This Week in the NHL: Trade Deadline arrives
With 32 teams and seemingly infinite storylines, it’s hard to keep track of all the weekly goings on during the NHL season. That’s why I’m here to help. Every Monday from October to April, I’ll preview the key events, games, narratives and milestones in play for the week.
So what’s on tap for March 3-9?
March 7: NHL Trade Deadline
It’s here. Teams have until Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET to file their trades with the NHL Central Registry. We have you covered at Daily Faceoff for the trade news this week. Visit our Facebook Trade Deadline Hub page to find the latest Trade Targets board from Frank Seravalli, plus feature stories from our Trade Deadline Countdown, trade grades and more. And be sure to tune in Friday beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET for our Daily Faceoff Live Trade Deadline special.
Will Alex Ovechkin pull to within 10 of the goals record?
The idea of Ovechkin closing to within 10 goals of passing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time record – or within single digits of doing it – felt unfathomable a few years ago. But Ovechkin, defying age, has an incredible 31 goals through 44 games this season, scoring at a 58-goal pace at 39 years young. He opens the week 10 back of tying The Great One and 11 away from setting a new league record at 895. Ovi’s Washington Capitals play four times this week. He’s capable of putting up a big number over that span.
Nathan MacKinnon’s 1,000th point
MacKinnon paces the NHL with 91 points this season. He’s still 10 away from 1,000 for his career, but three games this week are more than enough runway for Nate Dogg to go off given his penchant for multi-point games. A long shot but not impossible. Whenever MacKinnon gets to 1,000, he’ll become the 100th member of the 1,000-point club. He’s at 852 games played, so he’ll be the fourth-fastest among active players behind Connor McDavid (659), Sidney Crosby (757) and Evgeni Malkin (848).