The Edmonton Oilers appear to be setting the table for something bigger.
General manager Peter Chiarelli pulled off a trio of trades over the past 24 hours, all of which involved dealing expiring contracts in exchange for draft picks:
While Chiarelli's team appears headed towards another high first-round selection, possibly even the first overall pick, it doesn't mean he'll necessarily be heading to the podium when the picks he acquired Saturday come up at the 2016 draft.
"It doesn't necessarily mean we'll use them for drafting." GM Chiarelli on #Oilers potentially using picks to trade for roster players
Chiarelli added he may not be done dealing prior to Monday's trade deadline, and that the next couple of days could also be used to set the groundwork for other moves to come.
Part of the issue, the GM said, is not having had the ability to assess his roster at full strength, as centers Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl have rarely been in the lineup at the same time this season.
The potential draft-day addition of Auston Matthews would certainly create a glut of talent at the position - something that Edmonton could solve, should they be put in the situation, by using the potential excess of talent at center to fill holes elsewhere.
Defenseman Eric Gryba represents the lone impending unrestricted free agent remaining on the Oilers' roster, and is a candidate to be dealt prior to Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Following the trading of James Reimer earlier in the day, Parenteau represented Toronto's last great hope of reeling in draft picks or prospects at the deadline, but the idea of sitting him out to protect his value doesn't appear to have been in consideration.
I asked Mike Babcock yesterday if there was any thought to sitting a player for this game because of trade scenarios. His answer: "No."
The Nashville Predators finally have the look of a formidable foe in the Western Conference landscape.
But their season wasn't always tracking down that path.
The Predators, who have never been known as an offensive powerhouse, pulled off an early January trade that brought bona fide No. 1 center Ryan Johansen to the Music City, at the cost of blue-chip defenseman Seth Jones. But even as Johansen began to put up points in his new threads, it was the goaltending - or rather, a lack thereof - that remained Nashville's biggest cause for concern this season, and the primary reason behind their dropping from a potential Stanley Cup contender to a playoff bubble team.
Pekka Rinne, a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, began this season sharp enough, posting a record of 6-1-2 with a .925 save percentage in October. Over the next three-and-a-half months, however, his performance fell off substantially. Even Rinne himself couldn't pinpoint what was going wrong.
If the past five games are any indication, however, the Rinne of old is back - and just in time, too.
Date
Opponent
Result
Shots Against
Saves
Sv%
Feb. 18
Boston
W 2-0
29
29
1.000
Feb. 20
Los Angeles
L 2-1 (OT)
30
28
.933
Feb. 22
Montreal
W 2-1 (SO)
29
28
.966
Feb. 25
Chicago
W 3-1
39
38
.974
Feb. 27
St. Louis
W 5-0
28
28
1.000
Saturday's 5-0 shutout win over St. Louis gave the Predators a secure hold on the first wild-card spot in the West; they're now five points ahead of Colorado, and nine clear of Minnesota. Nashville has gone 6-1-3 over its past 10 games, and Rinne - who's been leading the way with strong play between the pipes - has credited two seemingly opposite feelings for the team's strong run of late.
Why are the Predators playing their best right now? "I think it's just desperation and confidence," Pekka Rinne said.
With Johansen solidifying the center spot, a solid defense corps still intact despite the subtraction of Jones, and the emergence of Filip Forsberg as a potentially elite goal-scorer who's been virtually unstoppable of late, Rinne's resurgence should be what ultimately gives the once-desperate Predators a healthy measure of confidence as the postseason approaches.
A puck was somehow fired from close range right into the face of New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi on Saturday, becoming lodged - again, somehow - behind his visor.
Girardi was fine, thankfully, and, let's be honest, the eye-patch look suits him.
Senators general manager Bryan Murray told reporters this week the goal is to have Neil, who's been with the organization since being drafted 161st overall in 1998, finish his career in Ottawa.
The reported deal, barring an injury, will ensure Neil plays his 1,000th game with Ottawa some time next season.
Neil ranks third in team history in games played, and his 2,416 career penalty minutes is three times more Chris Phillips, who ranks second in club history.
He has three goals, 10 points, and 122 penalty minutes in 62 games this year.
TORONTO - The Maple Leafs thought they had it figured out.
During the lockout-shortened 2013 season, James Reimer performed well as the team's undisputed starting goalie. A 2.46 goals-against average and .924 save percentage were career bests for the Manitoba native. He also helped Toronto grab its only playoff berth since 2004.
Despite his exploits, the Leafs added "depth" in the crease by acquiring Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings that June. It was a trade that didn’t necessarily sit well with Reimer, but given his character and professionalism, he took it in stride. After one season behind Bernier, Reimer and the Maple Leafs agreed to a two-year, $4.6-million contract.
