Cousins was an effective bottom-6 forward for the Canadiens this season, posting 22 points (9G / 13A) in 58 games while playing just 13:28 ATOI. In Vegas, he'll help fill a void left by Alex Tuch's injury and should be a third line winger moving forward.
Claesson signed on with the Hurricanes in September and has spent the entire 2020 season in the AHL. In 47 games with Charlotte the 27-year-old picked up three goals with 16 assists (19 points) and will likely report to Binghamton (AHL).
Djoos was becoming a regular with the Capitals in 2019 before a thigh procedure cost him a few months and he never got back into the rotation. Djoos has spent most of the 2020 season in Hershey, where he led all Bears defensemen with 32 points (5G / 27A) in 42 games. He'll report to San Diego (AHL).
Sprong is a former highly regarded prospect who is now with his third team in two years. Spring has not had a problem scoring in the AHL, posting 11 goals with 16 assists (27 points) in 39 games with San Diego this season. However, he has just 19 goals and 11 assists (30 points) in 97 career NHL games with the Penguins and Ducks. He'll report to Hershey (AHL) and have to work his way up to the high-powered Capitals.
Demin was a fourth-round pick of the Golden Knights in 2018 and is in his sophomore year at the University of Denver. The 6-foot-2, 190 lbs. defenseman has scored two goals with seven assists (nine points) in 30 games for the Pioneers.
Subban has struggled this season, going 9-7-3 while posting a 3.18 GAA and .890 SV% in 20 games (19 starts) this season. The Golden Knights were looking to improve their backup goaltending situation, so Subban is part of the package to acquire Lehner. Subban will serve as Corey Crawford's backup for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Lehner followed up his spectacular 2018-19 season with an impressive stint in Chicago. He was able to post a 16-10-5 record with a .918 SV% despite some obvious flaws in Chicago’s defense. Lehner will immediately assume the backup role and could potentially challenge Marc-Andre Fleury for the starting job. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
Gustafsson has been held out of Chicago’s lineup since February 19 in lieu of a possible trade. The 27-year-old broke out in a major way last season, scoring 17 times and adding 43 assists in 79 games. Chicago’s struggles on the power-play this year took a particularly harsh toll on Gustafsson’s numbers, as he managed just six goals and 20 assists in 59 games. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
McIntyre hasn't played an NHL game since the 2016-17 season with the Bruins. The 27-year-old netminder owns an 11-10-2 record and an .894 SV% with Utica (AHL) this season.
Domingue had an underwhelming stint with the Devils after thriving as Tampa Bay's backup last season. He posted a 3-8-2 record in New Jersey along with an .882 SV%. The Canucks were reportedly looking to add depth in goal as Jacob Markstrom deals with an apparent injury. Domingue is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
Carolina selected Kuokkanen with the 43rd overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He's failed to register a point in his 11 career NHL games but has been a productive player in the AHL. Kuokkanen had 12 goals and 30 assists in 52 games this year with Carolina's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
Vatanen registered 40 points in 97 games over parts of two seasons with the Devils after being acquired from Anaheim in the Adam Henrique trade last season. Vatanen should provide some immediate relief to a Carolina blue-line that’s been plagued by injuries. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
Originally drafted by New York 28th overall in 2012, Skjei had become an integral part of the Rangers blue-line. The 25-year-old played at least 78 games in each of the last three seasons, averaging 30 points per 82 games. Skjei has eight goals and 15 assists in 60 games this season. He carries a $5.25M cap-hit through the 2023-24 season.
The Blue Jackets made Milano the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward struggled to maintain a spot in the lineup under head coach John Tortorella. He scored five goals and added 13 assists in 46 games for Columbus this season. Milano is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st.
Shore registered nine goals and 13 assists in 73 games with the Ducks after being acquired from the Stars last season. The 25-year-old was originally drafted by Dallas in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st.
Djuse is a 26-year-old Swedish defenseman that is in his first season in North America after spending the last eight years in Sweden. Djuse has scored four goals with 25 assists (29 points) in 48 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) this season. He's expected to report to Springfield (AHL).
Kahun totaled 10 goals and 17 assists in 50 games for the Penguins after being acquired from the Blackhawks in the off-season. He put up 37 points in 82 games as a 23-year-old rookie in Chicago last year. He is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st.
Rodrigues spent five years in the Sabres organization after signing as an undrafted free-agent in 2015. The 26-year-old has spent the majority of his career playing in Buffalo’s bottom-six, compiling 26 goals and 45 assists in 192 career games. He is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st.
Sheary returns to Pittsburgh after a two-year stint in Buffalo. Sheary has failed to replicate his production from his 52-point breakout campaign in 2017, averaging just 32 points over the last two seasons. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
The Kings selected Forbort 15th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He’s had trouble staying in the lineup this year after playing at least 78 games in each of the previous three seasons. The 27-year-old has one assist in 13 games on the 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.
