Blackhawks acquire Nikita Zaitsev, picks from Senators Devils acquire Timo Meier in blockbuster trade with Sharks Jets acquire Niederreiter from Predators for 2nd round pick Anderson makes 53 saves, Skinner powers Sabres past Panthers NHL-leading Bruins acquire Orlov, Hathaway from Capitals

DALLAS acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks Nikita Zaitsev and being drafted by the Ottawa Senators for future considerations, tantamount to dropping salaries before the NHL trade deadline.

The teams announced the deal ahead of the Blackhawks’ game at the Dallas Stars. Chicago received a 2023 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick in exchange for the remainder of Zaitsev’s contract.

“We’re excited to give Nikita the opportunity to start a new life,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. “He is a hard working professional who has shown himself to be a caring teammate and quiet leader throughout his time at Sens. We are grateful to him for his time in Ottawa and wish him and his family all the best for his next chapter.”

Zaitsev, 31, has signed a contract until next season with a $4.5 million salary cap. Last-placed Chicago can now transfer the Russian guard to another team before the March 3 trade deadline or any time within the next year.

For now, the Blackhawks are holding him.

“Nikita is giving us some extra depth on the right flank and we expect him to join us soon,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. “We’re getting an NHL-caliber defenseman and we’re acquiring some very valuable draft equity in the upcoming draft and beyond.”

The deal came hours after Vegas and Arizona also struck a baseball cap deal when the Golden Knights sent the 37-year-old retired footballer to a contract. Shea Weber and draft pick Coyotes for quarterback Daisin Mei.

Zaitsev has five goals in 28 games this season. He scored 110 points in 444 NHL regular season and playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Senators.

Timo Meyer heads to the New Jersey Devils in the last high-stakes poker game among Eastern Conference playoff contenders.

Meyer moved to the Devils after the New York Islanders made a major signing, NHL leaders the Boston Bruins got bigger and stronger, and the Rangers added one scorer and could get another high-scoring winger before the deadline. on Friday.

New Jersey sent the hitters a 2023 first round pick, a 2024 first round conditional. Andreas Johnson and perspectives of Shakir Mukhamadullin, Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotyuk in San Jose. In return, the Devils received Meyer, quarterback Scott Harrington, and prospect Timur Ibragimov. Santeri Hatakka and Zach Emond.

“I was just doing what I thought was best for the New Jersey Devils and not reacting because of what the Rangers did, or what they might do again, or what the Islanders did, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. “When you can add a player like Timo Meier to a squad that you think is growing and getting stronger every day, it really puts a smile on my face.”

Meyer is under control of the team for at least the next year. He is a restricted free agent with a $10 million qualifying offer for the 2023-24 season and Fitzgerald is hopeful he can sign Meyer long-term.

“One thing I’m sure of is who we are, what we can sell is our team,” Fitzgerald said. “I believe New Jersey will sell itself. I think he’ll like it here. I think he will like it very much and he will want to stay here. This is my bet.”

The 26-year-old Swiss winger has scored 31 goals and 21 assists in 57 games this season. Meyer didn’t fit into San Jose’s long-term plans.

“The realities here are with the pay cap and pay structure in our group,” said Sharks CEO Mike Grier. “Paying him the money he’s looking for and wants didn’t feel right, and queuing up to where we’re kind of headed as a franchise and where we’re at. We don’t want to keep spinning our wheels here. We will try to move this forward.”

In New Jersey, the opposite is true: the team is perhaps half a step ahead of schedule to make the playoffs. The Devils are second in the Capital Division, with Meyer joining a young core that includes a compatriot and captain. Niko Hishir.

“It’s a new chapter that’s coming my way, it’s definitely very exciting,” Meyer said. “I’m just really excited to start this.”

The “devils” are just beginning their ascent to the East. With some space left before Friday’s deadline, this was undoubtedly their biggest move, but it might not be their last.

“We’ve been preparing for this for a long time,” Fitzgerald said, referring to New Jersey’s years-long redevelopment. “We have a lot of work. It’s just part of trying to be successful.”

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Winnipeg Jets acquire forward Nino Niederreiter from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick.

Niederreiter, 30, has 18 goals and 10 assists in 56 games for the Predators this season.

