Etem, 23, was the 29th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. Etem was in his first season with the Rangers after spending the first four years of his career with the Anaheim Ducks. Etem had a difficult time cracking the Rangers lineup—he has just three assists in 19 games this season. He should have a much easier time cracking the Canucks lineup.
Jensen, 22, was the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 186 lbs. right winger has registered 12 points (4G / 8A) in 27 games with Utica this season. He has three goals and three assists in 24 career NHL games. Jensen was approaching waiver-eligible status, so the Canucks feared losing him for nothing and Etem is an NHL-ready winger.
Friberg failed to record a point in five games with the Ducks this season, but has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 25 games with San Diego (AHL). He will report to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in St. John’s.
Tokarski has gone 1-3-0 with a 3.18 GAA and .878 SV% with the Canadiens this season and 3-3-4 with a 2.84 GAA and .909 SV% with St. John’s (AHL). Acquiring Tokarski gives the Ducks four NHL-read net minders, John Gibson, Frederik Andersen, Anton Khudobin and Tokarski. The chances of the Ducks actually carrying all four seem slim, so expect them to have another move up their sleeve, likely moving Khudobin so he can play in the NHL.
Jones was the fourth overall pick in 2013 and has been a force at both ends of the ice for the Predators. Nashville likely did not want to give Jones up, but they have a plethora of talented defensemen and were seeking help at forward, so Jones was dealt. He has 63 points (15G / 48A) in 199 career NHL games.
Johansen quickly fell into John Tortorella’s doghouse as soon as he was hired, but he still managed to record 26 points (6G / 20A) in 38 games this season. Entering the season he was viewed as one of the NHL’s brightest young stars after recording 63 (33G / 30A) and 71 points (26G / 45A) in back-to-back seasons. The Predators desperately needed help in their top-6 and Johansen could slot in on the second line with Colin Wilson and James Neal to start.
Weal, 23, was a third round pick (70th overall) in 2010 NHL Draft. Weal has no points in 10 career NHL games (all this season) and is coming off of a year where he had 69 points (20G / 49A) in 73 games with Manchester (AHL).
Schenn has just five points (2G / 3A) in 29 games with the Flyers this season. The 26-year-old has never been known for his offence, registering a career-high of 22 points in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He should slot in on the Kings’ third pair.
Lecavalier has not appeared in a game since November 12th and has only played in seven games this season, registering a single assist. The Flyers will reportedly retain half of his salary but this deal still opens up some much needed salary space for the Flyers. Lecavalier should slot into a bottom-6 role with the Kings.
Panik, 24, was a second round pick (52nd overall) in 2009 and has 25 points (9G / 16A) in 33 games with the Marlies this season. Panik has 39 career points (19G / 20A) in 151 NHL games with the Lightning and the Maple Leafs. He will report to Rockford (AHL).
Morin, 24, was a second round pick (45th overall) in 2009 and has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 28 games with Rockford this season. He has played 82 career NHL games with the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, registering 22 points (10G / 12A). He will report to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
Scrivens, who was the Oilers starter last year, has gone 2-6-1 with a 3.47 GAA and .893 SV% with Bakersfield (AHL) this season. The Canadiens wanted to get rid of Kassian and are in need of goaltending help with Carey Price still out. Scrivens has registered a career 2.90 GAA and .905 SV% in his four-year NHL career.
Kassian, 24, has not appeared in a game yet this season because of a suspension that stemmed from a car accident in September. The former first-round pick has 66 points (35G / 31A) in 198 career NHL games with the Sabres and Canucks. He will report to Bakersfield (AHL).
Scuderi, 36, was three seasons into his second stint with the Penguins after previously winning a Stanley Cup in 2008-09 during his first run in Pittsburgh from 2003-2009. Scuderi, who has served as a healthy scratch recently, has just four assists in 25 games this season.
Daley, 32, had six assists but did not score a goal in 29 games with the Blackhawks this season, his first since being traded from the Stars. Daley will help the Penguins with their breakout as well as on their power-play. The Penguins will retain 33 percent of Scuderi’s $3 million salary.
Poulin has yet play a game this season in the NHL or AHL but he was treaded to Calgary this morning and will report to Stockton. Poulin was acquired because Jon Gillies was injured.
O’Neill, 27, nearly made the Kings roster out of training camp, but has been dealt to the Devils, where he is expected to be a part of their 23-man roster. The 5-foot-8, 165 lbs. winger had 22 goals and 58 assists (80 points) in 71 games with Manchester (AHL) last season.
Beck was acquired from the Predators in mid-July but will not get a chance to play for the Maple Leafs as he heads to Long Island to join a potential playoff contender. Beck had 16 points (8G / 8A) in 62 games last year.
NHL trades are decided between two or more team general managers. The front office’s job is building a winning team. Building a winning team means discussing trades with other general managers across the league.
During the NHL regular season, players can be traded up until the trade deadline. The deadline is the official cutoff point for when teams can no longer make moves between each other. Players can also be traded throughout the offseason.
Teams trade players in hockey for a variety of reasons, but generally, it is done to find success, whether that is in the short term or long term. Teams may trade their top players in search of draft picks if they are undergoing a rebuild, whereas contending teams may look to acquire talent to boost their playoff chances.
Trades are a common occurrence throughout the NHL and happen often. Some years feature less trades than others, it all depends on each teams needs and the availability of attractive talent.