CarterHud

         The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Christian Djoos from the Washington Capitals for forward Daniel Sprong.

          This trade is an interesting swap. Both players are young and have NHL experience. However, both players were waived at the beginning of the year and could use a change of scenery. Djoos is a bottom pairing defenseman with solid AHL numbers and a 2018 Stanley Cup ring. He will start his Ducks career in the AHL, though. He should get called up, as the Ducks\’ seven defensemen include Brendan Guhle and Matt Irwin, both of whom are worse than Djoos. Sprong was a second rounder in 2015, who could never get a chance in Pittsburgh, but scored 14 goals in 47 games for the Ducks last year. He also has not gotten much of a chance, spending most of the season in the AHL. While neither player will start his tenure with his new club in the NHL, they both should get NHL time this year. If he plays well enough, Sprong can make the playoff roster for the Caps.

            Djoos, 25, has scored five goals with 27 assists for 32 points in 42 games for the AHL\’s Hershey Bears this year. In two NHL games, he has no points. In his NHL career, all for Washington, Djoos has scored four goals with 20 assists for 24 points in 110 games.

            Sprong, 22, has scored 11 goals with 16 assists for 27 points in 39 games for the AHL\’s San Diego Gulls this year. He has scored one goal with an assist for two points in eight NHL games this year. In his NHL career for the Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins Sprong has scored 19 goals with 11 assists for 30 points in 97 games.

        The Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional 2020 3rd round pick that will be the higher of Calgary\’s two third rounders this year.

        Gustafsson is a solid second pairing defenseman, but he is not great defensively. However, he has shown flashes of being a great offensive defenseman. While he has not scored much this year, he had a 17 goal, 60 point season last year. He will be a UFA at the end of the year. Trading away a third rounder for a guy with those numbers last year and decent offensive numbers for a defenseman this year is a good bargain for Calgary. He provides depth as well. He is a more experienced option than Oliver Kylington and Alexander Yelesin, who are both on the current roster. The return might seem low for Chicago, but Gustafsson is on an expiring contract and is not having an amazing season currently. He will slot in behind Noah Hanifin and Mark Giordano when the latter returns from injury.

         Gustafsson, 27, has scored six goals with 20 assists for 26 points in 59 games for the Blackhawks this year. In his NHL career, all in Chicago, Gustafsson has scored 28 goals with 88 assists for 116 points in 214 games.

         The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Fredrik Claesson, forward Janne Kuokkanen and a 2020 4th round draft pick.

         The Hurricanes need defensive depth on the right side with Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce out. However, Vatanen is currently on the Injured Reserve himself with a leg injury. That definitely lowered the return for New Jersey. Claesson is a depth defenseman who is a fringe NHLer. Kuokkanen is a 2016 2nd rounder with little NHL experience and does not have super impressive AHL numbers. The 4th round pick is not much. When healthy, Vatanen is a solid, right handed puck moving defenseman that will fit in well with Carolina. He is also a free agent at the end of the year. If everyone is healthy, Vatanen will fill in behind Hamilton and Pesce on the right side, and start over Trevor van Riemsdyk.

         Vatanen, 28, has scored five goals with 18 assists for 23 points in 47 games for the Devils this year. In his NHL career for the Devils and Anaheim Ducks Vatanen has scored 45 goals with 149 assists for 194 points in 434 games.

         Claesson, 27, has scored three goals with 16 assists for 19 points in 47 games for the AHL\’s Charlotte Checkers this year. In his NHL career for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers Claesson has scored six goals with 20 assists for 26 points in 150 games.

         Kuokkanen, 21, has scored 12 goals with 30 assists for 42 points in 52 games for Charlotte this year. In his short NHL career, all for the Hurricanes, Kuokkanen has no points in 11 games.

       The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired defenseman Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional 2020 1st round pick. The Rangers receive the latter of Carolina\’s two first rounders.

       A former first rounder, Skjei\’s scoring has decreased each season. However, that is on pace to change, as long as Skjei avoids a major slump. The Hurricanes have a lot of talented defenseman, but they are being hit with the injury bug. Dougie Hamilton is already out long term, and Brett Pesce is expected to be out for a while after sustaining an injury in the Hurricanes win over the Maple Leafs. They went out and got Skjei and Sami Vatanen, who is also currently injured. Skjei used to be a power play presence, with 13 power play assists in his first two full seasons. However, he does not have a power play point since. Skjei is also one goal away from a career high. He is a second pairing defenseman. While it is hard to trade a first rounder for him, he is signed for four more seasons after 2019-20 at a $5.25 million cap hit.

         Skjei, 25, has scored eight goals with 15 assists for 23 points in 60 games for the Rangers this year. In his NHL career, all in New York, Skjei has scored 25 goals with 87 assists for 112 points in 307 games.

       The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired goalie Robin Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks in a three team deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blackhawks get goalie Malcolm Subban, defenseman Slava Demin and a 2020 2nd round pick. The Maple Leafs get a 2020 5th round pick but also retain 50% of Lehner\’s contract (they take on $2.5 million). The Golden Knights received forward Martins Dzierkals as well.

       Lehner is an NHL starting goalie, but will be a 1B to Marc-Andre Fleury in Vegas. A Vezina finalist last year, Lehner signed a one year deal with Chicago in the offseason. He has a good save percentage but a terrible goals against average this year. Fleury has started a lot of games recently, and the Golden Knights need to rest him for the playoffs while still hold their spot at the top of the division. The Blackhawks get a second rounder, a replacement backup goalie in Subban, plus a young defensive prospect in Demin who is at the University of Denver currently. The Maple Leafs essentially buy a 5th round pick from Vegas by retaining salary. They also trade away a low level prospect in Dzierkals who isn\’t playing in North America currently.

       Lehner, 28, has a .918 SV% with a 3.01 GAA in 33 games for the Blackhawks this year. In his NHL career for the Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators Lehner has a .918 SV% with a 2.73 GAA in 298 games.

       Subban, 26, has a .890 SV% with a 3.18 GAA in 20 games for the Golden Knights this year. In his NHL career for Vegas and the Boston Bruins Subban has a .899 SV% with a 2.97 GAA in 65 games.

        Demin, 19, has scored two goals with seven assists for nine points in 30 games for the University of Denver this year. For Denver last season, Demin scored four goals with 10 assists for 14 points in 41 games.

        Dzierkals, 22, has scored three goals with seven assists for 10 points in 31 games for Jukurit Mikkeli of the Finnish League this year. He last played in North America in 2017-18, when he had no points in four games for the AHL\’s Toronto Marlies.