The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, but not before 45 players changed addresses in 25 deadline deals.

The most stunning deal was Atlanta trading Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh after the rumor mill had the high-scoring winger moving to Montreal. Hossa, who scored 43 goals and 100 points last season, gives the Penguins a trio of scoring threats that is arguably the best in the league.

Evgeni Malkin leads the NHL with 84 points, and he’s been terrific with Sidney Crosby sidelined since mid-January by a high ankle sprain. The Penguins add Hossa to the mix and get Crosby back in the next 2-3 weeks. With Hossa’s scoring touch and passing ability, his star teammates stand to benefit as much as he does.

Hossa, who has 26 goals and 56 points to lead all players traded near the deadline, joins his new team after scoring three goals and five assists in his final six games with the Thrashers. Among the group of traded players, no one can top Hossa in goals and points this month.

Most Points in February by a Player Dealt near Trade Deadline
(February points prior to trade deadline)

Player, New Team. . . . . . Gms. . . . . . . .G. . . . . . . . . .A. . . . . . . . . . Pts
Marian Hossa, Pit. . . . . . . .10. . . . . . . . .4. . . . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . . . . . 10
Andrew Ladd, Chi. . . . . . . .11. . . . . . . . .4. . . . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . . . . . 10
Jussi Jokinen, TB. . . . . . . .12. . . . . . . . .3. . . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . . . . 8
Brad Richards, Dal. . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . .2. . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . 6
Jan Hlavac, Nsh. . . . . . . . .10. . . . . . . . .2. . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . 5

Tied with Hossa for February points is Andrew Ladd, who was traded by Carolina to Chicago for Tuomo Ruutu. Ladd has nine goals and nine assists on the season, but 10 of his 18 points have come in February. The 22-year-old wing, who won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes two years ago, had been held without a point only twice in his last nine games with Carolina. He went scoreless in the Blackhawks' 1-0 win over Phoenix Wednesday night.

Jan Hlavac quickly got on the board for his new team. Acquired from Tampa Bay on Tuesday, he scored Nashville's first goal in an 8-4 loss to Buffalo Wednesday. The Sabres fared even better. They got two first-period goals from trade deadline acquisition Steve Bernier in the win.