New Jersey Devils Acquire Wing Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Bystander note: The Devils are going to be pretty scary in 2023-24. Imagine a first line centered around Nico Hischer with Ondrej Balat and Jesper Pratt on the wings with Toffoli skating on the right wing on the second line centered by Jack Hughes and Timo Meyer on the left wing.
Toffoli requested a trade from the Flames after he indicated he was not interested in a contract extension. He had career bests with 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points. If he meshes well with Hughes and Meyer, the Devils will have more deadly hits than they’ve had this season.
The move leaves the Devils with $19 million in cap space with 15 active roster players under contract. Meyer still has to be re-signed which could eat up a good chunk of that cap space.
Meanwhile, The Flames are getting a decent return in Charangovich. A restricted free agent coming off a two-year contract with an annual maximum of $2 million, he should be an affordable re-signer.
A versatile striker who can play in the center position or on either wing, 25-year-old Charangović is kept short of his career bests with 24 goals and 46 points. His production this season dropped to 13 goals and 30 points as he was dropped to the Devils’ third line. He’ll get a chance to earn Calgary’s best six minutes.
the Winnipeg Jets commerce Pierre Luc Dubois to Los Angeles Kings against the attackers Alex YuffaloAnd Gabriel Villardi and Rasmus Koppari as well as a 2024 second-round pick. The Kings also signed DuBois to an eight-year contract believed to be worth $8.5 million in average annual value.
Bystander note: This is a big move by the Kings as they attempt to transition from playoff contention to Stanley Cup contender.
Dubois, 25, is one of the first six strikers who can play as a winger or winger. The 6’4″, 214-pounder hit a career-best 63 points with the Jets, reaching the 60-point plateau for the third time in five years. He can play a two-way game but he does his best in the attacking area.
After being issued a one-year, $6 million contract, the DuBois camp was to seek more than $9 million annually for its clients. He still gets a good premium here on a long term deal.
Dubois comes in with some baggage after he forces the Jets (and kisses them, Columbus Blue Jackets) in trading it. However, Kings general manager Rob Blake thinks it’s worth the investment. He will probably skate as a left winger in the second line alongside him Kevin Fiala.
The Jets wanted a running back who would help them now and in the future.
Vilardi is the main plus here. And the 23-year-old winger shook off early career-threatening injuries to post a career-best 23 goals and 41 points in 63 games this season. A restricted free agent with arbitration rights, he should be an affordable re-signer for the Jets. If Velarde can stay healthy, he needs to move forward in Winnipeg.
Yavalo, 29, plays a solid two-way game and should fit in well with the Jets’ checking lines. He signed through 2024-25 at an average annual value of $4 million. He had 36 points in 59 games this season, marking the fifth consecutive season he’s passed the 30-point plateau.
The 23-year-old Kobari completes his basic contract. He has split the past three seasons between the Kings and their AHL affiliates. He has potential as a playmaker striker who can play in the middle or wing.
the Philadelphia Flyers trade center Kevin Hayes to St. Louis Blues in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2024. The Flyers also hold 50 percent of Haye’s average annual value of $7.14 million through 2025-26.
Bystander note: Here are the fallout from an alleged trade attempt by the Flyers and Blues that would have involved the defenseman Travis Sanheim Going to St. Louis with Hayes and Blueliner Tore Krug I’m going to Philadelphia. But Krug canceled that deal by refusing to waive the no-trade clause.
The Flyers really wanted Hayes gone after butting heads at times this season with head coach John Tortorella. They settled on keeping half of his hat which he hit to get him moving. It’s the second significant trade for new general manager Daniel Breyer, who has been charging Ivan Provorov to Columbus Blue Jackets Earlier this month in a deal involving Los Angeles Kings.
With half of Hayes’ salary off their books, the Flyers have over $10 million in maximum space projected for 2023-24 with 15 active roster players under contract. One wonders what other moves Breyer might have up his sleeve in the coming days.
For the Blues, GM Doug Armstrong appears committed to a quick turnaround next season after missing the 2023 playoffs. They’ve got a 31-year-old who put up 54 points with the struggling Flyers for the season. He will likely go into the second line position, which likely means they won’t bring back their former captain Ryan O’Reillywho was dealt to Toronto before the March trade deadline.
the Colorado Avalanche trade center Alex Newhawk To the Montreal Canadien in exchange for the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, 37th overall pick and prospect Gianni Fairbrother
Spectator’s note: This is an affordable gamble by the Canadians, who already have a promising prospect pool along with the many talented youngsters already on their roster.
Kent Hughes made a notable reclamation project last season with his acquisition Kirby roof from chicago. Newhook looks like the latest. He is giving up his primary contract.
The 22-year-old is a former first-round pick by the Avalanche who has two 30-plus seasons under his belt. Able to play center or wing, is 5’10”, 190 pounder, has good pace and playmaking abilities. He’s also at the right age to fit into the Canadiens’ rebuilding program.
Meanwhile, Colorado now holds two first-round picks and one second-round pick from this year’s draft. They didn’t have second-to-fourth-round picks prior to this trade, so this move puts them in a much better position. They can keep these new acquisitions to restock their potential pipeline or perhaps use them as commercial bait to add to their existing roster.
the New Jersey Devils trade Goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood to San Jose Sharks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2023.
Bystander’s note: Blackwood was considered a future goaltender for the Devils, and he was hampered by frequent injuries. The 26-year-old has been limited to 47 matches over the past two seasons.
A restricted free agent One year away from unrestricted free agent eligibility, Blackwood is no longer suitable for the Devils with Vitek Vanishk And Akira Schmid as their current synonym. Trades involving a goaltender may not be made as they have been linked with Winnipeg Conor Hellbwick.
Blackwood will now get a chance at a fresh start with the Sharks rebuilding. He can get a one-year “show-me” contract with the chance to earn a long-term deal based on performance. If they fail to do so, they can ship him to a contender in the final match at the next year’s trade deadline.