We are less than six hours from the deadline, and it's shaping up to be a busy day.
Two expected trade candidates changed teams, one on Sunday, and the other early Monday.
First, forward
Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to the Washington Capitals
by the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Then defenseman
Mike Green was traded to the Edmonton Oilers
by the Detroit Red Wings for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional pick in either to 2020 NHL Draft or 2021 NHL Draft.
The trade of Kovalchuk puts the forward on the same team as his friend and Russia countryman Alex Ovechkin.
Here's what Kovalchuk said about Ovechkin last month.
"First thing that comes to mind when I hear Ovechkin's name is how we first met. I think I was 14-years-old and he was 13. We were at a training camp in Yaroslavl,"' Kovalchuk said. "So, we know each other for a long time, we're friends, our families spend time together. He's a gold standard of a hockey player. A true role model for kids in Russia, America and anywhere in the world."
The Green trade could be the start of a busy deadline day for the Red Wings, who held Green and forward Andreas Athanasiou out of the lineup for their game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
As for Edmonton, captain Connor McDavid was thrilled with the addition of Green.
"It's exciting. I've been on the other side where you're losing friends to trade and all that, so it's nice to be on the other side where you're acquiring guys and trying to make a push," McDavid said. "I think Green's a great player, he's a veteran guy. He's been around a long time and moves the puck really well. I'm really looking forward to having him come and join."
Despite the Kovalchuk and Green situations being cleared up, there are plenty of issues to be resolved Monday:
- Will the New York Rangers, who are four points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, trade pending unrestricted free agent forward Chris Kreider or keep him in the hopes of reaching the postseason?
- What will happen with some of the other high-profile pending UFAs like Chicago Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner and Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau?
- Will the Carolina Hurricanes try to acquire a goalie with James Reimer and Petr Mrazek each sustaining an injury on Saturday that led to
emergency backup goalie David Ayres
having to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs?
- Will the Maple Leafs, who are batting for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, add anybody to the roster?
- How will the New Jersey Devils, who have already traded defenseman Andy Greene and forward Blake Coleman, approach the deadline?
- Which teams in the Pacific Division, where the top five are separated by six points, will make a move to strengthen their playoff push?
It should be a wild day, and we will be here the whole time.