The banged-up New Jersey Devils wasted no time filling an area of need ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the defending champion Florida Panthers made an under-the-radar move that could pave the way for another deep playoff run, and the Vegas Golden Knights brought back a member of their recent Stanley Cup-winning team.

With action heating up Thursday, New Jersey acquired veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin from Anaheim, Florida got depth center Nico Sturm from San Jose, and Vegas reacquired winger Reilly Smith from the New York Rangers

The Devils’ acquisition of Dumoulin, sending a second-round pick in this year’s draft and the rights to unsigned 19-year-old prospect Herman Traff to the Ducks, comes after they learned leading scorer Jack Hughes is done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery and with No. 1 defenseman Dougie Hamilton also out because of injury. With Hughes going on long-term injured reserve, they can add roughly $10 million worth of players before the deadline, even after getting Dumoulin because Anaheim is retaining half of Dumoulin’s salary.

The Rangers are also retaining half of what’s left of Smith’s salary and getting young forward Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick — previously belonging to last-place San Jose — back from Vegas. Hours later, they sent that pick to Vancouver for Carson Soucy, a left-shooting defensemen under contract through next season who effectively replaces Ryan Lindgren after he was sent to Colorado.