Pre-Deadline Deadline Day

The real NHL trade deadline is March 3rd, but with the Olympic break there is a roster freeze from today at 3pm ET until March 1st.  So expect a lot of movement before 3pm, since this is sort of a mini trade deadline itself.  Keep checking back, and I will update this post with all of the trades as they happen.

Last night: Ex-Ranger Dominic Moore is now a Canadien.  Florida gets a 2nd round pick in 2011.

10:43am:  Ex-Ranger Matt Cullen has been traded to the Senators.  Hurricanes receive D Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round pick. (Bob McKenzie)  Picard is 24 and will be a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the season.  Cullen is in the last year of a 4-year deal he signed with the Rangers and will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) July 1.

11:35am: The Flyers have signed a 2-year extension with ex-Ranger Blair Betts for a total of $1.4 million. (SNYRB)  For the record, this blog isn't intended to be just about ex-Rangers today...that's just how things have been going so far.

12:05pm: Ottawa Sun reporting that Jonathan Cheechoo is on waivers.  He has 1 more year left at $3 million and is 29.  His 14 points in 61 games since being acquired in the Dany Heatley deal don't help his chances for another move.

12:14pm: Bob McKenzie confirms Cheechoo report.  Also on waivers: Ex-Ranger Jamie Lundmark of the Flames and Brad May of the Red Wings.  No surprise, but Donald Brashear has cleared waivers.

3:20pm: Wild trade ex-Ranger D Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy (their 1st round pick this past year) to the Blackhawks for D Cam Barker. (Darren Dreger)  Johnsson will be a UFA after the season, so this move frees up cap space for the Hawks to keep more of their young talent around.

3:20pm: Rangers have acquired enforcer Jody Shelley from the Sharks for a draft pick.  Check back fro updates, but this one is really puzzling. (Darren Dreger)

3:50pm: Bob McKenzie confirming that the pick is the Rangers' 6th rounder in 2011.  If Shelley re-signs in NY, it becomes a 5th round pick. That's not giving up a whole lot, but it's still a puzzling move.  Do the Rangers really need a tough(er) guy to play 4:52 a night?  I would think they would be after someone who might score more than 3 goals in a season (his career high) or someone younger than 34.  Just sayin...