NHL Trade Deadline Blog: Vrana, Klingberg, Greenway biggest moves on quiet day

After shedding Jordan Greenway's contract with term, the Wild turned around and picked up pending UFA defenceman John Klingberg. Minnesota played the part of a trade broker over the past few days, picking up a couple draft picks to retain salary on Ryan O'Reilly and Dmitry Orlov. They wanted to add, but with their cap crunch over the next couple of years from the punishing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buy outs, they didn't have the option to take on term.

It's why Matt Dumba won't be extended, and is effectively an own-rental.

But just under the wire, GM Bill Guerin managed to add to the Wild. John Klingberg, who signed a one year deal in Anaheim, is on his way to the Wild. A puck-moving defender who struggled with the rest of the Ducks, he'll be sheltered better in Minnesota and adds an offensive weapon.

We wondered if the Sabres would get involved at this trade deadline. Still with the long-term plan in place, the Sabres are very much in the playoff race right now, four points behind the second wild card spot, but with their games in hand Buffalo is actually eighth in the East by points percentage.

It wasn't likely they were going to pay a big price for a player, but they did wind up with a big player indeed. Jordan Greenway, the 6-foot-6, 231-pound left winger, adds depth to Buffalo's forward unit, and brings a physical element. He's struggled to just two goals in 45 games this season, but he did score 10 times in 62 games last season.

The Wild are making their own playoff push, but also had to be mindful of shrewdly shedding cap. Greenway was on the books for $3 million through the 2024-25 season, which will now go to Buffalo.

The cost to the Sabres is Vegas's second-round pick, and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

For what Greenway specifically brings to Buffalo, we turn to our scout Jason Bukala once again...

SCOUT'S ANALYSIS

The Buffalo Sabres acquire a big body forward who has only produced two goals and five assists this season. Greenway plays a power game, but he’s not punishing. In fact, he needs to assert himself more often in my opinion.

Greenway played at the USNTDP for Sabres head coach Don Granato. This could be the fresh start that Greenway needs to elevate his game.

I project him to be used at even strength with the expectation he opens up more ice for the Sabres' skilled forwards. 

For a selling team with plenty of trade possibilities, the Anaheim Ducks have been oddly quiet this week as the trades have rolled in around them. Friday afternoon the ducks sent Dmitry Kulikov to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kuli,ov was thrust into a top-four role on one of the worst defensive teams of the cap era, and so he doesn't have any numbers that are particularly shining this season. But he's capable of playing on the PK, isn't afraid to be physical or block shots, and might fit better in a third pair role, or at least within better surroundings. The Penguins continue their playoff push -- but do they have a shot in Round 1?

Here's Jason Bukala's scouting report on the player...

While much of the attention has gone to the top of the Eastern Conference, where several big additions were made by the contenders, there's a tight playoff race brewing for the final two wild card spots.

As of Friday, six points separate the seven teams in the running for two playoff spots. Some of those teams have bought at this deadline, while others have sold. Here's a look at the picture, and how each team has acted.

Pittsburgh: 31-21-9, 71 points, .582 points percentage

Added Mikael Granlund and his $5 million, which may not improve their chances much in a first-round series against one of the East’s heaviest hitters, but will give them in a lift in a playoff drive. As will the pickup of Dmitry Kulikov, a depth defensive defenceman. The Penguins have also been connected to the Vancouver Canucks in ongoing trade rumours, whether it’s Brock Boeser or perhaps J.T. Miller. They have $1.9 million in cap space.

NY Islanders: 31-25-8, 70 points, .547 points percentage

Bo Horvat was their big addition, and that will help patch up Mat Barzal being out week-to-week. Pierre Engvall was acquired as a depth winger. Still in a fresh new arena, and with a veteran-filled core, Lou Lamoriello’s Islanders are clearly in on this playoff run and have a little over $6 million still to spend on deadline day.

Buffalo Sabres: 31-25-4, 66 points, .550 points percentage

They have all the cap space in the world to do something, but GM Kevyn Adams is keeping the long-term focus on this team. They won’t be a buyer for a costly rental, and likely won’t be a big player at all. The Sabres added Jordan GReenway for some size and defensive upside Friday afternoon, a minor addition in their quest to break a more than decade long playoff drought. By points percentage, they are the eighth-best team in the East right now.

