The NHL trade deadline has created a flurry of moves by teams looking either to shed contracts or gear up for the playoffs. Here are some of the big names on the move.

Penguins Acquire LW Alexei Ponikarovsky

The Penguins were not content with their left wingers going into the playoffs (Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Chris Kunitz, Ruslan Fedotenko) as none of them have more than 26 points on the year. Ponikarovsky comes to Pittsburgh to remedy that from Toronto with 19 goals and 22 assists. Now playing on a line with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin setting him up, as well as on the power play, look for those totals to sky-rocket as the Penguins got their missing piece for the stretch run.

Phoenix acquires D Derek Morris, D Matthew Schneider and F Wojtek Wolski

Not a bad haul for a team with no owner! The Coyotes obtained the second leading scorer on the Avalanche for struggling forward Peter Mueller and a prospect. In other trades, former Coyote, Morris was added for a 4^th round pick next year and Schneider for a prospect and a 6^th round pick this year. This added boost should carry Phoenix into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Best of the Rest:

Devils acquire defenseman Martin Skoula for a 5^th round pick.

Capitals acquire F Scott Walker and C Eric Belanger in separate trades for 7^th and 2^nd round picks, respectively.

Kings acquire C Jeff Halpern for F Teddy Purcell and a 3^rd round pick

Calgary acquires G Vesa Toskala from the Ducks in a backup goalie swap for Curtis McElhinney.

Anaheim acquires D Aaron Ward from Carolina for goalie prospect Justin Pogge and a conditional 4^th rounder.

Ottawa acquires D Andy Sutton from the Islanders for a 2^nd round pick.