NHL Trade Deadline Closes In As Big Moves Are Made

The NHL Trade Deadline is just one day away, Monday afternoon at 3 PM, but some teams have already made some big splashes in order to boost their lineup and chase toward the ultimate goal of lifting Lord Stanley Cup in June. Let's take a look at what has gone on in the National Hockey League.

On February 20th, the Minnesota Wild traded right winger Charlie Coyle to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ryan Donato and a conditional pick in this summer's draft. The very next day, the Los Angeles Kings traded veteran forward and two-time Stanley Cup winner Carl Hagelin to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 draft and a conditional sixth-round pick in next year's draft.

While those trades were a surprise to GMs, players, and fans alike, nothing could prepare them for what else would happen.

On February 22nd, the Columbus Blue Jackets made a huge splash and acquired Matt Duchene from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for two first-round picks as well as Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson. Just one day later, the Blue Jackets acquired Duchene's teammate from Ottawa in Ryan Dzingel and a seventh-round pick in exchange for Anthony Duclair.

Perhaps, the biggest trade of all happened on Saturday night. New York Rangers fans knew that Mats Zuccarello was going to be traded since he was scratched in the team's Saturday afternoon game against the Devils, but they just wondered as to where. Well, later that night, the 31-year-old Norwegian was sent to the Dallas Stars in exchange for two conditional picks. Many fans have expressed on social media just how heartbroken they are over the loss of their alternate captain.

We are just a little over twenty-four hours away from the trade deadline, and anything can happen. There are plenty of big names on the market and available to go to another team, so at this point, no one is safe.