CarterHud

        The Boston Bruins have acquired forward Nick Ritchie from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Danton Heinen.

        Every year there are one or two trade deadline moves that confuses everyone at first because it wasn\’t expected, then makes more sense as time goes on. This is definitely one of them. Both Heinen and Ritchie are young third liners with potential in down years. This trade also marks the second deal between the teams this weak, after Boston acquired Ondrej Kase for a first round pick, David Backes and Axel Andersson. The players are the same age, with Heinen being roughly 150 days older. Ritchie has scored one more goal this year, but Heinen has three more points. However, Heinen has also played in 17 more games than Ritchie. Ritchie has a higher potential, with more NHL experience. The 10th overall pick in 2014 has never scored 20 goals in a season. Heinen, a 2014 4th rounder, scored a career high 16 goals in 2017-18. The trade works as an energizer for both players. They also will likely take each other\’s spot in the lineup. Heinen has one more year left under contract with a $2.8 million cap hit, and Ritchie has another year left at nearly $1.5 million. Both will be RFAs at the end of their contracts.

        Ritchie, 24, has scored eight goals with 11 assists for 19 points in 41 games for the Ducks this year. In his NHL career, all in Anaheim, Ritchie has scored 43 goals with 66 assists for 109 points in 287 games.

        Heinen, 24, has scored seven goals with 15 assists for 22 points in 58 games this year. In his NHL career, all with the Bruins, Heinen has scored 34 goals with 69 assists for 103 points in 220 games.

         The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Derek Grant from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Kyle Criscuolo and a conditional 2020 4th round pick. The pick will be the higher of Nashville and Philadelphia\’s 4th rounders, both owned by the Flyers.

          Grant is a good depth forward. He is a 4th liner that can kill penalties. He also has scored a career high 14 goals so far this year. The Flyers have a lot of centers, so they can move Grant to the wing. But, he is a decent center if they need him to play there. The team has been improving their depth with the acquisitions of Grant and Nate Thompson today. Both players are on cheap, expiring deals. The 4th rounder is the main part of the deal. Criscuolo has nine games of NHL experience, all coming in 2017-18. He has not scored 20 goals in a season since he was in the USHL.

           Grant, 29, has scored 14 goals with six assists for 20 points in 49 games for the Ducks this year. In his NHL career for the Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators Grant has scored 30 goals with 35 assists for 65 points in 257 games.

           Criscuolo, 27, has scored eight goals with 16 assists for 24 points in 40 games for the AHL\’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year. In his NHL career, all with the Sabres, Criscuolo has no points in nine games.

        The Buffalo Sabres have acquired forward Wayne Simmonds from the New Jersey Devils for a conditional 2021 5th round draft pick. If the Sabres make the playoffs and Simmonds plays in 10 games, the pick is upgraded to a 4th rounder.

         The Sabres don\’t seem to be in the playoff hunt. But, they are only six points out of the third playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, needing to pass the Panthers and Maple Leafs. Also, the Panthers appear to be sellers after trading away Vincent Trocheck and potentially Mike Hoffman. The Leafs are falling after losing to the Hurricanes while their goalie for most of the game was 42-year-old Zamboni driver Dave Ayers. The Sabres could be seeing the Leafs loss and the Trocheck trade as a chance to get back in the race. Simmonds is a veteran on an expiring contract, and even if the Sabres miss the playoffs, they only trade a fifth round pick. Plus, the reigning Mark Messier award winner will be a big presence in the locker room. As a player, Simmonds\’ 30 goal days seem to be behind him. He was terrible in Nashville after being traded at last year\’s trade deadline. He signed with the Devils in the offseason and has struggled, failing to score 10 goals so far. However, the trade should be a spark for the team as the front office is showing them that they trust them to make the playoffs this year. The pressure could be on for GM Jason Botterill as well. Getting a 5th for Simmonds might have seemed low for New Jersey when they signed him, but he has had a bad year and is aging so the price is warranted.

           Simmonds, 31, has scored eight goals with 16 assists for 24 points in 61 games for the Devils this year. In his NHL career for the Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators Simmonds has scored 251 goals with 247 assists for 498 points in 902 games.

            The Colorado Avalanche have acquired goalie Michael Hutchinson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Calle Rosen.

            The Maple Leafs obviously like Rosen. They signed him as an undrafted free agent when he was 23. In December 2018, they extended him to a two year, $3 million contract. However, when they were acquiring Tyson Barrie from Colorado, they traded away Rosen as he wouldn\’t have a spot. Now, when traded with the Avs again, they get back Rosen to help with their defensive depth. Rosen is not a star, and probably not even a starter, but he is a good depth piece for the club. Hutchinson was their third string goalie, and was having a terrible season. The Avalanche need a backup goalie badly with starter Philipp Grubauer out. Backup Pavel Francouz is holding down the fort, but the other goalie on the roster was Hunter Miska, who had one career NHL game, coming last year. Hutchinson\’s NHL numbers are awful, but in four AHL games since being sent down following Toronto\’s trade for Jack Campbell, Hutchinson has looked great. He has a 1.98 GAA and .943 SV% with the Marlies. Rosen has little NHL experience and has been mostly an AHLer since coming over from Sweden after the 2016-17 season.

             Hutchinson, 29, has a 3.66 GAA with a .886 SV% in 15 games for the Maple Leafs this year. In his NHL career for the Leafs, Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets Hutchinson has a 2.81 GAA with a .905 SV% in 126 games.

             Rosen, 26, has two points, both assists in eight games for the Avalanche this year. For the AHL\’s Colorado Eagles Rosen has scored three goals with 12 assists for 15 points in 35 games. In his NHL career for the Leafs and Avalanche Rosen has scored one goal with three assists for four points in 16 games.

          The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Nate Thompson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2021 5th round draft pick.

          The Flyers could use center help. They have reportedly acquired Derek Grant from Anaheim, and they also get Thompson. Thompson is a journeyman 4th line center that can play around 12 minutes a game and kill penalties. He is a pending UFA as well. The cost to get him is cheap as well. Sean Couturier, Kevin Hayes and Grant will place ahead of Thompson in the lineup. Scott Laughton or Hayes could move to the wing. Thompson could be a healthy scratch some days as well. Getting a 5th rounder for Thompson is a losing bet for Montreal after trading a 4th for him last year with L.A.

           Thompson, 35, has scored four goals with 10 assists for 14 points in 63 games for the Canadiens this year. In his NHL career for the Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins, Thompson has scored 62 goals with 93 assists for 155 points in 760 games.