Written by JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO, AP Hockey Writers.

After the Carolina Hurricanes started making trade moves before the NHL deadline, other teams quickly followed suit on Friday.

The Hurricanes started the last day of trading by getting center Evgeny Kuznetsov from the Washington Capitals. In return, Washington received a third-round pick for 2025 and will pay half of his salary until next season, which equals a $7.8 million salary cap with $8 million owed in 2024-25.

Carolina made their second significant trade in a span of 12 hours, immediately following their acquisition of scoring winger Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh in a major trade.

Afterwards, there was a sequence of actions primarily taken by teams from the Eastern Conference in an effort to stay competitive.

Two days following the trade for Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa, the Florida Panthers, currently holding the top spot in the league, further bolstered their roster by acquiring Kyle Okposo from Buffalo. In exchange, Buffalo received minor-league defenseman Calle Sjalin. This deal presents a valuable opportunity for the 35-year-old Sabres captain to contribute to a playoff run in what may be his last season in the NHL.

The Boston Bruins recently acquired Patrick Maroon from Minnesota, adding to their roster of top contenders in the Eastern Conference. In exchange, they traded young forward Luke Toporowski and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick.

The New York Rangers, currently at the top of the Metropolitan Division, have bolstered their defense by acquiring Chad Ruhwedel from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have unexpectedly entered a rebuilding phase.

Philadelphia strengthened their defense by trading a fourth-round draft pick with Buffalo in exchange for veteran player Erik Johnson.

In the West, the surging Jets acquired forward Tyler Toffoli in a trade with New Jersey to become Winnipeg’s latest addition after landing center Sean Monahan from Montreal during the All-Star break. The Devils acquired a 2024 third- and a 2025 second-round pick while also retaining half of the pending free agent’s salary for the remainder of the season.

The Nashville Predators, currently holding a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, acquired forward Jason Zucker from Arizona in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick this year in an effort to solidify their position in the playoffs.

The Hurricanes remain the center of attention, as they have continued strengthening their already skilled team. However, they fell short in the Eastern Conference finals and were swept by Florida, only managing a total of six goals.

“According to Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell, Evgeny is a skilled playmaker who will contribute greatly to our offensive strength. He also brings a valuable level of experience to our team in playoffs, and we are thrilled to give him a new opportunity with the Hurricanes in Carolina.”

31-year-old Kuznetsov successfully completed the player assistance program and was able to resume practice. However, he was still sent down to the minors following clearing waivers. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan announced his plans to try and trade Kuznetsov, who was the top scorer for Washington during their 2018 Stanley Cup victory.

Reworded: Guentzel is excited about joining the Hurricanes and getting back on the ice. This trade comes at a time when he is close to being able to return to playing after being out for almost a month due to an upper body injury.

During a conversation on Friday, Guentzel acknowledged the accomplishments of the team in the previous years and their level of performance. He also mentioned that the team has outstanding players and is coached effectively.

There are still many players who could potentially be traded before the deadline, with a particular emphasis on goalies. Jacob Markstrom of Calgary, Jake Allen of Montreal, and Linus Ullmark of Boston are all possible candidates being considered for a trade.

It’s possible that the Capitals still have plans for Nic Dowd, Charlie Lindgren, and Max Pacioretty, as they are rumored to be available for trade.

The Seattle team recently made a trade with the New York Rangers by sending away their center, Alexander Wennberg. However, they were able to keep winger Jordan Eberle as the Kraken came to terms with him on a two-year deal worth $9.5 million.

The Los Angeles Kings are the sole team out of the top 12 contenders for the Stanley Cup to have not made any major additions in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the Capitals and Penguins are facing a unique situation as they are now sellers at the trade deadline. This is a change from their usual dominance over the past 20 years, which began when Alex Ovechkin arrived in Washington in 2004 and Sidney Crosby arrived in Pittsburgh a year later. These two teams have collectively won four Stanley Cups, but their focus now is on the future. Both are at risk of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Pittsburgh Penguins player Evgeni Malkin stated on Friday that although it may be a difficult situation, he and his team are still encouraged to enjoy playing hockey. He added that the team has a wonderful dynamic and is backed by a fantastic organization. Despite any challenges, Malkin remains confident in his abilities.

Despite being 37 years old, Malkin has expressed that he has not given up on the season, even though the Penguins are currently eight points away from being in contention.

The speaker expressed hope that some new additions to their team would bring new energy. They also maintained belief in the team’s chances of making it to the playoffs, although they acknowledged it may not be a big chance.

Should Kuznetsov contribute to the Hurricanes winning their second franchise championship, they will give up their first- and fifth-round picks in the current year’s draft to acquire Guentzel from the Penguins. Guentzel, who is set to become a free agent and has scored 20 goals twice, is part of the trade deal.

Kuznetsov had already arrived in North Carolina before the agreement, participating in training with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears in anticipation of their match against Charlotte on Friday evening.
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The report was contributed to by AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh.
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Source: wralsportsfan.com