I recently asked a Western Conference veteran for his take on the 2023 NHL trade deadline. «The East is insane. That's my take.» It was as accurate and succinct a recap as one could apply to the days leading up to Friday, March 3, during which the West essentially became a feeder system for the East.
The New York Islanders got the fun started by acquiring Bo Horvat from Vancouver. The New York Rangers added Chicago's Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko from St.
Louis. The New Jersey Devils won the derby for San Jose's Timo Meier. The Toronto Maple Leafs brought on the Blues' Ryan O'Reilly and about a dozen defensemen.
The Carolina Hurricanes brought over Jesse Puljujärvi (Edmonton) and Shayne Gostisbehere (Arizona). The Tampa Bay Lightning beefed up with Nashville's Tanner Jeannot, and the Pittsburgh Penguins added the Predators' Mikael Granlund.