If relegating starting goalie Carter Hart to practice-only duty this week didn't get the Philadelphia Flyers' attention, perhaps placing defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on waivers will.

Philadelphia made the surprising move involving one of its top defensemen on Tuesday, a day after the team nearly became the first to lose to the Buffalo Sabres in more than a month.

The Sabres' winless streak has now reached 18 games (0-15-3), the longest by an NHL team in 17 years. Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers was especially bitter, as Buffalo blew a 3-0 lead in the third period.

Aaron Ekblad will be out 12 weeks for the Florida Panthers after the defenseman had successful surgery Monday on a fracture in his left leg.

"Overwhelmed by the love and support of my family and teammates, my peers and the Florida Panthers fan base and organization," Ekblad said in a post on Twitter. "I appreciate each and every one of you.

"Thank you Dallas Stars for everything last night. I'm so grateful for your help. To everyone who has reached out, I see you. Thank you!"

Eric Staal was traded to the Montreal Canadiens by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday for a third-round and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Staal is in the final season of a two-year, $6.5 million contract ($3.25 million average annual value) he signed with the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 25, 2019 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Sabres will retain $1.625 million of the forward's salary.

Tuukka Rask will be out at least two games for the Boston Bruins because of an upper-body injury.

The goalie will not play when the Bruins host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SN1, NESN, MSG-B, NHL.TV) nor Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.

Rask played one period for the Boston Bruins against the New York Islanders on Thursday before leaving the game.

The Carolina Hurricanes could look to trade one of their goalies for help in other areas ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on April 12, general manager Don Waddell said in comments published by The Athletic on Friday

Alex Nedeljkovic and James Reimer have shared the goaltending since Petr Mrazek had surgery to repair a broken right thumb Feb. 3.

The Philadelphia Flyers are initiating conversations with other teams ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on April 12.

"We're certainly not looking at selling right now," general manager Chuck Fletcher said Wednesday. "I would say to you in my calls with managers around the League, first of all, I've received very few calls. It's been really quiet in terms of receiving calls.

Alexander Volkov was traded to the Anaheim Ducks by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.

The Lightning receive forward prospect Antoine Morand and a seventh-round NHL Draft pick.

Volkov has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in 19 games for the Lightning this season, his second in the NHL. The 23-year-old forward had one assist in nine NHL games last season. He was a second-round pick (No. 48) by Tampa Bay in the 2017 NHL Draft.

The NHL board of governors has approved new rules for the NHL draft lottery that will help last-place teams but restrict perpetual losers from winning multiple lotteries, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

The rules will be implemented beginning with the 2022 lottery. TSN was first to report the approval.

Patrick Marleau is open to a trade from the San Jose Sharks, the 41-year-old forward told The Athletic.

"I wouldn't actively maybe look for it, but if it does happen or it does come, or a team wants me, that's something you have to seriously consider," Marleau said in remarks published Sunday. "Obviously, that's still my goal, to win a Stanley Cup. It would definitely be something to consider."

Marleau can became an unrestricted free agent after this season and said he'd like to continue his NHL career.