He scored 199 goals and 197 assists in 788 career NHL games for Nashville, New York Islanders, Minnesota and Carolina. Niederreiter also has 15 goals and 15 assists in 82 career playoff games.

Drafted 5th overall by the Islanders in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Niederreiter also represented Switzerland at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship and the 2014 Winter Olympics.

SUNRISE, Florida – Jeff Skinner scored twice and Craig Anderson made 53 saves against his former team to lead the Buffalo Sabers to a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday night.

Anderson, 41, spent three seasons with the Panthers (2006-09) and still lives a few miles north of their arena. He helped Buffalo to 64 points and a three-way tie for an Eastern Conference playoff berth with Detroit and Florida.

The Sabers have not made the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011, the longest such drought in the NHL.

Buffalo also scored a powerplay goal Alex fabricAnd Teige Thompson there were three transmissions.

Carter Verhage scored his 31st goal of the season for the Panthers, who were playing without their top two centers in Alexander Barkov And Sam Bennett due to injuries. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves in the loss.

Buffalo’s overtime win over Tampa Bay on Thursday night took the lead at 3:51 of the second period when Skinner was alone at the right end of the net and scored on a Thompson pass.

The Sabers made it 2-0 on Touch’s goal, which came two minutes after Buffalo pulled the goal off the board due to video review showing Touch was offside.

Florida finally beat Anderson at 8:24 of the third period when Verhaeghe crossed the ice from Anthony DuClair and fired from the right circle.

Approximately two minutes later, Skinner got his second of the night and 24th of the season to once again give his team a breather with a sharp angled shot from the goal line to beat Bobrovsky.

NOTES: For the first time this season, DuClair was on the Panthers’ roster. He has been absent since he underwent Achilles tendon surgery in July. . After the departure of Barkov and Bennett, Florida recalled Grigory Denisenko and Zach Dalpe of the AHL team in Charlotte. On Wednesday, Denisenko was sent to Charlotte to help Duclair make room in the cap. . Florida goaltender Spencer Knight will be out of the team for an indefinite period after participating in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. . “Panthers” also posted Jeevani Smith on long-term injury reserve after being hit in the face by a puck against Anaheim on Monday. . Sabres did Rasmus Asplund, Jacob Bryson And Eric Comrie healthy scratches.

NEXT

Sabres: Receive Washington Capitals Sunday afternoon.

Panthers: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night.

BOSTON. The best team in the NHL got bigger and stronger.

Already on track for one of the best seasons in hockey history, the Boston Bruins have acquired a quarterback. Dmitry Orlov and go Pomegranate Hathaway from the Washington Capitals on Thursday in exchange for a forward Craig Smith and three drafts. This is the latest major acquisition by an Eastern Conference contender as the league approaches the March 3 trade deadline.

“Let’s hope we stay healthy and try to run, show our best hockey at the right time,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters. “It will be a difficult road. It’s a difficult path to get in. It’s even harder when you’re already in.”

Boston sent Washington a 2023 first round pick, a 2024 second round pick, a 2025 third round pick, and Smith. The Capitals kept half of Orlov’s salary, while the Minnesota will pay 25%; The Wild will get the fifth round in 2023 for helping Boston stay under the limit.

Sweeney said Orlov and Garnet are arranging a trip so they can join the Bruins on their four-game road trip that began Thursday night against Seattle. They will join the team with the best record in the NHL after leaving the team that won it all in 2018 but hasn’t made it past the first round since and is struggling to make the playoffs this season.

“They were a ridiculously competitive and successful part of the[Capitals]organization,” Sweeney said. “So (they) are a bit shocked. But once they hear the excitement in our voice when we invite them on board, things quickly change.”

With a record of 43-8-5 and 91 points heading into the Kraken game, the Bruins showed some weaknesses. But memories of recent playoff upsets have left Sweeney worried about depth — especially on defense — and he’s hoping it’ll be a long postseason.

“I think we were trying to attack two different areas,” Sweeney said. “Dmitry and Granat can bring some qualities to our group. Now we try to stay healthy and run.”

Capitals sell at trade deadline for the first time since Alexey Ovechkinfreshman year more than a decade and a half ago.

“This transaction allows us to acquire project capital, infuse youth and replenish our system,” General Manager. Brian McLellan said. “Although this season has been difficult due to injuries to our…