Letestu had a career-year in Edmonton last season, but has not been quite as productive in 2017-18. With the Oilers surprisingly out of the playoff race Letestu heads back to Columbus, where he played from 2012-to-2015. Letestu will play a bottom-6 role but should also see some power-play time, like he did in Edmonton.
Aberg was a second-round pick in 2012 and has collected 10 points (3G / 7A) in 52 games with the Predators. He hasn’t quite emerged in the NHL but has been excellent in the AHL—he has 35 goals and 23 assists (58 points) in his last 60 AHL games. He will likely immediately step into the Oilers lineup.
Rychel is now on his third NHL team since being drafted No.19 overall in 2013 by the Blue Jackets. Rychel has picked up 30 points (10G / 20A) in 55 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season and will report to the Laval Rocket.
Valiev was a third round pick of the Maple Leafs (No.68 overall) in 2014. The 22-year-old defenseman has picked up five goals and 10 assists (15 points) in 40 games with the Marlies this season.
Baun was an undrafted free agent that signed in the NHL after three years at Colgate University. The 25-year-old winger had four goals and 12 assists (16 points) in 54 games in his first season with Laval (AHL).
Plekanec was primarily brought in to replace Dominic Moore on the Maple Leafs’ fourth line, but he is also a player that can move up and down the lineup, especially while Auston Matthews is out. The 35-year-old has played against the Maple Leafs in Montreal for 13 seasons and comes to Toronto with six goals and 18 assists (24 points) in 60 games this year.
Lindgren was a second round pick of the Bruins (No.49 overall) in 2016 and has picked up seven points (2G / 5A) in 33 games in his second-year at the University of Minnesota.
Beleskey has an ugly contract, with two years remaining at a $3.8M AAV cap-hit. The Bruins will retain 50% of that contact but it remains to be seen if he will join the Rangers or the Wolf Pack. He had no points in 14 games with the Bruins before being placed on waivers and sent to Providence (AHL) were he had just four goals and two assists (six points) in 21 games.
Spooner had a breakout campaign in 2015-16, collecting 13 goals and 36 assists (49 points) in 80 games but has struggled since then, especially in 2017-18. The 26-year-old will look to get his career back on track in New York after picking up just 25 points (9G / 16A) in 39 games with the Bruins this season. He could make his Rangers debut on Sunday.
Nash, 33, has picked up 18 goals and 10 assists (28 points) in 60 games with the Rangers this season. Nash, who is in the final year of his eight-year contract, is expected to make his Bruins debut right away as he is en route to Buffalo for this afternoon’s game. The Rangers will retain 50% of Nash’s salary.
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.