NHL Central

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has been suspended two games for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct on Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman, the NHL department of player safety announced Thursday.

Binnington was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Wild after leaving his crease and punching Hartman in the face with his blocker after the Minnesota forward scored in the second period to give his team a 5-4 lead.

The league said:

"What causes this play to rise to the level of a suspension is the act of a goaltender using his blocker in this manner, the retaliatory nature of the blow, the location and force with which it lands, and the game circumstances under which it occurred.

"Recklessly entering an opponent's goal celebration long after the play has ended for the purposes of seeking retribution will not be tolerated."

"I mean, those blockers aren't soft," Hartman told reporters of the altercation. "We don't have much protection on our face. I'd say so (it was a cheap shot). It's nothing new from him. He's been doing stuff like this for a while."

After Binnington punched Hartman, Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury skated the length of the rink in an attempt to fight his counterpart. Both players removed their masks and gloves in preparation for a fight, but referees separated the two before things escalated.

"I'm not surprised. I've seen Jordan do a few things in his career. That's why I went," Fleury said of his decision. "I made it pretty quick."

Binnington said after the game that he was surprised referees assessed him a match penalty for the incident.

"A little bit. I don't think I caught him too clean with my going after him," he said. "Like I said, he's pretty good at diving. That's his game and that's totally fine. If they don't want to stay in there and compete until that end, that's fine, but that's it, that's the ref's decision and that's fine."

While Binnington has no prior suspension history, the 29-year-old has a history of on-ice antics.

In an October 2021 matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, Binnington left his crease and attacked members of the opposing team behind his own net before swinging his stick at the head of then-Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri.

Earlier this season during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Binnington tried to hit Jordan Staal as he was playing the puck behind the net. Staal ended up drilling Binnington to the ice.

Binnington hasn't been nearly as good since helping the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019. Through 52 games this season, he owns a 22-24-5 record, 3.39 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.

The Ontario native's numbers have gotten worse in each season since the 2018-19 campaign, which is unfortunate for St. Louis as he's under contract at $6 million per year through the 2026-27 season. He also has a no-trade clause through 2023-24 and a modified no-trade clause from 2024-27.

The Blues sit sixth in the Central Division with a 29-33-5 record. Binnington will miss games against the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets before being eligible to return Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Thomas Greiss figures to start in goal during Binnington's absence. The franchise also has Joel Hofer available in its AHL affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Ritchie brothers have been included in a trade between the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes ahead of Friday's deadline.

The Flames are acquiring defenseman Troy Stecher and forward Nick Ritchie from the Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Connor Mackey and forward Brett Ritchie.

Nick Ritchie was selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2014 draft. He spent four-and-a-half seasons with the franchise, tallying 43 goals and 66 assists, before being traded to the Boston Bruins during the 2019-20 season.

Following his season-and-a-half with the Bruins, Nick Ritchie joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and was traded to the Coyotes during the 2021-22 season. The depth forward has notched 80 goals and 101 assists in 465 games across eight seasons, failing to live up to his draft status.

The Dallas Stars selected Brett Ritchie in the second round of the 2011 draft. He spent the first five seasons of his career in Dallas, notching 33 goals and 21 assists in 241 games, before joining the Bruins, alongside his brother, for the 2019-20 season.

Brett Ritchie has spent the last three seasons of his career in Calgary. In 375 games across nine seasons, he has notched 48 goals and 32 assists. Like his brother, he is also considered a depth forward who can play in the bottom six.

Stecher, meanwhile, played for the Vancouver Canucks for the first four seasons of his career, tallying 11 goals and 64 assists in 286 games. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings before joining the Coyotes this season.

The 28-year-old has notched seven assists in 61 games with the Coyotes this year.

Mackey, 26, made his NHL debut with the Flames during the 2020-21 season. In 19 games across three seasons, he has tallied three goals and four assists.

This is primarily a depth move for both teams that allows players on both sides an opportunity to try to get going with a new franchise for the remainder of the season.

While the Coyotes are out of a playoff spot with a 21-31-9 record, seventh in the Central Division, the Flames are battling for a wild-card spot with a 27-22-13 record that leaves them five points away from the Winnipeg Jets for the last berth.

The Nashville Predators are trading defenseman Mattias Ekholm and a sixth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

In exchange, Nashville will receive Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick.

The Predators are also retaining four percent of Ekholm's remaining salary, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

The Oilers had been in the trade market for a defenseman for quite some time, and TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that, in addition to Ekholm, Edmonton had shown interest in the Arizona Coyotes' Jakob Chychrun and Columbus Blue Jackets' Vladislav Gavrikov.

LeBrun added that the Predators told teams last week that the price for Ekholm "started with two first-round picks."

Ekholm is in the first season of a four-year, $25 million deal he signed with the Predators in October 2021. He has an annual cap hit worth $6.25 million through the 2025-26 season, according to CapFriendly.

The 32-year-old Swede had spent his entire 12-year career in Nashville, which selected him in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Through 57 games this season, he has notched five goals and 13 assists for 18 points.

In 719 games with the Predators, Ekholm has tallied 62 goals and 206 assists for 268 points. He also boasts a career plus/minus of plus-104 and has averaged 21:48 of time on ice over 12 seasons.

Adding Ekholm helps solidify the Oilers as one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

Edmonton already boasts the NHL's best offense, averaging 3.80 goals per game thanks to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However, it desperately needed some help on the blue line as it was also allowing 3.28 goals per game.

For comparison, the Boston Bruins, which lead the league with 97 points, have scored 3.73 goals per game and are allowing just 2.08 goals per game, proving they have the perfect combination of scoring and defense needed to win a title.

Ekholm will now anchor a defensive unit that also includes Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, Philip Broberg and Evan Bouchard.

It's unclear if the Oilers, which sit third in the Pacific Division with a 32-21-8 record and 72 points, will make any more moves ahead of the NHL's Friday trade deadline.

Nashville, meanwhile, is in selling mode as it sits fifth in the Central Division with a 29-22-6 record and 64 points.

Tanner Jeannot was once believed to be a part of the future for the Nashville Predators after his strong campaign last season, but that is no longer the case.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they are acquiring the 25-year-old left winger in exchange for defenseman Cal Foote and five future draft picks.

Jeannot, who accounted for 24 goals, 17 assists and 130 penalty minutes in 81 games last season, has suffered a significant regression this year. He's recorded just five goals and nine assists in his 56 appearances.

The substantial haul that Nashville received is impressive considering it shipped away a player who is struggling, but the deal came as a shock to many around the league. Hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported after the trade was announced that "multiple NHL GMs are stunned by the return. Like jaws on the floor."

Jeannot is set to become a restricted free agent after this season, so it's important that he puts forth a strong showing for Tampa Bay. At 37-18-4, the Lightning sit in third place in the Atlantic Division. Jeannot will have the chance to contribute to a team that has aspirations of making a deep postseason run after losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Colorado Avalanche last season.

Jeannot will have some time to get used to his new surroundings before the Lightning return to the ice Tuesday at home for a matchup against the Florida Panthers (29-26-6).

Jack Johnson is headed back to Colorado after the Chicago Blackhawks defenseman was traded to the Avalanche on Sunday, according to an announcement by the organization. In return, Chicago received 27-year-old defenseman Andreas Englund.

Johnson, 36, will now begin his second stint with Colorado after having played a key role for the organization during its run to its first Stanley Cup title in over two decades last season.

He signed a one-year, $950,000 deal with Chicago this past offseason but still managed to make it to the banner-raising ceremony for the Avalanche earlier in the year.

Johnson has been a solid presence since he first entered the league in the 2006-07 season with the Los Angeles Kings. Over his decade-plus professional career, he has also spent time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

He has 316 points over his career and had just four points with Chicago in 58 games. He'll look to give some depth to a Colorado team that sits in third place in the Central Division with 71 points, just three points behind first-place Dallas and one behind Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Englund, who has struggled to find his footing in the league, will look to carve out a sizable role for himself in Chicago. He's played in just 69 NHL games since being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Senators.

He played 36 games with Colorado this season and amassed three points on three assists. Prior to 2022, Englund played in just 33 NHL games and spent a lot of time with AHL affiliates.

There will be a changing of the guard for the Nashville Predators, with a familiar face taking over as general manager.

David Poile is retiring from his position as Nashville's president of hockey operations and general manager, effective June 30. Former Predators, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz will take over as GM.

Trotz will serve as an advisor to Poile and his management team for the next four months.

Poile said in a statement that he felt this was the decision was "best" for both himself and the team:

"This is a decision that is best for me personally and best for the Nashville Predators. For the Predators, I believe it is time for a new voice and a new direction. I am proud of the foundation we have put in place in our hockey operations, investing in and improving every area of the department. This is the right time for someone else to move our franchise forward."

NHL reporter Elliotte Friedman first reported the news.

It is difficult to envision the Predators without Poile, although he will remain in a consulting role.

He was the general manager of the Capitals starting in 1982-83 but came to the Predators when they were an expansion franchise ahead of their initial season in 1998-99. Perhaps the crowning moment of his tenure came when he was named the General Manager of the Year in 2017 when Nashville reached its first Stanley Cup Final.

Even at that time, Poile was already the longest-serving general manager in NHL history dating back to his time with the Capitals.

Those are major shoes to fill, but Trotz is certainly familiar with the organization.

After all, he was the Predators' head coach for their first 15 seasons of existence. He worked directly with Poile during that time and helped guide the team to an overall record of 557 wins, 479 losses, 60 ties and 100 overtime losses during his tenure.

Nashville also went to the playoffs seven times under Trotz's leadership.

