NHL Trade Deadline Heats Up
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Conor Garland from Vancouver for two draft picks, while Buffalo swung a deal with Winnipeg to pick up defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn as teams make final moves.
In the deal for Conor Garland, the Blue Jackets sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round selection to the Canucks. The move signals a clear playoff push for Columbus, which now sits just one point out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Garland, 29, comes with a significant contract; a new six-year, $36 million deal with an average annual value of $6 million begins next season. For the last-place Canucks, the trade clears cap space and adds to their draft capital as they continue a franchise rebuild. Buffalo's acquisition of two defensemen from Winnipeg cost them forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson, a 2027 second-round pick, and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2026. Rosen was a first-round draft pick for the Sabres in 2021. The Sabres, who are tied for first in their division, add significant size and experience. The 6-foot-7 Logan Stanley is having a career year with 21 points, while the 36-year-old Luke Schenn is a two-time Stanley Cup champion known for his physical play, ranking seventh in the NHL with 139 hits. Both Stanley and Schenn are pending unrestricted free agents, making them rentals for Buffalo's playoff drive. Winnipeg retained 50 percent of Schenn's remaining salary as part of the deal. Elsewhere, the trade deadline saw a shocking move as the Washington Capitals traded longtime defenseman and franchise legend John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.
