The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and while some big names found new homes, there were still plenty of prominent players who remained with their teams. Two of the most talked about players leading up to the deadline were Nazem Kadri and Brayden Schenn, but their moves to new teams did not materialize. Let’s take a look at some of the other notable players who were rumored to be on the move, but ultimately stayed put.
One of the biggest names on the trade block was New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider. The 28-year-old winger was having a solid season, with 45 points in 63 games, and was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Many teams were interested in acquiring Kreider’s services, but the Rangers ultimately decided to keep him and signed him to a seven-year extension. This move not only keeps Kreider in New York, but also shows the Rangers’ commitment to building a strong team for the future.
Another player who was heavily rumored to be on the move was New Jersey Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen. The 28-year-old Finn was having a strong season, with 23 points in 47 games, and was seen as a valuable asset for teams in need of defensive depth. However, the Devils were unable to find a suitable trade partner and ultimately decided to hold onto Vatanen. This move may have disappointed some fans, but it shows that the Devils are committed to building a strong defensive core for the future.
The Montreal Canadiens were also expected to make some moves before the deadline, but they ultimately decided to stand pat. One of the players who was rumored to be on the move was defenseman Jeff Petry. The 32-year-old has been a consistent performer for the Canadiens, with 40 points in 71 games this season. However, the Canadiens decided to keep Petry and signed him to a four-year extension. This move not only keeps Petry in Montreal, but also shows the team’s commitment to building a strong defensive unit.
The Calgary Flames were another team that was expected to make some moves, but they ultimately decided to keep their core intact. One of the players who was rumored to be on the move was forward Johnny Gaudreau. The 26-year-old has been a key player for the Flames, with 58 points in 70 games this season. However, the Flames decided to keep Gaudreau and signed him to a six-year extension. This move not only keeps Gaudreau in Calgary, but also shows the team’s commitment to building a strong offensive unit.
The Washington Capitals were also expected to be active before the deadline, but they ultimately decided to keep their roster as is. One of the players who was rumored to be on the move was forward Ilya Kovalchuk. The 36-year-old Russian has been a valuable addition to the Capitals, with 13 points in 22 games since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens. However, the Capitals decided to keep Kovalchuk and signed him to a one-year extension. This move not only keeps Kovalchuk in Washington, but also shows the team’s commitment to building a strong team for the playoffs.
In the end, while there were some big moves made before the trade deadline, there were also plenty of prominent players who remained with their teams. Whether it was due to a lack of suitable trade offers or a team’s commitment to building for the future, these players will continue to be key contributors for their respective teams. As the season continues and the playoffs approach, it will be interesting to see how these players perform and if their teams made the right decision in keeping them.