CarterHud

               The New Jersey Devils have acquired forward Patrick Maroon from the Edmonton Oielrs in exchange for a third round pick and prospect J.D. Dudek.

                For the Devils, they are in the playoff hunt. Maroon is a top nine winger that will help their forward core. He\’s a rental, and they don\’t give up too much for him.

                Maroon, 29, has scored 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 57 games for the Oilers this season. In his NHL career for the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, Maroon has scored 75 goals and 90 assists for 165 points in 358 games.

                 For the Oilers, they trade a rental in Maroon, who won\’t help them for the rest of the year. Maroon did say he\’d re-sign with Edmonton after the season (even after the trade). They don\’t get too much for him, but it won\’t matter if they sign him. Dudek is a college prospect who\’s rights were only dealt.

                 Dudek, 22, has scored six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 33 games for Boston College this season.

                 I think the Devils win this trade. They get a solid winger who should cost more in an increased market, which affects every trade made this year. That\’s why they win.

                The San Jose Sharks have acquired forward Evander Kane from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Danny O\’Regan, a conditional 1st round pick and a conditional 4th round pick.

                 For the Sharks, they are in the playoff race, and Kane could help them make the playoffs. He is a rental, but they give up less than they would for most other rentals. He can help a lot. Even though he isn\’t the best locker room guy, he\’s only going to be there for three months tops, and how bad could it get in that short of a time?

                 Kane, 26, has scored 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 61 games this season for the Sabres. In his career for them and the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, Kane has scored 177 goals and 163 assists for 340 points in 557 games.

                 For the Sabres, they are one of the worst teams in the league, and Kane, who is a very trade able player. They didn\’t get as much as other players who were traded, though. O\’Regan is a depth player, and they just need to draft the right player with the 1st to win this deal.

                 O\’Regan, 24, has scored four points, all assists in 19 games for the Sharks this season. In his NHL career, all in San Jose, O\’Regan has scored one goal and those four assists for five points in 22 games.

                 I think the Sharks win this trade. With players with numbers worse than his getting better returns, the Sabres could\’ve gotten more for Kane.

             The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired forward Thomas Vanek from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.

              For the Blue Jackets, they are making a push to make the playoffs, acquiring Mark Letestu, Ian Cole, and now Vanek. Vanek has very similar stats to Rick Nash, who was dealt for a 1st, a prospect and a 3rd line center. This is a trade they couldn\’t pass up on.

             Vanek, 34, has scored 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 61 games for the Canucks this year. In his career for Vancouver, the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, Vanek has scored 350 goals and 388 assists for 738 points in 946 games.

               For the Canucks, they basically had no choice but to deal Vanek. They could\’ve gotten more, but I think GM Jim Benning is satisfied. This will now be Jokinen\’s fourth team of the season, so everybody wants him (or doesn\’t want him). Motte is a speedy winger acquired in the Artemi Panarin trade with upside.

               Jokinen, 34, has scored one goal and six assists for seven points in 46 games for the Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers this season. In his NHL career for the Blue Jackets, Oilers, Kings, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars, Jokinen has scored 187 goals and 366 assists for 553 points in 937 games.

               Motte, 22, has scored three goals and two assists for five points in 31 games for the Blue Jackets this season. In his NHL career for the Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks, Motte has scored seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 64 games.

               I think the Blue Jackets win this deal. With an increased trade market, this trade is more of a deal you\’d see in a dying market. An increased trade market makes this deal horrible for the Canucks, because they could\’ve gotten more.

                      The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired forward Tomas Tatar from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2018 1st round pick, a 2019 2nd rounder, and a 2021 3rd round draft pick.

                      For the Golden Knights, they are way up in a playoff spot, something nobody expected from them at the beginning of the year. Tatar is a player who can score goals, something that will never negatively affect a team. They give up a little too much, but it may be worth it, especially since they get three additional years of him.

                     Tatar, 27, has scored 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 points in 62 games this season for the Wings. In his NHL career, all in Detroit, Tatar has scored 115 goals and 107 assists for 222 points in 407 games.

                     For the Red Wings, they are in the midst of a rebuild, and need to free up cap space. Tatar\’s $5.3 million cap hit over three more years was a no-brainer to trade. They get picks in the first three rounds, and even though they are all in different years, they all have a good chance to be a valuable player.

                      I think the Red Wings win this deal. While Tatar is valuable, I don\’t think he\’s worth a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd round pick. It\’s a fleece.