One of my favorite movie lines was uttered by Bill Murray in Ghostbusters. While warning the Mayor of New York City about the impending apocalyptic events that were about to engulf Gotham, Murray (aka Dr. Peter Venkman) famously blurted, “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!”
Another favorite? “What in the wide, wide, world of sports is a goin’ on here?” Delivered in perfect Texas twang by a bewildered Slim Pickens in the Mel Brooks comedy classic Blazing Saddles.
Either would be an apt description of the frenzied NHL trade activity that erupted on Tuesday, just three days shy of the Entry Draft. Indeed, three trades of sweeping proportions went down.
The Capitals acquired forward Jordan Kyrou from the Blues for forwards Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and a 1st-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 16).
The Senators plucked a trio of young forwards, William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda, from the Sharks for a 1st-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 9).
Not to be outdone, the Flames culled defenseman Šimon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils for defenseman Etienne Morin, a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 35), a 1st-round pick in the 2027 or 2028 NHL Draft, and a 1st-round pick in the 2028 or 2029 NHL Draft.
This on the heels of the Panthers’ stunning acquisition of heretofore Sens power forward Brady Tkachuk two days prior for a passel of picks, including three (count ‘em three!) 1st-rounders and a 2nd.
Can you say, “Holy blockbuster, Batman?”
The headlines weren’t confined to trades. Formerly disgraced bench boss and Stanley Cup winner Mike Babcock was hired to coach Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Co.
On the local front, the NHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Penguins to the Hoffmann Family of Companies.
Makes you wonder what the league’s going to do for encore.
All the while, the Pens and, more specifically, POHO/GM Kyle Dubas, remained still.
We were rumored to have an interest in acquiring Kyrou, a skilled, speedy 28-year-old forward who topped 30 goals three seasons running before tailing off to 18 in 2025-26. Another player who I thought might be on the Pens’ radar, 23-year-old right wing Mackie Samoskevich, was dealt by the Panthers to the Kraken for 1st- and 2nd-round picks.
So who’s left?
With Dallas trying to carve out cap space for RFA-to-be super scorer Jason Robertson, I wonder if the Stars might be a willing trade partner. They could have trouble shoehorning both Robertson and 24-year-old RFA center Mavrik Bourque, a 20-goal scorer, in under the cap ceiling.
Again, with an eye toward creating space for Robertson, the Stars would probably like shed veteran defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and his $3.2 million cap hit.
Last season, Dubas relieved the Stars of Matt Dumba (along with a 2nd-round pick) for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. Perhaps a similar deal could be struck, with Bourque and Lyubushkin as the return. Don’t know what or who we’d need to part with to make such a swap work.
The Ducks have several young players who could be in play, including center Mason McTavish and a pair of promising 22-year-old defensemen, Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.
All would seem to fit Dubas’ acquisition profile (see Chinakhov, Egor).
And, of course, Darnell Nurse is still out there.
Sure does make for an interesting prelude to the draft.
