Puck Wire: Top Hockey News Of The Day: February 21st

And we are off! Welcome to silly season part one my friends. The NHL trade deadline has essentially arrived. The final horn won’t sound until Monday afternoon, but the deals have begun and I’d buckle up for a busy weekend if I were you.

The Bruins and Wild got things kicked off yesterday, but expect the Capitals and Kings to join the fun today and potentially the Sharks and Ducks too. These next few days are going to be a lot of fun if you are a hockey fan.

• Charlie Coyle is going home. The Massachusetts native and BU alum is headed to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ryan Donato and a conditional draft choice.
• Rumor has it the Sharks and Ducks are talking about a trade that would send Ryan Miller to Northern California in exchange for a draft choice. The Sharks are a legit team, but have not been getting the goaltending they expected this season. Miller, meanwhile, has yet to taste Stanley Cup glory but has quietly but together a strong season in a backup role.
• Speaking of the Sharks, they added a little toughness from the waiver wire on Wednesday. They claimed Florida’s Michael Haley.
• Carl Hagelin is heading back out east…..allegedly. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman noted on Wednesday night that the reason the Capitals are clearing cap space is for a trade, and named the veteran King as a potential target. Hagelin faced the Capitals in the playoffs five straight season prior to being dealt to LA earlier this season.
• Another year, another disaster in Northern Alberta. The Oilers will be selling at the deadline yet again as they prepare to miss the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 seasons and the third in four tries with Connor McDavid on the roster. Good job, good effort, Chiarelli. The Edmonton Journal takes a look at what interim GM Keith Gretzky could do at his first deadline.
• Flyers’ D Radko Gudas has been suspended two games for another dangerous play. I’m not sure he’ll ever learn, which is too bad because he’s actually a pretty solid player.
• The Penguins have signed F Joe Cramarossa to a two-way NHL contract.

Photo Credit: Santeri Viinamäki [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons