CarterHud

              The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman Ian Cole from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2020 third round draft pick and forward Nick Moutrey.

              For the Blue Jackets, they weren\’t necessarily in the market for a defenseman, but, they have been shopping rental Jack Johnson, and this trade could signal a Johnson trade. The Ducks have made a push for Johnson, so that is probably the reason behind this trade. Oh, and Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen drafted Cole when he was with St. Louis.

              Cole, 29, has scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 47 games this season, for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In his career for them and the St. Louis Blues, Cole has scored 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points in 385 games.

               For the Sens, they got Cole in the Derick Brassard trade with the sole intention of flipping him. They get their expected third round pick, plus Moutrey, an AHLer.

               Moutrey, 22, has scored three goals and three assists for six points in 22 games this season for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

              I think this is an even trade. The Blue Jackets get their defenseman, and the Sens continue to pile up on picks.

             The Nashville Predators have acquired forward Brandon Bollig and goalie Troy Grosenick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 6th round draft pick.

             For the Preds, they get Grosenick, an AHL goalie to help with their organizational depth there. Plus, there isn\’t a big goalie trade market, so trying to grow their own goaltender isn\’t a bad alternative. I don\’t get the Bollig acquisition too much, but it seems like more of the same: depth. A sixth is nothing for two players.

            Bollig, 31, hasn\’t played in the NHL this year. In his career for the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks, Bollig has scored 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 241 games.

            Grosenick, 28, hasn\’t played too much in the NHL, but has a .948 SV% and a GAA of 1.53 in two NHL games for the Sharks.

            For the Sharks, they get rid of two AHLers that they didn\’t need. They only get a sixth, but like I said, it\’s a dump off.

           There is just one word to sum up this trade: why? It doesn\’t make too much sense for either team. Maybe it\’s setting up another deal for San Jose to come. That\’s all I can think of.

               The Nashville Predators have acquired center Mark Letestu from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Pontus Aberg. Surprisingly, Letestu was soon flipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 4th round draft pick.

               For the Oilers, they are trying to sell their rentals, like Letestu. They traded Brandon Davidson to the Islanders (don\’t get me started on that trade) and are shopping Patrick Maroon. They get a pretty good prospect in Aberg.

               Aberg, 24, has scored two goals and six assists for eight points in 37 games for the Preds this season. In his NHL career, all in Music City, Aberg has scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 52 games.

                For the Preds, I don\’t get this trade. If they could get Aberg for Letestu, but not Letestu for a 4th, why would they do Aberg for a 4th? It\’s weird, unless they were just trying to clear up a roster space for another trade, but then they would\’ve gotten Letestu involved. It\’s okay if you don\’t understand what I\’m saying.

               For the Blue Jackets, they get Letestu, who was their fourth line center and assistant captain a few years ago, before leaving for Edmonton. He is a solid player, and they know it.

               Letestu, 33, has scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 60 games this season. In his NHL career for the Oilers, Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins, Letestu has scored 92 goals and 114 assists for 206 points in 538 games.

               For the trade grading process, I\’m going to grade it like it\’s a three team deal. I think the Blue Jackets win this deal. They get a solid player, who\’s a rental, for just a 4th round pick. Then, the Oilers. They get a solid player with some potential still for a vet that they had just two months left of him. Then, it\’s the Preds. Aberg isn\’t anything special, but they could\’ve gotten something better than a fourth for him.

                  The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired center Tomas Plekanec and forward Kyle Baun from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Rinat Valiev, forward Kerby Rychel and a 2018 2nd round pick.

                   This trade reminds me a lot of when the Leafs acquired Brian Boyle last trade deadline. Pleakanec has had a rough last two seasons, but hasn\’t decreased in the faceoff circle, as he still has a faceoff percentage of over 50%. They give up some prospects, but Valiev and Rychel were both blocked by other players.

                    Plekanec, 35, has scored six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 60 games for the Habs this season. In his NHL career, all in Montreal, Plekanec has scored 232 goals and 373 assists for 605 points in 981 games.

                     Baun, 25, hasn\’t played in an NHL game this season. In his NHL career, all for the Chicago Blackhawks, Baun has scored no points in five games. Baun\’s grandfather, Bob Baun, was a four time cup winner with the Leafs.

                      For the Habs, Plekanec is way past his prime, and is a rental. To get two young players and a second rounder is a pretty good haul for him. It is hard to trade players that have played on the team for 15 years, but the time came to deal him.

                      Valiev, 22, hasn\’t played in the NHL this year. In his NHL career, all for the Leafs, Valiev has no points in 10 games.

                       Rychel, 23, hasn\’t played in the NHL this year. In his NHL career, all for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rychel has scored two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 37 games.

                       I think the Habs win this trade. Plekanec is not worth a second, plus two young players. Increased trade market or not, this is a bad deal for the Leafs.

                 In a six piece deal, the Boston Bruins acquired forward Rick Nash from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, plus a 2018 1st round pick and a 2019 7th.

                 The Bruins are near the top in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race. They are also pushing to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs to win the President\’s trophy. Acquiring Nash, a former 40 goal scorer, will help. They give up a little too much, but I think Nash\’s services will help them a lot.

                  Nash, 33, has scored 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points in 60 games this season for the Rangers. In his career for them and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nash has scored 434 goals and 265 assists for 799 points in 1,049 games.

                  The Rangers have been selling off their rentals, including Nick Holden, Michael Grabner, now Nash. In return, they get Spooner, a second or third line center, Beleskey, a winger with a big cap hit, but can play bottom six for them, Lindgren, a good prospect, and a 1st round pick. The 7th probably won\’t turn out to be anything, but it could.

                   Spooner, 26, has scored nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 39 games for the Bruins this season. In his NHL career, all in Boston, Spooner has scored 41 goals and 101 assists for 142 points in 253 games.

                   Beleskey, 29, has scored no points in 14 games for the Bruins this year. In his NHL career for the Bruins and Anaheim Ducks, Belesky has scored 75 goals and 82 assists for 157 points in 472 games.

                   Lindgren, 20, has scored two goals and five assists for seven points in 33 games for the University of Minnesota this season.

                   I think the Rangers win this trade. Nash isn\’t a superstar anymore. And yes, he\’s a good player, but he isn\’t worth that much. The Bruins could\’ve traded less to get Nash.