Ottawa Senators: 31-26-4, 66 points, .541 points percentage

Massive acquisition of Jakob Chychrun sets the Senators up for the future, but of course also gives the team a boost in its quest for the playoffs. On Friday morning GM Pierre Dorion said it was more likely than not that his team would be quiet today, which means they may hang on to veteran goalie and pending UFA Cam Talbot. No steps back. The Sens are making a serious playoff push, and are on a four-game winning streak.

Florida Panthers: 30-27-6, 66 points, .524 points percentage

One of two teams of this group to have a minus goal differential, the Panthers are on the borderline here, given their points percentage is equal to Washington’s as the Caps aggressively sell. Florida may end up trading out someone like Radko Gudas to recoup some of the draft capital they spent on last year’s team.

Washington Capitals: 30-27-6, 66 points, .524 points percentage

While they are just four points out of the wild card right now, the Capitals days ago signalled their intention to sell on this season and reorganize for next.

Detroit Red Wings: 28-24-9, 65 points, .533 points percentage

Back-to-back losses to rival Ottawa this week sealed Detroit’s fate this season, and ultimately led to them trading pending UFA Tyler Bertuzzi, and converting 25-year-old defenceman Fillip Hronek into two top 40 draft picks. They have a minus-15 goal differential — by far the worst on this list. It was a good run, but this doesn’t feel like their season yet.

We touched on how Vrana could be a sneaky good get for the Blues, especially with 50 per cent salary retained by Detroit.

Here's Jason Bukala's scouting break down of the player:

Jakub Vrana is heading from Detroit to St. Louis, as the Blues acquire a talented player for their (hopeful) quick turnaround re-tool for a seventh-round pick and AHLer Dylan McLaughlin.

Detroit will retain 50 per cent of Vrana's $5.25 million cap hit, on a contract that runs through next season.

Earlier this season Vrana entered the league's player assistance program and then, upon returning, he was assigned to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins in December and started with one point in his first eight games. For a time, it seemed as though he'd never suit up for the Red Wings again. But Vrana got going, scored 10 points in his next nine AHL games and then was recalled to the Red Wings for what was believed to be a trade showcase. In three games back in the NHL, Vrana has averaged just over 12 minutes of ice time, but hasn't scored a point yet.

If he gets back to how he was tracking before this season, Vrana could be a steal of a pick up.

From the 2018-19 season through 2020-21 Vrana averaged 2.49 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, which ranked the highest on the Capitals. He also averaged 1.47 goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play over those three seasons -- which ranked third in the entire league. At the time, Vrana was having a hard time carving out a top-six role on a deep Capitals team, and so was putting up numbers in limited minutes. The potential was there, but because he wasn't moving up th depth chart, the Capitals traded him to Detroit in a shocking 2021 deadline day deal for Anthony Mantha.

In Detroit, Vrana posted 21 goals and 30 points in his first 37 games before he went into the assistance program this year. Still just 27, could Vrana turn into a big addition for the Blues?

For a minute, it seemed like pending UFA winger James van Riemsdyk was on his way from Philadelphia to Detroit. Then there was a snag and the reported deal didn't go through.

As the deadline passed, not only did JvR not go to Detroit -- he didn't go anywhere.

One of the most expected trade pieces stands pat, and the Flyers get nothing for JvR.

The 3:00 p.m. ET trade deadline has passed and no further trades can be made. However, trades will still trickle in as they're processed by the league office after 3:00.

James van Riemsdyk is still a capable 20-goal scorer who really would be a complementary addition for someone's power play, so it was a surprise to learn late on Friday that he had been traded to the Detroit Red Wings, who'd spent the trade deadline season selling.

And then, suddenly, he wasn't on his way to Detroit.

"Something's going on here," Elliotte Friedman said on the broadcast.

For now, JvR is not a Red Wing, and remains a pending UFA on the Flyers with nine minutes until the trade deadline.