Around the NHL: Feb. 12
As the trade deadline approaches, the NHL is only going to heat up from here. Here’s your weekly recap of all things NHL:
Vladimir Tarasenko Traded to the Rangers
On Feb. 7, the New York Rangers completed a monster trade that sent Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner and two draft picks (2023 and 2024) to St. Louis for Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola.
Tarasenko played on the first line over the weekend and scored in his first game in Madison Square Garden on a pass from Artemi Panarin.
Mikkola played on the third defensive pairing with Braden Schneider but is likely to be moved around.
In 40 games with the Rangers this season, Blais recorded zero goals and five assists for a total of five points, but this trade sent him home, where he played four seasons for the Blues.
Bo Horvat Scores in First Game with the Islanders
It was a great week to be a New York trade acquisition as Bo Horvat scored for his first game in Long Island against the Seattle Kraken.
Horvat scored on a quick pass from Barzal almost right off the face-off and was awarded a standing ovation.
Horvat was traded from the Vancouver Canucks for Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty right before the All-Star Break and represented New York in the Skills Competition in Florida.
Jack Hughes Day-to-Day for the Devils
Jack Hughes is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He practiced with the team on Feb. 15 but did not complete the practice.
Hughes leads the team in goals (35) and points (67).
The Devils will take a hit without Hughes, since he is the leading scorer on the team, but will use Alexander Holtz as his replacement until Hughes is healthy again.
Patrick Kane Upset over Tarasenko Trade
Patrick Kane and Timo Meier have been named linked to the Rangers, but Tarasenko came out of left field and took the fanbase by surprise.
Kane said that it’s “not the happiest [he’s] been to hear about a trade… if things were going to happen, that was a team [he] was definitely looking at.”
With Tarasenko filling out a roster of wingers that includes Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov, there’s no real need for New York to pursue Kane anymore.
Kane, who suffered a hip injury in the season, was looking to be on the trade market and get out of Chicago, which is dead-last in the Central.
Even without New York on the market, there are still plenty of teams who would be happy to have Kane on the roster.
Adrianna Gallucci is a first-year student majoring in journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.
