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

We still have a few hours left until the 3:00 p.m. ET trade deadline, but with so much action already behind us, here's a look at our early winners and losers.

WINNERS

Toronto Maple Leafs: A number of trades have changed the face of the team. Ryan O'Reilly was the big get, while Noel Acciari and Sam Lafferty add defensive and physical depth to the forward units. Jake McCabe and Luke Schenn added some muscle to the blue line, while Erik Gustafsson brings another puck-moving and power play option. They may not be done either, but Kyle Dubas has given this team its best shot to break through in the playoffs. The only question we have: is this too much change in the middle of the season?

Boston Bruins: Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway was good enough for the NHL's best team, then they went ahead and also picked up Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit, adding a sandpaper player with 30-goal upside who will create matchup nightmares. "Brad Marchand Lite" is how our own Jason Bukala describes Bertuzzi.

New York Rangers: With so much talent down the middle and on the left side, the New York Rangers were targeting one shooter for the right side and then ended up with two. Vladimir Tarasenko was the first, and then they figured out a way to fit in Patrick Kane, too. New York has a dangerous collection of three scoring lines, and backed by one of the league's best goalies.

Edmonton Oilers: We were bracing for a minor deadline for the Oilers, given they were capped out and didn't have much room to work. But GM Ken Holland figured out a way to acquire Mattias Ekholm, a responsible defensive defenceman with term who adds an element the blue line lacked. Holland then was able to get big Nick Bjugstad, a versatile forward who brings size, defensive acumen and some tertiary offensive potential.

LOSERS

Carolina Hurricanes: While the teams around them have all made substantial upgrades, the Hurricanes have so far acquired Shayne Gostisbehere and Jesse Puljujarvi. There is still time for them to make a splash but, so far, they have improved the least among the East's top teams.

Arizona Coyotes: We all understand what's going on in Arizona and, perhaps, one day all this misery will pay off with a buying contender in a new arena. But for now, the ways this team is stretching to add injured players just to reach the cap floor is not the most exciting thing for a fan base, or a great look for the league.

Pittsburgh Penguins: While we acknowledge they sort of have to keep buying into this core for now, we can't help but notice Washington (in a similar position) sold a number of players off to reposition themselves next season. The Penguins, though, acquired $5 million scoring forward Mikael Granlund for a 2023 second-round pick so far. Is that going to improve them enough to make a mark in the East?

Winnipeg Jets: With the West so wide open, the Jets hitting a speed wobble, and the roster questions that loom on the horizon, this really feels like a "go for it" year for the Jets. They were in on Jakob Chychrun and hopeful to add another impact scorer, but so far Nino Niederreiter is their only play. Will GM Kevin Cheveldayoff come out to play today?

It's been a busy, long week, but we're coming down to the last few hours of trading. Yes, many of the biggest names are off the board, but we're still keep an eye on a few things.

• Are The Toronto Maple Leafs done?

Nobody believes they are. Kyle Dubas has been one of the more active GMs in the lead up to today and, after the Bruins acquire Tyler Bertuzzi Thursday, the Leafs may want to use the limited cap space they have left (after accounting for Matt Murray's return), but could have to trade a player off the roster to do it. Alex Kerfoot is on our list of trade candidates.

READ: Luke Fox on Why Dubas may not be done

• Which teams left can help broker a trade?

Salary retention has been a theme of the deadline, but teams are allowed to have only three retained salaries on their books. So the Arizona Coyotes, everyone's favourite contract-hoarder, can no longer be active in that way with their slots used on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Nick Bjugstad and Patrick Kane. We're looking to Montreal or Anaheim and possibilities to get involved in this part of the market since they both have all three of their retention slots left. Chicago, Columbus, Minnesota and San Jose can each do it one more time.

• How will the Flames react to another loss?

There was already some smoke around the smouldering Flames before they lost another one Thursday night and sit five points out of the playoffs. Tyler Toffoli is on our list of trade candidates, but might GM Brad Treliving cut any deeper into this core? Is he the GM of the future here even?

WATCH: Is Brad Treliving's job on the line?

• Will there be a trade deadline surprise?

There's usually something that catches us off guard. Is Anaheim's John Gibson a real candidate to go anywhere? Will Erik Karlsson rumours rise up again and lead to a Friday blockbuster? Will the Blues be able to offload any of their signed defencemen? What are we not thinking of that could unfold today?

• Will the Canucks find any cap space?

The uninspiring Filip Hronek trade gave the Canucks a young-ish top four blueliner for possibly two top 40 draft picks, but it added over $4 million to the payroll and pushed the Canucks over next season's cap. For a management team that keeps talking about the desire to create cap space, will they find some Friday, or is that for the summer? Will Thatcher Demko, Tyler Myers or, gasp, J.T. Miller be the contracts on the move? Miller has his extension kick in with a full no-movement clause on July 1.

The dollar-in, dollar-out Edmonton Oilers technically had $450,000 in deadline day cap space, and used it all up Thursday, acquiring Nick Bjugstad from Arizona, and having the Coyotes use their last retention spot to keep half of Bjugstad's $900,000 AAV.

Already adding Mattias Ekholm to their blue line, Edmonton picks up the 6-foot-6, 209-pound Bjugstad, a hulk centre/winger who fits in the bottom six, but is also a potential complementary player for the stars. Bjugstad adds a defensive element and he averaged over two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game with the Coyotes, but his offensive game is capable as well, with 13 goals in 59 games.

For what specifically he can do for the Oilers, we again turn to scout Jason Bukala.

SCOUT'S ANALYSIS

Nick Bjugstad is an interesting add for the Oilers . 

He’s a player who can play both the wing and the middle. His primary ice time will likely come at even strength and the penalty kill, but he can slide into one of the power play units as a middle bumper/net front screen.

Bjugstad skates well and he’s long. He uses his reach offensively and defensively. There’s also some bump to his game. He had 119 hits in Arizona. 

If he provides secondary offence it’s a bonus for Edmonton. I like the fact he should have a role on their third line and penalty kill. 

As we see many, many, many draft picks exchanged this week, we should especially take note of the ones from 2023.

This is known as the Connor Bedard class, but it's being regarded as a deep and talented one throughout. Some early second-round picks could lead to steals that pay off handsomeley later on.

With that, we should check in on the top 40 ranking Jason Bukala did in early February. These are players he's personally scouted in person or via video, and is a list that will be live and grow as the season goes on. If you wanted to see how a scout develops their list for the draft, follow along with Jason.