Vitek Vanecek was traded to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. “I heard it, probably twice,” Vanecek said of the chants. The former San Jose Sharks goalie recorded his first shutout of the season and the ninth of his career on Saturday in a dominant Panthers effort.

The San Jose Sharks on Thursday traded center Nico Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers for a 2026 fourth-round selection. The trade is the second between the Sharks and Panthers in as many days. On Wednesday, San Jose sent goalie Vitek Vanecek to Florida for forward Patrick Giles.

Vitek Vanecek stopped all 21 shots he faced in his Florida debut, and the Panthers beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-0. A.J.

With action heating up with roughly 24 hours to go before the deadline, Stanley Cup contenders New Jersey, Florida, and Vegas made moves Thursday.

The Colorado Avalanche made a big splash on the eve of the NHL trade deadline by getting center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.