The Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks added some reinforcements for a playoff run, while Rick Nash’s wish for a deal didn’t come to fruition Monday as the NHL trade deadline passed without any blockbuster moves.
The Predators beefed up the offense with left wing Andrei Kostitsyn and two-way forward Paul Gaustad.
The Canucks fine-tuned their roster with three deals that added four players: checking-line center Samuel Pahlsson, rookie forward Zack Kassian, defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani and forward Andrew Gordon.
The Predators sent a 2012 first-round draft pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Gaustad and a 2013 fourth-round selection. Kostitsyn, who will be reunited with his brother Sergei in Nashville, came from Montreal for a second-round and conditional fifth-round pick in 2013.
Columbus did make one move, sending Pahlsson to the Canucks for minor-league defenseman Taylor Ellington and two 2012 fourth-round draft picks.
The Canucks also shipped rookie center Cody Hodgson to Buffalo for Kassian in an exchange of former first-round draft choices. Rarely used defenseman Alexander Sulzer also went to the Sabres for Gragnani as part of the deal.
Vancouver’s third trade sent defenseman Sebastien Erixon to the Anaheim Ducks for Gordon.
In other moves Monday:
• The Boston Bruins acquired forward Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders for two prospects, center Yannick Riendeau and defenseman Marc Cantin, both of whom will be assigned by the Islanders to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.
Boston also sent defenseman Steve Kampfer to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Greg Zanon. To make space on the roster for the new acquisitions, the Bruins assigned Andrew Bodnarchuk, Carter Camper and Max Sauve to Providence of the AHL.
• The San Jose Sharks received left wing T.J. Galiardi, left wing Daniel Winnik and a 2013 seventh-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche for left wing Jamie McGinn, center Mike Sgarbossa and left wing Mike Connolly.
• The Ducks acquired right wing Dale Mitchell from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defensman Mark Fraser.
