Might as well start this post now, because the Bears have had some changes tonight. Washington made two deals: The Caps acquired Hartford’s captain, Ryan Bourque, reuniting him with Chris, in exchange for Chris Brown. A fascinating deal, followed up by a Daniel Winnik for Brooks Laich trade that also sends Connor Carrick to Toronto. Not going to pretend the Bears are now somehow easy to defend, but losing Carrick makes it a lot easier.
Under 15 hours to go.
11:30 a.m.: One deal so far this morning, sending Springfield’s Matthias Plachta to Pittsburgh. Toronto also executed an eight-player… call-up and send-down ballet. Most notable locally is that Mark Arcobello is a Marlie at this instant, which, if that holds in three and a half hours, makes him eligible for the AHL the rest of the way.
Noon: Among assorted other claims, New Jersey plucked defenseman David Warsofsky from the Penguins.
1:15 p.m.: Big AHL deal: Drew MacIntyre to Rockford, joining Michael Leighton there. Can’t get much more experienced a tandem than that. Biggest NHL deal yet: Mikkel Boedker to Colorado.
2 p.m.: The biggest deals are still out west, like Kris Russell to Dallas, but New Jersey has followed the Warsofsky pickup by sending Eric Gelinas to Colorado for a pick next year.
2:45 p.m.: Still waiting to see what they may be doing here, but…
Dreamed of this moment since I was a child, one I will remember forever. pic.twitter.com/x7bqFWbuyc
— Ryan Pulock (@rpulock) February 29, 2016
The Panthers sent Brandon Pirri to Anaheim for a sixth-rounder.
2:55 p.m.: Paperwork, most likely, as Ryan Pulock’s on the AHL transactions on Bridgeport’s roster. Making it publicly official; they can call him right back up in six minutes if they’d like. Also on the transactions: Ross Johnston is coming back up from Missouri. He was 4-7-11 in 13 ECHL games with 23 penalty minutes.
3:10 p.m.: The Big Club sends a draft pick to Ottawa for Shane Prince.
3:30 p.m.: Confirmed, as if Arthur needed it, that Taylor Beck has been traded for Marc-Andre Cliche. That’s it for the Islanders today.
On the transactions list, Pulock has, in fact, been recalled.
Deals elsewhere include Dustin Jeffrey reportedly going back to the Penguins, and Stefan Matteau from New Jersey to Montreal for Devante Smith-Pelley. So Matteau’s last acts in the Devils organization include wrecking Kyle Burroughs and scrapping with Scott Mayfield in front of the Bridgeport net.
3:45 p.m.: The transactions also have Patrick Cullity re-signing a PTO, replenishing the defensive depth a bit.
4:55 p.m.: Had closed the file — not expecting Bridgeport comment tonight — when came news that Tim Jackman was traded for Corey Tropp. Interesting in that it’s Jackman, the former Sound Tiger; interesting also in that it’s a blow for Albany, because the Blackhawks had Tropp with the Devils’ farm club.
5:30 p.m.: Boy did those trade calls get backed up: After losing Dustin Jeffrey, Springfield also loses defenseman Corey Potter, traded to Nashville.