Well it looks like Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are reunited again. It didn't take long, less than a year after they were separated by Flyers GM Paul Holmgren in two different trades, the Kings acquired Jeff Carter from Columbus in exchange for Jack Johnson and a 2012 1st round pick. The Kings were desperate to find scoring in their top six forward group and apparently were willing to give up a lot to do so. Howson set out to trade Carter about a couple of weeks ago and was looking for a return similar to what he gave Philadelphia last June for the big center originally. He ended up doing quite well, getting the highly talented defenseman Jack Johnson and a 1st round pick (he traded Jakub Voracek and a 1st last June) and Johnson should help shore up a defense that needs a lot of work. Los Angeles is clinging to 8th in the Western Conference, despite Jonathan Quick's best efforts to keep them in basically every single game they've played in so far. Carter should come to LA motivated and ready to score goals alongside his friend Mike Richards. It was thought that teams were afraid of Carter's lengthy contract, but if the Kings are fine with the term (10 years remaining), then a 5.4 million dollar cap hit per season is pretty respectable for a guy that can easily score 30 goals every single year. We like this trade for both teams, as they both fill a need on their respective rosters. The trade may favour the Blue Jackets however, who are in dire need of any change, but Johnson will help the puck movement from the back end tremendously and they will gladly take another first round pick in the upcoming draft. The Blue Jackets will now have their eyes on moving captain Rick Nash, but also have some other players they wouldn't mind moving to remake their roster. Forwards R.J Umberger, Derek Dorsett, Sami Pahlsson, Kristian Huseilius are all available, as well as defenseman Fedor Tyutin. The Kings meanwhile don't appear to be done either, people still say they are looking for another top six forward and may be willing to part with captain Dustin Brown. Jonathan Bernier could be used as a piece, while we wouldn't be shocked at all if they went after another defenseman after the loss of Johnson.

Chip Alexander is reporting that Tuomo Ruutu has decided to stay in Carolina and accept the Hurricanes proposal for a new contract. It hasn't been made official yet, but it is expected that it will be announce in the coming hours. Teams will now have to move on in their search for a top 6 forward knowing that Ruutu is now off the market. The deal will pay Ruutu 19 million over the next 4 years and looks to be a good contract for both sides. 

Columbus started their sell off Wednesday by trading center Antoine Vermette to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for G Curtis McElhinny, a 2nd round pick (originally Ottawa's 2012 pick) and a conditional 2013 5th round pick. Phoenix has shown it can be active at the deadline in the past, despite their current ownership problems. Perhaps the acquisition of a player like Vermette, whose under contract for 3 more seasons, shows promise for the teams future. Phoenix is in the middle of a very tight playoff chase and adding Vermette will help them at both ends at the rink and should be a solid addition, especially since they didn't really give up much in the deal. 

TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting what some have been wondering for a while and that is Travis Moen will not be moving out of Montreal. The Canadiens have told teams that they are not interested in trading him, and prefer to keep him until seasons end when they will discuss a contract extension. Good move for Montreal despite all the interest, the Habs are hoping to get bigger and stronger up front, and letting Moen go would certainly get away from that philosophy. Montreal has let other teams know that F Andrei Kostitsyn is available however, and you can expect him to be moved in the near future.