BREAKING: Avalanche land Lindgren, Wild get Nyquist and Panthers acquire Seth Jones in busy day of NHL trades…see more

Three Central Division teams traded defensemen Seth Jones and Ryan Lindgren and forward Gustav Nyquist on Saturday before of the NHL trade deadline. In a trade with the New York Rangers, the Colorado Avalanche added Lindgren and winger Jimmy Vesey. Hours later, the Minnesota Wild signed pending free agent forward Gustav Nyquist. The last-place Chicago Blackhawks traded Jones to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The NHL trade deadline is Friday.

The Rangers obtained a second- and fourth-round pick, young forward Juuso Parssinen, veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan, and Hank Kempf’s rights. According to a source, New York keeps half of Lindgren’s income. Because salary retention was not disclosed in the exchange, the source talked to The Associated Press anonymously. The insider added the Rangers will acquire the best of their own or Carolina’s second-round pick and Carolina’s or Vancouver’s fourth-round pick later this year.

Minnesota gave Nashville a 2026 second-round selection in exchange for half of Nyquist’s salary. The 35-year-old forward joins the Wild at the trade deadline for the second time in three years. “They’re getting a real good player, real good,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “He’s smart, versatile, and can play any position on your team. One of the best teammates and people possible is joining them. They’re blessed to receive him; hopefully he delivers.” Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick from Chicago were traded to Florida for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round pick.

The Blackhawks keep 26% of Jones’ compensation. Nashville drafted 30-year-old Jones fourth overall in 2013. He is contacted till 2030. With Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe, and Gustav Forsling signed for three more seasons, Florida is deep at forward.

The Avalanche made their second significant move of the season. In late January, they traded top-line forward Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes for Martin Necas, and general Chris MacFarland may make more changes before the deadline. New York is four points behind the Eastern Conference playoff place and will miss No. 1 defenseman Adam Fox due to an upper-body ailment. The Rangers did not want to lose Lindgren and Vesey this summer, but they are not giving up on the season.

They had long coveted Parssinen, 24. He could fill the depth role left by December trade to Seattle of Finn Kaapo Kakko. Lindgren, 27, has struggled this season, but he gives Colorado left-handed-shooting blue line depth in hopes of another extended playoff run. The Avalanche might give 31-year-old Vesey more playing time after he played under 10 minutes a game in New York.