NHL trade deadline 2021: Breaking down the biggest rumors, deals of the day

The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET Monday. Follow USA TODAY Sports' live updates during the day for the latest trades, news, rumors and analysis.

There are plenty of obstacles this season with a flat salary cap and the need for traded players to quarantine because of COVID-19 protocol. But there already have been key moves in recent days as general managers get creative. And more moves are expected in the final hours.

Be sure to catch yourself up on everything that has gone on this trade season with our trade tracker. 

Jeff Carter gives the Penguins a strong presence down the middle even if his best days are behind him. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

The most recent news and analysis will be listed at the top. 

8:10 a.m. Some late-night (or early morning) dealing

A couple of significant moves went down while you were sleeping … 

– The Bruins acquire forwards Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Sabres for forward Anders Bjork and a second-round pick. The Bruins’ two weaknesses this season were secondary scoring and defense. They addressed defense with the trade for Ottawa's Mike Reilly. They hope Hall, a former No. 1 overall pick and Hart Trophy winner, can show more than the two goals he has scored this season. The Sabres, who also retained 50% of Hall's salary, failed to get a first-round pick for their biggest prize. Bjork was a fifth-rounder.

And …

TRADE ALERT ?: The Penguins have acquired forward Jeff Carter from the Kings in exchange for conditional 2022 third-round and 2023 fourth-round draft picks.

Details: https://t.co/BKusJTPLA0pic.twitter.com/sld5HkyYp6

Jim Rutherford doesn't have to be the Penguins' general manager for them to be active. In Carter, the Penguins get a veteran center who is signed through next season. In 40 games this season, Carter has eight goals (on 117 shots) and 19 points. He is probably past his prime as a top-six center but will have to fill in the second line while Evgeni Malkin is injured. Los Angeles is retaining 50% of Carter's salary (he has a cap hit of $5.3 million).

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