Morning Skate: Let the NHL trade floodgates open

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Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.

SLOW DOWN, PEOPLE: The NHL waited all Wednesday to unload three big transactions on us as we were sitting down for dinner. Jerks. The biggest, by far, was the Predators sending Seth Jones to the Blue Jackets for Ryan Johansen.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT: Our Predators blog is absolutely thrilled. Nashville has a bona fide No. 1 center for the first time in 18 years.

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM IN OHIO: As The Cannon explains, it’s too early to decide whether this was a good deal for Columbus or not.

ANOTHER SWAP: The first trade sent Flyers castoffs Vinny Lecavalier and Luke Schenn to Los Angeles for prospect Jordan Weal and a third-round pick.

BLESS YOU, RON HEXTALL: Flyers fans should be cheering in the streets over another savvy move by their GM.

HE’S NOT SO BAD, EITHER: Plus, Weal was an American Hockey League MVP. So, that’s good.

MEANWHILE...: The Kings have apparently decided draft picks are not important. They’ll try to fit Lecavalier in on the third line.

BACK IN THE NHL: Rounding out the trio of late afternoon transactions was Mike Richards signing with the Washington Capitals.

OH YEAH, THERE WAS ACTUAL HOCKEY TOO:

Canadiens 2, Devils 1

Blackhawks 3, Penguins 1

Avalanche 4, Blues 3 (OT)

Canucks 3, Hurricanes 2

Maple Leafs 4, Ducks 0

ALL-STAR FUN: The official rosters for the 2016 All-Star Game dropped, and they look stacked and awesome.

BUT THE JERSEYS...: Not so much.

DON-NING AWESOME JERSEYS: Speaking of jerseys, the Toledo Walleye are wearing amazing Don Cherry tribute jerseys this week.

ROSTER SHAKEDOWN: Pension Plan Puppets takes a look at the Leafs’ roster situation.

AT LEAST IT’S SOMETHING: Meanwhile, the United States routed Sweden to earn the bronze.

EVEN MORE BAD NEWS: The Stars are already slumping, and now John Klingberg earned an All-Star Game snub. St. Louis Game Time wonders if Jake Allen got snubbed, too.

TIME TO ASK THE BIG QUESTION: Is it time for the Winnipeg Jets to start tanking?