Fabian Zetterlund's recent trade from the San Jose Sharks to the Ottawa Senators has raised questions regarding the timing of his contract negotiations. Zetterlund's agent revealed that while the Sharks had made an early offer, they opted to delay discussions until after the season. A counteroffer was made shortly before the trade, but it's unclear if this influenced his move to Ottawa.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings were firm in their decision not to trade defenseman Brandt Clarke, with GM Rob Blake dismissing any rumors to the contrary. This commitment underscores the team's strategy going forward as they aim for success. Additionally, Evander Kane's recent changes to his no-movement clause have kept him in the spotlight, although he will miss the rest of the regular season due to injury.