While the 60-year-old may be best known for leading the Capitals to the 2018 Stanley Cup title and reaching the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons with Washington and New York, his longest time with any single team came with the same Predators he's returning to with this move.

The Predators may need to make some moves this offseason outside of the leadership change, as they are 28-22-6 on the season and eight points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Ivan Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect Zach Dean.

Darren Dreger of TSN first reported the deal.

The 27-year-old has posted 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 59 games during the 2022-23 campaign.

While Barbashev hasn't matched last year's career season, when he scored 60 points in 81 games, he's a solid two-way option who should bolster the Golden Knight's third line. He can play on the wing or at center and is solid on both the power play and penalty-killing units.

Former NHL scout and current Sportsnet analyst Jason Bukala offered the following scouting report on the veteran:

The St. Louis Blues forward plays an energy game and has the ability to contribute more than secondary offense. He has the skill set to be used in all situations, and he can play the wing and the middle. Barbashev is the kind of player who can open up ice for his linemates with his tenacity. He scored 26 goals and 34 assists last season, which was a career high. I'm not sure he's a 60-plus point player, but he is better than (the totals) he's posted this year.

He had spent the entirety of his seven-year career with the Blues up until this point. With unrestricted free agency pending, and the Blues fairly well out of playoff contention at this point, a divorce seemed inevitable.

The Blues have undergone a fire sale, dealing Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers and Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dean, 20, was selected with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft and has posted 49 overall points (24 goals and 25 assists) with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Gatineau Olympiques.

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane still has yet to decide whether he wants to be traded ahead of the NHL's March 3 deadline.

As of Friday, the star winger hadn't waived his no-movement clause to facilitate a deal, per TSN's Chris Johnston. However, Johnston adds that a resolution could come in the next 24 hours.

Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, also told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Thursday that the three-time Stanley Cup champion remained undecided on waiving his no-movement clause.

The 34-year-old has spent his entire 15-plus-year career in Chicago. In addition to helping the franchise win three titles, he has also won a Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and has been named to the All-Star Game nine times.

Kane has been most heavily linked to the New York Rangers this winter.

While the Blueshirts already acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported Wednesday that New York has "signaled they will try to make" a deal for Kane if he is willing to waive his no-movement clause to join the franchise.

"We are told interest has not waned in the least since the acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko from St. Louis on Feb. 10," Brooks wrote.

The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers also have interest in acquiring Kane, per LeBrun. However, it's unclear if he would waive his no-movement clause to go to either of those franchises.

Kane has been vocal about his interest in joining the Rangers if he were to waive his NMC, telling reporters they are "definitely" a team he is paying attention to and is "intrigued by."

The Buffalo, New York, native has notched 16 goals and 29 assists in 54 games with Chicago this season. While his numbers are down from years past, he'd still be a significant addition to any contending squad.

Kane is in the final season of an eight-year, $84 million contract with the Blackhawks. If he's not traded this winter, it's unclear if Chicago will re-sign him during the offseason as it enters a full-scale rebuild.

The New York Rangers already made a splash ahead of the NHL's March 3 trade deadline by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, but it appears they still haven't ruled out bringing "Showtime" to Broadway.

The Blueshirts "have signaled they will try to make" a deal for Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane work if he is willing to waive his no-movement clause to head to New York, per Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

"We are told interest has not waned in the least since the acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko from St. Louis on Feb. 10," Brooks wrote.

Kane, who is in the final season of an eight-year, $84 million contract, still hasn't informed the Blackhawks whether he would like to be traded or not.

The three-time Stanley Cup winner has been viewed as a trade candidate since the offseason when Chicago indicated it would be entering a rebuild following the deals that sent Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat to the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, respectively, for draft picks.

Kane admitted earlier this month following the Tarasenko deal that he was disappointed by the move, adding that the Rangers were "definitely" a team he was paying attention to and was "intrigued by" should he decide to waive his no-move clause.

"If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at," Kane said of the Rangers. "It seems like they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal, so it is what it is."

It's somewhat of a surprise that the Rangers are still in on Kane, especially after ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported earlier this month that the franchise went after Tarasenko over the Blackhawks star and San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier because it felt the asking prices for both players were too high.

Kaplan also reported the Rangers expressed concerns over Kane's hip injury.

However, the star winger told reporters earlier this month that he believes his hip aliment has been overblown.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure what the story is to be honest with you, but I feel better than I did last year," he said. "It's just one of those things that maybe the story leaks out and it piles up a little bit."

There's no denying the impact Kane would have on Broadway alongside the likes of Tarasenko, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox.

If the 34-year-old is dealing with a hip ailment, it hasn't slowed him much as he's notched 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 54 games. He's been particularly potent following the All-Star break, tallying seven goals and four assists for 11 points in nine games.

If the Rangers swing a deal for Kane, they'll become one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference once the playoffs begin this spring. The team currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division with a 33-15-9 record and are just four points back of the second-place New Jersey Devils.