NHL Weekly Recap: Mar 20
What a week it was in the NHL. The hot stove has started to heat up with multiple high-profile players being moved. In addition to the trades, one player continued to make history this week as well.
Here’s a dive into what went down here in the middle of March.
Alex Ovechkin Makes History
This is a familiar headline we’ve all seen and read about throughout Ovechkin’s illustrious career, and it has become even more frequent in the past few seasons as he’s climbed up the most goals of all-time list.
The great eight is officially third on that list after scoring his 767th career goal against the Islanders this week, passing Jaromir Jagr.
Ovechkin would have to score 35 more goals to pass Gordie Howe for second, something that is quite likely given the way he’s been playing.
Now, the million-dollar question is whether or not he’ll pass Wayne Gretzky, who has 894 goals. It’s possible, and if the 36-year old Ovechkin plays like this for a few more seasons, he’ll certainly get there.
End Of An Era In Philly
The Philadelphia Flyers traded Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Owen Tippett, a first-round draft pick, and a third-round draft pick in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Flyers also sent a 2024 fifth-round pick, Connor Bunnaman, and German Rubtsov to Florida as part of the deal.
Giroux’s trade comes right after he played his 1,000th career game in Philly. The longtime captain was widely expected to be traded given the Flyers’ struggles throughout the season. He never won a Stanley Cup, though he did take the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010.
Now that Giroux is no longer a member of the Flyers, an era is over and a new one begins. The Flyers have young pieces to build around and develop such as Tippett, and a high draft pick is very likely this season. The rebuild is underway, and trading Giroux was necessary and appropriate for both sides.
Lindholm Traded To Boston
The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins for a 2022 first-round draft pick, and two second-round picks for 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Anaheim also received Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore. The Ducks also sent defenseman Kodie Curran, a 32-year old who has spent his career at the Ducks’ AHL team in San Diego, to Boston as part of the trade.
The Swedish defenseman will help bolster a Bruins core that is capable of winning a Stanley Cup. He will join the likes of Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on defense, while the team is loaded with players such as David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand on the attack.
Nolan Wick is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email nhw5046@psu.edu.
