NHL Trade Rumors: Deadline Day Edition!

Update 2:25 p.m.

So, the Sabres DO know there were some teams who were looking for goaltenders, right?

Update 2:19 p.m. And the latest on Drew Stafford . . .  

Update 2:18 p.m. Well, if the Bobfather says so . . .

  Update 2:05 p.m. More details on the McNabb trade: the Sabres acquired Fasching and Nicolas Deslauries for McNabb, Jonathan Parker and picks, apparently the ones they received in the Robyn Regehr trade last season. Update 1:15 p.m. Sorry everyone – my wife took me out to lunch, which was nice and all – but didn’t she realize today was the NHL trade deadline day?!?  Jeez! As our site has already reported, the Sabres have traded blueliner Brayden McNabb and two second-round picks to the Los Angeles Kings for Hudson Fasching and another prospect.  Meanwhile, the Kings have also sealed the deal on a trade that brings Marian Gaborik to SoCal:

  Update 11:39 a.m. It is official – Martin St. Louis has been dealt to the NYR for Callahan. Tama Bay also gets a first-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2-14 that will become a first rounder if NYR gets to the Conference Finals.  Meanwhile, NYR get a second-round pick in 2015 if Callahan resigns with the Lightning, and Tampa Bay will get a seventh-round pick in 2015.  Whew! Update 11:20 a.m. Biggest news of the day so far: sources are trying to confirm that the Tampa Bay Lightning have traded Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers for Ryan Callahan!

  Update 11:12 According to the latest word on the street, the Buffalo Sabres have signed former Canisius College star Cory Conacher off of waivers this morning:

Update 10:58 a.m.

Hearing that the Gaborik-to-LA deal is NOT finalized.  Talks are still underway.

Update 10:52 a.m.

Well, Buffalo Sabres fans – it sounds like GM Tim Murray was asking too much for Moulson, as rumors are swirling that the LA Kings are about to bring in Marian Gaborik from Columbus.

Update 10:40 a.m.

While all is quiet now, and probably will remain so until after noon, it would appear that the Sabres could have a very busy early afternoon in store today:

Update 10:04 a.m.

The Ryan Kesler talk is heating up – seems he is certainly available, if the price is right.

Update 9:49 a.m.

Remember how last year the Sabres teamed up with the Minnesota Wild to make a nice splash?  Could we see Sabres-Wild version 2.0 today?

Update 9:40 a.m.

If you didn’t tune-in last, you might have missed Martin Brodeur‘s last game as the netminder for the New Jersey Devils.

Update 8:40 a.m.

Remember – everything is rumors right now!  But the biggest surprise of the morning so far has to be that the Montreal Canadiens have an offer on the table for Thomas Vanek!

Update 8:21 a.m.

Any Buffalo Sabres fans were who hoping to snatch Tyler Toffoli from the LA Kings will be disappointed to hear this: rumors have it that the Sabres are closer to making a deal with LA for Matt Moulson, but may have had to “change their price” to get it done.  Most insiders feel that the price change was the removal of Toffoli from the Sabres’ demands.

All right NHL fans: time to sit down, strap in, shut up, and pay attention!

Jan 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; View of the NHL logo at Dodger Stadium. Preparations are in place on the day before the Stadium Series hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL trade deadline is set to expire at 3 p.m. Eastern today, so we’re either in for a busy day of teams making moves to improve their fortunes, or a snooze fest in which the highlight of your day will be deciding which type of sandwich to order on your lunch break.

Whatever the case may be, I’ll be checking into the various websites and the Twitterverse early and often, in order to provide you with all you need to know about the deals that went down in the NHL today.  Keep checking in with me, as I hope to be updating this post often!

Tuesday, March 4:

Mar 1, 2014; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vancouver Canucks goaltender

(1) warms up off ice during practice the day before the Heritage Classic hockey game against the Ottawa Senators at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

In one of those moves that makes you wonder “How did they get their jobs?” the Vancouver Canucks front office decided to trade goaltender Roberto Luongo back to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jacob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias.  Obviously, the fact that they are only two points behind the Dallas Stars (who they play on Thursday, by the way) for the eighth spot in the Western Conference doesn’t interest the Canucks, who have managed to trade away two starting goaltenders in less than a year and will probably and up shipping out Ryan Kessler, as well.    All of which goes to show you that the Buffalo Sabres are not the only team whose front office often appears to be bringing in random homeless people off the street to consult before making important personnel decisions.

Also worth noting: Dustin “Pancakes” Penner was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the Washington Capitals for a fourth-round draft pick, on National Pancake Day, no less!  See – that’s a front office with a clue, folks!