Along the way, though, Toronto's goaltending plan fell apart.
Best laid plans ...
After a strong first season, and a so-so second season, Bernier struggled to begin 2015-16. Freshly signed to a two-year, $8.3-million extension, he gave up questionable goals early in games, and went winless in his first 11 starts. It was a nightmare first impression to deliver to new head coach Mike Babcock.
When Reimer was thrust into duty, he took advantage, posting career-high numbers. His play cast further doubt on the future in Toronto's crease.
Modest return
Given the Maple Leafs' return for trading Reimer to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday - at best a third-round draft pick - the team's future, and vision, in goal is hazier than ever.
"We needed to take a look at our minor-league goalies who are playing extremely well,” Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said on a conference call. "We have to look at Garret Sparks right now and see (if) how he performed earlier is something that is the real thing."
Sparks was summoned to back up Bernier for Toronto's game in Montreal on Saturday night. He is 3-1 with a .915 save percentage in his rookie season.
A pick and perhaps an open door
What Toronto received for Reimer pales in comparison to the two second-round draft picks it acquired from San Jose earlier in the week in a trade for Roman Polak and Nick Spaling. But with so many moves being made and so few suitors looking for a goaltender, the Maple Leafs felt it necessary to get a return on their best goaltender right now.
Reimer is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Although the door is potentially open for him to come back, the salary cap trumps all.
"It's certainly behind your mind and I think that's the best I can answer that," Lamoriello said regarding Reimer’s possible return. "I think in this world ... where the cap is ... whatever transpires with the salaries is going to be more prevalent than it has been in the past."
Translation: Reimer is only coming back at the right price and term. Given that both sides were far apart on that front, moving Reimer was Toronto's way of delaying the decision.
Reimer joins San Jose with a shot at returning to the playoffs. Although it appears he'll back up Martin Jones to begin his Sharks career, Reimer's .918 save percentage in front of an awful Toronto team is better than Jones' .916 in front of a team in playoff position.
"Obviously I had a lot of good years (in Toronto). It's definitely a weird feeling to be going somewhere else," Reimer said, also thanking the media and fans for how he was treated. "You guys are great. Thank you for all you guys did."
Toronto’s biggest unknown: Who will start the 2016-17 season as the team’s staring goalie? With Reimer out of the picture in the short term, the possibilities seem endless, but the ideal solution far away.
The deal closes a chapter on endless speculation regarding Schultz, who was a healthy scratch Thursday for "protection reasons."
"We were trying to add some depth to our defense and we were very pleased to add him," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said.
The 25-year-old moves on from the Oilers after joining them during the 2012-13 season as a free agent out of the University of Wisconsin.
After an impressive rookie season where he notched eight goals and 27 points, Schultz has seen his offensive production drop while criticism about his defensive play grew.
Schultz concludes his time with the Oilers with 28 goals and 101 points in 248 games.
The 27-year-old - dealt to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, alongside Jeremy Morin in exchange for goaltender Alex Stalock, forward Ben Smith, and a fourth-round draft pick in 2018 - hasn't ruled out a return to his former club.
"It's definitely an option," said Reimer, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "It's a special place and I have a lot of great memories here and a lot of good friends.
"Who knows what's going to happen. It's a long time in the future and we'll cross that bridge when we do. As for right now, I'm looking forward to putting on a Shark's uniform."
What did being a Leaf mean to James Reimer? "You have a chance to uphold the history & wear that jersey with pride" pic.twitter.com/wFQlibru9w
Reimer's six-year career with the Maple Leafs saw him become the team's all-time leader in career save percentage with a .914 mark, while also ranking 10th in wins, and third with 5,590 career saves.
With trade winds swirling all over the NHL, a member of the Dallas Stars made an early exit from Saturday's game against the New York Rangers.
Forward Ales Hemsky was forced out of the contest due to an illness, and was deemed unable to return.
Earlier on Saturday, a report surfaced suggesting Dallas was interested in acquiring defenseman Dan Hamhuis from the Vancouver Canucks. Whether Hemsky's apparent illness is in any way related to possible moves at the impending trade deadline remains to be seen.
For the second time in three games, the Nashville Predators forward recorded a hat trick, with his latest three-goal outburst coming in succession during the second period of Saturday's contest against the St. Louis Blues.
The goal that completed Forsberg's natural hat trick also spelled the end of Jake Allen's afternoon in net.
Forsberg now has 12 goals in his past 11 games, and a total of 26 on the season, which ties his career-high mark from last year.
