NHL Trade Deadline Live Blog: Bruins Add Stempniak And Liles, Keep Eriksson
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
3:34 p.m.: It feels safe to say that this trade deadline is officially over. It will go down in history as ... well, it won't go down in history at all. It was uneventful. Sometimes, that's just the way things shake out.
But before we say goodbye, one more trade:
The #habs send Devante Smith-Pelley to #NJDevils for Stefan Matteau.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 29, 2016
3:13 p.m.: Another late trade trickling in, and this one involves Boston too. The Bruins will be adding Lee Stempniak.
Stempniak to BOS.
— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 29, 2016
The 33-year-old right winger had 16 goals and 25 assists in 63 games for the New Jersey Devils this season. Stempniak has played for eight teams in his 11-year career. He has 181 goals and 229 assists in 771 career games at the NHL level.
3:03 p.m.: The Bruins were active, though not in the way most people expected. Loui Eriksson was NOT traded, but the team has acquired John-Michael Liles.
#hurricanes trade John-Micheal Liles aux #bruins #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 29, 2016
Source confirms Bruins get Liles.
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) February 29, 2016
Here's what Liles cost the Bruins:
Believe the return on Liles to Boston is a third-round pick, a fifth-round pick and prospect Anthony Camara
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 29, 2016
And on Loui:
Loui Eriksson was not traded
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 29, 2016
3:01 p.m.: The clock has struck the proverbial midnight on this deadline day. We now wait to see what late moves trickle through the news wire, but it appears this will be a mostly quiet deadline.
2:56 p.m.: Here's a name we haven't heard much about for the Bruins: John-Michael Liles.
Bruins among the teams showing late interest in J-M Liles...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 29, 2016
Not a lot of time to get that done.
2:52 p.m.: Chicago, somehow, has the ability to add Dan Hamhuis, and they're apparently going for it.
2:40 p.m.: If a trade of Loui Eriksson is imminent, then the player doesn't know about it yet.
Bruins still listening to offers on Loui Eriksson. 14 team no trade list. Hasn't been asked to waive yet, so assume working with yes list.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
2:31 p.m.: Less than 30 minutes to go ...
2:18 p.m.: The Panthers made an interesting move, sending Brandon Pirri to Anaheim for a sixth-round pick.
Pirri has 11 goals and 13 assists on the year for the Panthers, who sit atop the Atlantic Division. Pirri is currently injured, so it's not a huge move, but it's interesting for a team in Florida's position to cut ties with a player like that for a sixth-round pick. Pirri scored 22 goals in 49 games last season for Florida.
1:45 p.m.: There's a little over an hour left to deal, and the Bruins might be zeroing in on Dan Hamhuis.
BOS making a big push for Dan Hamhuis.
— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 29, 2016
The 33-year-old veteran D-man isn't a big point producer but would represent an upgrade defensively on the Boston blue line.
But don't expect the pursuit to be easy.
Hamhuis said last night that going to a contender was top priority to waive NMC. #Bruins don't fit.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 29, 2016
1:36 p.m.: Another trade, and this is another player that everybody knew would be on the move. Kris Russell is heading to Dallas.
The 28-year-old D-man has four goals and 11 assists on the year.
Also, the Avalanche didn't stop with the Boedker acquisition.
Eric Gelinas from NJ to Colorado for a 3rd round pick.#NHLTrade
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) February 29, 2016
1:13 p.m.: A trade! (Probably.)
Mikkel Boedker may be on the move, from Arizona to Colorado.
Trade call. Boedker to Avs
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
Tanguay,Bleackley and Wood going to Arizona in Mikkel Boedker trade. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 29, 2016
Alex Tanguay, Connor Bleakley and Kyle Wood going to Arizona in return for Boedker
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 29, 2016
Boedker, 26, has 13 goals and 26 assists this season in 62 games.
12:51 p.m.: Dan Hamhuis is one of the few big names (relatively speaking) expected to be on the move today, and the team's plan to not have him attend practice seems to indicate that he's close to a sure thing to be traded.
Hamhuis is not expected to attend practice today. That was the plan as of last night. #Canucks
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 29, 2016
12:22 p.m.: Darren Dreger is wondering out loud if the Stars might make themselves the big winners of the day.
Stars remain dialed in on Russell and Hamhuis. Highly unlikely, but is it possible to land both? Too early to rule anything out.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
12:04 p.m.: Some activity on the waiver wire:
Habs claim Mike Brown off waivers
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 29, 2016
Pardy and Cracknell claimed by Oilers.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
Stalock, Berra, Bourque all clear waivers. Rinaldo, too.
— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 29, 2016
And in the rumor mill:
According to a league source, Bruins and Flames discussing D-man Kris Russell but source added it's too soon to say if a deal gets done.
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) February 29, 2016
11:47 a.m.: It's nearing noon Eastern time, and today has been quiiiieeeet. Too quiet. Hopefully we get some action soon, because waiting is no fun.
11 a.m.: This probably won't have an impact on anything, but ...
Rinaldo not out there for practice
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 29, 2016
Rinaldo was placed on waivers yesterday. He'll never be a significant name on deadline day, but it bears some watching if the Bruins do have some things brewing. Loui Eriksson is on the ice for practice.
9:49 a.m.: We've got another trade, albeit one that was not discussed leading into deadline day and probably won't be talked about much after deadline day. Nevertheless, a deal:
Penguins trade Sergei Plotnikov to Arizona for a conditional and minor league player. @CraigCustance broke this one.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
9:30 a.m.: The wild and crazy day that is NHL trade deadline day is finally here. But a number of GMs couldn't wait until Monday to get this year's party started.
Already, we've seen a number of trades made around the league. On Thursday, the Jets sent Andrew Ladd (plus Jay Harrison and Matt Fraser) to Chicago for Marko Dano and a first-round and third-round (conditional) pick. Christian Ehrhoff went from L.A. to Chicago in exchange for Rob Scuderi on Friday. The Maple Leafs sent James Reimer (and Jeremy Morin) to San Jose for Ben Smith, Alex Stalock and and a 2018 conditional fourth-round pick. The Flames sent Jiri Hudler to Florida for a couple of picks.
The big move of the weekend came when the Hurricanes traded their captain, Eric Staal, to the Rangers, in exchange for Aleksi Saarela and second-round picks in the next two drafts.
The Hurricanes also traded Kris Versteeg to the Kings for Valentin Zykov and a conditional fifth rounder.
And we also saw the Leafs acquire Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick and a second-round pick for Daniel Winnik and a fifth-round pick.
As for today, it should be busy as always. The latest word is that the Bruins are asking for a top player and a prospect in exchange for Loui Eriksson.
Western conference team says the ask from Boston for Eriksson is a top player and prospect. Team is balking at the price...for now.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 29, 2016
We'll monitor how that situation changes throughout the day, as the Bruins and the rest of the league have a frenzied morning and afternoon leading up to the deadline at 3 p.m. ET. Follow along here for the latest updates from around the league all day long.