Friday, February 29, 2008

NHL Trade Deadline ANalysis


The trade deadline has come and gone, and so with that it is time to look back on each trade and determine, on paper, which team won the deal. In part two of my deadline fallout I will take a look at each individual deal that happened and give my two cents on whether or not it helped the teams involved or not.


Wade Belak (Toronto) for 5th Round Pick (Florida)
Analysis: Belak does little more than fight, so I don’t really see why Florida wanted him. He was worth a late pick at best. As Toronto was looking to stock up picks and prospects Fletcher was going to get whatever he could for an expendable player like Belak.
Winner: Toronto


Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis (Atlanta) for Erik Christenssen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and a 1st round pick (Pittsburgh) ‎
Analysis: Pittsburgh gets the biggest name on the market and a winger for Crosby and Atlanta gets four building blocks for the future. The chances of Pittsburgh being able to resign Hossa with Crosby’s new deal beginning next year plus Malkin due one the following, are quite slim making him a rental. However, he provides a big boost to an already potent offense. Atlanta recoups some of what they lost in bad deadline deals last year, getting two young players to help now, plus a once highly touted prospect in Esposito and what will amount to a late round pick.
Winner: Atlanta



Cristobol Huet (Montreal) for 2nd round pick in 2009 (Washington)
Analysis: With the aging Kolzig and no one in the system the Caps needed a goalie of the future, and the got it in Huet for a mere second round pick. Number one goalies never go for so little, even when the goalie market is low. Caps make out like bandits and Montreal takes a big risk in handing their cup hopes to a rookie goalie for the playoffs.
Winner: Washington



Brad Stuart (LA) for a 2nd and 4th round picks (Detroit)
Analysis: Though not having a stellar year, Stuart is reliable in both ends. The price was reasonable and the Wings needed someone to replace their four injured defenseman, and when they come back they will have additional depth. Stuart is a UFA at years end so there is a chance LA would have lost him for nothing so they got what they could. It should work out for both teams.
Winner: Even



Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist (Tampa Bay) for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern and a 4th round pick (Dallas) ‎
Analysis: Tampa needed to rid themselves of salary and were able to get Richards to waive his NTC. Dallas gets a top flight center that will be able to replace the aging Modano and lighten the load on the older players. Tampa gets a large contract off the books and gets a young goalie and forward depth that they desperately need. Despite the fact people say it’s heavily in favor of Dallas, they neglect to mention Richards deal is still a cap killer. Though both teams got what they needed, Richards is still a very good player moved out of necessity, so Dallas gets the edge.
Winner: Dallas



Adam Foote (Columbus) for conditional 1st round pick and a 4th round pick (Colorado) ‎
Analysis: Colorado brings back another member of their previous cup winning team in Foote (Forsberg being the other) and though aging is still rugged and reliable. Columbus couldn’t come to terms with the blue liner and was forced to deal him rather than losing him for nothing, something Foote sounded upset about. The price for an old an injured defenseman though was a bit high, even if it is conditional.
Winner: Even



Hal Gill (Toronto) for a 2nd in '08 and a 5th in '09 (Pittsburgh)
Analysis: Pittsburgh needed a big, physical defenseman to clear the crease and Gill fits that bill. Though nothing special he is better than some of the Pens other options. Still a second and fifth is a high price for a guy another team was trying to unload for cap space.
Winner: Toronto



Jean Sebastian Aubin (LA) for 7th round pick (Anaheim)
Analysis: A pure depth move, for a pick that more than likely will amount to nothing.
Winner: Even



Christian Backman (St. Louis) for a 4th round pick (New York Rangers)
Analysis: Backman adds a physical blue line presence the Rangers don’t have much along with a stay at home presence they also lack. St Louis had an abundance of defensemen that were becoming UFA’s so were looking to get something for them. I think New York gets more of what they needed though.
Winner: New York



Sergei Fedorov (Columbus) for Teddy Ruth (Washington)
Analysis: A stay at home defenseman that was drafted in the second round in 2007, Ruth doesn’t seem to be on many people’s radars. Though Fedorov has lost a step or five it’s hard to imagine this was all he could fetch. Washington gets a center to help out Ovechkin and adds veteran experience as they push for the playoffs while Columbus gets pretty much nothing.
Winner: Washington



