Recent NHL champions make deals aiming to go on another run

When St. Louis Blues players said their goodbyes to Oskar Sundqvist before boarding the plane for their next game, it marked the latest departure of many from the group that won the Stanley Cup in 2019.

Only 10 guys remain who played in that Stanley Cup Final. The Washington Capitals have nine players left from their 2018 championship team. Just five remain from the Penguins team that won Pittsburgh's second consecutive title in 2017.

While the back-to-back defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning loaded up at the trade deadline looking for a three-peat, St. Louis, Washington and Pittsburgh all made moves in hopes of recapturing some old magic to go on another deep playoff run.

For the Blues, it meant shipping out Sundqvist to upgrade on defense with Nick Leddy. The Capitals brought back Marcus Johansson, whom they traded away the summer before winning the Cup, while the Penguins shuffled out two roster players to add winger Rickard Rakell.

Pittsburgh, in fact, has changed its entire front office since the back-to-back titles, Washington is on its second coach since its Cup win and yet it's St. Louis that might offer the biggest contrast. The Blues have just two players back from their championship defense and over the past three years have transitioned from a big, heavy team that got through the playoffs by physically wearing down opponents to one that can win with skill, speed and offense.

“I just think the balance of the team is different,” coach Craig Berube said. “From the Cup year, we move the puck better, I think, in the neutral zone. We move the puck through the neutral zone better, and in the offensive zone we score a lot of goals."

Rakell has twice scored more than 30 goals in a season and gives the Penguins a