fact since November that DeBrusk wants out of the Boston Bruins. He reiterated his desire for a change when his camp reportedly informed teams of his willingness to work on an extension to facilitate a deal in early March.

Inconsistency has been the bane of DeBrusk's time as a Bruin. It was at the heart of head coach Bruce Cassidy's decision to make him a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season, after which DeBrusk immediately submitted a trade request. After averaging just over 20 goals in his first three seasons in the NHL, DeBrusk took a nosedive in 2020-21 and logged just five goals and nine assists in 41 showings.

He looked doomed to put up only slightly better (but still iffy) numbers this campaign after recording nine goals and eight assists in the first 45 games of the season, but a promotion to the top line in late February helped boost his production. He's registered six goals and two assists in his last 10 games alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand while showcasing his potential to any suitors. His recent performances might help interested buyers forget that he's gone through four separate goalless droughts of six or more games so far this season.

DeBrusk has had the biggest impact out of the Bruins' trio of underwhelming 2015 first-round draft picks, but his career hasn't quite panned out as planned. Maybe a divorce from Boston is just what he needs. At the very least, he's extremely likely to get one.

Max Domi, Blue Jackets

Domi may not be the flashiest forward available at the deadline, but physical players capable of producing offense are always in demand on the market.

His play throughout his NHL career has been streaky - and that's been no different this season. Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen even described Domi's game as "inconsistent" earlier this month, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Domi cooled off considerably after rattling off nine points in his first eight games of the campaign, but he's begun to heat up again in March.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to starting fresh on a new team, having previously played for the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens in his seven-year career. The 2013 No. 12 pick hasn't quite found the stability that may have been expected of him, but there have been some mitigating factors. He's been bit by the injury bug in Columbus, and none of the squads he's played for have been particularly noteworthy - his two campaigns with the Habs were the only times he's played on a team that finished the regular season with a points percentage over .500.

Domi also has a penchant for making a good first impression. Two of his best statistical seasons came during his first seasons with both the Coyotes and Canadiens.

He's set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and doesn't appear to be in the Blue Jackets' future plans. His deal carries a $5.3-million cap hit, and he likely isn't lined up for a significant raise, so Domi could be a motivated, serviceable rental who provides a spark for contending teams down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Alexandar Georgiev, Rangers

Any backup goaltender is going to have a bad time in the Big Apple thanks to Igor Shesterkin, who's making a major push for both the Vezina and Hart Trophies this season.

Unfortunately for Georgiev, he's currently the one living in the phenom's shadow on the New York Rangers. He even hinted at wanting more playing time earlier in March.

"I think there's only one way to be in the game rhythm - is to play. We've been doing some drills with (director of goaltending Benoit Allaire) and working hard in practice," he said after allowing five goals against the Minnesota Wild on March 8, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker. "I don't know what else we could do and that's maybe for us to think about."

The pending restricted free agent has shown flashes of potential. He performed remarkably with a .931 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average over six games when Shesterkin missed time with a lower-body injury in December. However, he's since been in a major free fall during his last seven contests. He's authored a .845 save percentage in that span and, prior to Tuesday's victory against the Ducks, hadn't won a game since Jan. 8.

Georgiev has the ability to be an upgrade in net for teams in the market for a goaltender. Any acquiring squad would be banking on the hope that the 26-year-old will see an uptick in his performance if given more responsibility.

Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.