Alexandre Giroux for Joe Motzko
Analysis: Pretty much a minor league swap, no real advantage for either team.
Winner: Even



Chris Simon (New York Islanders) for a 6th round pick (Minnesota)
Analysis: Minnesota already had Derek Boogaard and Todd Fedoruk, yet somehow saw the need to trade for Simon who carries a ton of baggage. Mindless deal and a waste of a 6th, and 6th’s usually aren’t considered a waste.
Winner: New York



Bryce Salvador (St. Louis) for Cam Janssen (New Jersey)
Analysis: Salvador is a decent stay at home with a physical edge, Janssen is a goon that doesn’t have much real value and is only known for hitting Tomas Kaberle late. Geez, wonder who won this one?
Winner: New Jersey



Marc-Andre Bergeron (New York Islanders) for 3rd rounder (Anaheim)
Analysis: A depth move by Anaheim, but Bergeron has been much maligned the past few years by both Edmonton and New York fans, and for good reason. A third for him is too high for a guy that will bee more insurance than anything.
Winner: New York



Brian Campbell and 7th (Buffalo) for Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick (San Jose)
Analysis: San Jose finally got the high end defenseman they were looking for in Campbell. In return Buffalo gets a big young forward that has a bright future and a first round pick in a deep draft. Still, their failure to get more for the biggest name defenseman at the deadline where there weren’t a lot of them available tips this in San Jose’s favor.
Winner: San Jose



Chad Kilger (Toronto) for 3rd rounder (Florida)
Analysis: Kilger has actually played well for Toronto but still gets crap for some reason. He can add some secondary scoring to Florida along with decent defensive play. However, I don’t think he is worth a third.
Winner: Toronto



Martin Lapointe (Chicago) for 6th round pick (Ottawa)
Analysis: Lapointe adds good lower line depth and grit, and all Ottawa had to do was give up a sixth. Chicago shouldn’t have let him go for such a low price.
Winner: Ottawa



Josh Gratton, Patrick Sjostrom and David Leneveu and a conditional pick (Phoenix) for Marcel Hossa and Al Montoya (New York Rangers)
Analysis: Henrik Lundqvist’s extension sealed Montoya’s fate and his dealing was inevitable, the Rangers dealing him with the inconsistent Marcel Hossa for the similar but more consistent Sjostrom and tough guy Gratton. Leneveu, at one time the Yotes goalie of the future seems to be destined for backup duty anymore if that. Montoya will be in the minors for a while then play behind Bryzgalov until he is ready to take the reigns.
Winner: Phoenix



Jan Hlavac (Tampa Bay) for 7th round pick (Nashville)
Analysis: Hlavac has done little in recent years, and a 7th rounder isn’t much of anything. Sadly, a nothing-nothing swap.
Winner: Even



Matt Cooke (Vancouver) for Matt Pettinger (Washington)
Analysis: Cooke adds some grit and toughness to Washington’s playoff run and Vancouver gets someone who is a little more skilled.
Winner: Even



Andrew Ladd (Carolina) for Tuomo Ruutu (Chicago)
Analysis: A swap of talented young players, Ladd is more finesse and Ruutu more grit. Unfortunately Ruutu is often injured and it really hurts his effectiveness, so for that reason Chicago gets the edge in the deal.
Winner: Chicago



Vaclav Prospal (Tampa Bay) for Alexandre Picard and 2009 conditional pick (Philadelphia)
Analysis: I’ve never been a Prospal fan, seemingly only doing well when placed on Lecavalier’s wing (what a surprise). Still he’s not bad and will help offset the losses of Richards and Gagne for extended periods. Tampa reportedly couldn’t come to terms so got what they could in a young defenseman (something Feaster really wants) and a conditional 2nd or 3rd round pick.
Winner: Tampa Bay



Ruslan Salei (Florida) for Karlis Skrastins + 3rd rounder (Colorado)
Analysis: Florida seemed to want to trim some salary and traded the physical Salei for \ Skrastins and a third round pick. Salei will add good depth and experience to the Avs blue line and the now oft scratched Skrastins will get more playing time in Florida.
Winner: Colorado


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